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Paid plans start at $17.92/mo. There's also a free plan.
QuickBooks Online has a free tier, while the lowest paid route is Solopreneur at $20 monthly or $17.92 per month when billed annually ($215/year). Other listed plans run $38, $85, and $140 per month. The headline price is only part of the bill: several plans cap users or bookkeeping capacity, and payroll, inventory, payment processing, and bill-pay overages can add costs. We checked the pricing details on Nov. 6, 2026; confirm current terms before switching.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online Free | — | $0 | Very small businesses testing basic bookkeeping |
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | $17.92 | $20 | Self-employed people and sole proprietors |
| QuickBooks Online Simple Start | — | $38 | Small businesses with basic accounting needs |
| QuickBooks Online Essentials | — | $85 | Businesses needing bills and time tracking |
| QuickBooks Online Plus | — | $140 | Businesses tracking inventory and projects |
Add-ons and overages
- Free: payment processing fees of 1%–3.5%; exceeding usage requires upgrading.
- Solopreneur: payment processing fees of 1%–3.5%; extra-seat costs not published.
- Simple Start and Essentials: inventory tracking $40/month; payroll from about $50–$88/month plus $6.50–$7 per employee/month; 1099 e-filing from $14.99 for 3 forms; bill pay ACH overages $0.50 per standard transaction; payment processing 1%–3.5%; extra seats require upgrading.
- Plus: payroll add-ons, including Premium payroll at $203/month plus $10 per employee/month; 1099 e-filing from $14.99 for 3 forms; bill pay ACH overages $0.50 per standard transaction; payment-processing rate not specified.
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Payment processing fees
The pricing details list fees of 1%–3.5% for Free, Solopreneur, Simple Start, and Essentials. The Plus rate is not specified.
Usage caps mean upgrades
Free includes 1 user, 1 connected bank account, and up to 2 invoices monthly. Exceeding usage requires upgrading; extra-seat costs are not published for Solopreneur.
Payroll and inventory add-ons
Inventory tracking is $40/month on Simple Start and Essentials. Payroll starts around $50–$88/month plus $6.50–$7 per employee; Plus Premium payroll is $203/month plus $10 per employee.
Bill pay and filing fees
Simple Start, Essentials, and Plus list $0.50 per standard ACH bill-pay transaction over the included amount. 1099 e-filing starts at $14.99 for 3 forms.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Very small business testing bookkeeping | QuickBooks Online Free | It costs $0, but includes just 1 user, 1 connected bank account, and 2 invoices per month. |
| Self-employed sole proprietor | QuickBooks Solopreneur | It includes 1 user, unlimited invoices, expense and mileage tracking, and management for up to 3 contractors. |
| Small business needing basic accounting | QuickBooks Online Simple Start | It costs $38/month and includes 1 billable user plus 2 accountant users, with caps on accounts and sales channels. |
04Is QuickBooks Online worth the money?
QuickBooks Online is worth considering for basic bookkeeping, especially if the free tier’s limits fit or Solopreneur covers a one-person business. The pricing grid also shows why the listed monthly price may not be the whole cost: user and feature limits can push an upgrade, while payroll, inventory, and transaction fees add charges. QuickBooks presents itself as a broader financial platform for profit visibility, decisions, invoices, payments, and insights, but these prices alone don’t prove it beats alternatives. Compare total cost at your actual usage.
QuickBooks Online pricing FAQ
What are people replacing QuickBooks with?
The pricing information here doesn’t report which products people switch to, so we can’t name a reliable shortlist from these sources. Start by comparing the bookkeeping features you use, user needs, and add-on costs against the alternatives you’re considering. Check whether each supports your workflows before moving financial records.
Can I just buy QuickBooks without a subscription?
The listed QuickBooks Online options are a free tier and paid monthly plans; Solopreneur also has an annual price of $215. The pricing details don’t list a one-time purchase or perpetual license. If you need a non-subscription product, confirm directly with Intuit what is currently available.
What's the cheapest way to get QuickBooks?
QuickBooks Online Free costs $0, but the listed limits are 1 user, 1 connected bank account, and up to 2 invoices per month. The lowest paid plan is Solopreneur at $20 month to month or $215 annually, equivalent to $17.92 per month.
Why is my QuickBooks Online so expensive?
A higher plan, add-ons, or usage fees may explain the bill. The pricing details list payroll and inventory charges, payment-processing fees of 1%–3.5% on several plans, and $0.50 standard ACH bill-pay overages on some plans. Check your plan, add-ons, and transaction charges against the current pricing page.