QuickBooks: accounting and invoicing for self-employed people
Accounting and invoicing from Intuit, with plans for one-person businesses in the US and Canada
QuickBooks is Intuit's accounting and invoicing software. It brings your income, expenses, invoices and reports into one place, with plans that run from a one-person business to a larger company.
Where it works: we confirmed plans for the United States and Canada. Intuit's global page shows a location selector but does not say where QuickBooks is sold, so if you live elsewhere, check your local site first.
Who is QuickBooks for?
Small businesses and self-employed people. In the US, Intuit says QuickBooks Solopreneur is designed for "self-employed individuals running a one-person business". In Canada, Intuit describes QuickBooks Lite as its plan for the self-employed and freelancers, and says Solopreneur is not available there.
Features
- Income and expenses: transaction tracking, with automated sorting on Solopreneur.
- Invoicing: invoices and online payments, depending on the plan.
- Receipts and mileage: limited on the US Free plan, unlimited on Lite.
- Reports: profit and loss, balance sheet and more on higher plans.
- Taxes: tax readiness on Solopreneur, and Expert Assisted Tax included in the US Lite plan.
- Higher plans: budgeting, project profitability and inventory on Plus.
QuickBooks pricing in 2026
Prices checked on the official site in October 2026, for the United States, in US dollars, per month, before any introductory discount:
- Free: $0, 1 user, up to 2 invoices a month.
- Lite: listed at $20.
- Simple Start: $38.
- Essentials: $85.
- Plus: $140.
- Advanced: $340.
The US pages also show 50% off for 3 months on paid plans and a 30-day free trial. Offers change, so check before you buy. Lite exists in Canada too, but we left its price out: check the Canadian site.
Why we recommend QuickBooks
We recommend it if you want a mainstream accounting tool with a plan sized for one person, and room to grow later. The weak point to know about: the range is confusing, and plans change from one country to the next. The US Free plan is also tight at 2 invoices a month.
QuickBooks or another solution?
Xero, FreshBooks and Wave are the natural comparisons. If your main need is logging billable hours, pair your accounting tool with Toggl.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- A US plan range that starts with a Free plan, no credit card required
- Plans aimed at one-person businesses: Solopreneur in the US, Lite in Canada
- Income and expense tracking, invoicing, reports and a mobile app in one place
- Lite in the US adds unlimited invoices, receipts and mileage tracking
Weaknesses
- The US Free plan is capped at 2 invoices a month
- Solopreneur is US only, and Intuit says it is not offered in Canada
- Plan names and prices depend on your country, so a US guide may not apply to you
Frequently asked questions about QuickBooks
QuickBooks is Intuit's accounting software. It covers income and expense tracking, invoicing, reports and, depending on the plan, payroll and project tracking.
Intuit has plans for one-person businesses: QuickBooks Solopreneur in the US and QuickBooks Lite in Canada, which Intuit describes as built for the self-employed and freelancers.
We confirmed plans for the United States and Canada. Intuit's global page has a location selector but does not say where QuickBooks is sold, so anywhere else, check your local QuickBooks site.
On the US pricing page in October 2026: Free at $0, Simple Start at $38 a month, Essentials at $85, Plus at $140 and Advanced at $340, before any introductory discount. Prices in other countries differ.
Yes in the US: the Free plan costs $0 and needs no credit card, with 1 user and up to 2 invoices a month. For other countries, check your local site.
Alternatives to QuickBooks
What we would use instead, in the same category.
