As of October 2026, QuickBooks Online costs $38 a month for Simple Start, $85 for Essentials, $140 for Plus and $340 for Advanced, in US dollars, according to Intuit's pricing page. New customers are offered half price for the first 3 months, or a 30-day free trial instead. Intuit also lists a separate QuickBooks Free plan at $0 a month.
QuickBooks is the accounting software most US small businesses end up on, usually because their accountant already uses it. The plans go up in big steps, so picking the right one first time saves real cash over a year. What decides it, more than anything, is how many people need to log in.
QuickBooks Online plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Intro offer (first 3 months) | Users | Accountant seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $38 a month | $19 a month | 1 | 2 |
| Essentials | $85 a month | $42.50 a month | 3 | 2 |
| Plus | $140 a month | $70 a month | 5 | 2 |
| Advanced | $340 a month | $170 a month | 25 | 3 |
Intuit shows the intro offer and the 30-day free trial as alternatives at checkout, so you choose one or the other. Prices are in US dollars on the US site.
The user limit decides your plan
Here's the part to read twice. Simple Start allows 1 user. If a second person in your business needs to log in, even part time, you're on Essentials at more than double the price. Your accountant doesn't count towards that, though: Intuit lists accountant seats on every plan and says you can invite an accountant to collaborate for free.
- Count everyone who needs their own login, not including your accountant or bookkeeper.
- 1 person: Simple Start. Up to 3: Essentials. Up to 5: Plus. Up to 25: Advanced.
- Choose the intro offer or the free trial at checkout.
- Put a reminder in your calendar for when the intro period ends, so the full price doesn't surprise you.
QuickBooks Free and the cheaper routes
Intuit's pricing page also points new businesses to QuickBooks Free, which it lists at $0 a month with no credit card required, for getting organised and getting paid. My guide on whether QuickBooks is free explains what that plan leaves out.
And if QuickBooks feels like more than you need, my roundup of free accounting software lists the options worth comparing.
Costs beyond the subscription
- Bill pay: Intuit says standard ACH bill payments are free up to a monthly allotment, then $0.50 per standard ACH transaction, and allotments may vary.
- Card payments: Intuit says invoices can accept credit cards and bank transfers through QuickBooks Payments. Check the processing rates on Intuit's site before you rely on it.
- Bookkeeping help: Intuit also offers Intuit Expert Full Service Bookkeeping, with a cleanup phase followed by monthly categorising and reconciling.
A tax point most people miss
Intuit's own FAQ says QuickBooks is tax deductible, quoting IRS publication 946, which states that off-the-shelf computer software is qualifying property for the section 179 deduction. That's a US rule, so check with your own accountant, but it's worth raising before you file.
Switching and cancelling
Intuit says you can upgrade between Simple Start, Essentials and Plus, and that you're free to switch plans or cancel at any time. It also says phone support is free during the 30-day trial and included with a paid subscription, as long as the subscription is current. If you're weighing the desktop version too, see QuickBooks Online vs Desktop.
For larger firms, Intuit says Advanced supports up to 25 users with no additional fees, and points businesses with more complex needs to Intuit Enterprise Suite or QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, which it says scales to 40 users.
Which plan fits which business
| Your business | Plan to look at first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo freelancer or consultant | Simple Start | 1 user is enough and your accountant gets a free seat |
| Owner plus a part-time assistant | Essentials | Up to 3 users |
| Small team of 4 or 5 | Plus | Up to 5 users |
| Growing company moving off desktop software | Advanced | Up to 25 users with no additional user fees, according to Intuit |
Getting set up
Intuit says there's nothing to download, because QuickBooks Online runs in the cloud and works from any device with an internet connection. There's also a QuickBooks Online mobile app on Google Play and the App Store. Intuit says it takes about five minutes to get up and running once you sync your bank or credit card transactions, though I'd allow an afternoon to tidy your categories the first time.
My verdict
Simple Start at $38 a month is the right plan for a solo business owner, and the intro offer makes the first three months cheap enough to test it in full. The moment a second person needs access, budget for Essentials. Don't buy Plus or Advanced for features you might need one day: Intuit lets you upgrade at any time, so start small and move up.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks tax deductible?
Intuit's FAQ says yes for US businesses, citing IRS publication 946 on off-the-shelf software as qualifying property for the section 179 deduction. Check with your accountant for your own situation.
Does QuickBooks have a mobile app?
Yes. Intuit says the QuickBooks Online mobile app is available on Google Play and the App Store, and comes free with QuickBooks plans.
Can my accountant use my QuickBooks account?
Yes. Intuit says you can invite an accountant to collaborate for free, and you can remove their access at any time.
Is phone support included with QuickBooks?
Intuit says phone support is free during the 30-day trial and included with a paid subscription on Simple Start and above, as long as the subscription is current.
How much is QuickBooks Online a month?
As of October 2026, Intuit lists Simple Start at $38, Essentials at $85, Plus at $140 and Advanced at $340 a month in the US.
Is there a QuickBooks discount for new customers?
Intuit offers new customers half price for the first 3 months, or a 30-day free trial instead, at checkout.
How many users does QuickBooks Simple Start allow?
Simple Start allows 1 user, plus 2 accountant seats. Essentials allows 3 users, Plus 5 and Advanced 25.
Can I cancel QuickBooks at any time?
Yes. Intuit says you're free to switch QuickBooks Online plans or cancel at any time.
