11 Best QuickBooks Alternatives to Navigate Finances in 2024

QuickBooks launched in 1992 as a basic accounting platform. Now, it provides small and medium-sized businesses with cloud-based accounting services, such as expense tracking and invoicing.However. did you know that there are QuickBooks alternatives on the market with similar functionalities?

Yes, QuickBooks is one of the top accounting software that businesses worldwide use to manage their income and expenses seamlessly. However, it has some constraints, so it may not be able to address all your business needs.

Whether you’re looking for enhanced accounting functions, flexible pricing structures, or industry-focused solutions, we have good news for you!

We’ve collated a review of 11 best QuickBooks alternatives, including a Zoho Books review. These platforms can provide top accounting solutions with intuitive interfaces for small businesses at affordable rates.

Here we go.

How We Chose the Best QuickBooks Alternatives

While compiling this comprehensive list of QuickBooks Alternatives, we didn’t just skim the surface of their functionalities. We conducted thorough research, considering the options that would be a good fit for a wide range of businesses.

Our final list comprises QuickBooks alternatives that offer similar services to QuickBooks, including unique financial planning options, among other features. Here’s an overview of the factors we considered.

Cost and Pricing Model: Before choosing a QuickBooks alternative for your business, you must understand its pricing structure to determine if it aligns with your financial goals. This includes subscription fees and scalability costs. 

User-Friendliness: The ease of use of any accounting software directly impacts productivity. Keeping this in mind, we prioritized QuickBooks alternatives with intuitive interfaces and user-friendly designs. 

Customer Support: The QuickBooks alternatives we chose provide reliable customer support, contributing to a positive user experience. We evaluated the quality of their customer support, ensuring that they provided prompt responses to customer complaints and feedback. 

Scalability: An ideal accounting software should accommodate the expansion of your business operations without compromising on performance. With this in mind, we assessed the scalability of the QuickBooks alternatives on this list. We evaluated their capabilities to cater to small and large enterprises alike. 

Integration Capabilities: We explored the integration capabilities of these QuickBooks alternatives. We looked at their compatibility with other business tools, such as CRM software and project management tools. 

Features: The QuickBooks alternatives on this list offer a wide set of features that can address the various aspects of financial management. From invoicing to expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll management, you’re covered! 

User Reviews: Finally, we selected the best QuickBooks alternatives based on customer feedback and reliable user reviews. These alternatives have a track record of consistently delivering satisfactory accounting services to their users—sometimes, exceeding expectations. 

11 Best QuickBooks Alternatives for 2024

Whether you’re a small business or an established enterprise, maintaining accurate financial records is crucial in evaluating your growth and profit margins.

Conventional bookkeeping practices often involve the manual creation of invoices on paper—a process that can be laborious and time-intensive. However, the digital age has made things much easier with innovative accounting software like QuickBooks.

While QuickBooks is still a good option, you can still explore several other alternatives to find what works best for your business. Here are the best QuickBooks alternatives to consider in 2024.

1. Zoho Books

Image via Zoho Books

Zoho Books is one of the top cloud-based QuickBooks alternatives with great automation features.

Besides its innovative accounting software, it offers a comprehensive suite of project management and customer relationship management tools. This helps to streamline all your business operations on an easily accessible database.

Zoho Books offers customizable invoicing features that enable you to create, send, and keep track of your invoices. It provides automated invoice reminders and follow-ups while allowing you to approve invoice payments with digital signatures.

Zoho Books also has a credit notes and retainer invoice feature that enables users to manage refunds and collect deposits or advance payments.

Aside from invoicing, Zoho Books can also automatically categorize your transactions for easy record-keeping. This helps foster financial transparency in your business.

If you’re looking for QuickBooks alternatives that also offer audit trails and give you access to certified accountants, Zoho Books is one of your best bets.

Although it’s less popular than QuickBooks, this accounting software offers features similar to QuickBooks Online, such as financial reporting and automatic expense reconciliation. Take a look at some of its key features:

Key Features: 

• Provides automated workflows for recurring transactions and inventory management
• Seamlessly compiles business reports like balance sheets, cash flow reports, and profit and loss statements
• Provides tools to set default tax rates on all expenses and automate sales tax calculations
• Offers easy connection to payment gateways and tracks when users receive payment for goods and services
• Uses Snail Mail to send hard copy invoices and other documents to customers across the world when necessary
• Offers tiered membership plans with various add-on benefits

Pros

• Free plan available
• Live chat support and 24/5 customer service
• Easy onboarding process

Cons

• Limited integration with other non-Zoho tools

Pricing

Zoho Books offers a free plan with limited benefits and several tiered plans with add-on benefits. You can also get a 14-day free trial with access to the full program.

• Free: 1 user + 1 accountant
• Standard: $20 per month – 3 users
• Professional: $50 per month – 5 users
• Premium: $70 per month – 10 users
• Elite: $150 per month – 10 users
• Ultimate: $275 per month – 15 users

Image via Zoho Books

Zoho Books also offers annual subscriptions that are much cheaper. For example, the Ultimate plan will only cost $200 per month if you pay annually. This allows you to save $75 per month.

Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

2. Sage Accounting

Image via Sage Accounting

This QuickBooks alternative is an accounting software with essential bookkeeping features, such as inventory management and expense report compilations. It’s one of the most affordable QuickBooks alternatives that offers basic invoicing features.

Sage Accounting gives you access to audit trails to help you track your expenses. With this accounting software, you can automate data entry and create VAT returns on all your transactions.

If you need to get insights into how well your business is doing, you can use its financial report feature to generate a comprehensive report.

Although Sage Accounting may not be as popular as other QuickBooks alternatives, it remains a worthy option for large enterprises due to its robust functionalities. Here are its key features:

Key Features

• Offers inventory tracking and comprehensive expense reports like cash flow statements and ledger reports
• Equipped with online bank feeds to automate and reconcile expenses
• Allows you to track your inventory and set up automatic out-of-stock notifications
• Generates reports to track your best-selling products automatically
• Connects users with Sage Accounting experts, bookkeepers, and other business partners
• Processes online credit and debit bank payments

Pros

• Affordable pricing compared to competitors
• Offers a 30-day, cardless free trial
• Reliable phone support and customer service options
• Allows additional users for $2 per user

Cons

• Limited third-party integration options
• Additional costs to access time-tracking features and other advanced functionalities

Pricing

This QuickBooks alternative offers two paid plans and a 30-day free trial with access to full benefits.

• Sage Accounting Start: $11 per month
• Sage Accounting Standard: $22 per month

Image via Sage Accounting

Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

3. Xero

Image via Xero

Established in 2006, Xero is one of the most competent QuickBooks alternatives due to its extensive user base and wide range of functionalities. It makes your work easy by using automation to simplify inventory management and cash flow records.

Xero doesn’t just track your expenses, it also provides an audit trail to help you improve how you manage your expenses. If you need to talk to a professional, Xero also provides accessible accountants for that.

Among the suitable QuickBooks alternatives, Xero has some of the best integration capabilities. This enables you to streamline your business operations with comprehensive cloud-based services.

It also offers a simple and beginner-friendly double-entry bookkeeping system. So, if you’re a start-up business still learning the ropes in accounting, this is a good pick for you.

Here are the key features that make Xero a worthy QuickBooks alternative.

Key Features

• Features robust expense report customization tools with a user-friendly interface
• Provides a mobile app that’s compatible with both Android and IOS
• Emphasizes data security to protect users’ financial information
• Uses automation to import PayPal payments and other bank transactions as live feed
• Has a customizable dashboard with a simple layout
• Allows you to import pre-existing records from Excel, Google Docs, or PDF documents

Pros

• Affordable, with the lowest plan at $15 per month
• High integration capabilities with over 1000 business tools
• Offers unlimited users on all levels
• 30-day free trial

Cons

• Inadequate customer service options
• Limited number of transactions and invoices allowed in the Early plan

Pricing

After its 30-day free trial, Xero requires you to pay under the following plans.

• Early: Usually $15 per month, now $3.75
• Growing: Usually $42 per month, now $10.50
• Established: Usually $78 per month, now $19.50

Image via Xero

Tool Level

• Beginner

Usability

• Easy to use

4. Wave Accounting

Image via Wave

Wave Accounting is a unique accounting software that focuses on the needs of small businesses. It uses cloud-based capabilities that cater to the accounting needs of freelancers, solopreneurs, self-employed contractors, and other small businesses.

For over 10 years, Wave Accounting has provided advanced features like tracking expenses, inventory management, and bill automation to businesses of varying industries across the globe. Currently, it caters to the accounting needs of over 10 million businesses.

Unlike other QuickBooks alternatives, such as Zoho Books, that require you to subscribe to gain access to benefits, Wave offers a free plan with a wide range of benefits.

If you’re a one-man team or the owner of a startup business, this QuickBooks alternative is a good place to start your bookkeeping journey. It’s a user-focused software for tracking income quickly and generating professional invoices.

So, what are the key features that place Wave Accounting on this list of the best QuickBooks alternatives? Here they are.

Key Features

• Provides a double-entry accounting system to help you accurately track your transactions
• Allows you to create budgets and estimates that can easily be converted to invoices when the transaction is complete
• Allows you to send invoices on the go with its free app for Android and iOS
• Enables recurring invoices and automated credit card payments for repeat clients
• Provides easy access to accountants for a reasonable fee for consultation sessions
• Showcases a simple software design and an easy-to-use, intuitive interface

Pros

• Offers a free starter plan with unlimited expense and invoice tracking
• Easy access to accountants
• Robust inventory-tracking functionalities

Cons

• Only integrates with other Wave applications
• Doesn’t offer audit trails
• Limited scalability

Pricing

Wave Accounting offers a free plan that doesn’t require any membership fees. It also offers add-on benefits at different prices.

• Accounting & Invoicing: Free 
• Mobile Receipts: $8 per month
• Payroll: $40 per month
• Advisors: Starts at $149 per month

Image via Wave

 Tool Level

• Beginner

Usability 

• Easy to use

5. FreeAgent

Image via FreeAgent

With over 150,000 users, FreeAgent is a cloud-based accounting software that provides advanced expense-tracking tools to monitor cash flow and tax bills.

FreeAgent is equipped with numerous features like payroll management and invoicing. You can use it to generate, send, and track invoices, which can be monitored on an easily customizable dashboard.

This QuickBooks alternative allows you to upload expense receipts. All you have to do is take a picture and let your FreeAgent app do the rest.

Such features help you streamline all your business expenses more accurately. They are also great for planning and projecting your business profitability.

Take a look at some of its key features.

Key Features

• Provides access to business insights with expense reporting tools
• Tracks and automates recurring income and expenses using its built-in project management tools
• Provides essential time-tracking tools like smart timesheets and an in-built stopwatch
• Enables UK accounts to run HMRC-recognized payroll for streamlining employee compensation
• Allows you to easily file VAT, Self Assessment and RTI returns from a dashboard, enabling you to remain tax compliant.
• Seamlessly integrates with payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Zapier
• Enables you to create estimates and invoices in over 25 languages and different currencies

Pros

• 30-day free trial and 50% off for the first six months after signing up
• Payroll function available on all UK membership plans
• Seamless API integration capabilities
• Award-winning customer support

Cons

• May be pricey after the 50% off period
• Limited customer service options

Pricing

• First Six Months: $13.50 per month
• Subsequently: $27 per month

Image via FreeAgent

Tool Level

• Beginner to Intermediate

Usability

• Moderately easy to use

6. FreshBooks

Image via FreshBooks

FreshBooks is an accounting software famous for its invoice-focused features. It uses a cloud-based system to help businesses fill in their general ledgers, set payment reminders, and manage invoices.

With about 5 million worldwide users, FreshBooks is one of the most popular and reliable QuickBooks alternatives. It started as an invoicing platform before it evolved into full accounting software.

This software appeals to small businesses due to its beginner-friendly interface and accounting report features. Even if you’re fairly new to bookkeeping, you’ll have no trouble navigating this software.

FreshBooks cloud-based system allows you to access the platform on the go. It also compiles your financial data on a streamlined dashboard that makes it easy to toggle between expense reports and other functions.

Here are the key features that make this QuickBooks alternative stand out.

Key Features

• Allows you to create recurring bill payments, manage invoices, and streamline payroll on a simple dashboard
• Categorizes expenses to enable you to run reports that can be shared with your accountant for easy tax filing purposes
• Allows you to send invoices on the go, track mileage, and scan receipts by simply taking a picture
• Integrates with over 100 third-party applications to streamline business operations
• Automatically categorizes transactions and monitors invoices even after you send it, telling you when the recipient has received and viewed it
• Enables you to transfer your time-sheet data to invoices and accept payments easily

Pros

• Small-business friendly
• Detailed time-tracking features
• Multiple integration capabilities with third-party applications
• Risk-free 30-day moneyback guarantee

Cons

• Not suitable for large enterprises with more accounting needs
• Low plans don’t offer access to accountants or audit trails
• Limited functionalities compared to other QuickBooks alternatives

Pricing 

Lite, Plus, and Premium plans provide a 60% discount for 6 months. Subscribing annually entitles users to an additional 10% discount on top of this monthly discount.

• Free: $0 for the first 30 days
• Lite: $7.60 per month for the first 6 months, $19 after
• Plus: $13.20 per month for the first 6 months, $33 after
• Premium: $24 per month for the first 6 months, $60 after
• Select: Custom pricing

Image via FreshBooks

Tool Level

• Beginner to intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

7. KashFlow

Image via KashFlow

KashFlow is a cloud-based accounting software that offers similar functionalities to most QuickBooks alternatives. Since 2005, this award-winning software has been used by business owners to customize invoices, produce quotes, and balance ledgers.

Although this software was designed with small business owners in mind, it can also cater to the needs of large enterprises without compromising its performance. Whether you’re familiar with accounting terms or not, you’ll find KashFlow easy to use.

One of the most common financial accounting challenges small business owners face is keeping up with tax laws. KashFlow takes care of this by automating tax filing.

This alternative to QuickBooks helps business owners automate recurring purchases and inform the recipient when a payment has been made. This helps you save time, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.

Here are the key features that make KashFlow stand out.

Key Features

• Complies with the MTD initiative to help you keep track of taxes with automated VAT filing
• Allows you to access your financial records whenever, wherever
• Uses automated credit-control features to track recurring payments from loyal customers
• Automatically converts quotes to invoices, enabling you to accept payments easily
• Allows you to share your books with your accountant directly for easy management
• Provides payroll functionalities for a set fee
• Allows you to create personalized reports of cash in-flow and out-flow and export them to PDF and CSV

Pros

• 24/7 online customer support
• Automatic credit control
• 14-day free trial

Cons

• Limited functionalities compared to other QuickBooks alternatives

Pricing

• Starter: £10.50 per month
• Business: £22 per month
• Business + Payroll: £29 per month

Image via KashFlow

Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Moderately easy to use

8. Quicken

Image via Quicken

Quicken is one of the oldest finance management platforms. It has helped over 20 million customers in a span of 40 years.

Although it was established as a personal finance management tool, it has expanded its functionalities to cater to small and large businesses alike.

This QuickBooks alternative provides an all-in-one accounting software that tracks your spending and displays your bank account details on a centralized database.

Quicken seamlessly tracks your bill payments by connecting you to over 11,000 digital network billers. All you have to do is set up bill payment automation. Then, all your monthly bills and recurring business transactions can be processed and recorded in a single platform.

Real estate agents particularly prefer this accounting software due to its unique features. It’s equipped to track and manage the profitability of real estate investments.

These features are available on the Home & Business package, which includes rental property functions you can use to invest in properties and track tenant payments.

So, if you’re looking for accounting software that not only tracks your expenses but offers investment options to help you grow, Quicken is a good place to start.

What else makes Quicken part of the worthy QuickBooks alternatives? Take a look at its key features.

Key Features

• Equipped with payment scheduling and tax planning features
• Offers a wide range of industry-specific accounting capabilities with in-depth investment features
• Offers annual subscription fees instead of monthly plans
• Offers different software versions, so you have the flexibility of choosing what works best for your business
• Includes both cloud-based and desktop-based functions, depending on the plan you choose
• Enables you to create and send customized invoices via email

Pros

• Straightforward and easy to use
• Affordable subscription fees, with the lowest tier being only $2.99 per month
• Advanced financial data security
• 30-day moneyback guarantee

Cons

• Preferable for individuals or small businesses that don’t require scalability
• Lacks double-entry accounting systems
• Limited features on iOS and MAC interface compared to Windows

Pricing

Quicken offers four plans that are billed annually. It currently offers 40% off in the first year of all pricing plans for new customers. Here are the discounted rates:

• Quicken Simplifi: $2 per month
• Quicken Classic Deluxe: $3 per month
• Quicken Classic Premier: $4 per month
• Quicken Classic Business & Personal: $5.50 per month

Image via Quicken

Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Moderately easy to use

9. Square Invoices

Image via Square Invoices

Square Invoices is an accounting tool powered by Square, a leading fin-tech company that offers a range of business software solutions.

This QuickBooks alternative is equipped with various features, such as sending invoices and scheduling payment reminders. That way, you can receive timely and automated payments from customers.

With Square Invoices, you can easily attach relevant documents to invoices for proper accountability. You can also save customers’ information and credit card details, so the next time a payment is due, all you have to do is process it with the click of a button.

Square Invoices is a convenient invoicing tool that can seamlessly integrate with other third-party apps, including accounting tools like QuickBooks, Zoho Books, and Xero. This makes it easy to transfer your financial data from one accounting software to another if you’re considering switching over.

Additionally, it allows you to accept tips and apply VAT or discount vouchers when sending an invoice to customers.

Here are the key features of this QuickBooks alternative.

Key Features

• Provides both standard and advanced editions, each offering distinct services tailored to address your company’s specific accounting requirements
• Includes customizable invoice templates with automatic payment reminders
• Allows you to approve payments with e-signature
• Integrates with Square’s suite of business tools like payroll software and retail POS systems
• Features a mobile-friendly interface to authorize invoicing and payments on-the-go
• Generates and sends digital receipts through email or text

Pros

• Easy to use
• Works well with payment gateways like PayPal, Google Card, Cash App, or ACH bank transfer
• Creates customer profiles to expedite recurring payments
• One-time payment with no monthly fees or hidden costs

Cons

• High processing fees
• Poor customer service

Pricing

Square Invoices offers a limited free plan and a paid plan with a 30-day free trial. However, it charges a percentage on each payment you receive.

• Free: $0 per month + processing fees
• Plus: $20 per month + processing fees

Processing Fees

• In-person Transactions: 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction
• Manually Entered Transactions: 3.5% + 15¢ per transaction
• Online Invoices: 2.9% (or 3.3% for the free plan) + 30¢ per transaction
• Invoice with Cash App Pay: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

Image via Square Invoices

 Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

10. Invoicera

Image via Invoicera

Invoicera is a custom cloud billing solution for more than 75 global enterprises. It’s certainly one of the best QuickBooks alternatives in today’s market.

This accounting tool is equipped with all the cloud-based features you need to automate invoices, time-track your employees, and manage business expenses.

Over the years, Invoicera has satisfied freelancers and business owners from small and growing companies in different industries.

Invoicera takes the hassle out of repetitive invoicing tasks by using automation to set up recurring bills. It also encourages you to remain compliant with tax regulations with its GST invoicing capabilities, which give you automated tax calculations and simplify invoicing.

This QuickBooks alternative is also a great option for business owners who want to easily manage multiple vendors on a single platform.

Its secure client portal allows you to view all your invoices and projects in a private space while being able to directly communicate with clients on the platform.

Here are its key features:

Key Features

• Supports 15+ languages and currencies from over 40 countries around the world
• Creates and sends invoices with professional templates
• Sets up recurring bills and late payment reminders
• Offers desktop and cloud-based solutions for easy accessibility
• Allows you to create projects and track their progress status to monitor expenses
• Provides a time-tracking feature to record billable hours for more precise payment processes

Pros

• Easily scalable
• Offers seamless payment gateway integration
• Free version available

Cons

• Limited accounting features compared to other QuickBooks alternative

Pricing

Invoicera does not offer a free version. It offers paid plans with access to full benefits and a 30-day free trial.

• Starter: $19 per month
• Business: $49 per month
• Enterprise: $99 per month
• Infinite: $149 per month

Image via Invoicera

Tool Level

• Beginner to intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

11. Synder

Image via Synder

If you’re looking for QuickBooks alternatives that make eCommerce business bookkeeping easy, Synder is one of your best bets. From bank reconciliation to inventory tracking and ledger management, this accounting tool has got you covered.

Synder makes your work easy by automating a good chunk of your financial transactions. It automates repetitive processes like recurring bill payments and can easily track real-time metrics to provide financial insights.

Here are its key features:

Key Features

• Generates invoices and time-saving smart payment links to enable you to receive payments fast
• Equipped with multi-currency online payment channels, records taxes, and smoothly reconciles multi-channel sales
• Synchronizes transactions from 25 + payment processors and eCommerce platforms
• Centralizes your transactions and other financial operations on an activity dashboard
• Enhances data accuracy with smart duplicate detection mechanism and one-click roll back
• Integrates with popular sales channels like Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, and WooCommerce

Pros

• Wide integration capabilities
• User-friendly interface
• Responsive 24/7 customer support team

Cons

• More pricey than other QuickBooks alternatives on this list

Pricing

Synder offers pricing plans in four tiers with access to different benefits and other add-ons.

• Medium: $61 per month
• Scale: $110 per month
• Large: $275 per month
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

Image via Synder

Tool Level

• Intermediate

Usability

• Easy to use

FAQs

Q1. What program is the equivalent of QuickBooks?

Several QuickBooks alternatives can deliver the same results without compromising on quality. They include:

• Zoho Books
• Xero
• FreeAgent
• Synder
• Wave
• KashFlow
• FreshBooks
• Quicken
• Sage Accounting
• Square Invoices
• Invoicera

Q2. What is the least expensive QuickBooks option?

QuickBooks offers various benefits under its tiered membership plans: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced.  Simple Start is the lowest and least expensive QuickBooks option, priced at $15 per month for the first three months.

Q3. Do accountants prefer QuickBooks?

According to 6sense, QuickBooks has a market share of 85.10%. This indicates that at least 8 out of 10 accountants and business owners use QuickBooks. It’s a popular choice among bookkeepers because it’s an efficient tool for streamlining financial records.

Q4. Is there a Google alternative to QuickBooks?

Although it has limited accounting functions and integration capabilities, Google Sheets can be used as an alternative to QuickBooks. This spreadsheet application was the preferred platform for finance management until more innovative software like QuickBooks came along.

Q5. Is there a free version of QuickBooks?

QuickBooks doesn’t have a free version, but it offers a 30-day free trial period to enable you to test-drive the software to see if it’s a good fit for you. If you’re interested in QuickBooks alternatives with free plans, you can consider using Wave and Zoho Books.

Q6. Can I use Excel instead of QuickBooks?

Excel can be used to track and manage expenses just like QuickBooks. However, it requires you to do the work from scratch, while QuickBooks automates most of the processes for you. Excel also lacks the bank reconciliation and invoicing features QuickBooks offers.

Q7. Is Zoho similar to QuickBooks? 

Zoho Books is one of the best QuickBooks alternatives you can try in 2024. It has similar functions to QuickBooks, including invoice customization, expense reports, and payment automation.

Explore the Top QuickBooks Alternatives

Although QuickBooks remains the most widely used accounting tool that can effectively streamline your financial records, you can still try out other options.

Searching for suitable QuickBooks alternatives is a nuanced process that depends on your unique business needs. As such, what works for one business might not work for you.

Keep your business needs in mind. Choose QuickBooks alternatives that align with your budget and business goals for the year.

Before you commit, test-run the software first to see how well it integrates with your other business tools. You can easily do this using free plans or trial periods.

Finally, remember that all accounting tools have their pros and cons. Keeping this in mind, why don’t you go ahead and explore the top QuickBooks alternatives we’ve outlined above? These tools may just be what you need to transform your approach to bookkeeping in 2024. Good luck!