QuickBooks

Small business accounting that does the heavy lifting

accountingFrom $17/moSetup: moderate

AppAdvize Score

Short answer

QuickBooks scores 8/10 in our review and is best for small businesses with employees and anyone working with a us-based accountant or bookkeeper. The standout: Gold standard for accountants and bookkeepers. Watch out: Steeper learning curve than FreshBooks. Plans start at $17/month.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, AppAdvize may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. Commissions never influence our scores or recommendations; see how we test and score.

Reviewed by the AppAdvize editorial team · last verified March 2026

Overview

QuickBooks is the dominant small business accounting software in the US. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, tax preparation, and financial reporting. Best for businesses that work with a bookkeeper or accountant.

Pricing

Starts at $17/month — Simple Start plan

Enterprise plans available on request

See full pricing on QuickBooks →

Pros & Cons

What we like

✓Gold standard for accountants and bookkeepers
✓Comprehensive payroll features
✓Huge integration ecosystem
✓Strong tax preparation tools

Watch out for

✕Steeper learning curve than FreshBooks
✕Pricing increases significantly on higher tiers
✕Can be overkill for solo freelancers

Best for

Small businesses with employees
Anyone working with a US-based accountant or bookkeeper

Not ideal for

Solo freelancers (FreshBooks is simpler)
International-first businesses (Xero is better)

Compare QuickBooks

QuickBooks vs FreshBooks→QuickBooks vs Xero→

Alternatives

FreshBooks

accounting

8.2/10

Xero

accounting

8.3/10

Wave

accounting

8.2/10

See all QuickBooks alternatives, compared →

QuickBooks FAQ

Is QuickBooks worth it?

QuickBooks scores 8/10 in our review and is a strong fit for small businesses with employees. Standout: Gold standard for accountants and bookkeepers. Main trade-off: Steeper learning curve than FreshBooks.

How much does QuickBooks cost?

QuickBooks is a paid product — plans start at $17/month (Simple Start plan). There is no permanent free plan.

What are the best QuickBooks alternatives?

Top QuickBooks alternatives are FreshBooks, Xero, Wave. See our full comparison at /tools/quickbooks/alternatives.

Not sure which tool?

Get a personalized accounting recommendation

Six questions and we'll match you to the tools that actually fit your business, budget, and team size.

Start the quiz →

AppAdvize Scores

Ease of Use7/10

Value for Money7.5/10

Support Quality7.5/10

Integrations9/10

Scalability9/10

Overall8/10

Quick Facts

Founded: 1983
Users: 7M+ businesses
Setup time: ~90 min
Complexity: moderate
Maturity: established

Last verified: 2026-03-01