Quick answer
QuickBooks Online costs $38 a month for Simple Start, $85 for Essentials, $140 for Plus and $340 for Advanced at list price. Intuit shows 50% off for the first 3 months. For solo users there is also a $0 Free plan and a Lite plan at $20. Prices checked 11 November 2026.
How we compared: every price and plan limit on this page was read from the vendor’s own US pricing page on 11 November 2026, and QuickBooks figures were cross-checked against a second published source. We have not run hands-on tests of these products for this article, so we do not describe how they feel to use. Tax rules are summarised from published guidance and the IRS. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. See our editorial policy.
How much does QuickBooks cost?
QuickBooks has two product lines for small businesses. QuickBooks Online has four plans and is the one most businesses mean. A cheaper pair of plans, Free and Lite, are aimed at solo users. All prices below are monthly list prices in US dollars, read from Intuit’s US pricing page.
| Plan | List price per month | With 50% off (first 3 months) | Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | n/a | 1 |
| Lite | $20 | $10 | 1 |
| Simple Start | $38 | $19 | 1 (2 accountants) |
| Essentials | $85 | $42.50 | 3 (2 accountants) |
| Plus | $140 | $70 | 5 (2 accountants) |
| Advanced | $340 | $170 | 25 (3 accountants) |
Intuit says the first-months discount is “50% off for 3 months” on each paid plan. Its terms sit behind an asterisk that we could not read, so confirm what counts as a new customer before you sign up.
What does each QuickBooks plan include?
| Best for | Software | From (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| One person, light bookkeeping and invoicing | Simple Start | $38 |
| 3 users, enhanced reports | Essentials | $85 |
| 5 users, budgeting, projects, inventory | Plus | $140 |
| 25 users, custom dashboards, workflow automation | Advanced | $340 |
| Solo user with lots of invoices | Lite | $20 |
- Simple Start: general business reports, automated bookkeeping, invoicing and payments through QuickBooks Payments, and free ACH bill pay with $0.50 per standard ACH transaction over monthly allotments.
- Essentials: everything in Simple Start, plus enhanced reports, employee time added to invoices and bulk invoice creation (listed as beta).
- Plus: adds budgeting, project profitability tracking, inventory management and 40 classes and locations.
- Advanced: adds custom dashboards, user permissions and roles, workflow automation, Excel sync, free 1099 e-filing and priority support.
What does QuickBooks cost for a full year?
Using the 3-month offer, here is year one against list price. This is our arithmetic.
| Plan | First year with offer | Per year at list price |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $210 | $240 |
| Simple Start | $399 | $456 |
| Essentials | $892.50 | $1,020 |
| Plus | $1,470 | $1,680 |
| Advanced | $3,570 | $4,080 |
The gap between year one and year two is the number to plan for. For Simple Start it is $57 more in year two. For Plus it is $210 more.
Will the price go up?
Probably. NerdWallet says QuickBooks Online prices typically rise once a year, usually in summer, and its 2026 listing shows Essentials at $85, Plus at $140 and Advanced at $340, with Simple Start at $38. If you are choosing between plans, compare the list price you will pay in month 4 and beyond, not the offer price. See NerdWallet’s QuickBooks pricing guide.
What costs extra on top of the plan?
- Payments: accepting cards or bank payments through QuickBooks Payments carries processing fees that are separate from your plan price. Check Intuit’s current rates.
- Bill pay: Intuit lists free ACH bill pay with $0.50 per standard ACH transaction over the monthly allotments on Simple Start.
- Time tracking: NerdWallet lists QuickBooks Time Elite as an add-on at $5 per employee per month.
- Payroll: sold separately. We did not check Intuit’s payroll pricing for this article.
Is QuickBooks worth it compared with alternatives?
That depends on how many clients, users and products you have. If you are a freelancer with a few clients, FreshBooks Lite at $23 a month may be enough, and our FreshBooks vs QuickBooks comparison shows where each wins. If you are just starting out and want to spend nothing, read Is QuickBooks free?
How do you avoid overpaying?
- Pick the plan by user count. Simple Start is 1 user, Essentials 3, Plus 5.
- Note the end date of your offer and the list price that follows.
- Do not buy Plus for inventory unless you actually track inventory in QuickBooks.
- Ask your accountant which plan they work in. Accountant access is included on all four plans.
Frequently asked questions
How much does QuickBooks cost per month?
On Intuit’s US pricing page, QuickBooks Online lists at $38 for Simple Start, $85 for Essentials, $140 for Plus and $340 for Advanced. Intuit also shows a $0 Free plan and a Lite plan at $20. Offers such as 50% off for 3 months change often.
Which QuickBooks plan do I need?
Simple Start fits one person who needs invoicing and bookkeeping. Essentials adds 3 users and richer reports. Plus adds budgeting, projects and inventory for 5 users. Advanced is for 25 users with workflow automation. Choose by user count and features, not by price alone.
Does QuickBooks raise its prices every year?
NerdWallet says QuickBooks Online prices typically rise once a year, usually in summer, and lists Essentials, Plus and Advanced at $85, $140 and $340 in 2026. Check Intuit’s pricing page before you buy, and note the price your offer ends at.
Is there a free trial for QuickBooks?
Intuit’s page lists a free trial for 30 days and says there is no annual contract and you can cancel any time. Intuit also lists 50% off for 3 months as an alternative to the trial. It does not say clearly which plans each applies to, so confirm at sign-up.
How many people can use QuickBooks?
QuickBooks lists 1 user on Simple Start, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus and 25 on Advanced. Each also allows 2 accountants (3 on Advanced). If you need more users than your plan allows, you have to move up a plan.
What does QuickBooks cost beyond the plan price?
Payments, payroll and some bill pay actions can add fees. Intuit lists free ACH bill pay with $0.50 per standard ACH transaction over monthly allotments on Simple Start. Card processing and payroll are priced separately, so add them to your budget.
Update log: 11 November 2026. Prices and plan limits read from Intuit’s and FreshBooks’ own US pages. Next check: December 2026.
Sources: QuickBooks pricing, QuickBooks Free and Lite plans, NerdWallet: QuickBooks pricing. Prices checked 11 November 2026.