5 Best Alternatives to QuickBooks Self-Employed in 2023 (Free & Paid)
Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and CPA with 25 years of experience. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s accounting content.
Mark has researched and reviewed accounting software at Fit Small Business since 2019 and has developed an extensive knowledge of accounting software features and how unique business needs determine the best accounting software.
This article is part of a larger series on Accounting Software.
While QuickBooks Self-Employed (QBSE) is a strong accounting software for freelancers, some professionals find it unfit for their needs and look for an alternative. If you need something similar to QuickBooks Self-Employed but without its cons, such as the lack of managing unpaid bills and tracking billable hours and project profitability, then there are plenty of options you can consider, including a free QuickBooks Self-Employed alternative.
Here are our top five alternatives to QuickBooks Self-Employed:
- Zoho Books: Best overall alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed (4.22 out of 5)
- QuickBooks Online: Best for managing sales tax collection (3.77 out of 5)
- FreshBooks: Best for time and project tracking (3.61 out of 5)
- Quicken: Best for landlords managing a few properties (3.48 out of 5)
- Wave : Best free alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed (3.18 out of 5)
QuickBooks Self-Employed Vs. Alternatives At a Glance
| QBSE Alternatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$15 to $35 |
1 |
✕ |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
✓ |
| Visit QuickBooks Self-Employed | ||||||||
 |
$0 to $275 |
1 to 15 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
| Visit Zoho Books | ||||||||
 |
$30 to $200 |
1–25 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
| Visit QuickBooks Online | ||||||||
 |
$15 to $55 |
1 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
| Visit FreshBooks | ||||||||
 |
$3.99 to $9.99 |
1 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✓ |
| Visit Quicken | ||||||||
 |
$0 |
Unlimited |
✓ |
✕ |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| Visit Wave | ||||||||
Zoho Books: Best Overall Alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed
Zoho Books has almost all the essential accounting features needed by freelancers, including those missing in QBSE, such as the ability to manage unpaid bills and track time and project profitability. It offers a free plan for those who make less than $50,000 in annual revenue, making it a great choice for new freelancers. Just like QBSE, Zoho Books has a mobile app, but it’s way more functional, as it lets you do more, like tracking billable hours.
Zoho Books
Overall Score:
4.22 / 5
Pros
- Has a free plan for freelancers that make less than $50,000 in annual revenue
- Offers more features than QBSE, like time and project tracking
- Fully functional mobile app for sending invoices, receiving payments, tracking billable hours, and more
- Phone support is available in all paid plans
Cons
- Free plan is only for freelancers who earn less than $50,000 in annual revenue
- Free plan lets you send only up to 1,000 invoices per year
- Cannot transfer income/expense to Schedule
Features
- Lets you set up bank feeds for easy bank reconciliation
- Allows you to create customized invoices
- Can track unpaid bills and create recurring expenses to automate periodic payments
- Lets you set up automated payment reminders and payment links for easy payment collection
- Includes a collaborative client portal for managing estimates and invoices
- Tracks business mileage automatically
Zoho Books Overview
QuickBooks Online: Best for Managing Sales Tax Payments
QuickBooks Self-Employed cannot add sales tax rates to invoices automatically. If you’re in a sales tax state and selling a product or service that is taxable, you will prefer QuickBooks Online as it automatically calculates sales tax rates to apply on your invoice based on your customer’s location. This feature, in addition to its superb invoice customization capability, makes QuickBooks Online our top-recommended invoicing software.
Tip:
If you think a double-entry accounting software is suitable for your freelance business, check out our roundup of the best small business accounting software.
QuickBooks Online
Overall Score:
3.77 / 5
Pros
- Calculates sales tax rates automatically based on where you sell products
- Can manage and track unpaid bills
- Lets you choose from different invoicing templates
- Huge network of QuickBooks ProAdvisors
- Can track income and expenses by location and class
Cons
- A bit more expensive than QBSE and most similar software
- Mobile app can’t record billable time
- Cannot compare estimated and actual project costs
- Unable to calculate quarterly tax payments or transfer information to Schedule C
Features
- Lets you create and send invoices to clients
- Allows you to create recurring invoices and send invoices in bulk, depending on your subscription
- Allows you to manage 1099 contractors
- Lets you create a wide range of reports including project profitability
- Includes a mobile app for sending invoices, capturing receipts, accepting payments, and more
QuickBooks Online Overview
FreshBooks: Best for Time & Project Tracking
QBSE doesn’t have time and project tracking features, so it’s unfit for project-based freelancers and those charging by the hour. FreshBooks is a great alternative as it allows you to accurately track the number of hours spent on a project and compare estimated and actual project costs, which helps you better analyze project or client profitability. It also includes comprehensive client collaboration features that let you manage team projects and deliverables and collaborate with staff, clients, contractors, and partners.
FreshBooks
Overall Score:
3.61 / 5
Pros
- Can track hours worked and bill them to clients
- Can track time and mileage from the mobile app
- Includes project-based budgeting and billing features
- Strong project accounting features, including the ability to compare estimated and actual costs
Cons
- Requires the Premium plan to bill unlimited clients
- Mobile app can’t enter bill payments
- Bank connection is needed to track checking transactions accurately
- Requires an additional fee for each additional user
Features
- Lets you connect a bank account to reconcile transactions
- Allows you to customize invoices by adding a logo, changing the style and color, and including a personal message
- Enables you to create recurring invoices to simplify payment collection
- Allows you to create an estimate and convert it to an invoice once approved
- Has a mobile app for sending invoices, attaching receipts, accepting payments, and recording billable time
FreshBooks Overview
Quicken: Best for Landlords Managing a Few Properties
QBSE lacks basic rental management features unlike Quicken. Its business edition, Quicken Home & Business, is a great way to stay on top of your rental properties as it has tenant management and a value tracker. It is our best real estate accounting software for agents or landlords with around three properties.
Quicken
Overall Score:
3.48 / 5
Pros
- Very affordable compared to most similar software
- Can manage lease terms, maintenance, rental rates, and more
- Can report income and expenses on Schedule C
- Lets you track self-employed income, personal finances, and retirement accounts
Cons
- Desktop-based; requires installation and setup
- Each license supports only a single user
- Can’t use the mobile app without the desktop version
Features
- Allows you to track all tenant-related information, including maintenance requests
- Lets you connect your bank accounts to track income and spending easily
- Lets you store and manage property-related documents
- Enables you to report income or loss from rental real estate on Schedule E (Form 1040)
- Lets you create a budget and monitor spending history
Quicken Overview
Wave: Best Free Alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed
If you are just starting your freelancing business, you might consider a free alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed like Wave to save some money. Despite being free, it offers far more accounting features than QBSE, such as tracking income and expenses, managing unpaid bills, and tracking sales taxes. It also has the added benefit of being able to manage multiple companies, which is great for self-employed professionals who juggle multiple businesses.
Wave
Overall Score:
3.18 / 5
Pros
- Completely free for unlimited users
- Can manage multiple companies in a single account
- No limits on expense tracking and invoicing
- Lets you connect bank accounts for easier transaction import
- Can set up automatic monthly e-payments
Cons
- Has fewer features than some paid software
- Lacks project management features
- Unable to track business mileage
- Very limited mobile application
Features
- Lets you capture a photo of your expense receipt and upload it to Wave through app
- Allows you to create and customize invoices
- Lets you set up recurring invoices for
- Allows you to create basic reports, including profit and loss and cash flow statements
- Includes a mobile app for basic accounting tasks, including invoicing and expense receipt capture
Wave Overview
How We Evaluated QuickBooks Self-Employed Alternatives
We evaluated the best QuickBooks Self-Employed alternatives based on their flexibility and the availability of the important features missing in QBSE, such as the ability to manage and track unpaid bills and customize invoices. Some of the alternatives are not necessarily more affordable than QBSE, but they balance it out with other perks, such as better customer support and a more powerful mobile app.
Below is a breakdown of our evaluation of the best QuickBooks Self-Employed alternatives.
20%
Pricing
40%
Freelancer Features
20%
Ease of Use
10%
Mobile App
10%
User Reviews
20% of Overall Score
We considered the software’s cost and whether there are limitations to the number of users, customers, transactions, etc.
40% of Overall Score
We focused on the important freelancer features, especially those missing in QuickBooks Self-Employed, such as powerful invoicing and the ability to track unpaid bills.
20% of Overall Score
Most of the QBSE alternatives are as easy to use as QBSE, but some of them have more extensive customer service options to support new users.
10% of Overall Score
We looked into mobile accounting features relevant to freelancers, including the ability to send invoices, accept payments online, track mileage, and record billable hours.
10% of Overall Score
We collected unbiased user reviews from popular review websites.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When should I consider an alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed?
You should look elsewhere if you need more enhanced features, such as customizable invoices and the ability to monitor unpaid bills and track time and project profitability.
Can I use QuickBooks Self-Employed for my small business?
No, you need to use a double-entry accounting system like QuickBooks Online or those featured in our best small business accounting software guide.
Is there a free alternative to QuickBooks Self-Employed?
Yes, you can consider Wave, which is completely free, or Zoho Books Free if you are making less than $50,000 per year.
Bottom Line
QuickBooks Self-Employed might be enough for freelancers needing to stay on top of their income, expenses, and tax obligations, but those who have other specialized needs should consider alternatives. For instance, if your priority is mobile accounting, you may prefer Zoho Books. If you collect sales tax from customers, you may wish to upgrade to QuickBooks Online. If you are starting a freelance business and don’t have that much money to spend on paid software, then you may do well with Wave.
