Best QuickBooks alternatives in 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 2:03 p.m. UTC Jan. 18, 2024
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QuickBooks is often the first solution that comes to mind when considering accounting software. But, there are many QuickBooks competitors on the market today — including the QuickBooks online version itself — that may be a better fit for a variety of businesses.
We compared standout features, pricing, customer reviews and more from 38 software plans to discover the top QuickBooks alternatives. Most of these plans are more affordable, intuitive and simpler than QuickBooks, with some offering industry-specific benefits and features that would be a welcome change for certain businesses. Keep reading to learn more.
Featured accounting software offers
Xero
Starting price
Reg. Price: $15 per month;
Special Offer: 75% off all plans for 3 months until February 13.
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
Unlimited
Sage
Starting price
$10
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
40
Intuit QuickBooks Online
Starting monthly fee
$15 per month (for the first 3-months, then $30 per month)
Free Trial
30 days
Key Features
Expert help, Invoicing, maximize tax deductions, track mileage
Best QuickBooks alternatives
- Zoho Books: Best for sales teams.
- FreshBooks: Best for freelancers.
- Intuit QuickBooks Online: Most intuitive.
- Sage Business Cloud Accounting: Highly customizable.
- Xero: Simplified accounting software.
- AccountEdge Pro: Best on-premise alternative.
- ZarMoney: Best for inventory management.
- OneUp: Highly automated software.
- Neat: Best for document management.
- NetSuite: Most comprehensive software solution.
Why trust our small business experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 18 companies reviewed.
- 35 products reviewed.
- 1,120 data points analyzed.
Zoho Books
AccountEdge Pro
ZarMoney
OneUp
Neat
NetSuite
Featured accounting software offers
Xero
Starting price
Reg. Price: $15 per month;
Special Offer: 75% off all plans for 3 months until February 13.
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
Unlimited
Sage
Starting price
$10
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
40
Intuit QuickBooks Online
Starting monthly fee
$15 per month (for the first 3-months, then $30 per month)
Free Trial
30 days
Key Features
Expert help, Invoicing, maximize tax deductions, track mileage
Best QuickBooks alternatives competitors compared
| STARTING MONTHLY PRICE | MAX USERS | TIME TRACKING | INVOICING | REPORTING | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 QuickBooks | $135.00 | 40 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 Zoho Books | $0.00 | 15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 FreshBooks | $19.00 | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 Intuit QuickBooks Online | $30.00 | 25 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 Sage Business Cloud Accounting | $58.92 | 40 | Add-on | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 Xero | $15.00 | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 AccountEdge Pro | $15.00 | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 ZarMoney | $15.00 | 30+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 OneUp | $9.00 | Unlimited | No | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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 Neat | $200.00 per year | 4 | No | Yes | Add on | |||||||
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 NetSuite | Custom | Custom | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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Methodology
We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.
We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best accounting software.
The best accounting software has positive user reviews on customer review sites and app stores. Accounting software companies should provide customers with fast and reliable support. Using a combination of phone support, live chat and knowledge bases, customers should be able to quickly resolve issues 24/7.
Accounting software should support double entry, including a budgeting dashboard and invoicing tools. It should also allow businesses to create and send purchase orders to customers.
And the best accounting software should integrate with popular CRMs, offer support for multiple currencies, have receipt scanning functionality and have bill pay functionality.
What is QuickBooks and how does it work?
QuickBooks desktop is often ranked among the best accounting software, although recently, more and more reviews have pushed its online version — Intuit QuickBooks Online — to the top of the list instead. That’s because the desktop version is more expensive and has a decent learning curve, so it’s not necessarily the best choice for every person.
Plus, as a desktop-based software, access is localized only to the computers it’s installed on as opposed to being cloud-based and online. Which, in today’s world, is pretty unheard of.
That being said, QuickBooks desktop still provides an intuitive dashboard and versatile widgets that can be rearranged, reorganized and reimagined to fit a variety of businesses. Its tools include everything from income and payment tracking, invoicing and expenses to reports, time tracking, mileage tracking, payroll and taxes.
All in all, it offers nearly every single feature an accounting department may need (and often much more than many require), but there are certainly some drawbacks to be wary of.
When should you look for QuickBooks alternatives?
QuickBooks offers nearly every single feature that could be included in accounting software. But, the entire kitchen sink isn’t always the right fit for all business owners. In some cases, more might be less.
Here are a few times you may consider looking for a QuickBooks alternative:
- You don’t want to spend as much. QuickBooks charges $1,410.00 per year for its most affordable plan. Seeing that our most expensive starting plan alternative is Sage’s $58.92 per month, it’s clear that QuickBooks desktop is much more expensive.
- You’re not even convinced you need accounting software. Implementing accounting software is a big change to your operations, no matter what company you use. But QuickBooks has a steeper learning curve and a higher starting price — meaning it’s not a great entry-level software. Instead, consider Zoho Books’ free plan to test the waters.
- You’re a freelancer. If you work for yourself, QuickBooks probably offers significantly more features and complexity than you need. To avoid the cost and overwhelm, opt for FreshBooks, our top pick for freelancers.
- You want the ability to collaborate. Traditional QuickBooks is only available on desktop—and only one desktop at that. It’s locally installed on that computer, meaning you can’t collaborate across different departments. With Intuit QuickBooks Online, you can still access many of the same benefits as its desktop sibling but without the desktop guardrails (and for almost four times cheaper).
- You want something more intuitive. QuickBooks is an extremely comprehensive software and packs a lot of features into one platform. Because of this, many users say its interface is, well, unattractive. There are more modern alternatives, like Intuit QuickBooks Online or Xero, that look as good as they perform.
How to choose the best accounting software
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of accounting software options to choose from — making it pretty overwhelming to find the right one for your business. The three main things you need to look for include:
- All-in cost: Accounting software can range in price from free to as much as $350 or more per month. To figure out your ideal cost, ask yourself these questions: How much can you afford per month? How many users are included in the cost? Do you have to pay for certain business-critical integrations?
- User-friendliness: Not every user will be an advanced accountant, so make sure the software you choose is relatively user-friendly and intuitive. If your business is more complex, you may have to lean toward more in-depth software — which is fine. But don’t go that route unless it’s truly necessary.
- Technology and features: Some software is designed for a specific user or industry, like e-commerce or freelancers. Explore the features the software offers to make sure it ticks all the boxes of things you want it to do for your business.
- Security: Your accounting software will be packed full of sensitive information about your business and your customers. Make sure your chosen solution offers security encryption, firewalls and logging trackers.
Key features to look for
Accounting software can vary greatly in features, which is often a good thing because it means it’s easier to find one that fits all your needs without charging you for features you won’t use.
Some of the most basic and useful features to look out for include:
- Payroll management: Payroll can help expedite other parts of your business, but most importantly, it can make it easier to keep your employees paid (and happy). Payroll management features like easy onboarding, direct deposit and tax form creation can be a big benefit to companies of all sizes.
- Budgeting and forecasting: Automated budgeting and forecasting can take a lot of work off the plate of your decision-makers. Look for products that offer things like profit and loss statements, income reports and more.
- Billing and invoicing: Most businesses, regardless of their size, do some type of billing and invoicing — and the process can quickly get messy and unorganized. Accounting software with built-in billing and invoicing can help business owners manage incoming and outgoing payments with real-time insights and direct deposits.
- Automation and artificial intelligence: Streamline your day-to-day activities with automation rules and workflows. AI and automation technology can greatly reduce redundancies, improve productivity and enhance the ROI of your accounting software.
- Financial reporting and analytics: In college, accountants are often tasked with using Excel to create balance sheets and income statements. Most accounting software now offers automated and smart reporting and analytics to help provide more accurate and simple financial details about a business.
- Includes multiple users: Most companies will need access for at least a handful of users. Make sure the plan you choose includes the number of users you need. And if you do have to pay for more users, make sure the price per seat doesn’t put the total cost over budget.
- Cloud-readiness: Some software, like QuickBooks, is locally installed on a computer. But, as more and more companies move to the cloud, they want their accounting software to go with them. Cloud-ready accounting software is more flexible, easier to update and facilitates remote work.
Pricing and budget
Accounting software prices range anywhere from free to $350 per month, depending on the plan. The average starting price is about $27 per month, although most companies will likely opt for higher tiers of coverage to get more bang for their buck (and more users).
Premium plans often include more complex and comprehensive features like vendor portals, budgeting, invoicing and more. And most of the time, the base plans cap the number of users at a pretty small number, which may not work for all teams.
If you’re new to accounting software or are an individual, opting for a free plan like Zoho Books is a great way to dip your toe into the field. Or, start with a base plan with one user to see if the software will work for your business before you start adding more users at an additional monthly cost.
Check out our list of free accounting software for more low-budget options.
| BASE PLAN | MID TIER | HIGHER TIER | FREE VERSION? | FREE TRIAL? | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | $135.00 | $225.00 | $424.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| Zoho Books | $20.00 | $50.00 | $275.00 | Yes | Yes | |||||||
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| FreshBooks | $17.00 | $30.00 | $55.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| Intuit QuickBooks Online | $30.00 | $60.00 | $200.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| Sage Business Cloud Accounting | $58.92 | $96.58 | $160.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Xero | $15.00 | $42.00 | $78.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| AccountEdge Pro | $15.00 | $25.00 | $40.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| ZarMoney | $15.00 | $20.00 | $350.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| OneUp | $129.00 | $48.00 | $240.00 | No | Yes | |||||||
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| Neat | $200.00 per year | N/A | N/A | No | Yes | |||||||
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| NetSuite | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | No | |||||||
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UX and ease of use
Some accounting software can be extremely complex; in fact, that’s one of the biggest downfalls of QuickBooks itself. If your team has an accountant on staff, usually the complexity is a good thing and means there are more options for customizations and features.
But if your team consists of people who wear multiple hats and are just tasked with doing some of the accounting, that complexity can actually be a hindrance. In that case, having software that’s simple and intuitive will ensure that your team members actually use the software (and use it to its fullest advantage).
When comparing options, look for UX features like:
- A simple and intuitive user interface.
- Automation features.
- Built-in customization features.
- Collaboration software.
- Built-in AI.
- Easy-to-understand reports and analytics.
Customer service
Many businesses use their accounting software to enhance their customer service — meaning they need good and reliable customer service from their software in return.
Look for companies that offer mobile or chat support, not just email, to ensure quicker solutions to your problems. Also, in-depth resource centers and guides can be helpful.
It may also be beneficial to choose software that offers a free demo or even a live set-up call to assist with your team’s onboarding. Some, not all, of the companies on this list offer this as part of the initial monthly fee.
Software integrations
Third party integrations are a key part of accounting software. They help expand the software to fit more facets of your business operations and allow for expansion and customization as your business grows over time.
Make sure the software integrates with third-party sites you already use, like:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE.
- Microsoft Power BI.
- PayPal.
- Square.
- Amazon.
- Gusto.
- Shopify.
- Etsy.
- eBay.
There are many, many more integrations available for accounting software. For example, Intuit QuickBooks offers 750 integrations. Some of these are free, while others will require their own subscription/payment.
Featured accounting software offers
Xero
Starting price
Reg. Price: $15 per month;
Special Offer: 75% off all plans for 3 months until February 13.
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
Unlimited
Sage
Starting price
$10
Free trial available
30 days
Maximum users
40
Intuit QuickBooks Online
Starting monthly fee
$15 per month (for the first 3-months, then $30 per month)
Free Trial
30 days
Key Features
Expert help, Invoicing, maximize tax deductions, track mileage
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The best alternative depends on what you’re looking for from accounting software. For example, if you want something easier to use and onboard to, try Xero. And if you’re a freelancer, FreshBooks will give you more customized features at a much lower cost.
To figure out what software will make the biggest impact on your business operations, audit your current accounting process to find gaps and opportunities. In some cases, a small business may be looking for a simple fix that just handles invoicing and payments, but other large businesses need a comprehensive solution that tackles every facet of accounting from start to finish.
While consistently named a leader in accounting software, QuickBooks does have a few disadvantages. Namely, it may be too comprehensive for some businesses — which in turn makes the higher cost feel not worth it.
While the cost itself isn’t astronomical compared to its competitors, it is a decent amount higher. And if you don’t need all the features and services that make that price worth it to many businesses, then the ROI may not be worth it.
QuickBooks certainly offers everything a small business needs, including managing payments, invoicing and expense tracking. Plus, it offers a free 30-day trial that allows business owners to test it out for themselves.
But, for the cost, there may be better accounting software for a small business like FreshBooks or Intuit QuickBooks Online.
QuickBooks is a fine solution for personal use, but so are many of the alternatives. If you just want to track your own personal finances and account balances, Xero and Zoho Books may be better options. These two software are more intuitive, streamlined and affordable — making them ideal for personal use than QuickBooks.
To cancel your subscription, sign into your account. Click the settings tab (also a gear icon) on the top right corner of the page. Find Billing Info and navigate to the Cancel subscription option.
After you cancel, you’ll receive an email confirmation. Once your plan is canceled, you can access your plan through the end of your current billing cycle. After that, you will lose access to your customer portal.
Your data will be stored for one year after you cancel, although you will need to resubscribe to reaccess it.
QuickBooks Desktop starts at $1,410 per year or $135 per month. Obviously, this cost is much more expensive than many others on this list.
But, for that cost, you get up to 30 users, which some others may charge extra for. Although, you’ll have to pay for an additional license to allow those users access through their own computer rather than one centralized desktop.
QuickBooks isn’t necessarily hard to learn, but most customers would also say it’s not the easiest either. If you have an accounting background, learning it will be much easier than if you’re just starting out.
Because of this, it’s usually best for companies that have an accountant on staff already, not smaller businesses with employees who already wear a bunch of different hats.
That being said, QuickBooks does offer an abundance of training opportunities, including live, instructor-led classes and an in-depth help center. YouTube is also stocked full of webinars, trainings and demonstrations as well.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
