QuickBooks Online review

QuickBooks Online remains the default for US small businesses, and the new QuickBooks Free plan makes it easier to start. Free covers basic accounting and invoicing with no card required. Simple Start, at a regular $38 per month, adds automated bookkeeping, profit and loss reports, invoicing with card and bank payments, bill pay by ACH and Intuit Intelligence AI that categorizes expenses and looks for tax deductions. It allows one user plus two accountants. Essentials, at $85, raises that to three users and adds enhanced reports and time on invoices. Plus, at $140, adds budgets, project profitability, inventory and class tracking for five users. The price is the main drawback. Discounts cut the first three months in half, then the full rate applies, and it is higher than Xero or Zoho Books at each step. You pay for familiarity: your accountant almost certainly knows it.

Who it is for

US small businesses that want the software most accountants already use.

Price

Free plan; Simple Start $38 per month (50% off for 3 months when checked); Essentials $85; Plus $140.

Simple Start For starting small $38 $19 / mo 50% off for 3 months*
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 4, 2026.

Key features

• Automated bookkeeping that learns how you categorize transactions
• Invoices with card and bank payments through QuickBooks Payments
• Intuit Intelligence AI for expense categorization and tax deductions
• Project profitability, budgets and inventory on Plus
• Up to 25 users on Advanced

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: New free plan covers basic accounting and invoicing
• Strength: Accountant access included on every paid plan
• Strength: Clear upgrade path from 1 user to 25
• Weakness: Simple Start is limited to 1 user
• Weakness: Regular prices are high after the 3-month discount
• Weakness: Inventory and project tracking need Plus at $140 per month

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, basic accounting and invoicing
• Free trial: 30 days
• Users: 1 on Simple Start, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus, 25 on Advanced

Where it ranks

QuickBooks Online is No. 1 in our Best Accounting Software verdict.