QuickBooks is a name you’ve probably heard if you’ve looked into accounting software.
Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks, started back in 1983. It was founded by Scott Cook and Tom Proulx and is based in Mountain View, California.
The company began as a small startup. Today, it’s grown into a major player in financial technology.
Intuit’s mission is pretty straightforward: to help small businesses, self-employed folks, and mid-market companies thrive. QuickBooks plays a big role in that plan. It sits alongside other well-known Intuit products like TurboTax and Mint.
Right now, Intuit has over 17,000 employees around the globe. They support more than 7 million QuickBooks users in multiple countries.
In this QuickBooks review, I’m going to share what makes it stand out and why so many people rely on it.
For fiscal 2024, Intuit brought in over $14 billion in revenue. That growth comes from both growing its own business and making strategic buys.
They’ve also added AI tools to help automate tasks within QuickBooks. Plus, they’ve been steadily growing their online features, improving payroll, and upgrading time-tracking capabilities.
In 2025, Intuit announced some price hikes. This shows they’re serious about keeping the product updated and improving how you experience it.
If you want accounting software that continues to evolve while supporting your business needs, QuickBooks might be worth considering.
| QuickBooks – Quick Overview | |
|---|---|
| What It Does | QuickBooks provides comprehensive accounting and business management software that automates bookkeeping, payroll, payments, and inventory tracking for small to mid-sized businesses. |
| Best For | • Small to medium businesses in various industries • Accountants and bookkeepers managing multiple clients • Service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and e-commerce sellers needing integrated payroll, time tracking, and inventory |
| Key Products | QuickBooks Online (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, Advanced) • QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Enterprise) • QuickBooks Payroll • QuickBooks Time • QuickBooks Self-Employed • QuickBooks Payments • QuickBooks Commerce |
| Pricing | QuickBooks Online from $38 to $275/month with 30-day free trial • QuickBooks Self-Employed at lower starting prices • QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise from $2,210/year • Additional fees for payroll, payments, and advanced features |
| Standout Features | • Automated bookkeeping and bank transaction categorization • Custom invoicing and online payments • Expense tracking with receipt capture • Advanced reporting and dashboards • Payroll and compliance automation • Time tracking and project management • Inventory management • Mobile apps with full functionality • AI-driven workflow automation and batch processing |
| Integrations | Shopify, PayPal, Square, Zapier plus dozens of third-party apps; API access for custom workflows |
| Get Started | Start Free Trial → |
QuickBooks Solutions
QuickBooks offers several business solutions.
Each one fits different needs, from solo entrepreneurs to bigger companies.
1. QuickBooks Online
This is the main cloud-based accounting platform. You can pick from four tiers: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced.
It handles core bookkeeping, invoicing, bill management, inventory and project tracking.
2. QuickBooks Desktop
This one installs locally on your computer. It comes in Pro, Premier, and Enterprise editions.
It’s great if you need industry-specific features or detailed reports and inventory management.
3. QuickBooks Payroll
Automate your employee payments, tax filings, and compliance with this integrated payroll tool.
It saves you time managing your payroll details and helps avoid mistakes.
4. QuickBooks Time
Previously called TSheets, this focuses on employee time tracking and scheduling.
It ensures your payroll and job costing are accurate by tracking hours closely.
5. QuickBooks Self-Employed
If you’re a freelancer or solopreneur, this tool fits your needs.
Track income, expenses, mileage, and get ready for tax season more easily.
6. QuickBooks Payments
Handle invoicing, online payments, and in-person transactions all in one place.
This also manages your payments, so you keep everything organized.
7. QuickBooks Commerce
Designed for small business owners managing inventory and orders.
It supports sales across both online and in-person channels to keep stock and orders in check.
All these products connect with dozens of third-party apps like Shopify, PayPal, Square, and Zapier.
Plus, if you want to customize things, API access lets you automate or sync data across your platforms.
QuickBooks Features
1. Automated Bookkeeping
Transactions can be imported and categorized automatically from your bank or credit cards. This cuts down manual entry and improves accuracy.
This feature saves you hours each month and reduces the risk of human error.
2. Custom Invoicing & Payments
You can create professional custom invoices, send payment reminders, and accept payments online. This often helps speed up your cash flow.
3. Expense Tracking & Receipt Capture
With the mobile app, you can snap photos of receipts and automatically match them to bank transactions. It also categorizes expenditures for better expense tracking and tax readiness.
4. Advanced Reporting & Dashboards
QuickBooks lets you generate real-time reports covering profit & loss, balance sheets, cash flow, sales, inventory, and payroll. The Online Advanced tier goes further by offering custom dashboards and KPI tracking for deeper insights.
5. Payroll & Compliance Automation
I like how it calculates payroll taxes, schedules payments, e-files forms, and keeps you compliant with federal and state regulations. This setup minimizes risk and reduces administrative overhead.
6. Time Tracking & Project Management
Integrated timers, timesheets, and project expense tracking help you monitor profitability by job or client. This is especially useful if you run a service-based business or work as a contractor.
7. Inventory Management
You can track stock levels, automate reorder points, and get alerts when inventory runs low. Keep in mind, this feature is available in the Plus and Advanced tiers only.
8. Mobile Apps
The iOS and Android apps are full-featured. They let you invoice, capture receipts, review insights, and approve transactions while you’re on the go.
9. Security & Data Protection
QuickBooks Online uses bank-level encryption, multi-factor authentication, and automatic secure backups. This keeps your financial data safe and sound.
10. Integration & API Access
Expand what QuickBooks can do by connecting it to compatible apps. You can also use developer APIs for custom workflows and linking to other business systems. This is a great way to speed up and secure your operations.
Standout capabilities include AI-driven automation introduced in versions from 2025 onward. This streamlines recurring tasks.
Plus, the Advanced and Enterprise tiers offer powerful batch processing and collaborative tools.
That’s a quick look at the QuickBooks features that can really simplify your accounting.
QuickBooks Pricing Plans
QuickBooks pricing covers both cloud and desktop options.
The online plans work well if you want a monthly subscription and different levels of features based on your business size.
There’s also QuickBooks Self-Employed, which targets freelancers with tools for tax and mileage tracking that’s priced separately from the business plans.
On the desktop side, the Enterprise options demand an annual commitment but include deeper features like payroll and industry-specific tools.
You can try QuickBooks Online for 30 days with a free trial. However, there isn’t a permanent free plan for the core online service.
Here’s a clear breakdown of QuickBooks pricing so you can see what fits your needs best.
| Plan | Price & Features |
|---|---|
| Simple Start | $38/month • Basic income and expense tracking • Invoicing • Best for freelancers and very small businesses |
| Essentials | $75/month • Bill management • Time tracking • Supports up to 3 users |
| Plus | $115/month • Inventory tracking • Project tracking • Supports up to 5 users |
| Advanced | $275/month • Advanced reporting • Batch invoicing • Custom permissions and workflow automation • Supports up to 25 users |
| QuickBooks Self-Employed | Lower starting price • Tax tracking • Mileage tracking • Separate from main Online tiers |
| Enterprise Gold (Desktop) | $2,210/year • Core accounting • Payroll • Advanced reporting |
| Enterprise Platinum/Diamond (Desktop) | Higher price point • Industry-specific tools • Advanced inventory management • Enhanced support |
QuickBooks pricing has gone up quite a bit in recent years.
That’s because they’ve added new features and AI capabilities, but it also means it’s on the pricier side compared to other small business accounting tools.
Keep in mind add-ons like payroll and payment services come with extra fees. If you’re a larger business or want to commit annually, you might find some discounts or customized pricing.
If you want to dive deeper, click here to learn more about QuickBooks pricing →
QuickBooks Alternatives
Let me share how QuickBooks compares to its main competitors.
You probably want to know the core strengths each alternative brings to the table. Pricing is another big factor, especially if you are budget-conscious.
Here’s a quick look at what each competitor offers and where QuickBooks shines.
| Competitor | Their Strengths | QuickBooks Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Xero | Clean design, unlimited users, strong at multi-currency, open API | Offers deeper U.S. tax and payroll integration with stronger third-party app support and mature mobile apps |
| FreshBooks | Simple interface, time tracking, best for freelancers and service SMBs | Includes AI-driven workflow automation and guided setup that competitors are only starting to roll out |
| Wave | Free core features supported by ads, good for freelancers needing basics | More comprehensive tax and payroll handling with broader mobile and app support |
| Zoho Books | Tight Zoho suite integrations, cheaper at lower tiers, custom automation, global support | Stronger U.S.-focused features and more advanced AI-powered setup |
| Sage Business | Robust reporting, industry focus, deep enterprise features, payroll | Better mobile experience and wider third-party app ecosystem |
QuickBooks tends to be pricier, especially as your needs grow. But it makes that cost worthwhile if you want stronger U.S. tax and payroll support.
The AI-driven workflow automation and guided setup really help speed getting started. Not many QuickBooks alternatives offer that right now.
If you run an international business or want to save money, Xero or Zoho Books might fit better. For freelancers who only need the basics, Wave still makes a lot of sense.
Who Should Use QuickBooks
1. Small to medium businesses (SMBs)
If you run a small to medium business in any industry, QuickBooks gives you robust and easy-to-use accounting tools. It helps keep your finances in order without making it complicated.
2. Accountants and bookkeepers
I find the Accountant tools and multi-client dashboard useful when managing several clients. It keeps everything organized and helps me handle multiple accounts smoothly.
3. Service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and e-commerce sellers
QuickBooks works well if you need integrated payroll, time tracking and inventory management all in one place. It brings many tools together to save you time and effort.
Choose QuickBooks if you want comprehensive accounting with automation and strong reporting. It also offers broad integrations that connect with tools you already use.
The plans scale nicely from solo entrepreneurs to firms with over 100 employees. So whether you’re just starting or growing, it grows with you.
Consider alternatives if you are a freelancer and your needs are really simple. Tools like Wave or FreshBooks might suit you better in that case.
Also, if you want lower-cost options with unlimited users, Xero is worth checking out.
Finally, if you prioritize international features or need more flexibility with currencies and languages, QuickBooks might not be your best fit to save you time.
Bottom Line
QuickBooks is the go-to for small business accounting.
It offers market-leading automation and deep features. You also get strong integrations with payroll, payments, and commerce.
The AI-driven tools make bookkeeping easier, even if you’re not an accountant.
That said, QuickBooks ranks among the priciest options now. Price hikes might put some growing businesses off, and extra costs for add-ons add up.
If you want a scalable, full-featured accounting solution that just works, QuickBooks fits the bill.
I hope this QuickBooks review has helped you get a clear picture.
If you’re ready, you can start a trial of QuickBooks → and see if it suits your business.
