10 QuickBooks Alternatives to Consider

What is QuickBooks?

QuickBooks is one of the best accounting software solutions on the market. It’s widely used because it can help manage income, expenses, invoicing, payments, tax deductions and other essential financial tasks for businesses of all sizes, including self-employed professionals. Users appreciate its various payment tiers, specialized features and 30-day free trial.

“It’s the go-to name in accounting software for a reason,” said Danish Soomro, founder of Bookeeping.ai. “It’s familiar, widely used, and built with deep functionality that suits traditional accountants and firms. It has solid integrations and lots of support.”

Stephanie Smith, owner of New Light Financial Solutions, noted that part of QuickBooks’ appeal is its continual improvement and innovation. “Because of their size and market share, they are able to invest in their software,” Smith explained. “They are constantly making improvements and updates, as well as incorporating innovative ideas into the technology.” 

10 alternatives to QuickBooks

Despite its popularity, QuickBooks may not be the best solution for your business. Here are 10 top alternatives to consider.

1. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a well-regarded QuickBooks rival; it’s an excellent choice for small business owners who want cloud-based accounting software with a broad range of essential accounting features and functions. 

FreshBooks includes specialized tools such as software integrations, time tracking, contract management and double-entry accounting. Your team can access the software from anywhere with an internet connection.

As we noted in our FreshBooks review, it’s a strong all-in-one replacement for QuickBooks, offering a more flexible feature set and pricing structure, especially for new users.

Key features of FreshBooks

• Excellent customer service 
• Over 100 integrations with third-party apps
• Good mobile app interface
• Double-entry accounting on most plans
• Time tracking, client management and report management tools
• Excellent invoicing options and flexibility
• Comprehensive selection of accounting tools

FreshBooks pricing

• Lite: $21 per month 
• Plus: $38 per month
• Premium: $65 per month
• Select: Custom pricing

2. Wave Accounting

Wave Accounting has a completely free plan, making it a great budget-friendly choice for freelancers, solopreneurs and small businesses. However, you’ll need to pay for the platform’s credit card payment processing and payroll features. There’s also a low-cost Pro plan with additional capabilities.

Wave is easy to use and provides essential accounting tools, invoicing tools, e-commerce checkout features and a dedicated Etsy integration. However, this platform isn’t the best choice if you need project management solutions, time tracking or third-party integrations. If these functions are important to you, you’ll likely need to explore Wave accounting software alternatives.

Key features of Wave Accounting

• E-commerce checkout tools
• Accounting toolkit
• Etsy integration
• Intuitive and streamlined user interface
• Accounting support materials and tutorials
• Optional credit card payment processing upgrade
• Optional payroll software upgrade

Wave Accounting pricing

• Starter plan: Free
• Pro plan: $16 per month

3. Xero

Xero is a New Zealand-based company with over 4 million subscribers. Its accounting software is designed for small businesses but includes comprehensive features that make it more versatile.

As we note in our detailed Xero review, all Xero controls and tools — including inventory management, invoicing, payroll software and billing functions — are accessible from an intuitive dashboard, making the platform exceptionally easy to navigate.

Xero offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, as well as a desktop app, so you can access the software across all your devices. New customers also get a 30-day free trial.

Key features of Xero

• Mobile and desktop apps
• Many accounting and invoicing features
• International invoicing
• Payroll software and billing functions
• Intuitive dashboard to control all your tools
• Tax calculation software

Xero pricing

• Early: $20 per month
• Growing: $47 per month
• Established: $80 per month

4. Patriot Accounting

Patriot Accounting is a well-developed software suite with plans that start as low as $20 per month. It also offers a 30-day free trial. This platform’s features include 1099 preparation, CPA firm special pricing, business bank account reconciliation, billing and invoicing tools and invoice management. You can even customize your professional invoices and handle invoicing entirely online. 

Patriot Accounting is an excellent choice for midsize businesses that need affordable accounting software with a wide variety of features.

Key features of Patriot Accounting

• Some tax assistance
• Accounts receivable
• Aging tracking
• Bank reconciliation
• Billing and invoicing
• Invoice customization
• Check writing
• Cash management
• Expense tracking 

Patriot Accounting pricing

• Accounting Basic: $20 per month
• Premium Accounting: $30 per month

5. Zoho Books

Zoho Books is the accounting software offering in the broader Zoho ecosystem. It integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM (considered among the best CRM software platforms), though each product requires a separate subscription. Top features include invoicing, accounts payable, time tracking, bank reconciliation and estimate tools. 

Smith said Zoho Books is a great alternative to QuickBooks and noted that users appreciate its tie-in to the larger Zoho suite. “They want the seamless integration [of] all of their tools into one platform,” Smith explained. “This includes things like their CRM, inventory management, and expense management. We have also found that Zoho can be very accommodating if you need new features or functionality.”

As we highlight in our Zoho Books review, it offers many of the same features as QuickBooks at a significantly lower price. Businesses on a tight accounting budget may find everything they need with this software.

Key features of Zoho Books

• Tax support and bank reconciliation tools
• Contact management, accounts payable and estimate tools
• Report and invoice production
• Time tracking tools
• Good customer support through live chat, email and more
• Recording for charts of accounts

Zoho Books pricing (annual subscription; per organization)

• Free: $0
• Standard: $15 per month
• Professional: $40 per month
• Premium: $60 per month
• Elite: $120 per month
• Ultimate: $240 per month

6. Oracle NetSuite

Oracle NetSuite is cloud-based accounting software that also functions as a full enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, making it a great option for larger businesses and enterprises. It offers robust planning tools, reporting features and customizable workflows that extend beyond accounting to support inventory, order management, HR and other core business functions.

“NetSuite is a robust ERP solution for mid-market and larger enterprises that provides a full suite of CRM, ERP, financial management and operations features for a range of service-based and product-based businesses,” explained Eric Jozwiak, owner of Keystone Business Services. 

As we explain in our comprehensive review of Oracle NetSuite, these features are available on NetSuite’s intuitive dashboard. Multiple people can access the software at once, which is a function QuickBooks lacks. However, due to its high price, Oracle NetSuite is best suited for companies with larger accounting budgets.

Key features of Oracle NetSuite

• Cloud-based software
• CRM features 
• ERP software
• Customizable workflows and project management tools
• Report generation
• General ledger controls for financial planning
• Multiple customizable dashboards
• Simultaneous user access

Oracle NetSuite pricing

• Custom: Typically charges a $999 monthly licensing fee
• Additional per-user cost: Typically around $129 per month

7. Plooto

Plooto isn’t a full accounting platform, but it’s an excellent option for businesses that need a way to accept and oversee customer payments. It’s an all-in-one platform that manages every aspect of your business’s accounts receivable and accounts payable processes. 

Our detailed Plooto review explains that you can set up automated workflows that meet your business’s needs and help you get paid faster, as well as make vendor payments via online checks or pre-authorized debits. Plooto syncs with popular accounting software, including QuickBooks, making it a valuable tool in your financial management system.  

Key features of Plooto

• Send and receive international payments
• Vendor payments via online check or pre-authorized debit
• Invoice management and cash flow tracking
• Federal payroll deductions and corporate tax payments
• Integration with accounting software, including QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite

Plooto pricing

• Go plan: $9 per month
• Grow plan: $32 per month
• Pro plan: Starts at $99 per month

8. Sage 50

​​​​Sage 50 is subscription-based accounting software that’s well-suited to midsize businesses. Its features include automated fee calculation, accounting fraud detection tools, project management software and invoice tracking.

However, as we explain in our detailed Sage 50 review, this platform is one of the more expensive accounting options. The cost depends on the number of users you add to your account, so the price can escalate quickly for large companies. 

Key features of Sage 50

• Cloud-based software
• Tax assistance and management tools
• Automated fee calculation
• Discrepancy detection tools for accounting accuracy
• Project management, team assignment and report generation tools
• Invoice tracking and exemptions

Sage 50 pricing

• Pro Accounting: $625 per year
• Premium Accounting: $1,100 per year
• Quantum Accounting: $1,896 per year

9. ZarMoney

ZarMoney is a top cloud-based accounting solution you can test for free before committing. It’s also a very affordable platform with an impressive suite of features, including account tracking tools, bank reconciliation, account management and tax assistance. ZarMoney also supports ACH payment processing, so you can accept payments and instantly sync them with your records.

ZarMoney may be a good choice for new accountants or small businesses. It comes with a variety of tutorials and webinars with accounting tips that can help you understand smart accounting practices.

Key features of ZarMoney

• CPA filing tools for certified accountants in your organization
• Tax assistance
• Bank reconciliation tools
• Check processing and writing, plus ACH payment processing
• Billing and invoicing
• Cash management tools
• Contact database management

ZarMoney pricing

• Entrepreneur: $15 per month
• Small Business: $20 per month
• Enterprise: $350 per month

10. Kashoo

If you’re a sole proprietor, Kashoo could be the perfect accounting software for your needs. It’s easy to set up, allows you to add tax details quickly, and the interface is simple to navigate.

You can manage and process transactions, send invoices, set up bills to pay, and organize your contacts and accounts, all from a single dashboard. Kashoo can also provide tax assistance and generate reports to help you understand your business’s financial situation.

Key features of Kashoo

• Tax management and assistance
• Invoicing
• Bill management
• Report generation
• Account and contact tracking

Kashoo pricing

• TrulySmall Accounting: $20 per month or $216 per year
• Kashoo: $30 per month or $324 per year

QuickBooks alternatives compared

There are many reasons you may need to consider a QuickBooks alternative. Fortunately, plenty are available, and most have a variety of features and functions.

What are the pros and cons of QuickBooks?

You may need to switch from QuickBooks to another accounting software platform, but it helps to know exactly where QuickBooks excels and falls short of its competitors in terms of accounting software features and other aspects.

QuickBooks pros

QuickBooks is widely recognized as high-quality accounting software. “They are a leader in the space, and you know that you will get access to a quality product for the price,” Smith noted.

Some of the advantages of using QuickBooks include:

• It’s very easy to learn and navigate QuickBooks, making it a great choice for small business owners without accounting expertise.
• QuickBooks integrates with many other systems and third-party applications.
• It offers a free 30-day trial and competitive pricing at the lower-tier plans.
• You can create a variety of accounting reports.
• QuickBooks is accessible across all devices.
• It’s easy to look up and review customer information.

QuickBooks cons

Even with its strengths, QuickBooks has some drawbacks that may lead growing businesses to wonder if it’s still the right choice.

Some drawbacks include:

• QuickBooks can become pricey if you need to use all its features.
• It doesn’t have many industry-specific features, like barcode scanning and lot tracking.
• There’s limited access to professional support.
• A limited number of users can access the software simultaneously.
• QuickBooks experiences some instability and system crashes.
• There are no invoice design tools. 
• Accounting data is not always backed up, so it could be lost.

Soomro also noted that QuickBooks can feel outdated and cumbersome, particularly for growing businesses with more complex needs. “The interface is clunky, hard for business owners to navigate, and even pros spend too much time clicking around,” Soomro said. 

Smith feels that QuickBooks pricing may be one of the biggest catalysts causing businesses to look elsewhere. “I am finding more and more companies are moving away from QuickBooks due to the price.” Additionally, other platforms are part of bigger ecosystems with integrated tools. “One of the main reasons that our clients are using Zoho Books instead of QuickBooks is because of all the other software and technology that can be integrated with Zoho Books,” Smith added.

When should you look for new accounting software?

QuickBooks likely meets the needs of many new and even established businesses. After all, it provides invoicing and basic accounting functions that let you track your expenses and income while helping you prepare for tax season.

However, it may eventually lack the specialization or advanced features your business needs. Smith advises seeking new accounting software when your current platform — whether QuickBooks or another solution — no longer suits your needs or budget.

“While most software does the same things, there are some differences that make each one unique,” Smith explained. “In addition to that, if cost is a problem, then a company may want to find a solution that better fits within their budget.”

You might consider switching platforms if any of the following apply to your business:

• Multiple team members need to access the software at the same time.
• You require additional tools beyond accounting, such as project or content management.
• You’ve outgrown basic features and need more advanced accounting capabilities.
• You’re looking for better customer support from your accounting provider.

Find the best accounting software for your business

If you’re new to accounting software, QuickBooks is a great place to start. It’s affordable for beginners and provides the core functionality most business owners need. But at some point, you may outgrow QuickBooks and require more advanced features and tools.

All the software packages we’ve highlighted are excellent QuickBooks alternatives. Start by identifying the features that matter most to your business, then research your options and choose the solution that best fits your needs.

Amanda Hoffman contributed to this article.