QuickBooks alternatives after the August 2026 price rise
TL;DR
- Intuit applied a price increase on 1 August 2026. QuickBooks Simple Start now lists at $38 a month, for one user.
- Xero is the closest full replacement and includes unlimited users on every plan, starting at $25 a month.
- FreshBooks wins on invoicing itself for freelancers and service businesses, from $23 a month with no free plan.
- Wave and Zoho Invoice are genuinely free, and enough if you do not need a full general ledger.
QuickBooks is the default small-business accounting package in the United States, and the one most accountants know by heart. That standing is exactly why a price increase hurts: switching means arguing with your accountant, not just changing software. Intuit raised its US list prices on 1 August 2026, so the arithmetic is worth redoing. Here are the four alternatives we tested, what they cost now, and what you give up by leaving.
What changed on 1 August 2026?
Intuit applied a price increase to its US list prices. As they now stand, per month, with users capped by plan:
| QuickBooks plan | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $38/month | Invoicing, banking, expenses, basic reports, one user |
| Essentials | $85/month | Bill management, time tracking, more users |
| Plus | $140/month | Inventory, project profitability, more users |
We score QuickBooks 4.5 out of 5, and the product is not the problem. The problem is that a single-user plan at $38 a month now sits above tools that include unlimited users for less.
The four alternatives, compared
| Tool | Score | Entry price | Its strength | Its limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | 4.4 / 5 | $25/month (Early) | Unlimited users on every plan, 1,000+ integrations | Early plan caps monthly invoices and bills |
| FreshBooks | 4.3 / 5 | $23/month (Lite) | Best-in-class invoicing for service businesses | No free plan, Lite caps billable clients at 5 |
| Wave | 4.3 / 5 | $0 (Starter) | Free, with real double-entry accounting | No bank feed import on the free plan |
| Zoho Invoice | 4.5 / 5 | $0 forever | Free with no paid tier, unlimited invoices | Invoicing only, no general ledger |
List prices checked July and August 2026. Note the structural difference in how they charge: QuickBooks and FreshBooks cap seats or clients by plan, Xero does not cap users at all, and the two free tools do not charge for the software.
What each one offers against QuickBooks
Xero, the closest full replacement
Xero built its reputation on one structural decision: every plan includes unlimited users. Three US plans, Early at $25, Growing at $55 and Established at $90 a month, and the difference between them is monthly volume and advanced features rather than seats.
For a company where the owner, a bookkeeper and an accountant all need access, that single decision changes the comparison completely: on QuickBooks, extra users mean moving up a tier. More than a thousand app integrations make it the closest thing to a like-for-like swap.
FreshBooks, if invoicing is the actual job
We rate it the best invoicing app for freelancers and service businesses. The Lite plan at $23 a month covers unlimited invoices, payments and time tracking, with annual billing saving about 10%, and there is a 30-day free trial with no card required.
Two honest limits: there is no free plan, and Lite caps you at five billable clients, which is a real ceiling for a consultant with a broad client list rather than a few retainers.
Wave, if you want books without a bill
The $0 Starter plan includes unlimited invoices and estimates plus genuine double-entry accounting and reports. That combination on a free plan has no equivalent. Wave Pro, around $16 a month, adds bank feed import, automatic reminders and unlimited receipt capture.
Zoho Invoice, if you only need to invoice
Free forever, with no paid tier, no invoice cap and no time limit. It stops at invoicing: no general ledger, no bank feeds, no tax filing. When you need those, the path is Zoho Books from about $15 a month, which is still below the new QuickBooks entry price.
What do you give up by leaving QuickBooks?
- The accountant standard. QuickBooks is the package most US accountants know by heart. That familiarity has real value at year end.
- Depth on inventory and project profitability. Present from the Plus tier, and not matched at entry level elsewhere.
- Ecosystem maturity. Payroll, payments and lending all plug into the same account, which is convenient even when each piece is not the best in class.
Quick quiz
Which alternative includes unlimited users on every plan?
The conversation with your accountant
This is the real obstacle, and pretending otherwise wastes everyone’s time. A switch that saves you $200 a year and adds ten hours of your accountant’s time at year end is not a saving.
Ask before you decide, not after
Most firms support Xero as readily as QuickBooks. Some support neither well. That answer determines your shortlist more than any feature table.
Switch at the start of a financial year
Mid-year migrations mean two sets of books for one period, and reconciling them costs more than the subscription you saved.
Export everything before you close the account
Chart of accounts, transactions, customers, invoice history. Do it while the old subscription is still live, not after.
Which one, based on why you are leaving?
| You are leaving because | Our pick |
|---|---|
| The bill rose and you need several users | Xero |
| Invoicing is 90% of what you actually do | FreshBooks |
| You want to stop paying entirely, but keep books | Wave |
| You only send invoices, nothing else | Zoho Invoice |
| You rely on inventory and project profitability | Stay on QuickBooks Plus |
Compare before you switch
Our comparison ranks the invoicing and accounting tools of 2026 with the prices we recorded.
What to do next
To compare the whole market, see our best invoicing software 2026 comparison, or our list of free invoicing software.
Frequently asked questions
How much does QuickBooks cost after the August 2026 increase?
Intuit applied a price increase to its US list prices on 1 August 2026. Simple Start now lists at $38 a month for one user, Essentials at $85 a month and Plus at $140 a month, with seats capped by plan. Those are list prices; introductory discounts are frequently offered on the first months.
What is the best QuickBooks alternative?
Xero for most businesses, because every plan includes unlimited users, starting at $25 a month, which removes the seat-based upgrade pressure entirely. FreshBooks if invoicing is the bulk of what you do, from $23 a month. Wave if you want to stop paying while keeping real double-entry accounting. Zoho Invoice if you only need to send invoices.
Is there a free alternative to QuickBooks?
Two, and both are genuinely free rather than trials. Wave offers a $0 Starter plan with unlimited invoices and real double-entry accounting, charging around $16 a month for Pro features such as bank feed import. Zoho Invoice is free forever with no paid tier at all, but it stops at invoicing and has no general ledger.
Will my accountant accept a switch?
Ask before deciding rather than after. Most US firms support Xero as readily as QuickBooks, some support neither well, and that answer should shape your shortlist more than any feature comparison. If you do switch, do it at the start of a financial year: a mid-year migration means reconciling two sets of books for one period, which usually costs more than the subscription you saved.
What do you lose by leaving QuickBooks?
Three things. The familiarity most US accountants have with it, which has real value at year end. Depth on inventory and project profitability, available from the Plus tier and not matched at entry level elsewhere. And ecosystem maturity, with payroll, payments and lending all plugged into one account, which is convenient even when each individual piece is not best in class.