10 Best QuickBooks Alternatives in 2023 (Free & Paid)
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
Zoho Books is our top QuickBooks alternative because of its scalability and mobile app functionality. Wave is second on our list as it is free and provides a simple way to track income and expenses while automatically downloading transactions from your bank and credit card accounts.
Here are the top six alternatives to QuickBooks:
- Zoho Books: Best overall QuickBooks alternative with an outstanding mobile app
- Wave: Best free QuickBooks alternative
- FreshBooks: Best for tracking billable time
- Xero: Best for unlimited users and managing fixed assets
- Sage 50cloud: Best QuickBooks Desktop alternative for multicompany accounting
- QuickBooks Self-Employed: Best for tracking expenses and transferring to Schedule C
If you don’t need full bookkeeping software and are looking for an alternative to QuickBooks for sending invoices, we recommend the following options:
- Invoicera: Best standalone invoicing software as an alternative to QuickBooks
- Zoho Invoice: Best free standalone invoicing software
- Square Invoices: Best for businesses processing infrequent transactions
- TimeTracker: Best for professional service firms
Software | Monthly Pricing | Number of Users | Inventory | Banking | Invoicing | Network of Experts | Project Accounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $30 to $200 | 1 to 25 | Exceptional | Exceptional | Exceptional | QuickBooks ProAdvisors | Good |
 | $0 to $275 | 1 to 15 | Exceptional | Good | Very Good | Zoho Books Advisors | Very Good |
 | Free | Unlimited | Poor | Fair | Fair | Wave Advisors | None |
 | $17 to $55 or custom priced | Only 1 ($11 per month, per added user) | Poor | Fair | Very Good | ✕ | Very Good |
 | $13 to $70 | Unlimited | Very Good | Good | Good | Xero Advisors | Exceptional |
 | $57.17 to $409.17 | 1 to 10 users | Good | Good | Good | ✕ | Exceptional |
 | $15 to $35 | 1 only | None | Poor | Poor | QuickBooks ProAdvisors | None |
Software | Monthly Pricing | Number of Users | Track Invoice Status in Real Time | Includes Built-in Accounting Features | Completely Customize Invoices | Unlimited Invoicing Capability | Create Recurring Invoices | Network of Experts | Mobile Invoicing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30 to $200 | 1 to 25 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | All plans | ✓ | QuickBooks ProAdvisors | ✓ |
 | $19 to $149 | 1 to unlimited | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | All plans | ✓ | N/A | ✓ |
 | Free | 1 to 20 | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | Included in free version | ✓ | Zoho Advisors | ✓ |
 | $0 to $20 | 1 only | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | All plans | ✓ | N/A | ✓ |
 | $9 or $15 (plus additional base fees) | Unlimited | Included in TimeTracker Premium | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | N/A | ✕ |
Are you looking to compare QuickBooks against other accounting software providers?
Check out our comparison guides:
- ZipBooks vs QuickBooks
- Sage Intacct vs QuickBooks
- BILL vs QuickBooks
- NetSuite vs QuickBooks
- Quicken vs QuickBooks Online
And for a more in-depth glimpse at Quicken’s features and pricing, read our Quicken review.
Zoho Books: Best Overall QuickBooks Alternative With an Outstanding Mobile App
Overall Score:
4.60 / 5
Pros
- Has a free version for users with less than $50,000 in annual revenues
- Scalable pricing plans
- Mobile accounting app is more functional than QuickBooks' app
- Dedicated portal for customers to view and settle invoices
Cons
- Additional fee for more users
- Project accounting and inventory management are available only in higher plans
- Managing unpaid bills is not available in the Free and Starter plan
- Limited invoices in the Free and Standard plan
Pricing
- Free: Includes one user plus one accountant and up to 1,000 invoices per year for businesses with less than $50,000 in annual revenues
- Standard: $20 per month for up to three users and 5,000 invoices
- Professional: $50 per month for up to five users and unlimited invoices
- Premium: $70 per month for up to 10 users and unlimited invoices
- Elite: $150 per month for up to 10 users
- Ultimate: $275 per month for up to 15 users and unlimited invoices
Free trial: 14 days for any paid plan
Add-ons:
- Additional users: $3 per user, per month
- Receipts scanning: $10 for 50 scans per month
- Snail mail credits for sending invoices: $2 per credit
Zoho Books is our best alternative to QuickBooks Online because it’s similar to QuickBooks Online but has a more functional mobile app. It also has a flexible pricing model perfect for scalability and growth. Unlike QuickBooks Online, you can add more users on Zoho Books on top of the users automatically included in each plan.
If you think a certain plan is enough for your needs, you don’t need to upgrade just to get more seats. Instead, you can pay for additional seats at an affordable price of $3 per user per month.
Wave: Best Free QuickBooks Alternative
Overall Score:
2.70 / 5
Pros
- Free forever
- Easy and straightforward to set up
- Receipt capture
Cons
- No customer service by phone or email
- No inventory tracking
- Not suitable for businesses with complex accounting needs such as tracking inventory, project accounting, or separating expenses by class or location
- Reports are ugly and cannot compare multiple periods
Pricing
Wave is totally free for accounting and invoicing. However, the following transaction fees apply and are similar to fees found in paid software:
- Credit card payments: 2.9% plus 60 cents per transaction or 3.4% plus 60 cents per AMEX transaction
- Bank payments: 1% per transaction but a minimum of $1 fee
We chose Wave for individuals wanting a totally free option. Even though we discussed that Zoho Books has a free version, it has a $50,000 annual revenue limit, while Wave is totally free without revenue or user limits. We recommend choosing Wave if you don’t need complex accounting features.
FreshBooks: Best for Tracking Billable Time
Overall Score:
3.20 / 5
Pros
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Excellent customer service
- Project accounting features include built-in time tracker
- Outstanding invoice customization features
Cons
- Additional fee for adding more users
- No class tracking for income and expenses
Pricing
FreshBooks plans include one user regardless of the plan. However, more users can be added.
- Lite: $17 per month for five billable clients
- Plus: $30 per month for 50 billable clients
- Premium: $55 per month unlimited billable clients
- Select: Custom pricing for unlimited billable clients and specialized features
New users get 70% off for three months.
Add-ons:
- Additional team members: $11 per person, per month, in all plans
- Advanced payment options: $20 monthly in Plus and Premium; included in Select
- Gusto Payroll: Contact provider for more information
We chose FreshBooks because service providers can easily track time spent on projects and quickly add that billable time to client invoices. It also has a built-in time tracker, making the invoicing process even more seamless. Everything about FreshBooks is designed for ease of use, which results in some features being fantastic for new business owners, albeit a bit confusing for experienced bookkeepers.
For instance, expenses cannot be assigned to particular checking or credit card accounts. Instead, the system compares entered expenses to all live bank feeds to determine which account the expense was paid from. This is unique among all bookkeeping software we’ve looked at but makes for a very simple way to enter expenses for non-bookkeepers.
Xero: Best for Unlimited Users & Managing Fixed Assets
Overall Score:
4.20 / 5
Pros
- Unlimited users for all plans
- More affordable than QuickBooks Online
- Extensive integration choices within the Xero App Store
- Simpler interface than QuickBooks Online
Cons
- Not popular in the US
- Requires highest plan to enjoy all features similar to QuickBooks Online
- Requires third-party integration via Gusto for payroll
Pricing
Xero has three pricing plans that include unlimited users:
- Early: $13 per month for 20 invoices and five bills
- Growing: $37 per month for unlimited invoices and bills
- Established: $70 per month for unlimited invoices and bills, plus multicurrency, receipt capture, and project tracking
Free trial: 30 days
Xero is one of QuickBooks Online’s toughest competitors worldwide. To compare, QuickBooks Online’s highest plan is $200 per month for up to 25 users, while Xero’s highest plan is only $70 per month for unlimited users. If your business doesn’t need QuickBooks Online Advanced but wants more users, we recommend choosing Xero because it’s more affordable and has no user limit.
Xero also has a built-in fixed asset manager that will automatically calculate and track depreciation expense for each piece of equipment. That is something QuickBooks Online can’t do.
Sage 50cloud: Best QuickBooks Desktop Alternative for Multicompany Accounting
Overall Score:
3.50 / 5
Pros
- Consolidated financial statements for multiple companies
- Competitive inventory management features
- Option to connect the software to the cloud
Cons
- Desktop software by default even if cloud access is possible
- Difficult for users without solid accounting software experience
- Not a popular choice and limited support in the US
Pricing
There are three pricing plans to choose from, though custom pricing is available for 11 users and up. You can evaluate Sage 50cloud by clicking “Take a test drive” on its website, which will allow you to access a hosted version of it with sample data:
- Pro Accounting: $57.17 per month for one user only
- Premium Accounting: $96.58 to $222.25 per month for one to five users
- Quantum Accounting: $160 to $409.17 per month for one to 10 users
Sage currently offers a 40% discount for new customers for the first year.
We chose Sage 50cloud as one of the best QuickBooks alternatives because of its consolidation features. Consolidation of multiple companies can be difficult if performed manually, but with Sage 50cloud, parent companies can consolidate financial statements easily in a few clicks. The software also has advanced budgeting tools and ASC 830/FAS 52 compliance for foreign currency transactions and foreign currency translation.
QuickBooks Self-Employed: Best for Tracking Expenses & Transferring to Schedule C
Not rated*
Pros
- Ideal for tracking personal and business expenses
- Track mileage
- Export Schedule C income and loss to TurboTax
Cons
- Not a full bookkeeping software
- Not ideal for self-employed individuals selling inventory
- Cannot generate financial statements
Pricing
- Self-Employed: $15 per month
- Self-Employed Tax Bundle: $25 per month
- Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle: $35 per month
*QuickBooks Self-Employed isn’t part of our case study of the best small business accounting software because it doesn’t track assets and liabilities. Hence, it isn’t scored.
We include QuickBooks Self-Employed on this list because it is a great fit for self-employed individuals who simply want to track income and expenses to file a tax return. While still a QuickBooks product, it is completely separate from and much less expensive than QuickBooks Online.
QuickBooks Self-Employed is especially good for individuals without a separate bank account for their business transactions as it has a feature to separate business and personal expenses.
We recommend the following QuickBooks Invoicing alternatives if your small business doesn’t need a complete bookkeeping solution, such as the providers above.
Invoicera: Best Standalone Invoicing Software as an Alternative to QuickBooks
Overall Score:
4.60 / 5
Pros
- Can manage multiple companies with one account
- Includes an expense management feature
- Allows you to track staff time and expenses by project
- Has multicurrency and multilingual invoicing
Cons
- Free plan only supports up to three clients
- Unable to track time from mobile app
- Not a complete accounting solution; requires bookkeeping software
Pricing
- Starter: $19 per month for one user and up to 100 clients
- Business: $49 per month for 10 users and up to 1,000 clients
- Enterprise: $99 per month for 20 users and up to 2,500 clients
- Infinite: $149 per month for unlimited users and clients
Free trial: No credit card is needed to access the 15-day free trial, and you can upgrade or cancel your subscription at any time.
We selected Invoicera as the best standalone invoicing software as an alternative to QuickBooks because its features can be customized to the needs of your business. It offers a comprehensive set of invoicing features that allow you to create custom invoices, automate recurring billing, manage expenses, and handle multiple currencies.
It provides customizable invoice templates and multiple payment gateway integrations, and it supports various payment methods, making it suitable for businesses of different sizes and industries. However, Invoicera has no live bank feeds or other essential bookkeeping features.
Zoho Invoice: Best Free Standalone Invoicing Software
Overall Score:
4.45 / 5
Pros
- Integrates with Zoho’s other specialty apps, including Zoho Books and Zoho CRM
- Includes project time management features
- Free forever with no ads or in-app purchases
- Customizable invoices
Cons
- Not a full bookkeeping system
- No approval workflows for issuing invoices
- Manages outgoing invoices only
Pricing
Zoho Invoice is absolutely free, with no credit card required, no ads, and no in-app purchases.
We selected Zoho Invoice as the best free standalone invoicing software because despite being free, it offers a wide range of invoicing features that are crucial for businesses. It allows users to create and send professional invoices and supports multiple currencies and tax regulations.
Also, it has a clean and intuitive user interface, and the dashboard provides an overview of key financial information, helping businesses stay organized. Zoho Invoice may lack built-in accounting features, but it integrates with Zoho Books for bookkeeping capabilities. It also provides a client portal where you can share invoices, estimates, and statements with clients.
Square Invoices: Best for Businesses Processing Infrequent Transactions
Overall Score:
4.40 / 5
Pros
- Features for estimates, signatures, and tracking invoices and payments
- Free to use with predictable payment processing fees
- Seamless compatibility with Square’s suite of business tools
- Saved customer profiles and payment information
Cons
- Lacks a built-in expense tracking tool
- Some features require a paid upgrade to Square Invoices Plus
- High-volume businesses can find lower pricing with other providers
Pricing
Square Invoices offers a free and paid version ($20 per month) of its invoicing software. The processing rate for online payments changes based on whether you’re using the base software or the Plus version:
- Square Invoices Free: 3.3% plus 30 cents per transaction
- Square Invoices Plus: 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction
Free trial: Users can upgrade to Plus anytime, and Plus has a free 30-day trial.
Square Invoices is an excellent invoicing solution for smaller businesses and individuals as it’s free and easy to use, although it’s not the most robust invoicing solution on the market. It allows you to set up customer profiles with stored payment information, and it provides automations for reminders and estimate conversions.
You can also offer your customers flexible payment options, including buy now, pay later (BNPL) and ACH processing. Square Invoices also integrates with other Square products, such as Square POS and Square Payments.
TimeTracker: Best for Professional Service Firms
Overall Score:
3.55 / 5
Pros
- Flexible time tracking with multiple time clock options
- Format for legal invoicing
- Very easy to use
Cons
- Limited payroll integration options (only connects with ADP and Gusto)
- Reports of frequent bugs within app
- Not intended for large firms with many employees as it can get expensive
Pricing
TimeTracker offers two subscriptions. The basic plan comes with employee scheduling and time tracking functionalities, while the Premium package has additional invoicing, job costing, expense tracking, and online payment tools.
- TimeTracker: $15 base fee plus $9 per user, per month
- TimeTracker Premium: $25 base fee plus $15 per user, per month
Free trial: 14 days
We consider TimeTracker to be the best invoicing software for professional service firms because it offers a flexible solution for tracking and managing timesheets, creating staff schedules, billing clients, and monitoring projects. You can also plan project schedules and set employee costs and client billing rates.
Invoices can be generated using data from tracked hours and billable expenses. What’s more, the platform has a client portal where customers can view outstanding invoices, pay bills online, and check completed projects.
Are you looking for something different? Check out our list of the best small business accounting software.
How To Select a QuickBooks Alternative
When choosing a QuickBooks alternative, it’s important to consider your specific business needs, budget, and desired features. Here are some suggestions:
- Assess your business requirements: Evaluate your business needs and identify the key features you require from accounting software. Consider factors such as invoicing, expense tracking, inventory management, payroll, and reporting.
- Research available alternatives: Look for alternative accounting software solutions that align with your requirements. Pay attention to the features, pricing plans, customer support, and user experience of each alternative.
- Evaluate scalability and flexibility: Consider the growth potential of your business and choose accounting software that can scale with your needs. Look for a solution that offers room for expansion, supports multiple users, and integrates with other software you use, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or project management tools.
- Consider cloud-based solutions: Cloud-based accounting software offers several advantages, including accessibility from anywhere, automatic data backups, and seamless software updates. Assess whether a cloud-based solution is suitable for your business or if you prefer a desktop-based alternative.
- Compare pricing models: Examine the pricing structures of different alternatives and determine which one best fits your budget. Some software providers offer subscription-based pricing, while others charge one-time fees or have tiered plans based on number of users or access to features. Consider the long-term costs, including any additional expenses for add-ons or support.
- Consider customer support and training: Evaluate the customer support options provided by the software vendors. Look for alternatives that offer reliable technical support, training resources, and user communities to help you navigate any issues.
How We Evaluated the Best QuickBooks Alternative for Small Businesses
We rated the accounting software products on this list based on their capabilities to be a substitute for QuickBooks. Moreover, we included the insights we gathered from our case study to show you what we think about these solutions based on the case study criteria.
15%
Pricing
20%
Customization
30%
Invoicing Features
25%
Ease of Use
10%
User Reviews
15% of Overall Score
We compared the pricing of QuickBooks and the selected invoicing software and looked at the number of clients that can be invoiced and how many users are available. However, we didn’t give it a lot of weight since we wanted to focus on invoice-specific features.
20% of Overall Score
The ability to customize invoices is important, and since QuickBooks has several customization features, we looked at whether it is possible to select a template or create your own, upload a logo and choose a color, edit invoice fields, and create a personalized message on the invoices.
30% of Overall Score
Because QuickBooks has several useful invoicing features, we assigned more weight to this category when considering the alternatives. Among the factors we considered include whether it’s possible to view outstanding invoices, transactions or balance by customer, print and email invoices, and set up recurring invoices.
25% of Overall Score
QuickBooks Online is one of the most user-friendly accounting software on the market. It was important to recommend similar products, so we considered whether the software required a bookkeeping software integration and what form of customer support is available.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated user reviews to obtain insights from actual users of the software who were willing to provide honest feedback. We weighed the actual ratings from customers when creating this buyer’s guide.
*Percentages of overall score
How We Evaluated Invoicing Alternatives to QuickBooks
We evaluated the invoicing software based on its ability to be a substitute for QuickBooks. We included the insights we gathered from our case study to illustrate our findings about these solutions based on the case study criteria.
15%
Pricing
20%
Customization
30%
Invoicing Features
25%
Ease of Use
10%
User Reviews
15% of Overall Score
We compared the pricing of QuickBooks and the selected invoicing software and looked at the number of clients that can be invoiced and how many users are available. However, we didn’t give it a lot of weight since we wanted to focus on invoice-specific features.
20% of Overall Score
The ability to customize invoices is important, and since QuickBooks has several customization features, we looked at whether it is possible to select a template or create your own, upload a logo and choose a color, edit invoice fields, and create a personalized message on the invoices.
30% of Overall Score
Because QuickBooks has several useful invoicing features, we assigned more weight to this category when considering the alternatives. Among the factors we considered include whether it’s possible to view outstanding invoices, transactions, or balance by customer, print and email invoices, and set up recurring invoices.
25% of Overall Score
QuickBooks Online is one of the most user-friendly accounting software on the market. It was important to recommend similar products, so we considered whether the software required a bookkeeping software integration and what form of customer support is available.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated user reviews to obtain insights from actual users of the software who were willing to provide honest feedback. We weighed the actual ratings from customers when creating this buyer’s guide.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
QuickBooks isn’t a one-size-fits-all accounting software. While it is our top-recommended small business accounting software, the subscription cost can be a main factor why you should look for an alternative. Moreover, QuickBooks features may be too complex for your needs. Hence, you should look for a simpler QuickBooks alternative.
Aside from its features, QuickBooks has a vast network of certified public accountants (CPAs), bookkeepers, and firms that offer accounting support through the QuickBooks ProAdvisor program. This program helps businesses get access to professional accounting help, locally and internationally. You can check out our guide on how to find a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
We recommend Wave as the best free alternative to QuickBooks because it is free for invoicing and accounting. Read our review of Wave for more information about its features.
Bottom Line
QuickBooks dominates the market for small business accounting—but it isn’t always the best answer, and there are many alternatives to QuickBooks to consider. Depending on your budget, required features, and industry, you might find an alternative software that will meet your needs better.
