- What QuickBooks Free includes
- What QuickBooks Free leaves out
- QuickBooks Free versus the free trial
- QuickBooks Online prices in the US
- Is QuickBooks free in the UK?
- What changes when you upgrade
- How to start on QuickBooks Free
- Who QuickBooks Free suits
- Plain advice on QuickBooks Free
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, in the US. Intuit now offers QuickBooks Free, a $0 a month plan with no credit card required, but it limits you to 2 invoices, 1 estimate and 1 connected bank account a month, with no accountant access. Paid QuickBooks Online plans start at $38 a month in the US, and in the UK the cheapest plan listed is Sole Trader Plus at £10 a month, as of October 2026.
Intuit quietly changed the answer to this one. In the US there's now a permanent free plan, and older guides may still say QuickBooks only has a trial. I read Intuit's QuickBooks Free page, its US pricing page and its UK pricing page to set out what you can do for nothing and where the limits bite.
What QuickBooks Free includes
| Feature | Monthly allowance on QuickBooks Free |
|---|---|
| Invoices | 2 a month, or unlimited if you qualify for and turn on QuickBooks Payments |
| Estimates | 1 a month |
| Receipt capture | 2 receipts a month |
| Mileage tracking | 5 trips a month |
| Bank accounts | 1 connected account |
| Reports | Profit and loss, balance sheet and an account quick report |
Intuit says you can use QuickBooks Free for as long as you like, and if you outgrow it you can upgrade and keep everything you've built.
What QuickBooks Free leaves out
- Accountant access, so your accountant can't log in to your books.
- Unlimited invoicing, unless you use QuickBooks Payments.
- Paying employees.
- More than one user, or more than one bank account.
- Custom reports.
- The mobile app and third-party integrations, which Intuit's pricing page says aren't currently available on Free.
That last point surprises people. If you were planning to snap receipts on your phone or connect another app, you'll need a paid plan.
QuickBooks Free versus the free trial
They're two different things. QuickBooks Free is a permanent $0 plan with monthly limits. The free trial gives you full access to a paid plan, from Simple Start to Advanced, for 30 days. If you're comparing paid plans, use the trial. If you only send a couple of invoices a month, Free may be all you need.
QuickBooks Online prices in the US
| Plan | Regular price | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $38 a month | 1 user |
| Essentials | $85 a month | 3 users |
| Plus | $140 a month | 5 users |
| Advanced | $340 a month | 25 users |
Intuit's US page shows 50% off for the first 3 months on these plans, so Simple Start appears as $19 a month at first. Each plan includes access for your accountant.
Is QuickBooks free in the UK?
Intuit's UK pricing page doesn't list a free plan. The cheapest option is Sole Trader Plus at £10 a month, followed by Simple Start at £16, Essentials at £38, Plus at £56 and Advanced at £123, with 90% off for the first 6 months for new customers. The UK plans are listed as MTD for Income Tax ready, and there's no cancellation fee if you leave.
What changes when you upgrade
Simple Start includes everything in Free and adds Intuit's AI features, including guided setup, plus access for 2 accountants. Essentials moves you to 3 users and adds bulk invoicing and an annual books check-in. Plus allows 5 users and adds project profitability and inventory, and Advanced is built for up to 25 users. You don't lose any of the records you made on Free when you move up, which is why it's a low-risk place to begin.
How to start on QuickBooks Free
- Sign up for QuickBooks Free on Intuit's US site. You won't be asked for a card.
- Connect your one business bank account so transactions sync automatically.
- Set up your invoice template and send your first invoice.
- Keep an eye on the monthly allowances, and upgrade when you start hitting them most months, not just once.
Who QuickBooks Free suits
- One-person US businesses sending only a handful of invoices a month.
- New side businesses that want clean records from day one.
- Anyone happy to work in a browser, without the mobile app or other apps connected.
If you want a wider view, my roundup of accounting software tools compares the main names, and this explainer on basic accounting terms helps if you're new to bookkeeping.
Plain advice on QuickBooks Free
If you're in the US and send fewer than three invoices a month, QuickBooks Free is a sensible place to start, and you lose nothing by upgrading later. The moment you need your accountant inside the books, the phone app or a second bank account, move to a paid plan. In the UK, there's no free plan, so use the 30-day trial and the introductory discount to test it with your own invoices.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks free?
In the US, yes: QuickBooks Free is a $0 a month plan with no credit card required, with monthly limits including 2 invoices and 1 estimate, as of October 2026. Paid plans start at $38 a month.
Is there a free version of QuickBooks in the UK?
Intuit's UK pricing page doesn't list one. The cheapest UK plan is Sole Trader Plus at £10 a month.
How many invoices can I send on QuickBooks Free?
Two a month, or unlimited invoices if you qualify for and enable QuickBooks Payments.
Can my accountant use QuickBooks Free?
No. Accountant access isn't included on QuickBooks Free. Every paid plan includes access for your accountant.
Does QuickBooks Free include the mobile app?
No. Intuit's pricing page says the mobile app and third-party integrations aren't currently available with QuickBooks Free.
Can I upgrade from QuickBooks Free later?
Yes. Intuit says you can upgrade to a paid plan and keep everything you built in QuickBooks Free.
What's the difference between QuickBooks Free and the free trial?
QuickBooks Free is a permanent $0 plan with monthly limits. The free trial gives full access to a paid plan for 30 days.
