We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
Most buyers should pick AccountEdge.
Choose AccountEdge if you want local desktop accounting with invoicing, expenses, payroll options, inventory and time billing. Its plans start at $20/month, but payroll and other extras may add cost. Choose QuickBooks Online for a free entry plan or a self-employed plan with unlimited invoices; the free tier allows just one user, one connected bank account and two invoices monthly. Its paid plans add user and feature limits, so check the caps and fees that fit your business.
01Side by side
| AccountEdge | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/month; annual price not listed | Free tier; paid from $20/month |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | Yes; one user, one bank account, two invoices/month |
| Best for | Small businesses wanting desktop accounting | Self-employed users or basic bookkeeping |
| Core strength | Accounting, inventory, time billing and reporting | Business finances, profit visibility and decision support |
| Learning curve | Learning curve not stated; ease score 5 | Learning curve not stated; ease score 4 |
| Integrations/data | Imports, exports, reports and PowerBI exports | Up to three sales channels on Simple Start |
| Team/seat costs | Network Edition: $30/month for two users | Simple Start: $38/month for one billable user |
| Support | Free email or technical support, by plan | Support terms not published on the vendor's site |
AccountEdge Choose AccountEdge if
- Choose AccountEdge if you prefer local desktop accounting.
- Choose AccountEdge if you need inventory and time billing.
- Choose AccountEdge if PowerBI exports or local files matter.
QuickBooks Online Choose QuickBooks Online if
- Choose QuickBooks Online if you want a free entry plan.
- Choose QuickBooks Online if you are self-employed.
- Choose QuickBooks Online if unlimited invoices fit your paid-plan needs.
02Pricing compared
AccountEdge starts at $20/month for Pro, with one user and 10 company files. Network Edition is $30/month for two included users; Hosted is $50 per user/month. The pricing page lists monthly prices but no annual rates. Payroll is an optional service with no published price; bank feeds, phone support and extra company files also cost extra.
QuickBooks has a free plan, but its cap is tight: one user, one connected bank account and two invoices per month. Solopreneur costs $20 monthly, or $215 annually ($17.92/month equivalent). Simple Start is $38/month, Essentials $85 and Plus $140. Payroll, inventory tracking and payment processing can add costs, and several plans cap users or other usage. Compare the actual features and add-ons you need, not just the entry price.
03Features and depth
AccountEdge’s feature set is broader than basic bookkeeping: it covers invoicing, vendor expenses, payroll options, inventory, time billing and reporting. Its inventory tools track items, kits, locations and variations; time billing supports custom rates and timesheets or activity slips. The software also offers imports, exports, on-screen analysis and PowerBI exports. Payroll is optional, and its price is not published.
QuickBooks Online’s listed plans differ more by caps and business needs. Simple Start includes one billable user, up to 250 chart-of-accounts entries and up to three connected sales channels. Essentials adds bill and time-tracking features, with three billable users. Plus allows five billable users and lists FIFO inventory and project profitability tracking. Inventory tracking is a $40/month add-on for Simple Start and Essentials. The published QuickBooks overview gives less detail on its general feature set than AccountEdge’s, so compare the specific plan inclusions before switching.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The bigger difference is how you access the software. AccountEdge Pro and Network Edition are local desktop products; Hosted adds browser access for $50 per user each month. Choose based on whether your team wants local software or remote browser access, and account for the Hosted per-user price.
QuickBooks Online is sold in tiers from a narrowly capped free option to Plus. That makes it important to check user limits, connected accounts and feature caps before settling in. The published information does not establish that either product is easier to learn, and it does not provide onboarding details. We’d shortlist based on workflow and access needs, then confirm whether the chosen plan supports the team’s day-to-day tasks.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, AccountEdge or QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks has a free plan, but it permits only one user, one connected bank account and two invoices monthly. Its Solopreneur plan is $20/month or $215/year. AccountEdge Pro is $20/month. Compare the needed features and add-ons; the free tier is not equivalent to a full paid plan.
Does AccountEdge include inventory management?
Inventory management is part of AccountEdge’s listed feature set, including tracking items, kits, locations and variations. QuickBooks lists FIFO inventory and project profitability in Plus at $140/month. Inventory tracking is a $40/month add-on for Simple Start and Essentials, according to the published pricing information.
How much does payroll cost with AccountEdge and QuickBooks?
AccountEdge payroll is optional, supports unlimited employees, and has no published price. QuickBooks payroll pricing depends on the plan: the published details list payroll from about $50–$88/month plus $6.50–$7 per employee/month for Simple Start and Essentials, and Premium payroll at $203/month plus $10 per employee for Plus.
Which should a small business choose?
Choose AccountEdge if local desktop accounting, inventory and time billing fit your workflow, and confirm the price of payroll and other add-ons. QuickBooks may suit a self-employed user who wants unlimited invoices on Solopreneur, or someone testing basic bookkeeping on the tightly capped free plan. Check plan limits before switching.