Price checkMonthly
FreeFreeSolopreneur$20/moSimple Start$38/mo
See all 6 plans

All QuickBooks Online Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
View all features by plan (compare side-by-side)

Free

  • 1 user
  • Send up to 2 invoices per month
  • Upload 2 receipts per month
  • Track up to 5 mileage trips per month
  • Basic income and expense tracking
  • No mobile app access or third-party integrations

Solopreneur

  • 1 user included
  • Separate business and personal expenses
  • Track mileage
  • Send invoices and estimates
  • Capture receipts
  • Basic reports

Simple Start

  • 1 user included
  • Track income and expenses
  • Send invoices and estimates
  • Accept payments
  • Maximize tax deductions
  • Track sales tax
  • Run basic reports

Essentials

  • Up to 3 users
  • Everything in Simple Start
  • Manage bills
  • Track time
  • Multiple currencies
  • Assign transactions to projects
  • Track billable time

Plus

  • Up to 5 users
  • Everything in Essentials
  • Track inventory
  • Track project profitability
  • Recurring transactions
  • Budgets
  • Purchase orders
  • 1099 contractor management

Advanced

  • Up to 25 users
  • Everything in Plus
  • Custom user permissions
  • Batch transactions
  • Automated workflows
  • Business analytics and insights
  • Dedicated account team
  • Priority support
Pricing Alerts

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What does QuickBooks Online actually cost you?

Drag the slider. Pick a tier. Your projected spend updates as you go.

Tier
Billing
Your projected cost$500per month · $20/unit × 25units
Year 1 license$6.0K12 months at this rate
At a glance

List price by tier (annualized, per unit)

Per-unit list price across QuickBooks Online's plans, annualized. Custom-priced tiers show a hatched bar.

FreeCustom
Solopreneur$240/yr
Simple Start$456/yr
Essentials$900/yr
Plus$1.4K/yr
Advanced$3.3K/yr
Real-world benchmark

Buyers actually pay a median of $900/yr for QuickBooks Online contracts (Vendr deal flow, n=309). That's a contract total — the more seats, the more leverage to negotiate down.

Quick Answer
Last verified:
High confidence

QuickBooks Online costs Free to $275 per month as of September 2026, with 6 plans available including a free tier. Plans: Free (free), Solopreneur at $20/month, Simple Start at $38/month, Essentials at $75/month, Plus at $115/month, and Advanced at $275/month. The median contract is $900/year based on 309 verified purchases.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes

QuickBooks Online offers 6 pricing tiers: Free, Solopreneur, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced. A free plan is available. Paid plans include Solopreneur at $20/month, Simple Start at $38/month, Essentials at $75/month. The Solopreneur plan is one-person businesses and gig workers.

Compared to other accounting software, QuickBooks Online is positioned at the mid-market price point.

  • Median contract: $900/yr from 309 purchases Precise
  • 4 documented hidden costs beyond list price
  • Contracts auto-renew — Cancel anytime; charges for current billing month are non-refundable
Last verified: | Sources: 6 pricing pages and reviews

How much does QuickBooks Online cost?

QuickBooks Online offers a free plan with 5 paid tiers from $20 to $275/month. Plans include Free (free), Solopreneur at $20/month, Simple Start at $38/month, Essentials at $75/month, Plus at $115/month, Advanced at $275/month.

QuickBooks Online Pricing Overview

QuickBooks Online has 6 pricing plans, including a free tier. Paid plans range from $0 to $275/month. The Free plan is free and is best for very small or side businesses that only send a couple of invoices a month. The Solopreneur plan costs $20/month, best for one-person businesses and gig workers. The Simple Start plan costs $38/month, best for solo entrepreneurs and freelancers. The Essentials plan costs $75/month, best for growing businesses needing bill management and time tracking. The Plus plan costs $115/month, best for growing businesses with inventory and project tracking needs. The Advanced plan costs $275/month, best for larger smbs with complex workflows.

QuickBooks Online contracts auto-renew, with a Monthly commitment only — no annual option available minimum commitment.

The median QuickBooks Online customer pays $900/year based on 309 verified purchases.

There are at least 4 documented hidden costs beyond QuickBooks Online's list price, including implementation, training, and add-on fees.

This pricing was last verified in August 24, 2026 from 6 independent sources.

Try QuickBooks Online Free

As of August 2026, QuickBooks Online costs $38/month for Simple Start, $75/month for Essentials, $115/month for Plus, and $275/month for Advanced at list price, with a $0 Free plan (1 user, 2 invoices a month) and a $20/month Solopreneur plan for one-person businesses. Intuit typically discounts new subscriptions 90% for the first 3 months or offers a 30-day free trial; payroll is a separate add-on.

QuickBooks Online is the leading cloud-based accounting software from Intuit, serving millions of small businesses worldwide. It offers comprehensive features for invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and tax preparation across six pricing tiers (including a limited Free plan).

Each tier builds upon the previous, with the main differences being user limits, inventory tracking, project profitability, and automation features. QuickBooks integrates with hundreds of third-party apps and offers add-ons for payroll, payments, and time tracking.

How QuickBooks Online Pricing Compares

Compare QuickBooks Online pricing against top alternatives in Accounting.

FreshBooks $6-$55/month Compare → Xero $25-$90/month Compare → Sage Accounting $10-$62/month Compare →

Compare QuickBooks Online vs Alternatives

Before committing to QuickBooks Online, compare pricing with these 3 alternatives in the same category.

VSFreshBooks
From $6/month

Freelancers and service businesses prioritizing invoice UX

Full comparison
VSXero
From $25/month

Businesses wanting unlimited users at a fixed plan price

Full comparison
VSSage Accounting
From $10/month

SMBs wanting simpler, lower-cost accounting

Full comparison

All QuickBooks Online alternatives & migration guides

What Companies Actually Pay for QuickBooks Online

The median QuickBooks Online buyer pays $900/year based on 309 verified purchase transactions.

What companies actually pay $900/yr Median across 309 community cost mentions Precise
Review scores
TrustRadius 8.1out of 10 (2,199)
Third-party review aggregates, as of Apr 2026
Top pricing complaints
Interface complexity and frequent changes to layoutAggressive upselling throughout the applicationForced upgrades from legacy plans to more expensive optionsAnnual price increases with no grandfathering
Source: Community cost mentions (Reddit, Hacker News) — aggregated from 309 distinct user reports. Indicative only — not contract-grade data.

QuickBooks Online Year 1 Total Cost by Company Size

Real deployment costs including licenses, implementation, training, and admin — not just the sticker price.

Freelancer / Solo Consultant $38 Year 1 total
$456/year
Total $38

A solo consultant tracking income, expenses, and sending invoices to clients.

Small Service Business with 3 Employees $175 Year 1 total

A 3-person marketing agency needing time tracking, bill management, and basic payroll.

Product Business with Inventory (5 users) $115 Year 1 total
$1,380/year
Total $115

An e-commerce business with 5 team members tracking inventory, projects, and purchase orders.

Growing Company with Complex Needs (15 users) $475 Year 1 total

A 15-person company needing automated workflows, custom permissions, and advanced reporting.

How QuickBooks Online Pricing Compares

Software Starting Price Top Price
QuickBooks Online Free $275/month
AccountEdge $5/Month $50/Month
Bench Accounting $55/mo $599/mo
Dext $17.7/month $25.21/month
FreshBooks $23/month $70/month
OneUp Custom Custom

Detailed pricing comparisons:

Browse all Accounting pricing →

4 QuickBooks Online Hidden Costs Beyond the List Price

Beyond the listed price, QuickBooks Online has at least 4 documented hidden costs that can significantly increase total cost of ownership.

Watch for 4 hidden costs
  • Payroll Add-On Costs $50-$130/month base + $6/employee/month
    high 1 source
    Reddit "She said it was something like $400/mo plus $6 per employee or something."
  • Annual Price Increases 11-17% annual increase — Advanced plan rose from $200 to $275 since 2023
    high 1 source
    nerdwallet "QuickBooks Online prices tend to increase once a year, typically in the summer. The Advanced tier has experienced the steepest year-over-year growth."
  • Forced Plan Upgrades and Discontinued Tiers 30-50% of license costs
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "doesn't want to pay QuickBooks for payroll anymore now that they're getting rid of basic payroll forcing her into an expensive plan."
  • Persistent In-App Upsells Non-monetary — UX friction
    low 1 source
    TrustRadius "The upsells have gotten worse over time and are on every screen in the most awkward positions. I don't need a constant reminder to upgrade, especially on a very old account that's paid thousands over the years."
Tip

Ask your QuickBooks Online sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Intelligence sourced from 3 independent sources
Reddit User discussions nerdwallet TrustRadius Enterprise reviews
Key claims include inline source attribution. Data verified against multiple independent sources. 9 source citations total.

QuickBooks Online Contract Terms

QuickBooks Online contracts auto-renew. Changes require Cancel anytime; charges for current billing month are non-refundable. These terms are sourced from verified buyer experiences.

Contract Terms
Auto-Renewal Yes
Cancellation Notice Cancel anytime; charges for current billing month are non-refundable
Minimum Commitment Monthly commitment only — no annual option available
Mid-Term Downgrade Allowed
Payment Terms Monthly billing only — no annual prepay discount option
Price Escalation Annual increases of ~11-17% each summer. No grandfathering — all existing subscriptions move to new pricing.
Note

Downgrading may result in data/feature loss

Based on 1 verified source

How to Negotiate QuickBooks Online Pricing

QuickBooks Online contracts are negotiable. These 3 tactics are sourced from real buyer experiences and procurement specialists.

Negotiation Playbook 3 tactics
Get 30% Off via Accountant/Bookkeeper Partner high success

If your accountant or bookkeeper is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, they can purchase QBO on your behalf through their partner portal and pass on a 30% discount. This is the most widely documented way to save on QuickBooks.

Reddit user experience — widely reported by accountants and business owners
Take the 90% Off Intro Promotion high success

New QuickBooks Online subscribers regularly see 90% off for the first 3 months (as of August 2026). This promotion is often surfaced on landing pages and via referral links. Best strategy: don't start a paid trial — look for an active promo link first.

Standard Intuit promotional practice
Consider the Solopreneur Plan Before Simple Start high success

The $20/month Solopreneur plan is easy to overlook — it's not marketed prominently. If you're a true solo operator without inventory or multi-user needs, it saves $18/month vs Simple Start.

QBO tier comparison
High success Medium Low / difficult

Full negotiation guide →

QuickBooks Online Pricing FAQ

01 How much does QuickBooks Online cost for a small business?

As of August 2026, QuickBooks Online costs $38/month for Simple Start (1 user), $75/month for Essentials (3 users), $115/month for Plus (5 users), or $275/month for Advanced (25 users) at list price. A $0 Free plan (1 user, 2 invoices a month) and a $20/month Solopreneur plan cover the smallest businesses. Intuit usually offers 90% off for the first 3 months or a 30-day free trial, and payroll is a separate add-on from $50/month plus $6.50 per employee.

02 How much does QuickBooks Online cost per month?

QuickBooks Online ranges from $0/month (Free, 1 user, 2 invoices a month) and $20/month for Solopreneur up to $275/month for Advanced. Simple Start is $38/month, Essentials is $75/month, and Plus is $115/month at list price as of August 2026.

03 Is there a free version of QuickBooks Online?

Yes. As of August 2026 Intuit offers QuickBooks Free at $0/month for one user, limited to 2 invoices and 2 receipt uploads per month, with no mobile app or third-party integrations. Paid plans come with a 30-day free trial or 90% off for the first 3 months.

04 Does QuickBooks charge per user?

QuickBooks does not charge per user within plan limits. Each tier includes a set number of users: Simple Start has 1, Essentials has 3, Plus has 5, and Advanced has 25.

05 What is the difference between QuickBooks Simple Start and Essentials?

Essentials includes everything in Simple Start plus bill management, time tracking, multiple currencies, and supports up to 3 users instead of 1.

06 Is QuickBooks payroll included?

No, payroll is a separate add-on starting at $50/month base plus $6.50 per employee. It is not included in any QuickBooks Online subscription.

07 What are QuickBooks Online pricing tiers?

QuickBooks Online offers six pricing tiers as of August 2026: Free at $0/month, Solopreneur at $20/month, Simple Start at $38/month, Essentials at $75/month, Plus at $115/month, and Advanced at $275/month. Each tier provides increasing levels of features, automation, and user access.

08 Does QuickBooks Online offer a free plan?

Yes — QuickBooks Free costs $0/month for 1 user but caps you at 2 invoices per month and excludes the mobile app and integrations. The cheapest full paid plan is Solopreneur at $20/month, and Simple Start is $38/month.

09 Can I get a discount on QuickBooks Online?

Accountants and tax professionals can provide clients with a 30% discount through their QuickBooks partner login. This is one of the primary discount programs available for QuickBooks Online subscriptions.

10 Is QuickBooks Online good for small businesses?

QuickBooks Online works well for small service-based businesses that need invoicing, expense tracking, and basic financial reporting. However, users note it may be expensive and overly complex for very simple accounting needs. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and straightforward transactions may find the pricing and feature set excessive for their requirements.

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