QuickBooks Online Pricing & Costs Explained

QuickBooks is a great accounting software option but how much will QuickBooks Online actually cost you? Our QuickBooks pricing guide covers costs, extra fees, plan differences, and more.

WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Erica Seppala
Editor & Senior Staff Writer

Last updated onUpdated September 1, 2023

REVIEWED BY

Lead Staff Writer

Advertiser Disclosure: Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by , and we adhere to strict to preserve editorial integrity.

If you’re wondering, How much does QuickBooks Online cost? we’ve got you covered with a breakdown of the four different QuickBooks Online (QBO) plans. We’ll discuss how to know which plan is right for you and what additional costs to expect, so you can know precisely what you’re getting into before deciding to purchase QuickBooks Online.

Read on for more details about QuickBooks Online pricing.

Table of Contents

How Much Is QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online Pricing Plans
QuickBooks Online Fees & Extra Costs
How To Save On QuickBooks Online Costs
Which QuickBooks Online Pricing Plan Is Right For Me?
The Bottom Line On QuickBooks Online Pricing
QuickBooks Online Pricing FAQs

How Much Is QuickBooks Online?

Plan	Cost
QuickBooks Simple Start	$30/month
QuickBooks Essentials	$60/month
QuickBooks Plus	$90/month
QuickBooks Advanced	$200/month

QuickBooks Online offers four pricing plans that start at $30/month and can cost up to $200/month, depending on the number of features and users your business needs.

Purchasing a plan gives you access to QuickBooks Online’s accounting platform, but there may be extra add-ons that you need to consider, such as payroll, live bookkeeping support, or one of the many integrations that QuickBooks offers. All of these small costs can add up, making your end bill higher than the predictable $30-$200/month fee.

QuickBooks Online Pricing Plans

Plan	Price	When To Use
QuickBooks Online Simple Start	$30/month	If you need basic accounting and have just 1 user
QuickBooks Online Essentials	$60/month	If you need time tracking and have up to 3 users
QuickBooks Online Plus	$90/month	If you need project management and inventory and have up to 5 users
QuickBooks Online Advanced	$200/month	If you need more advanced features and reporting for up to 25 users

QBO offers four subscription plans: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. These plans range from $30/month to $200/month. Each tier gives you access to more features and users. Payments are made monthly, and no annual contracts are required.

Here’s a complete breakdown of what’s included with each QuickBooks Online pricing plan.

QuickBooks Online Simple Start

Simple Start is the smallest QuickBooks plan. The QuickBooks Online Simple plan costs $30/month and supports one user.

Here are the features that come with the QuickBooks Online Simple Start plan:

Guided setup
Unlimited invoices and estimates
Contact management
Expense tracking
Receipt capture
Live bank feeds
Cash flow forecasting
Reporting
Mileage tracking
Tax deductions
750 integrations
Connect one online sales channel

QuickBooks Online Essentials

The QuickBooks Online Essentials plan costs $60/month and is a step up from the Simple Start plan. QuickBooks Online Essentials includes three users and more features.

With QuickBooks Online Essentials, you’ll get everything that comes with the Simple Start Plan, plus:

Connect up to three online sales channels
Bill management
Time tracking

QuickBooks Online Plus

The QuickBooks Online Plus plan costs $90/month. QuickBooks Online Plus (not to be confused with QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus) includes five users and advanced features.

QuickBooks Online Plus includes all the features of QuickBooks Online Essentials, plus:

Connect all sales channels
Project management
Job costing
Inventory
Class tracking

QuickBooks Online Advanced

The QuickBooks Online Advanced plan is designed for larger businesses. QuickBooks Online Advanced costs $200/month and supports up to 25 users.

This plan includes all of the features of QuickBooks Online Plus as well as:

Priority care customer support
Data sync with Excel
Batch invoices and expenses
Automated workflows
Automated revenue recognition
Premium apps
Custom user permissions
Free online training classes

Get Started With QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online Fees & Extra Costs

Extra QuickBooks Fees	Cost
QuickBooks Online Payroll	$45-$125/month + $6-$10/month per employee
QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping	Starts at $200/month
QuickBooks Capital	Varies
QuickBooks Checking	Starts at $0/month
Tax Forms	Starts at $17.99
Checks	Starts at $46.24 for 50 checks
Integrations	Varies
QuickBooks Payments	Starts at 2.4% + $0.25/per transaction

In addition to the monthly subscription price, there are a few other QuickBooks Online charges to be aware of. Intuit is not always the most forthcoming about these extra fees, which is why we want to highlight them now. You should know exactly how much QuickBooks Online is going to cost before you commit to a plan.

Learn more about the details of each additional QuickBooks product or fee below.

QuickBooks Online Payroll

QuickBooks Online offers three payroll plans: Payroll Core, Payroll Premium, and Payroll Elite. All three plans are full-service payroll options with automated tax support, but each payroll plan varies in terms of features and customer support.

QuickBooks Online payroll costs between $45-$125/month plus $6-$10/month per employee. If your small business needs a payroll solution, be sure to add this cost with the regular QuickBooks Online monthly fee to get a better idea of how much your accounting and payroll will cost you each month. Read our complete QuickBooks Online Payroll review for all of the details, and be sure to visit the QBO website to see if Intuit is running a QuickBooks payroll discount before buying.

QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping

When you purchase QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping, you get a dedicated bookkeeping expert who virtually assists you with your accounting. This service can include help with expenses, bank reconciliation, setup, running reports, and even tax support.

You can set up a free consultation with the Intuit QuickBooks team to get all of the pricing details. Pricing starts at $200/month. The ultimate cost of QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping depends on the number of monthly expenses your business has and the scope of work the QuickBooks certified bookkeeper would be performing.

QuickBooks Capital

QuickBooks Online users can get access to QuickBooks’ lending service — QuickBooks Capital. QuickBooks Capital is a working capital loan to help small business owners run their operations, whether that’s covering new hires, ordering inventory, making payroll, etc.

This service uses your existing QuickBooks Online accounting information to determine your eligibility for a loan. If you choose this funding option, there are no origination fees and no prepayment fees, but you will be expected to make weekly payments plus APR. APRs start at 9.99%. Payments vary based on your loan amount, credit score, and term length.

Read our full QuickBooks Capital review for more information.

QuickBooks Checking

QuickBooks now offers a free small business checking account called QuickBooks Checking (formerly known as QuickBooks Cash). Opening a QuickBooks Checking account is free, with no monthly fees or account minimums.

This service gives you access to a QuickBooks debit card, cash flow forecasting, and QuickBooks Envelopes, which is a place to set aside savings.

Some additional costs and fees do apply. Read our full QuickBooks Checking review for more information.

Tax Forms & Support

QuickBooks Online supports W-2s and 1099-MISCs. You can order tax forms directly from Intuit. The cost begins at $17.99 and varies depending on which form you need and how many. If you purchase QuickBooks Online payroll, these forms may be included, depending on your chosen payroll plan.

QuickBooks Checks

You can purchase checks, voucher checks, business wallet checks, and more from QuickBooks. Standard checks begin at $46.26 per 50 checks; prices vary by check type and amount.

QuickBooks Online Integrations

Integrations are third-party add-ons that give you additional features and capabilities. QuickBooks Online has over 750 integrations to choose from, including common software programs, such as Shopify, Gusto, and Mailchimp.

Most integrations come with monthly subscription fees, so be sure to account for these extra costs when calculating how big of a dent QuickBooks Online is going to leave in your wallet.

QuickBooks Online Payment Gateways

Payment gateways allow you to accept payments from your customers. Common payment processing options include PayPal, Stripe, Square, and Authorize.Net. QuickBooks Online offers around 25 payment processors, or you can use QuickBooks Payments.

You can read our QuickBooks Payments review, also known as Intuit Merchant Services, for more information, but the basic charges are as follows:

Payment Type	Cost
ACH Transfers	1% charge ($10 max)
Swiped Cards	2.4% + $0.25 per transaction
Invoices	2.9% + $0.25 per transaction
Keyed-In Cards	3.4% + $0.25% per transaction

Whether you use QuickBooks Payments or another payment gateway, be sure to take potential credit card fees into account when calculating how much you’ll be spending on software each month.

How To Save On QuickBooks Online Costs

Between the QuickBooks Online monthly fee, monthly payroll cost, bookkeeping support, payment processing fees, and other integrations, the cost of QuickBooks Online can add up quickly. Luckily, there are some ways that you can save. Here are our top tips for how to save money on QuickBooks Online.

Check For QuickBooks Online Sales & Discounts

QuickBooks Online is almost always offering a discount on its website, so be sure to check for any promotions before buying.

Note: Discounts are invalid if a customer uses the free 30-day trial before purchasing (there is a test drive of the software you can use instead of a free trial). Also, if you are switching over from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, you may be eligible for even better discounts. Contact the QuickBooks Online sales team for more details.

Make Sure You’re Using The Right QuickBooks Plan

Make sure you are on the right QuickBooks plan so you aren’t paying for features you don’t need. For example, if you bought the QuickBooks Plus plan because you thought you’d be using the Project Management feature and you haven’t used it in over a year, consider downgrading to the Essentials plan.

Ditch The Unused QuickBooks Integrations

When it seems like there is a business software application for everything, it pays to be choosy. If your business was using a project management app (such as Basecamp) before purchasing QuickBooks Online, you might find that QBO’s project management features are enough for your business now so that you don’t have to pay double for something that’s already included with QuickBooks Online.

Check For A QuickBooks Online + Payroll Bundle Discount

Intuit typically offers deals where new users can get a discount on QuickBooks Payroll by bundling it with a QuickBooks Online subscription. Be sure to check for these deals before purchasing.

Which QuickBooks Online Pricing Plan Is Right For Me?

	QuickBooks Simple Start	QuickBooks Essentials	QuickBooks Plus	QuickBooks Advanced
Price	$30/month	$60/month	$90/month	$200/month
Number Of Users	1	3	5	25
Invoicing	✓	✓	✓	✓
Content Management	✓	✓	✓	✓
Expense Tracking	✓	✓	✓	✓
Time Tracking	X	✓	✓	✓
Accounts Payable	X	✓	✓	✓
Project Management	X	X	✓	✓
Inventory	X	X	✓	✓
Tax Support	X	X	✓	✓
Advanced Reporting	X	X	X	✓
Custom User Permissions	X	X	X	✓
Priority Care Support	X	X	X	✓

Get Started With QuickBooks Online

When deciding which version of QuickBooks Online is best for your small business, it should come down to your business’s needs and budget. Ask yourself:

Which features do I need to run my business?
How many users do I need?
How much can I afford to spend each month?

The answers to these questions should help you determine which plan is best for your business.

QuickBooks Simple Start is best for businesses that are just starting out and need a basic way to manage their accounting but don’t need multiple users or features such as inventory and project management. QuickBooks Essentials is best for small businesses that are starting to grow and need up to three users and time tracking. QuickBooks Plus is the most popular plan for businesses as it includes key features such as inventory, project management, and support for up to five users. QuickBooks Advanced is for larger businesses requiring up to 25 users and more advanced reporting and support.

The good news is that the QuickBooks Online plans are incredibly scalable, so you can start small and upgrade to a larger plan whenever you’re ready.

A quick note on users: All plans (minus QuickBooks Simple Start) come with an unlimited number of time-tracking-only users. So if you have five employees who need to track time and only two who need access to other features in the software, you can still use the Essentials plan without upgrading to the Plus plan.

The Bottom Line On QuickBooks Online Pricing

At the end of the day, the cost of QuickBooks Online is going to depend on your business’s needs, but one thing’s for sure — the cost of QuickBooks doesn’t stop at just $30/month for most businesses.

When calculating the cost for QuickBooks Online, remember that the monthly plans can cost $30-$200/month, payroll can cost $45-$125/month plus $6-$10/per employee, and features like bookkeeping, checks and tax forms, integrations, and payment processing costs can add even more to your final bill.

Hopefully, knowing the exact costs of QuickBooks Online will ease your mind and help you create a more realistic business budget. If you want to learn more about QuickBooks, read our complete QuickBooks Online review or get started with a free trial.

Get Started With QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online Pricing FAQs

How much does QuickBooks cost?

There are many factors that go into the cost of QuickBooks, including the plan you choose and adding in extras, such as payroll, payment processing, and bookkeeping services. At a minimum, you will pay $30/month for a QuickBooks Online Simple Start subscription.

Is there a free version of QuickBooks?

Unfortunately, there is no free version of QuickBooks. If you want to give QuickBooks a try before buying, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial or use the company’s interactive test drive that’s set up with a sample company.

How much does QuickBooks Self-Employed cost?

QuickBooks Self-Employed costs $20-$40/month. This software is best suited for freelancers, allowing them to track income and expenses, track mileage, estimate quarterly taxes, and run basic reports.

How much does QuickBooks Payroll cost?

QuickBooks Payroll is an add-on service that starts at $45/month plus $6/month per employee. These costs are in addition to your monthly QuickBooks Online subscription fees.

Is QuickBooks Online a better deal than QuickBooks Desktop?

Whether QuickBooks Online is a better deal than QuickBooks Desktop depends on the needs of your business. QuickBooks Online can be a more cost-efficient option for businesses with multiple users that don’t want to navigate the steep learning curve of QuickBooks Desktop. However, QuickBooks Desktop may be the better value for businesses that want a locally installed software option with enhanced accounting features.

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Erica Seppala

Editor & Senior Staff Writer at Merchant Maverick

Erica began writing on small business topics in 2008. She joined Merchant Maverick in 2018 and focuses on loans, accounting, and POS. She is a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll. She has been cited in MSN, Reader's Digest, Vox, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple. She is a graduate of Limestone University and resides in Greenville, South Carolina.

View Erica Seppala's professional experience on LinkedIn.

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Read our Review

QuickBooks Online is our top pick for accounting software! Try it today and find out how it can save you time and money. Get started today.

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