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Our take
QuickBooks Online is the safe, standard choice for US freelancers with tax complexity — especially the $20/mo Solopreneur plan. Six straight years of price hikes and poor support reviews are real negatives, but nothing matches its reporting depth or accountant acceptance.
QuickBooks Online pricing
1 user, 2 invoices/mo, income and expense tracking
Freelancer-focused: mileage tracking, quarterly tax estimates
1 user, core invoicing and bookkeeping
3 users, time tracking, multi-currency
5 users, inventory, project tracking
25 users, advanced reporting and workflows
- Free plan: Free tier: 1 user, 2 invoices per month, income and expense tracking.
- Trial: Typical offer is 50% off the first 3 months or a 30-day trial.
- Essentials rose from $75 to $85 and Plus from $115 to $140 on August 1, 2026 — the sixth straight year of price increases.
- Most freelancers land on Solopreneur ($20/mo) or Simple Start ($38/mo).
Key features
- Invoicing with online payment links and recurring invoices
- Time tracking (Essentials plan and above)
- Expense tracking with automatic bank import and receipt capture
- Tax reports including profit & loss and quarterly estimates (Solopreneur)
- Full mobile app
- Multi-currency support (Essentials and above)
- 750+ third-party integrations
Pros and cons
QuickBooks Online: pros
- Industry standard with accountants — easy year-end handoff
- Deepest feature set and reporting of any tool here
- 750+ integrations
- Dedicated $20/mo Solopreneur plan built for freelancers
QuickBooks Online: cons
- Expensive, with six straight years of price increases (the August 2026 hike reached +24%)
- Customer support is frequently criticized in reviews
- Frequent upselling inside the product
Who is QuickBooks Online best for?
Solo service freelancers with US tax complexity whose accountant wants QuickBooks — start with Solopreneur ($20/mo) or Simple Start ($38/mo).
Affiliate note: Referral rewards up to $250 per successful subscription via the official affiliate program.
QuickBooks Online FAQs
How much does QuickBooks Online cost for a freelancer?
Most freelancers choose Solopreneur at $20/mo (mileage tracking, quarterly tax estimates) or Simple Start at $38/mo. There’s also a limited free tier: 1 user and 2 invoices per month.
Why do accountants recommend QuickBooks?
It’s the industry standard — year-end handoff is frictionless, reporting is the deepest of any tool here, and it integrates with 750+ apps.
Has QuickBooks gotten more expensive?
Yes. Prices have risen six straight years; in August 2026 Essentials went from $75 to $85 and Plus from $115 to $140.
Is there a trial?
The typical offer is 50% off the first 3 months or a 30-day trial.