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Best QuickBooks Alternatives
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Xero Learn more on Xero's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall alternative | $15/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on Xero's secure website |
FreshBooks Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Freelancer-friendly features | $19/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website |
Zoho Books Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Zoho suite integrations | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website |
Sage 50 Accounting Learn more on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website | 3.5/5 Best for Desktop solution | $59/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $96.58, $160. | Discount for the first year (terms vary). | Learn more on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website |
Wave Accounting | 3.5/5 Best for Free software | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16 | N/A | |
NetSuite | Best for Enterprise solution | N/A Quote-based. | N/A |
Our pick for
Overall alternative
While QuickBooks has long dominated the accounting software market, Xero is increasingly rising as a top alternative. It’s robust accounting software that is packed with features and is available in three pricing tiers. With a base plan that’s half the cost of QuickBooks Online’s entry-level accounting plan and that has nearly all the same capabilities, Xero stands out as an excellent QuickBooks alternative.
Xero
on Xero's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.
or monthly discount (terms vary).
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 phone number for customer support listed.
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
Our pick for
Freelancer-friendly features
The low cost of FreshBooks’ monthly plans along with its invoicing and time and expense tracking features make this accounting software especially appealing for freelancers. FreshBooks also offers a full-featured mobile app, which makes it easy to track mileage from your phone, send invoices and communicate with clients.
FreshBooks
on FreshBooks' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom.
or monthly discount (terms vary).
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
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails for accountants to review.
- 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.
Our pick for
Zoho suite integrations
If you’re already using one of Zoho’s other business apps, or you’re interested in an ecosystem of business software that integrates seamlessly, then Zoho Books may suit your accounting needs well. It has multiple plan options, including a free accounting plan, so it can scale up as your business evolves. Zoho Books is light on third-party software integrations, but it integrates with a number of other Zoho apps, including CRM, Expense and Inventory.
Zoho Books
on Zoho Books' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
of the Premium plan.
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).
Our pick for
Desktop solution
With cloud accounting software dominating the market, it can be challenging to find well-built, reasonably priced and reliable desktop-based accounting software. That’s where Sage 50 Accounting delivers. Its monthly plans are priced considerably lower than QuickBooks Enterprise, which is now the only remaining QuickBooks desktop accounting solution. Sage 50 also includes industry-specific reports, which not many of its competitors do.
Sage 50 Accounting
on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $96.58, $160.
(terms vary).
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.
Our pick for
Free software
Wave’s accounting (and invoicing) software may be free, but it doesn’t skimp on all your necessary accounting functions and features. It uses the industry-standard double-entry accounting method, lets you customize your chart of accounts and gives you the freedom to switch between cash basis and accrual basis accounting for your reports. It also includes features for automatic reconciliation. For small businesses with basic bookkeeping and invoicing needs, Wave’s software is likely to deliver.
Wave Accounting
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
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 third-party integrations, mileage tracking feature or ability to accept in-person card payments.
Our pick for
Enterprise solution
Unlike QuickBooks Enterprise, NetSuite is cloud-based enterprise-level accounting software. In fact, NetSuite’s integrated accounting solution offers accounts receivable and accounts payable as well as tax management alongside day-to-day accounting functions like managing cash and a general ledger. For midsize and larger businesses, NetSuite’s powerful accounting software and additional business and financial management products are worth consideration.
NetSuite
Quote-based.
Pros
- Can scale to accommodate larger, enterprise businesses.
- Offers an array of other software products, like CRM, HR, supply chain management, global business management and commerce software for larger companies.
- Industry-specific software solutions for a wide range of businesses, including nonprofits, advertising and digital marketing, consulting, retail and food and beverage.
Cons
- Pricing is not transparent.
- Setup fee.
Xero
- $15 per month for the Early plan.
- $42 per month for the Growing plan.
- $78 per month for the Established plan.
FreshBooks
- $19 per month for the Lite plan.
- $33 per month for the Plus plan.
- $60 per month for the Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for the Select plan.
Wave
- $0 for the Starter plan.
- $16 per month for the Pro plan.
Zoho Books
- $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.
Sage 50 Accounting
- $58.92 per month, for 1 user, for the Pro Accounting plan.
- $96.58 per month, for 1 user, for the Premium Accounting plan.
- $160 per month, for 1 user, for the Quantum Accounting plan.
- Prices increase with each additional user.
NetSuite
- The cost of QuickBooks can be high.
- Simple Start and Essentials plans don’t let you mark expenses as billable.
- Each plan limits how many users you can add.