Overview
QuickBooks Online is the most widely used small business accounting software, covering invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, and financial reporting. Its dominance means most accountants and bookkeepers already know it, which simplifies hiring outside help.
QuickBooks Online handles the core accounting workflow — invoicing, bill pay, bank reconciliation, and financial statements — with strong bank/credit card sync and a huge ecosystem of accountant familiarity and app integrations. Its interface has improved but still shows its age in places compared to newer entrants, and add-ons like payroll and payments carry extra fees.
- Founded
- 1983
- Pricing model
- Subscription
- Starting price
- $35/mo
- Best for
- Small businesses wanting the most widely supported accounting platform
Features
Invoicing & payments
Send branded invoices and accept online payments with automatic reconciliation.
Bank feed sync
Automatically import and categorize transactions from connected bank and card accounts.
Financial reporting
P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reports with customizable templates.
Payroll add-on
Run payroll, file payroll taxes, and manage benefits within QuickBooks.
Expense tracking
Capture receipts via mobile app and auto-categorize expenses.
Accountant access
Give your bookkeeper or CPA direct, permissioned access to your books.
Screenshots
Pricing
QuickBooks Online uses a subscription pricing model, starting at $35/mo.
Simple Start
$35/mo
- Income & expense tracking
- Invoicing
- 1 user
Essentials
$65/mo
- Bill management
- Time tracking
- 3 users
Plus
$99/mo
- Inventory tracking
- Project profitability
- 5 users
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Nearly universal familiarity among accountants and bookkeepers
- Reliable bank sync and reconciliation tools
- Strong reporting depth for small business finances
- Large app ecosystem for payroll, payments, and inventory
Cons
- Pricing increases have outpaced feature growth in recent years
- Payroll and payments are separate paid add-ons
- Customer support quality is inconsistent
- Multi-entity/consolidated reporting is limited
Alternatives to QuickBooks Online
User Reviews (1)
Robert Hayes
VerifiedSmall Business Owner · 1-10 employees
My accountant already knew it
The biggest win was not having to train my bookkeeper on a new system — she already used QuickBooks with other clients. The bank sync alone saves me hours a month.
Pros: Familiar to accountants, reliable bank sync.
Cons: Payroll add-on fees stack up.