We looked at more than 50 accounting software products to find the best QuickBooks alternatives. Our top picks are less expensive while still including key features like reports, invoices and transaction tracking.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has covered small-business software and lending since 2022 and has more than sixteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has covered small-business software and lending since 2022 and has more than sixteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
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.
Advertiser disclosure
You're our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don’t cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements
that appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and
services - like free credit score access and monitoring. With the
exception of mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or
services, partner compensation is one of several factors that may affect
which products we highlight and where they appear on our site. Other
factors include your credit profile, product availability and
proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews.
Here is a list of our partners.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has covered small-business software and lending since 2022 and has more than sixteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Karrin Sehmbi is an editor and content strategist on the small-business team. She has covered small-business software and lending since 2022 and has more than sixteen years of editorial experience in the fields of educational publishing, content marketing and medical news. She has also held roles as a teacher and a tutor.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
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.
Advertiser disclosure
You're our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don’t cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements
that appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and
services - like free credit score access and monitoring. With the
exception of mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or
services, partner compensation is one of several factors that may affect
which products we highlight and where they appear on our site. Other
factors include your credit profile, product availability and
proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews.
Here is a list of our partners.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us
when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not
influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
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 tops our list of QuickBooks alternatives, in part, because it includes a similar set of features at a lower price. QuickBooks, which was founded in 1992, still has the upper hand when it comes to brand recognition. But Xero, which began in 2006, is gaining ground with more than 4 million subscribers worldwide. In other words, most CPAs should be familiar with Xero, which is important if you plan to collaborate with an accountant on your books.
Unlike QuickBooks, Xero also allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Additionally, Xero has a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels to improve usability.
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 than some competitors.
No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books has one of the most feature-rich free plans we’ve seen. It includes accountant access, invoice customization, receipt scanning and reporting. And if your business requires more capabilities down the road, they’re likely on one of Zoho’s five paid plans. That level of scalability is rare when it comes to free software products.
Compared to QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books is less expensive at every level. Higher-tier plans, like the $50-per-month Professional option, include advanced features, like workflows. You’ll only find those in QuickBooks’ $275-per-month plan. Zoho also offers more in-house business solutions for marketing, customer relationship management and inventory. These programs seamlessly integrate with Zoho Books.
QuickBooks Online has in-house payroll options. But you’ll need to integrate with third-party apps for things like marketing or advanced inventory management. That can get complicated.
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’s free accounting software lets you create unlimited invoices and bills, manually enter bank transactions and run reports. QuickBooks, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a free option. Although Wave’s free plan can be a straightforward solution for small, service-based businesses, its paid Pro plan offers a wider range of features like the ability to add additional users, automatically import bank records and auto-categorize transactions.
Zoho Books also offers a free plan, but its wide range of features means it may not be as simple to use as Wave.
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.
Not all business owners — especially freelancers — need an accounting software product that’s built to scale up like QuickBooks. FreshBooks is a simple and more affordable option for freelancers and very small businesses that don’t require many users and prioritize being able to operate on the go via mobile app. It’s an especially inexpensive choice for those who can work within lower-tier plans’ billable client limits, and all plans include time tracking. QuickBooks Online, however, doesn’t include time tracking in any of its plans. Instead, you’d need to pay for a separate subscription to QuickBooks Time.
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.
Each additional user increases the monthly cost.
If you’re looking for an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, your options are limited. Cloud-based solutions have become increasingly popular, but Sage 50 Accounting is a solid choice. While it has to be locally installed, Sage 50 Accounting includes features you’d find in cloud-based software, like automated bank reconciliation. This makes it a good solution for small-business owners who are hesitant to adopt an entirely cloud-based system or don’t have reliable internet access. Entrepreneurs who are newer to accounting will also appreciate having a dedicated account representative and free training modules to help them get used to the software.
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 tops our list of QuickBooks alternatives, in part, because it includes a similar set of features at a lower price. QuickBooks, which was founded in 1992, still has the upper hand when it comes to brand recognition. But Xero, which began in 2006, is gaining ground with more than 4 million subscribers worldwide. In other words, most CPAs should be familiar with Xero, which is important if you plan to collaborate with an accountant on your books.
Unlike QuickBooks, Xero also allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Additionally, Xero has a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels to improve usability.
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 tops our list of QuickBooks alternatives, in part, because it includes a similar set of features at a lower price. QuickBooks, which was founded in 1992, still has the upper hand when it comes to brand recognition. But Xero, which began in 2006, is gaining ground with more than 4 million subscribers worldwide. In other words, most CPAs should be familiar with Xero, which is important if you plan to collaborate with an accountant on your books.
Unlike QuickBooks, Xero also allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Additionally, Xero has a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels to improve usability.
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 tops our list of QuickBooks alternatives, in part, because it includes a similar set of features at a lower price. QuickBooks, which was founded in 1992, still has the upper hand when it comes to brand recognition. But Xero, which began in 2006, is gaining ground with more than 4 million subscribers worldwide. In other words, most CPAs should be familiar with Xero, which is important if you plan to collaborate with an accountant on your books.
Unlike QuickBooks, Xero also allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Additionally, Xero has a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels to improve usability.
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 than some competitors.
No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books has one of the most feature-rich free plans we’ve seen. It includes accountant access, invoice customization, receipt scanning and reporting. And if your business requires more capabilities down the road, they’re likely on one of Zoho’s five paid plans. That level of scalability is rare when it comes to free software products.
Compared to QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books is less expensive at every level. Higher-tier plans, like the $50-per-month Professional option, include advanced features, like workflows. You’ll only find those in QuickBooks’ $275-per-month plan. Zoho also offers more in-house business solutions for marketing, customer relationship management and inventory. These programs seamlessly integrate with Zoho Books.
QuickBooks Online has in-house payroll options. But you’ll need to integrate with third-party apps for things like marketing or advanced inventory management. That can get complicated.
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 than some competitors.
No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books has one of the most feature-rich free plans we’ve seen. It includes accountant access, invoice customization, receipt scanning and reporting. And if your business requires more capabilities down the road, they’re likely on one of Zoho’s five paid plans. That level of scalability is rare when it comes to free software products.
Compared to QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books is less expensive at every level. Higher-tier plans, like the $50-per-month Professional option, include advanced features, like workflows. You’ll only find those in QuickBooks’ $275-per-month plan. Zoho also offers more in-house business solutions for marketing, customer relationship management and inventory. These programs seamlessly integrate with Zoho Books.
QuickBooks Online has in-house payroll options. But you’ll need to integrate with third-party apps for things like marketing or advanced inventory management. That can get complicated.
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 than some competitors.
No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books has one of the most feature-rich free plans we’ve seen. It includes accountant access, invoice customization, receipt scanning and reporting. And if your business requires more capabilities down the road, they’re likely on one of Zoho’s five paid plans. That level of scalability is rare when it comes to free software products.
Compared to QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books is less expensive at every level. Higher-tier plans, like the $50-per-month Professional option, include advanced features, like workflows. You’ll only find those in QuickBooks’ $275-per-month plan. Zoho also offers more in-house business solutions for marketing, customer relationship management and inventory. These programs seamlessly integrate with Zoho Books.
QuickBooks Online has in-house payroll options. But you’ll need to integrate with third-party apps for things like marketing or advanced inventory management. That can get complicated.
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’s free accounting software lets you create unlimited invoices and bills, manually enter bank transactions and run reports. QuickBooks, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a free option. Although Wave’s free plan can be a straightforward solution for small, service-based businesses, its paid Pro plan offers a wider range of features like the ability to add additional users, automatically import bank records and auto-categorize transactions.
Zoho Books also offers a free plan, but its wide range of features means it may not be as simple to use as Wave.
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’s free accounting software lets you create unlimited invoices and bills, manually enter bank transactions and run reports. QuickBooks, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a free option. Although Wave’s free plan can be a straightforward solution for small, service-based businesses, its paid Pro plan offers a wider range of features like the ability to add additional users, automatically import bank records and auto-categorize transactions.
Zoho Books also offers a free plan, but its wide range of features means it may not be as simple to use as Wave.
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’s free accounting software lets you create unlimited invoices and bills, manually enter bank transactions and run reports. QuickBooks, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a free option. Although Wave’s free plan can be a straightforward solution for small, service-based businesses, its paid Pro plan offers a wider range of features like the ability to add additional users, automatically import bank records and auto-categorize transactions.
Zoho Books also offers a free plan, but its wide range of features means it may not be as simple to use as Wave.
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.
Not all business owners — especially freelancers — need an accounting software product that’s built to scale up like QuickBooks. FreshBooks is a simple and more affordable option for freelancers and very small businesses that don’t require many users and prioritize being able to operate on the go via mobile app. It’s an especially inexpensive choice for those who can work within lower-tier plans’ billable client limits, and all plans include time tracking. QuickBooks Online, however, doesn’t include time tracking in any of its plans. Instead, you’d need to pay for a separate subscription to QuickBooks Time.
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.
Not all business owners — especially freelancers — need an accounting software product that’s built to scale up like QuickBooks. FreshBooks is a simple and more affordable option for freelancers and very small businesses that don’t require many users and prioritize being able to operate on the go via mobile app. It’s an especially inexpensive choice for those who can work within lower-tier plans’ billable client limits, and all plans include time tracking. QuickBooks Online, however, doesn’t include time tracking in any of its plans. Instead, you’d need to pay for a separate subscription to QuickBooks Time.
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.
Not all business owners — especially freelancers — need an accounting software product that’s built to scale up like QuickBooks. FreshBooks is a simple and more affordable option for freelancers and very small businesses that don’t require many users and prioritize being able to operate on the go via mobile app. It’s an especially inexpensive choice for those who can work within lower-tier plans’ billable client limits, and all plans include time tracking. QuickBooks Online, however, doesn’t include time tracking in any of its plans. Instead, you’d need to pay for a separate subscription to QuickBooks Time.
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.
Each additional user increases the monthly cost.
If you’re looking for an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, your options are limited. Cloud-based solutions have become increasingly popular, but Sage 50 Accounting is a solid choice. While it has to be locally installed, Sage 50 Accounting includes features you’d find in cloud-based software, like automated bank reconciliation. This makes it a good solution for small-business owners who are hesitant to adopt an entirely cloud-based system or don’t have reliable internet access. Entrepreneurs who are newer to accounting will also appreciate having a dedicated account representative and free training modules to help them get used to the software.
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.
Each additional user increases the monthly cost.
If you’re looking for an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, your options are limited. Cloud-based solutions have become increasingly popular, but Sage 50 Accounting is a solid choice. While it has to be locally installed, Sage 50 Accounting includes features you’d find in cloud-based software, like automated bank reconciliation. This makes it a good solution for small-business owners who are hesitant to adopt an entirely cloud-based system or don’t have reliable internet access. Entrepreneurs who are newer to accounting will also appreciate having a dedicated account representative and free training modules to help them get used to the software.
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.
Each additional user increases the monthly cost.
If you’re looking for an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, your options are limited. Cloud-based solutions have become increasingly popular, but Sage 50 Accounting is a solid choice. While it has to be locally installed, Sage 50 Accounting includes features you’d find in cloud-based software, like automated bank reconciliation. This makes it a good solution for small-business owners who are hesitant to adopt an entirely cloud-based system or don’t have reliable internet access. Entrepreneurs who are newer to accounting will also appreciate having a dedicated account representative and free training modules to help them get used to the software.
Our writers and editors cover more than 50 accounting software products. To find the best alternatives to QuickBooks, we asked small-business owners what they like and dislike about it. We scoured Reddit threads and reviews from sites like G2 and Trustpilot too. The process also involved identifying where QuickBooks scores poorly in our own rubric.
As a result, we prioritized alternatives that meet at least two of the following criteria:
Has a lower price point. Some of the biggest complaints about QuickBooks revolve around its frequent price hikes and overall cost. Its plans cost anywhere from $38 to $275 per month. All of the alternatives we chose have lower price ranges.
Offers key accounting features. Some of our top picks don’t have all the functionality that QuickBooks has. But they still have fundamental accounting features. Those include reports, a customizable chart of accounts, reconciliation tools, invoicing and transaction tracking. All of them have at least one plan with accountant access and automated bank feeds too.
Is simpler to work with. Not all businesses need the complexity that comes with QuickBooks. This applies especially to very small freelance and service-based businesses. Some of our top picks, like Wave, have simpler user interfaces. They also have less advanced features. This can help make them easier to use.
Fills a niche. We included a product like Sage 50 because it’s desktop-based like QuickBooks Enterprise. Most accounting software is not. But some business owners still prefer to keep their financial data localized. Sage 50 also includes industry-specific reporting. You could consider that a highly specialized feature as well.
QuickBooks pros and cons
It helps to pick out what you like and dislike about QuickBooks Online so your alternative checks the right boxes. Here are QuickBooks' 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.
How do our top picks compare to QuickBooks?
The table below lists the main features that set QuickBooks and its alternatives apart from each other. You can use it to identify which products meet your must-have requirements.
QuickBooks Online
Xero
Zoho Books
Wave
FreshBooks
Sage 50
Free plan
X
X
✔️
✔️
X
X
Automated bank import
✔️
✔️
✔️ (paid plans only)
✔️ (paid plans only)
✔️
✔️
Standard reports
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️ (higher-tier plans only)
✔️
Unlimited users
X
✔️
X
✔️ (paid plan only)
X
X
Industry-specific reports
X
X
X
X
X
✔️
Phone and/or chat support
✔️
X (email and callbacks only)
✔️ (paid plans only)
✔️ (in paid plan only; no phone support)
✔️
✔️
Accountant access
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️ (paid plan only)
✔️ (higher-tier plans only)
✔️
More on how QuickBooks stacks up to the competition
What do small-business owners think about QuickBooks alternatives?
NerdWallet checked online forums like Reddit and reviews from sites like TrustPilot, G2, the App Store and Google Play to gauge how users feel about QuickBooks alternatives. We used an AI tool to help analyze this feedback. Here are the major trends we spotted for each alternative.
Xero
Overall, Xero users seem to appreciate its pricing. It’s significantly less expensive than QuickBooks Online. Other online commenters say the software is easy to use. That’s a big perk if you don’t have any bookkeeping experience. QuickBooks Online boasts a variety of in-depth accounting tools. But it’s not the easiest software to learn.
Negative comments typically mention bank feeds not loading. 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.
Zoho Books
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.
Wave
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. That’s something you can’t say for QuickBooks Online. For example, users like that Wave’s 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 payment processing or another paid service. Other negative reviews criticize the product’s overall reliability. For example, they claim the auto-categorization tool is prone to making mistakes.
FreshBooks
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. That said, most of these reviews are at least two years old. So it’s possible that WePay has worked to resolve these issues.
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.)
Sage 50
Sage 50 users value the software’s ease of use, customer support and integrated payroll services. (Those payroll 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.
💬 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."
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:
1. QuickBooks is too expensive
QuickBooks’ lower-tier plan pricing is competitive. But subscriptions to its higher-tier plans, which include more features, can be steep. For example, the Plus plan, which gives you access to inventory tracking, is $115 per month. And unlike Zoho Books and Wave, QuickBooks doesn’t have a free plan.
2. You need to mark expenses as billable
QuickBooks’ Simple Start and Essentials plans don’t let you mark expenses as billable. You need to subscribe to the $115-per-month Plus plan for that. This could be a dealbreaker for service- and project-based businesses. FreshBooks, however, lets you assign billable expenses to clients in all plans — even its $23-per-month one.
3. You need to grant access to more users
QuickBooks caps how many users you can add at every plan level:
Simple start: 1 user and 2 accountants.
Essentials: 3 users and 2 accountants.
Plus: 5 users and 2 accountants.
Advanced: 25 users and 3 accountants.
Maybe you need more than 25 users. Or you don’t want to pay $275 per month to have that option in the first place. Xero allows unlimited users at every plan tier, including its $25-per-month option.
4. You’re a solopreneur
QuickBooks is packed with features that are nice to have, but not necessary for many very small businesses. Think detailed transaction tracking and advanced reporting. If you’re a solopreneur, you’ll find a couple of simpler options in our list of the best accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed.
What is the best QuickBooks alternative?
We think Xero is the best QuickBooks alternative for most small-business owners. Even after a 2025 price increase, all of its options are still less expensive than QuickBooks’ popular Plus plan.
Xero also had a simpler layout than QuickBooks in our hands-on testing. Its dashboard, for example, feels easier to scan. This can be important for small-business owners who are new to bookkeeping. Xero’s ease of use doesn’t mean it lacks complexity, though.
In terms of features, Xero is QuickBooks’ biggest competitor. On top of basic accounting capabilities, it lets you forecast cash flow, analyze KPIs and track projects. You can also opt for an advanced inventory add-on. And unlike QuickBooks, Xero doesn’t limit how many users can access the software.
Xero competes with QuickBooks when it comes to popularity too. QuickBooks is still the industry standard. But with more than 4.6 million users worldwide, Xero is gaining notoriety.
Familiarity with your accounting software is important if you plan to work with your accountant on your books. Of all the products listed above, I’d bet your accountant is more familiar with Xero than other QuickBooks alternatives.
There are two free QuickBooks alternatives: Zoho Books and Wave. Our editorial team thinks Zoho Books is the best free accounting software thanks to its scalability. Wave is better for solopreneurs and very small businesses. It covers the basics, like transaction tracking and invoicing, but not much else.
Zoho Books is also a better pick for entrepreneurs who need access to additional software programs. It seamlessly integrates with other Zoho business software programs. Think options for marketing, CRM and inventory management. Wave doesn’t offer built-in integrations with POS systems or other third-party apps.
How to choose the best QuickBooks alternative
To find the best QuickBooks alternative, follow these steps:
Identify why QuickBooks isn’t a good fit. If you’re searching for alternatives to QuickBooks, there’s probably something specific you don’t like about it. Let that guide your decision-making process. Maybe it’s the price. Or perhaps it’s just unnecessarily complex. Our list includes alternatives that are both cheaper and simpler.
Decide on a price point. What’s the highest price you’re willing to pay for all of the features you need? Try not to use products’ lowest-tier plans as a baseline. You may need to upgrade plans down the road. I’d be more inclined to budget for mid-level plans instead.
Consider your industry and business size. Lots of times, these two factors will determine how complex your accounting software needs to be. Solopreneurs without employees, for example, can often get away with using simpler programs. Restaurants, however, will need in-depth reporting and a range of industry-specific integration options.
Consult your accountant and/or bookkeeper. Before you decide on a QuickBooks alternative, get in touch with your accountant and/or bookkeeper. Ask them which accounting software programs they work with. If you plan to collaborate with them, they should be familiar with the product you choose.
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's and Zoho Books’ entry level plans.
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 $57 to $412.50 the first year, depending on the plan. QuickBooks sometimes offers larger discounts around particular holidays, like Memorial Day.
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. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we stopped factoring in whether mobile apps work for both Android and iOS smartphones. If an accounting software product has its own mobile app, it’s almost always available for both operating systems.
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. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
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.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
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