# QuickBooks Online alternatives > QuickBooks Online alternatives for small businesses: Xero and FreshBooks, with what each does, price from each maker, and who each fits. Source: https://busyworkbots.com/alternatives/quickbooks/ Publisher: BusyWorkBots (run by TimeGentic LLC). Written by the BusyWorkBots Editorial Team: https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/ 3 tools side by side: what each one does, who it fits, and what it costs on the maker’s own site. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid. By [BusyWorkBots Editorial Team](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/) **Short answer:** The QuickBooks Online alternatives we list are Xero and FreshBooks. Xero is full online accounting with bank matching. FreshBooks is built around invoices, payment reminders and expenses. Xero's Early plan is $27/mo after a promo, and FreshBooks Lite is $23/mo. Last updated: Oct 25, 2026 · 3 tools · [How we pick](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/) ## About this list QuickBooks Online learns how you sort transactions, syncs your bank and sends invoices. Simple Start is $38/mo. Xero matches bank transactions, sends quotes and invoices, and tracks bills you owe. FreshBooks sends custom and repeat invoices, sends late-payment reminders and tracks expenses. Moving your books is a big job. Ask your bookkeeper before you switch. ## The tool you’re comparing: QuickBooks Online - ### [QuickBooks Online](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/quickbooks-online/) Time saved: varies Bookkeeping that learns how to sort transactions, plus invoices. Time saved**Varies** Accounting Simple Start $38/mo Easy ## The alternatives - ### [Xero](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/xero/) Time saved: varies Online accounting with bank feeds and invoices. Time saved**Varies** Accounting From $27/mo Easy - ### [FreshBooks](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/freshbooks/) (~2–4 hrs/wk est.) Invoices, payment reminders, and expense tracking. Accounting Lite $23/mo Easy ## Compare them side by side QuickBooks Online alternatives: side by side | Tool | What it does | Best for | Price (maker’s site) | Setup | Time saved | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [QuickBooks Online](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/quickbooks-online/) Compared | Bookkeeping that learns how to sort transactions, plus invoices. | Small businesses and bookkeepers who sort expenses by hand and want their books to sort themselves. | Simple Start $38/mo (a free plan is also listed) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this | [Maker’s page](https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/) | | [Xero](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/xero/) | Online accounting with bank feeds and invoices. | Small businesses and bookkeepers who spend hours matching bank transactions and sending invoices. | From $27/mo (Early plan) after a 6-month promo | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this | [Maker’s page](https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/) | | [FreshBooks](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/freshbooks/) | Invoices, payment reminders, and expense tracking. | Freelancers and service businesses tired of chasing unpaid invoices and tracking expenses by hand. | Lite $23/mo (promos often) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~2–4 hrs/wk | [Maker’s page](https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing) | Prices are what each maker’s own pricing page showed on Oct 25, 2026. “See site” means the page did not show a clear price. What it does, setup and hours come from our listing and its source. “Our estimate” is our guess from similar tools, not a measured number. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid products from each maker, and prices change often. None of these links pay us. ## Who each one fits best - **QuickBooks Online:** Small businesses and bookkeepers who sort expenses by hand and want their books to sort themselves. - **Xero:** Small businesses and bookkeepers who spend hours matching bank transactions and sending invoices. - **FreshBooks:** Freelancers and service businesses tired of chasing unpaid invoices and tracking expenses by hand. From each tool’s page on BusyWorkBots. We don’t pick a winner, and no maker paid to be here. ## Questions people ask ### What is the best QuickBooks alternative? On this page: Xero and FreshBooks. Xero is closer to QuickBooks for full bookkeeping. FreshBooks fits freelancers and service businesses that mostly send invoices. ### Is Xero cheaper than QuickBooks? On Oct 25, 2026, Xero's Early plan showed $27/mo after a 6-month promo, and QuickBooks Simple Start showed $38/mo. Plans differ in what they include, so compare the features you need. ### Is there a free QuickBooks alternative? Neither tool here lists a free plan in our listing. QuickBooks itself now lists a free plan with 1 user and 2 invoices a month. The directory is free to search. The tools themselves are made and priced by each maker. ### How does BusyWorkBots pick these? Every listing links to a real source, a case study, a builder's post, or the maker's page. Numbers from the company selling the tool are labeled as a maker or vendor claim. We don't test every tool. ## Related lists - [QuickBooks Online vs Xero](https://busyworkbots.com/compare/quickbooks-online-vs-xero/) - [Best AI bots for bookkeeping in Accounting, Bookkeeping & Payroll](https://busyworkbots.com/best/bookkeeping-bots-for-accounting-bookkeeping/) - [AI invoicing tools for small business](https://busyworkbots.com/best/ai-invoicing-tools/) - [Hours-saved calculator: a rough estimate for your business](https://busyworkbots.com/tools/hours-saved-calculator/) [See every bot on BusyWorkBots →](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/) [More lists by job and industry →](https://busyworkbots.com/best/)