The tool being replaced
The best QuickBooks alternatives for a small business
The tool being replaced
QuickBooks Online- Zoho Books is the best QuickBooks alternative here, with a free plan.
- Wave is second and costs nothing for one business.
- Xero is the closest swap, with a lower paid entry price.
- FreshBooks fits invoicing work, and Puzzle is a flat-rate option with few reviews.
- A second company still costs a full subscription on Xero and Wave.
| Tool | Picked for | Type | Free plan | Starting price | Rating | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Zoho Books | Owners who want a free plan for a micro business and paid plans that add inventory and multi currency. | Software | Yes | Freezoho.com/us/books/pricing | 4.4 | 71 |
| 2 Wave | Owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping for one business, with a paid plan for bank import. | Software | Yes | Freewaveapps.com/pricing | 4.4 | 61 |
| 3 Xero | Owners who want bank reconciliation on every plan, with store and POS apps from partners. | Software | No | $27 a monthxero.com/us/pricing-plans | 4.1 | 52 |
| 4 FreshBooks | Service businesses that invoice clients and track time, with billing features on every plan. | Software | No | $23 a monthfreshbooks.com/pricing | 4.5 | 52 |
| 5 Puzzle | US dollar startups that want bank connected books and reconciliation on a flat monthly plan. | Software | No | $30 a monthpuzzle.io/pricing | 3.2 (1 review) | 43 |
Zoho Books is the best QuickBooks alternative on this list, with a free plan and a Standard plan that costs $20 a month. QuickBooks Online’s Free plan costs nothing and its four paid plans run from $38 to $340 a month, which is the number to beat. QuickBooks Online plans and scores lays out exactly what is being replaced.
The two closest rivals on features are Xero plans and scores and FreshBooks in detail.
How I ranked these
The alternatives are scored on the same eight criteria as every accounting package here, from price for one business to customer sentiment. Cost for the first business counts most, so the free plans climb. Where Wave earns points and where Zoho Books earns points list each level with its evidence. If your decision is between QuickBooks and one rival on invoicing, choosing between QuickBooks and FreshBooks is the closer read.
What a swap changes
People already on QuickBooks have everything on QuickBooks in one section, and all the comparisons put two tools side by side. The smaller tools have their own section too, with more on the smaller tools.
Costs outside the headline price
A cheaper plan does not remove every cost. Xero charges for inventory as an add-on, and Wave charges $19 a month for each extra business on Pro. QuickBooks users weighing the move should know what QuickBooks charges first, then set it against Xero subscription costs.
The other side
Among the tools on this page, QuickBooks is the only one with Shopify, Amazon and Square all native. A store that depends on those may pay more and stay put. Switching also means starting history over in a new tool.
Zoho Books undercuts QuickBooks Online on price. The free plan lists invoicing, receipt scans and bank reconciliation, and Standard at $20 a month adds bank feeds and sales tax tracking. Shopify and Amazon connections are native, as they are on QuickBooks. A 14-day trial covers the paid plans. It rates 4.4 from 681 Capterra reviews.
- Key details
- Zoho Books
- Type
- Software
- Starting price
- Free zoho.com/us/books/pricing
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.4 on Capterra
Pros
- Free plan with bank reconciliation
- Standard costs well under QuickBooks Simple Start
- Native Shopify and Amazon connections
Cons
- No Square connection is listed
- Each extra business pays its own plan price
Verdict
A free swap, with the store connections QuickBooks users expect.
Like QuickBooks, a second business needs its own organization and plan. The free plan ends past a yearly revenue limit.
Scorecard
Full scorecard
Plans and prices
Wave’s Starter plan is free and lists unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records. Pro adds bank import and receipt capture for $19 a month. Wave connects to Amazon directly, and to Shopify through Make.com on Pro. It rates 4.4 from 1,731 Capterra reviews. For a single business with light needs, it costs nothing.
- Key details
- Wave
- Type
- Software
- Starting price
- Free waveapps.com/pricing
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.4 on Capterra
Pros
- Starter plan is free
- Native Amazon connection
- Pro is priced for one business, not per owner
Cons
- Bank import needs the paid plan
- Reports are thinner than QuickBooks
Verdict
A free exit for one small business, with fewer reports than QuickBooks.
Bank import sits on Pro, and reports and inventory earn less credit than on QuickBooks.
Scorecard
Full scorecard
Plans and prices
Xero covers the same ground as QuickBooks with three plans at $27, $59 and $97 a month. Every plan lists bank reconciliation, invoicing and receipt capture, and the entry plan costs less than QuickBooks Simple Start. Store connections run through partner apps instead of native connectors. A 30-day trial comes first, and it rates 4.1 from 11,425 Trustpilot reviews.
- Key details
- Xero
- Type
- Software
- Starting price
- $27 a month xero.com/us/pricing-plans
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 4.1 on Trustpilot
Pros
- Reconciliation on every plan
- Paid entry plan costs less than QuickBooks
- Multiple currencies on Established
Cons
- Shopify and Amazon need partner apps
- Inventory costs extra
Verdict
The nearest equivalent, cheaper on its paid entry plan and lighter on store connections.
Inventory is an add-on, and each extra business needs its own subscription.
Scorecard
Full scorecard
Plans and prices
FreshBooks starts at $23 a month on Lite, then $43 on Plus and $70 on Premium, with a 30-day trial. Invoicing earns the top level on the list. Plus adds receipt capture and bank reconciliation. It rates 4.5 from 4,529 Capterra reviews.
- Key details
- FreshBooks
- Type
- Software
- Starting price
- $23 a month freshbooks.com/pricing
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 4.5 on Capterra
Pros
- Top invoicing level among the alternatives
- Reconciliation and receipt capture on Plus
- Rated 4.5 from 4,529 Capterra reviews
Cons
- No inventory credit
- Shopify only through a partner app
Verdict
A good swap for a service business, and a poor one for a store.
Inventory and the cost of a second business both earn no credit.
Scorecard
Full scorecard
Plans and prices
Puzzle sells flat plans at $30, $72, $120 and $360 a month. Every plan lists unlimited bank connections, and Complete adds AI-powered reconciliations. A 14-day trial comes first. Its rating is 3.2 from 1 Trustpilot review, which is too little to judge by.
- Key details
- Puzzle
- Type
- Software
- Starting price
- $30 a month puzzle.io/pricing
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 3.2 on Trustpilot (1 review)
Pros
- Prices for every plan are published
- Unlimited bank connections on every plan
- AI-powered reconciliations on Complete
Cons
- No store or POS connections listed
- Almost no customer reviews
Verdict
Worth a look for a startup, and a thin choice for anyone who sells online.
No Shopify, Amazon or Square connection is listed.
Scorecard
Full scorecard
Plans and prices
Common questions
What is the best QuickBooks alternative?
Zoho Books ranks first, with a free plan and a Standard plan well under QuickBooks Simple Start. Wave suits a free start, and Xero is the closest like-for-like swap.
Is there a free alternative to QuickBooks?
Yes. Zoho Books and Wave both have free plans. Zoho’s free plan lists bank reconciliation, and Wave puts bank import on its paid Pro plan.
Which alternative works with Shopify and Amazon?
Zoho Books lists native Shopify and Amazon connections. Wave connects to Amazon directly, and Xero and FreshBooks reach Shopify through partner apps.
Which alternative has the lowest paid price?
Wave Pro at $19 a month is the lowest paid entry plan here, followed by Zoho Books Standard at $20.