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QuickBooks Online pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $20 to $275 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

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

  • Free tier: No free tier available
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

QuickBooks Online offers 5 pricing tiers: Solopreneur, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced. Standard paid plans include Solopreneur at $20/month, Simple Start at $38/month, Essentials at $75/month. The Simple Start plan is solo entrepreneurs and freelancers.

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

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 five pricing tiers.

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.

All QuickBooks Online Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Solopreneur users: 1 $20 /month Custom One-person businesses and gig workers
Simple Start users: 1 $38 /month Custom Solo entrepreneurs and freelancers
Essentials users: 3 $75 /month Custom Growing businesses that need bill management and time tracking
Plus users: 5 $115 /month Custom Growing businesses with inventory and project tracking needs
Advanced users: 25 $275 /month Custom Larger small-to-medium businesses with complex workflows
View all features by plan

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

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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 8 hidden costs
  • Payroll Core add-on: $50/month base + $6.50/employee/month for basic payroll processing
  • Payroll Premium add-on: $85/month base + $10/employee/month with same-day direct deposit
  • Payroll Elite add-on: $130/month base + $12/employee/month with tax penalty protection
  • Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.25 for credit card payments; 1% for ACH bank transfers
  • Additional users: Users beyond plan limits require upgrading to a higher tier
  • Annual price increases: Prices typically increase 10-17% annually in summer
  • Live Bookkeeping: Starting at $200/month for virtual bookkeeper assistance
  • QuickBooks Time: $10/month + $10/user for advanced time tracking
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 โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does QuickBooks Online cost per month?

QuickBooks Online ranges from $20/month for Solopreneur to $275/month for Advanced. Simple Start is $38/month, Essentials is $75/month, and Plus is $115/month.

02 Is there a free version of QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Online does not offer a free tier, but new customers can get a 30-day free trial or up to 50% off for the first 3 months.

03 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.

04 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.

05 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.