QuickBooks has long been a go-to for small-business owners and their accountants, but it isn't the best accounting software choice for everyone. A number of other products on the market may be better suited to your business, depending on its size, your budget and your prior bookkeeping experience.
After reviewing more than a dozen options, we determined that Xero is the top alternative to QuickBooks.
🏆 Our pick: The best QuickBooks alternative
If you’re looking for an alternative to QuickBooks, we think Xero is the best choice for most small-business owners. Even after a recent price increase, all of Xero’s options are still less expensive than the standard subscription cost of QuickBooks’ popular, middle-tier Plus plan. It also has similar features, a simpler layout and doesn’t put a limit on how many users can access the software (even QuickBooks’ most expensive option caps you at 25).
Xero
Xero
NerdWallet Rating
5.0
Starting At
$20
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Read Review
Learn more
on Xero's website
Ultimately, the right QuickBooks alternative for your business will depend on why you’re looking for one in the first place. Common complaints among QuickBooks users online criticize its rising subscription costs, stale user interface and poor customer service. Xero checks those boxes the most, but other accounting software may more directly address your specific needs.
Here’s a more extensive list of our top QuickBooks alternative recommendations.
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Objective and comprehensive business accounting software ratings rubric. (Learn more about our star ratings.)
NerdWallet's small-business software content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business software, including payroll, accounting and payment processing. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, Yahoo Finance and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Best QuickBooks Alternatives
Best QuickBooks Alternatives
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Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
Learn more
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Xero
Best for Overall QuickBooks alternative
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
Learn more
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
50% off
for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Learn more
on FreshBooks' website
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
FreshBooks
Best for Freelancers
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
50% off
for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Learn more
on FreshBooks' website
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Learn more
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books
Best for Large variety of features at a low cost
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Learn more
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Starting at
$62/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.
Bonus
$0
Learn more
on Sage's website
Pros
- Advanced inventory tracking and job costing features.
- Industry-specific features for construction, retail and professional services businesses.
- Phone and chat support, plus a dedicated account representative in all plans.
Cons
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include audit trails.
Sage 50 Accounting
Best for Desktop solution
Starting at
$62/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.
Bonus
$0
Learn more
on Sage's website
Pros
- Advanced inventory tracking and job costing features.
- Industry-specific features for construction, retail and professional services businesses.
- Phone and chat support, plus a dedicated account representative in all plans.
Cons
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include audit trails.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
Promotion
N/A
Learn more
on Wave's website
Pros
- Free plan available.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave Accounting
Best for Free and simple QuickBooks alternative
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
Promotion
N/A
Learn more
on Wave's website
Pros
- Free plan available.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Bookkeeper360
Best for Bookkeeping assistance
Starting at
$49/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $1,149.
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Bookkeeper360
Best for Bookkeeping assistance
Starting at
$49/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399, $1,149.
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
- More complex businesses can subscribe to plans with advanced reporting and accrual basis accounting.
- Offers add-ons for tax planning, payroll and HR, and back-office tasks like invoicing, bill pay and expense reimbursements.
Cons
- Prices increase after business exceeds $20,000 in monthly expenses.
Striven
4.1
Best for Industry-specific plans
Starting at
$35/month
Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.
Promotion
7-day free trial
Learn more
on Striven's website
Pros
- Offers industry-specific features for consulting businesses, nonprofits, manufacturing companies, professional services and more.
- Tools to ensure tax compliance.
- Other features include inventory tracking, reporting, invoicing, project management tools and the ability to categorize transactions using classes.
- Customer support available by phone and live chat.
Cons
- Monthly costs could add up quickly if you require multiple users.
- No mobile app.
- Limited third-party integrations available; no payroll integrations.
Striven
Best for Industry-specific plans
4.1
Starting at
$35/month
Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.
Promotion
7-day free trial
Learn more
on Striven's website
Pros
- Offers industry-specific features for consulting businesses, nonprofits, manufacturing companies, professional services and more.
- Tools to ensure tax compliance.
- Other features include inventory tracking, reporting, invoicing, project management tools and the ability to categorize transactions using classes.
- Customer support available by phone and live chat.
Cons
- Monthly costs could add up quickly if you require multiple users.
- No mobile app.
- Limited third-party integrations available; no payroll integrations.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.
Promotion
30-day free trial
of the Plus plan.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Unlimited invoicing, estimates, contracts, users and clients in all plans.
- Integrates with Square’s all-in-one payment platform.
- Streamlined and intuitive.
- Ability to process in-person and online card payments as well as cash, checks, ACH transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Send recurring invoices.
- Automatic payment reminders.
- Gives clients the option to include a tip.
Cons
- Must use Square’s in-house payment processing to accept online payments.
- Free plan does not enable custom invoicing fields and the ability to auto-convert estimates into invoices.
Square Invoices
Best for Invoicing-only solution
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.
Promotion
30-day free trial
of the Plus plan.
Learn more
on Square's website
Pros
- Unlimited invoicing, estimates, contracts, users and clients in all plans.
- Integrates with Square’s all-in-one payment platform.
- Streamlined and intuitive.
- Ability to process in-person and online card payments as well as cash, checks, ACH transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Send recurring invoices.
- Automatic payment reminders.
- Gives clients the option to include a tip.
Cons
- Must use Square’s in-house payment processing to accept online payments.
- Free plan does not enable custom invoicing fields and the ability to auto-convert estimates into invoices.
Looking for more free alternatives?
If you’re searching specifically for a free QuickBooks alternative, explore our full list of free accounting software products to compare your options.
» MORE: Best free accounting software
Xero
Best overall QuickBooks alternative
- $20 per month for the Early plan.
- $47 per month for the Growing plan.
- $80 per month for the Established plan.
Feature | Xero | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✅ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✅ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✅ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✖ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✅ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Overall, Xero users seem to appreciate its pricing, which is significantly less expensive than QuickBooks Online. Other online commenters say the software is easy to use — a big perk if you don’t have any bookkeeping experience. Though QuickBooks Online boasts a variety of in-depth accounting tools, it’s not the easiest software to learn.
Negative comments typically mention bank feeds not loading and Xero’s new invoicing interface (the company has said it will update the latter). Poor customer support also comes up a lot. In our experience, you’ll find such complaints online with any provider. However, it is notable that Xero does not provide an inbound phone number.
Why we picked it: Business owners who prefer ease of use and simplicity will appreciate Xero’s minimalist design and jargon-free language. Like QuickBooks, it's widely used, which makes it easy to find accountants who support it. Unlike QuickBooks, however, Xero allows unlimited users at all plan levels — and at a lower price point. As a QuickBooks alternative, Xero offers less expensive software that competes with QuickBooks’ rich feature set. Read our full Xero Accounting review.
» MORE: Xero vs. QuickBooks Online
FreshBooks
Best for freelancers
- $21 per month for the Lite plan.
- $38 per month for the Plus plan.
- $65 per month for the Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for the Select plan.
Feature | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✖ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✖ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✖ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✖ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✅ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Sentiment for FreshBooks on Trustpilot is largely positive. However, the majority of its five-star reviews come from users who were invited to leave feedback. That doesn't mean they're not genuine, though. Users praise both Freshbooks' customer support and ease of use. In fact, some users specifically point out that it’s more intuitive than QuickBooks Online.
On the negative side, FreshBooks users on both Trustpilot and Reddit say they’ve had issues with WePay, one of the company's payment processing options. Multiple users say that WePay flagged large incoming payments and froze — or even closed — their accounts as a result. FreshBooks supports Stripe and PayPal as well, though those products also receive their fair share of negative reviews. (A common trend among most payment processors.)
Why we picked it: With strong invoicing capabilities and an intuitive mobile app, FreshBooks is an affordable alternative for freelancers who might not need all of the features that QuickBooks offers its online customers. The software lets you log time, track mileage, snap photos of expense receipts, set up recurring invoices, send automatic payment reminders and accept payments online through FreshBooks Payments or Stripe. And unlike QuickBooks, which only lets you mark expenses as “billable” in the Online Plus plan and higher, FreshBooks lets you rebill clients for expenses in all plans. One downside: It comes with a stricter user limit. All plans, except the Select plan, include access for only one user; additional users cost $11 each per month. Read our full FreshBooks review.
» MORE: FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks Online
Wave
Best free and simple QuickBooks alternative
- $0 for the Starter plan.
- $16 per month for the Pro plan.
Feature | Wave | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✅ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✖ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✖ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✖ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✖ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✖ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✖ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Wave’s claim to fame used to be the fact that it was free to use. Now, the company has migrated some of its formerly free features, like bank feeds and receipt tracking, to a paid plan. Some users are understandably unhappy about that. But many others appreciate that you can still get the basics for free — something you can’t say for QuickBooks Online. For example, users like that the free plan still lets you use the mobile app to invoice clients from anywhere.
Similar to QuickBooks Online, however, Wave’s customer support gets bad reviews. That’s unsurprising for the free plan. It only comes with chatbot support, unless you opt to use Wave’s online processing or another paid service. Other negative reviews criticize the product’s overall reliability, claiming the auto-categorization tool is prone to making mistakes.
Why we picked it: Wave delivers on most of the basics for micro businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs without requiring expensive add-ons. It’s a solid QuickBooks alternative if you’re on a tight budget and run a small operation, but it’s not ideal for scaling your business. Still, it can be sufficient for businesses with straightforward financials, especially if your main objectives are keeping tabs on expenses, sending invoices and tracking income. Read our full Wave Accounting review.
» MORE: Wave vs. QuickBooks Online
Zoho Books
Best variety of features at a low cost
- $0 per month for the Free plan.
- $20 per month for the Standard plan.
- $50 per month for the Professional plan.
- $70 per month for the Premium plan.
- $150 per month for the Elite plan.
- $275 per month for the Ultimate plan.
Feature | Zoho Books | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✖ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✅ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✅ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✖ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✅ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Positive reviews of Zoho products applaud how the company offers various apps under the same umbrella. For example, you can use Zoho Books as your accounting software program and Zoho Social as your social media management solution.
Zoho Books is less expensive than QuickBooks Online, and some commenters point out that you get fewer features as a result. However, they say it can be a viable option for businesses that don’t need all of QuickBooks Online’s bells and whistles. They suggest just making sure your accountant is familiar with it first.
Why we picked it: Zoho Books offers a lot of the same features as QuickBooks, like inventory management, reporting tags, invoicing and bank rules — but at a lower price. Higher-tier plans also include extra features you don’t find among all accounting software, like customizable workflow rules for email alerts and the ability to let your clients approve or comment on timesheets before adding billable hours to an invoice. If you commit to the Zoho ecosystem, you can smoothly integrate its CRM and other software with Zoho Books. If not, its third-party integrations might be limiting. Read our Zoho Books review.
» MORE: Zoho Books vs. QuickBooks
Sage 50 Accounting
Best for desktop solution
- $61.92 per month, for 1 user, for the Pro Accounting plan.
- $103.92 per month, for 1 user, for the Premium Accounting plan.
- $177.17 per month, for 1 user, for the Quantum Accounting plan.
- Prices increase with each additional user.
Feature | Sage 50 Accounting | QuickBooks Enterprise |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✖ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✅ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✖ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✅ | ✅ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✅ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✖ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Sage 50 users value the software’s ease of use, customer support and integrated payroll services. (Those services do cost extra.) It’s also worth noting that a lot of these comments come from people who say they’ve used Sage products for more than 10 or even 20 years. The company definitely has some loyal customers.
But not all longtime customers seem happy with the product anymore. Some users say they experience issues, like bank feed freezes and lost data, when Sage updates its software. Others suggest the desktop software’s limitations will render it outdated, especially since so many software products are completely cloud based now.
Why we picked it: If your business is smaller in size and you have need for only a few users to access your accounting software, then Sage 50’s desktop accounting software is an excellent alternative to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, which is designed — and priced — for much larger organizations. You can purchase Sage 50’s mid-level plan, Premium Accounting, for less than QuickBooks Enterprise’s lowest-tier plan. Sage 50 Accounting will give you unlimited phone and chat support and advanced reporting, similar to what you’d get with the least expensive QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise plan, in addition to advanced inventory tracking and management plus invoice tracking and a long list of additional features. Like QuickBooks, Sage 50 Accounting offers payroll as an add-on. Read our full Sage 50 review.
» MORE: Sage 50 vs. QuickBooks Online
Bookkeeper360
Best for bookkeeping assistance
- $49 per month plus hourly cost for support for Pay-As-You-Go plan.
- $399 and up per month for Bookkeeping plan.
- $1,149 and up per month for Controller plan.
Feature | Bookkeeper360 | QuickBooks Live |
Accounting reports | ✅ | ✅ |
Integrates with QuickBooks Online | ✅ | ✅ |
Ability to complete back-office tasks (e.g., inventory management, invoicing) | ✅ | ✖ |
CFO advisory services | ✅ | ✖ |
Pay-by-the-hour bookkeeping assistance | ✅ | ✖ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
There aren’t as many online reviews of Bookkeeper360 as there are for more traditional accounting software products, so it’s difficult to spot trends. But positive reviews typically laud the product’s convenience. These users are happy to have professional bookkeepers to assist them during the setup process and help them solve accounting issues.
Other commenters say they were disappointed by slow response times, and some question whether their bookkeeping was done correctly. If you try out Bookkeeper360, it might be a good idea to treat the free consultation as a test to determine whether it’s a good fit.
Why we picked it: If you’re not satisfied with QuickBooks Live’s online bookkeeping service, you may want to look into Bookkeeper360. It offers everything from hourly bookkeeping help for the occasional hiccup to full-service assistance with accounting, back-office and budgeting tasks. Plus, it integrates with Xero as well as QuickBooks Online. Ultimately, it could be a good fit if your goal is to take a less hands-on approach to bookkeeping to make time for other tasks. Read our full Bookkeeper360 review.
Striven
Best for industry-specific plans
- $35 per month per user for the Standard plan.
- $70 per month per user for the Enterprise plan.
Feature | Striven | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✅ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✖ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✖ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✅ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✅ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✅ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✅ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✅ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✖ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✖ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
Striven users generally have positive things to say about the company’s customer support and usability. People with growing businesses like having all of the applications they need — like accounting, customer relationship management and task management — under one software umbrella. Plus, it’s a cheaper ERP solution than NetSuite.
In terms of what they dislike about Striven, users often point out the fact that the program has limited third-party integrations. Its main built-in integrations include Shopify, Square and Stripe, but not much else. You can use its API to build your own connections, but that may require developer experience.
Why we picked it: Striven might not have the name recognition that QuickBooks has, but its selection of industry-specific software packages earns it a spot on the list. In some ways, Striven is also a more exhaustive all-in-one product that combines accounting features with customer relationship management tools, human resources and productivity software. If you’re interested, you can test drive the core edition (which isn’t industry specific) or the package for professional services, manufacturing or field services for seven days.
Square Invoices
Best invoicing-only solution
- $0 per month for the Free plan.
- $20 per month for the Plus plan.
Feature | Square Invoices | QuickBooks Online |
Double-entry accounting | ✖ | ✅ |
Automatic bank imports | ✖ | ✅ |
Automatic transaction reconciliation | ✖ | ✅ |
Unlimited users with at least one plan | ✖ | ✖ |
Accountant access with all plans | ✖ | ✅ |
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR) | ✖ | ✅ |
Reporting tags | ✖ | ✅ |
Industry-specific reports | ✖ | ✖ |
Invoicing features | ✅ | ✅ |
Inventory management features | ✖ | ✅ |
Project tracking features | ✅ | ✅ |
Mobile app | ✅ | ✅ |
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking) | ✅ | ✅ |
Live customer support | ✅ | ✅ |
People who use Square Invoices mostly like its simplicity and ease of use. Square’s POS system is known for having a user-friendly interface, and its invoicing solution seems to be no different. Commenters also like that you can use it to track and send contracts.
Negative reviews say the company has withheld payments from their clients. This isn’t necessarily surprising. Businesses can quickly start accepting payments with Square because the company doesn’t require them to open their own merchant account. But this can lead to less account stability and more freezes. Weigh that trade-off when choosing any third-party payment processor.
Why we picked it: Maybe your business is small enough that you don’t need a full-blown accounting software product. If you’re mainly looking for a way to invoice clients, Square Invoices is a simple, affordable alternative to other products listed here. We give it high marks, in part, because of its free plan, which includes unlimited invoices, estimates and contracts. For lower processing rates, you can subscribe to the paid Plus plan. Read our full Square Invoices review.
💬 Which QuickBooks alternatives do business owners recommend?
"Recently, I chatted with a QuickBooks Online user who criticized the software’s customer support. But they weren't sure about switching. Why? QuickBooks has all the bookkeeping tools their established business needs. It’s also the industry standard.
"My advice to them: consider Xero. It has a comparable feature set and industry-wide popularity. While it doesn’t have an inbound phone number, like QuickBooks does, users on TrustPilot and Reddit say that representatives typically resolve issues promptly.
"But what about very small businesses with small budgets and simpler accounting needs? Reddit users mention Zoho Books, Xero and FreshBooks, but I see that an overwhelming number bring up Wave. They say it’s a simple, less expensive alternative — as long as your books aren’t complicated."
Understanding the upsides and downsides of QuickBooks’ popular accounting software product, QuickBooks Online, can help you find an alternative that checks the right boxes. Here are its main benefits and drawbacks:
Pros
Recognizable brand with a longstanding reputation in the accounting industry.
Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
More than 750 app integrations.
Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
Limited account users with each plan.
When to choose an alternative to QuickBooks
QuickBooks is popular for a reason, but that doesn’t make it a one-size-fits-all solution for every business. Here are some scenarios when you might consider an alternative:
Xero is our top pick among QuickBooks alternatives. It offers a lot of the same key features as QuickBooks, but at a lower price point and is growing in popularity in the U.S. Your accountant or bookkeeper will almost certainly be familiar with QuickBooks, but they may also know the ins and outs of Xero.
However, the right fit will vary from business to business. The best QuickBooks alternative for you will depend on your budget, the type of business you run and which features you need.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you’ve ruled out QuickBooks and haven’t decided on an alternative, consider reaching out to your accountant or bookkeeper and ask which software products they prefer or commonly work with. This is especially important if they review your books periodically.One of the best free accounting software options is Wave Accounting. It’s not as scalable as QuickBooks, but it can accommodate solopreneurs and, in some cases, businesses with a handful of employees.
Wave’s free plan has income and expense tracking, invoicing and basic reports. However, you’ll need to subscribe to its paid Pro plan to automatically import bank transactions, categorize transactions and add users. Additionally, Wave doesn’t offer built-in integrations with POS systems or other third-party apps. If you’re looking for a more scalable option with a free plan and more built-in app integrations, Zoho Books could be a good choice.
NerdWallet’s accounting software ratings favor products that are easy to use, reasonably priced, have a robust feature set and can grow with your business. The best accounting software received top marks when evaluated across 10 categories and more than 30 subcategories.
These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.
Our evaluations also take user sentiment into account. This involves looking through individual reviews and feedback on sites like Trustpilot, Reddit, the App Store and Google Play. Then, we use AI tools to help spot larger trends within those comments. Since we cannot verify each user’s individual experience, we don’t incorporate user reviews in our star ratings.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
A guide to our star ratings
Accounting software that receives a NerdWallet rating of 5 stars is outstanding among its competition. It delivers great value to users with a range of features and integrations at an affordable — and transparent — price. It also offers multiple avenues for customer support.
Accounting software that earns 4 or 4.5 stars is excellent. It includes all the standard features and most advanced features but is lacking in areas such as integrations, a mobile app and/or pricing transparency.
Accounting software with a rating of 3 or 3.5 stars is a solid choice. It lacks certain key features and integrations, and it may also lack pricing transparency. Alternatively, it may be a free product that lacks certain desirable features but offers enough to be worth consideration for businesses on a tight budget.
Accounting software that we rate below 3 stars is found to be lacking in several key categories, and we therefore won’t typically recommend it.
Former NerdWallet writer Amrita Jayakumar contributed to this article.
Last updated on April 15, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews accounting software products before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Information is gathered on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xero is one of QuickBooks’ biggest competitors and offers many similar features, including a wide range of reports, transaction tracking capabilities and integration options. If you want to get a better idea of what Xero’s user interface is like, you can try out the software free for 30 days.
QuickBooks does not have a free version, but it does offer free 30-day trials if you want to test it out before committing. Free QuickBooks alternatives include Wave and Zoho Books’ entry level plan.
QuickBooks Online offers promotions for new customers who are willing to skip the free trial and jump straight into a monthly subscription. Usually, it’s 50% off for the first three months, which can save you a total of $45 to $300 the first year, depending on the plan. QuickBooks sometimes offers larger discounts around particular holidays, like Memorial Day.