Our verdict · 8.5/10 Excellent
The safe choice for US small businesses, especially if your accountant uses it. Pricing has risen over time, so make sure you need the tier you buy.
Key takeaways
- Best for: US small businesses.
- Strongest area: Integrations & ecosystem (9.4/10). Weakest: Value for money (7.6/10).
- Price: From around $30–38 / month (Simple Start) — free trial available.
- Watch out for: Higher cost than some competitors.
What is QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online covers invoicing, expenses, bank reconciliation, reporting and, on higher tiers, project profitability and inventory. Its biggest advantage in the US is ubiquity: a large share of accountants and bookkeepers work in it daily, and a big app ecosystem connects to it.
QuickBooks Online is made by Intuit and is reviewed here as a accounting tool. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 8.5 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose QuickBooks Online if
- US small businesses
- Companies whose accountant uses QuickBooks
- Service businesses needing invoicing and expenses
Not for you if
- Very small budgets
- Businesses needing many users on entry tiers
Key features
Automatic import and categorisation of transactions.
Custom invoices with online payments.
Standard and customisable financial reports.
Track costs and income per project on higher tiers.
- Gusto
- Shopify
- HubSpot
- PayPal
- Stripe
Pros & cons
What we like
- Widely supported by accountants
- Comprehensive features and reports
- Large app ecosystem
- Strong bank feeds
Watch out for
- Higher cost than some competitors
- User limits on lower tiers
- Upselling of add-on services
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | ≈ $30 / mo | Up to 1 user · Promotional discounts common |
| Essentials | ≈ $60 / mo | Up to 3 users |
| Plus | ≈ $90 / mo | Up to 5 users |
| Advanced | ≈ $200 / mo | Up to 25 users |
Pricing watch-out: Prices vary by region and promotions; user limits differ per tier.
Pricing watch-outs
- Seat cap. Essentials is limited to 3 users; growing past that forces an upgrade.
- Seat cap. Plus is limited to 5 users; growing past that forces an upgrade.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked October 30, 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 9.0 | 2.30 | |
| Ease of use | 20% | 8.4 | 1.70 | |
| Value for money | 20% | 7.6 | 1.50 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 8.0 | 0.80 | |
| Security & privacy | 10% | 8.4 | 0.80 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 15% | 9.4 | 1.40 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for business software products | 8.5 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Intuit |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for QuickBooks Online against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Intuit’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any accounting tool
Check QuickBooks Online against the same list we use for every accounting tool — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Supported bank feeds for your accounts
- Invoicing with online payments
- Sales tax / VAT handling for your regions
- Accountant or bookkeeper access
- Reports: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow
See every ranked option in Accounting Software.
QuickBooks Online alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- CheaperZBZoho Books≈ $15/mo vs $200/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative)
- Has a free planZBZoho BooksQuickBooks Online has no free plan; Zoho Books does
- Easier to use
FreshBooksEase-of-use score 9.0 vs 8.4
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as QuickBooks Online. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Cloud accounting with unlimited users and a clean, modern interface.
Invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and service businesses.
Head-to-head comparisons
vs
QuickBooks Online vs Xero8.5 · 8.5vsQuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks8.5 · 8.1vs
QuickBooks Online vs Wave8.5 · 7.7ZBvsZoho Books vs QuickBooks Online8.3 · 8.5Featured in: Best Accounting Software for Small Business, QuickBooks vs Xero vs FreshBooks vs Wave
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
QuickBooks Online FAQ
Is QuickBooks Online available outside the US?
Yes, in several countries, though features and pricing differ by region.
Does QuickBooks Online have a free plan?
No, QuickBooks Online does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at From around $30–38 / month (Simple Start) (indicative).
Who is QuickBooks Online best for?
QuickBooks Online is best for: US small businesses; companies whose accountant uses QuickBooks; service businesses needing invoicing and expenses.
How is the QuickBooks Online score calculated?
The 8.5/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for software products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to QuickBooks Online?
Popular alternatives include Xero, FreshBooks. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.