QuickBooks Online is the most widely used small business accounting software, made by Intuit. It provides bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, reporting and tax preparation for small businesses, all in the cloud, with a vast ecosystem of integrations and the widest support among accountants and bookkeepers. For many small businesses, QuickBooks is the default accounting choice simply because it is so widely used, well supported by accountants, and connected to nearly every business app, from payments and payroll to CRM and expense tools. For most small businesses wanting a proven, well connected accounting platform, QuickBooks Online is a leading choice.
QuickBooks Online's distinction is its ubiquity and ecosystem. As the most used small business accounting software, nearly every accountant knows it and nearly every business app integrates with it, which makes it a safe, well supported default. Its breadth of features and integrations covers most small business accounting needs, though its rating reflects some frustration with price increases and user caps. For connectedness and accountant support, it is hard to beat.
QuickBooks Online is best for most small businesses that want a proven, widely supported accounting platform with extensive integrations and broad accountant familiarity. It suits businesses valuing ecosystem and support. It is a weaker fit for those wanting the lowest cost or unlimited users, where Xero is cheaper to start, freelancers wanting the simplest invoicing, where FreshBooks fits, or growing businesses needing advanced finance, where Sage Intacct or NetSuite fit.
The core strengths are bookkeeping and the general ledger, invoicing and payments, expense tracking, bank connections and reconciliation, and financial and tax reporting. QuickBooks Online offers inventory on higher tiers, payroll add ons, and a vast integration ecosystem. Its breadth of features, ubiquity, accountant support and extensive integrations are its defining advantages for small business accounting.
QuickBooks Online is priced per month in tiers, with Simple Start from around 35 US dollars a month, and Essentials, Plus and Advanced adding users, features like inventory, and capabilities at higher prices, plus a free trial and frequent promotions. Plans have user caps, and reviewers note price increases over time. Match the tier to your features and user needs. Confirm current figures on the QuickBooks Online pricing page.
QuickBooks Online has one of the largest integration ecosystems in accounting, connecting to payments, payroll, expense, CRM, e-commerce and hundreds of other apps, plus Intuit's own payroll and payments. This vast ecosystem, combined with near universal accountant familiarity, is central to its value, letting small businesses connect accounting to the rest of their stack easily.
A key strength is accountant support: because QuickBooks is so widely used, nearly every accountant and bookkeeper knows it, offers it, and can work in it easily, which reduces friction for small businesses working with external finance help. For businesses that rely on an accountant, this ubiquity and familiarity are a major reason to choose QuickBooks Online.
QuickBooks Online is capable and broadly supported, though reviewers rate ease of use and support slightly below Xero, and cite price increases and user caps, so experience varies. Its G2 reviews praise integrations and ubiquity, with pricing, user caps and support the main considerations versus alternatives like Xero.
For most small businesses that want a proven, widely supported accounting platform with extensive integrations and broad accountant familiarity, QuickBooks Online is a safe, leading choice. The main caution is price increases and user caps, so businesses wanting cheaper, unlimited user accounting may prefer Xero, freelancers FreshBooks, and growing businesses Sage Intacct or NetSuite, but for ubiquity and ecosystem QuickBooks is hard to beat.
These accounting tools come up most often against QuickBooks Online.
Cloud accounting for small businesses
Cloud financial management for mid-market
Cloud ERP and accounting suite