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QuickBooks Free Trial

Short answer: QuickBooks Online offers a 30-day free trial on Simple Start, Essentials, and Plus — but there's a catch. You must choose between the trial and 50% off your first 3 months; you can't take both. Here's how the trial works, what happens when it ends, and when the discount is the better deal.

Last updated: 2026-09-28 · Prices verified against official vendor pages.

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The deal, plainly

Option A: 30-day free trial
$0 for 30 days
  • Full access to Simple Start, Essentials, or Plus for 30 days
  • Then converts to the list price unless you cancel
  • You give up the 50%-off intro discount

Best if: you're not sure you'll stay — test everything before paying a cent.

Option B: 50% off 3 months
Half price × 3
  • Simple Start $19/mo, Essentials $42.50/mo, Plus $70/mo for 3 months
  • No free period — billing starts immediately
  • You give up the 30-day trial

Best if: you already know you want QuickBooks — for example, your accountant told you to get it.

  • Per Intuit's official policy, the trial and the discount are one-time, mutually exclusive offers.
  • Offer terms verified on September 28, 2026 — confirm the current offer on QuickBooks’ site before signing up.
See the current trial offer →

How to start the trial

  • Go to QuickBooks’ official pricing page and pick Simple Start, Essentials, or Plus.
  • At signup, choose the free trial option — not the discounted pricing.
  • Create your Intuit account and enter your business details.
  • Connect your bank account so transactions start categorizing themselves.
  • Set a calendar reminder for day 25 — decide keep-or-cancel before billing starts.

Trial vs. the free tier

QuickBooks has two free on-ramps and they suit different people. The 30-day trial gives you the full product for a month — the right choice for a serious evaluation. The free tier ($0 forever, 1 user, 2 invoices per month) never expires but is deliberately limited — if you send more than a couple of invoices a month, you'll outgrow it on day one.

How we research: trial terms checked against Intuit’s official pricing and support pages on September 28, 2026. See our methodology · See full QuickBooks pricing

Frequently asked questions

Does QuickBooks have a free trial?

Yes — a 30-day free trial is advertised on the Simple Start, Essentials, and Plus plans. The catch: choosing the trial means you can't also take the 50%-off-the-first-3-months intro discount.

Can I get both the free trial and the discount?

No. Intuit's official policy is that you choose one offer only, and both are one-time offers — trial or discount, not both.

What happens when the 30-day trial ends?

The trial converts to a paid subscription at the list price (Simple Start $38/mo, Essentials $85/mo, Plus $140/mo) unless you cancel first. Set a reminder around day 25.

Which plan should I trial?

Simple Start if you're solo — you can upgrade to Essentials or Plus later without losing your data. Don't trial Advanced unless you actually have a team to manage.

Is there a free QuickBooks plan instead of a trial?

Yes, a limited free tier: 1 user, 2 invoices per month, plus income and expense tracking. Fine for testing the interface; the 30-day trial is better for a real evaluation.

Sources

Pricing and plan details verified against the sources above on September 28, 2026. Vendors change pricing often — confirm on the official page before buying.