QuickBooks Online Review 2026: Deep Dive for Solo Devs & Small Teams
Free tier limits, real costs per team size, and honest "not for" warnings. Everything you need to decide if QuickBooks Online fits your stack.
Quick Summary
💰 Monthly Cost by Team Size
🚫 Not Recommended For
- Freelancers with simple invoicing needs (FreshBooks or Wave)
- Budget-conscious solopreneurs
- International businesses (Xero may be better)
QuickBooks Online Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $30/mo | monthly |
| Essentials | $60/mo | monthly |
| Plus | $90/mo | monthly |
| Advanced | $200/mo | monthly |
Pros & Cons
✅ What We Like
- Industry standard — every accountant knows QuickBooks
- Most comprehensive reporting and financial analysis
- Integrated payroll and tax filing
- 750+ third-party integrations
- Strong bank feed and reconciliation
❌ What Could Be Better
- Expensive — $30-200/month with no free plan
- Frequent price increases (has raised prices 3x since 2023)
- Can be complex for non-accounting users
- Payroll is an additional $45+/mo add-on
- Customer support quality has declined
Feature Breakdown
🏆 Our Verdict
QuickBooks Online scores 4.3/5 in our evaluation. Solo Dev Score: 6/10. It's best suited for Small businesses with accountants/bookkeepers, Companies needing payroll + accounting in one platform, US businesses needing tax preparation. It's a solid option worth considering, especially for its core use cases.
📝 Editor's Note
QuickBooks is the 800-pound gorilla of small business accounting. Every CPA knows it, every bank integrates with it, and its reporting is the most comprehensive available. The downside is cost: starting at $30/mo and going up frequently. For freelancers, it's overkill — but for businesses with an accountant, it's the standard.
💡 Pricing Verdict: At $30/mo for Simple Start, QuickBooks is 4x more expensive than FreshBooks and infinitely more than Wave. The value is in the ecosystem: your accountant probably uses it, banks integrate seamlessly, and the reporting is unmatched. Always look for the 75% off first 3 months promotion.
🔄 Switching Tips: Switching to Xero or FreshBooks? Export your chart of accounts, transaction history, and outstanding invoices. QuickBooks makes it easy to export but hard to leave — the biggest lock-in is your accountant's workflow. Discuss with them before switching.
See how it compares: Xero, FreshBooks, Wave Financial
Try QuickBooks Online Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Is QuickBooks Online worth the price in 2026?
QuickBooks Online starts at $30/mo. Based on our evaluation, it scores 4.3/5 overall. Whether it's worth it depends on your team size and feature requirements — read our detailed breakdown above.
What are the main alternatives to QuickBooks Online?
Several tools compete with QuickBooks Online in its category. Check our comparison section above for head-to-head matchups with the top alternatives.
Does QuickBooks Online offer a free plan?
Check our pricing section above for the most up-to-date information on QuickBooks Online's free tier and paid plans.
Is QuickBooks Online good for small businesses?
QuickBooks Online can work for small businesses depending on your budget and requirements. Review our "Best For" section to see if it matches your use case.
📖 Read Next
More accounting reviews you might find useful
FreshBooks
Cloud accounting and invoicing software built for freelancers and small business owners.
Xero
Cloud accounting platform popular with small businesses globally, with strong multi-currency and advisor features.
Wave Financial
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses and freelancers.