Let's be honest: QuickBooks has been raising prices aggressively—52-83% increases since 2020. If you're reading this, you're probably frustrated and looking for alternatives that won't treat your budget like an ATM.
We tested 15+ accounting software options and narrowed it down to the 7 best QuickBooks alternatives that are actually worth your time. We'll cover real pricing (not "starting at" bait), genuine pros and cons, and who each option is best for.
Full disclosure: We're the team behind BizBooks Pro, which is on this list. We've done our best to be objective and fair to all competitors. You'll see we point out cons for our own product too.
Quick Comparison Table
Here's how the top QuickBooks alternatives stack up:
| Software | Starting Price | Price Lock | Best For | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BizBooks Pro | $299/year | 12 Years ✓ | Price stability seekers | 30 days |
| Xero | $15/month | No | International business | 30 days |
| Wave | Free | N/A | Very small businesses | Free forever |
| FreshBooks | $19/month | No | Freelancers & services | 30 days |
| Zoho Books | $15/month | No | Budget-conscious | 14 days |
| Sage 50 | $595/year | No | Complex accounting | None |
| GnuCash | Free | N/A | Technical users | Free forever |
| QuickBooks Online | $38/month | No | — | 30 days |
1. BizBooks Pro – Best for Price Stability
BizBooks Pro
$299/year (~$25/mo)"The accounting software with a 12-year price lock guarantee"
BizBooks Pro is a desktop-based accounting application that installs on your computer but can be accessed remotely from any device. The standout feature is the 12-year price lock guarantee—the price you pay today is your price until 2037.
Pros
- 12-year price lock guarantee
- Data stays on your computer
- Multi-currency in all plans
- QuickBooks import included
- Works offline
- Unlimited companies (Pro+)
- Mobile access via browser (iPhone, iPad, Android)
Cons
- Newer company, less established
- Requires local installation
- Fewer integrations than QB
2. Xero – Best for International Businesses
Xero
$15-78/month"Beautiful accounting software"
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It's known for its clean interface and strong multi-currency support.
Pros
- Excellent multi-currency
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Strong bank integrations
- Unlimited users on all plans
- Great for accountants
Cons
- Gets expensive quickly
- Limited invoices on Starter plan
- Payroll is extra ($40+/mo)
- US support is limited
3. Wave – Best Free Option
Wave
Free"Free accounting for small businesses"
Wave offers genuinely free accounting software. They make money through payment processing and payroll services, so the core accounting features are free forever.
Pros
- Actually free (forever)
- Unlimited invoicing
- Receipt scanning
- Good for basics
- Easy to use
Cons
- No inventory management
- Limited reporting
- No multi-currency
- Can't track projects
- Payment processing is pricey
4. FreshBooks – Best for Freelancers
FreshBooks
$19-60/month"Accounting software built for owners"
FreshBooks started as invoicing software and expanded into full accounting. It's particularly strong for service-based businesses and freelancers who bill by the hour.
Pros
- Excellent invoicing
- Built-in time tracking
- Great mobile app
- Client portal
- Easy to learn
Cons
- Not true double-entry accounting
- Limited for product businesses
- Client limits on lower tiers
- Reporting is basic
5. Zoho Books – Best Budget Option
Zoho Books
$15-60/month"Run your business with a complete suite"
Zoho Books is part of the larger Zoho ecosystem. It's a solid, full-featured accounting option at a lower price point than QuickBooks.
Pros
- Lower price than QuickBooks
- Full double-entry accounting
- Inventory management
- Integrates with Zoho suite
- Project tracking included
Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Fewer US bank integrations
- Learning curve
- Support can be slow
6. Sage 50 – Best for Complex Accounting
Sage 50
$595-1,668/year"Accounting and financial management"
Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree) is a powerful desktop accounting solution for businesses with complex accounting needs. It's been around since 1983.
Pros
- Very powerful features
- Excellent inventory
- Advanced job costing
- Industry-specific editions
- Robust reporting
Cons
- Expensive
- Steep learning curve
- Dated interface
- Windows only
- Add-ons cost extra
7. GnuCash – Best Free Desktop Option
GnuCash
Free (Open Source)"Personal and small-business financial-accounting software"
GnuCash is free, open-source accounting software. It's been around since 1998 and offers surprisingly robust double-entry accounting.
Pros
- Completely free forever
- True double-entry accounting
- No user limits
- Works on Mac, Windows, Linux
- Your data stays local
Cons
- Very technical/complex
- No invoicing
- No support (community only)
- Old-school interface
- No cloud access
Ready to Switch from QuickBooks?
Try BizBooks Pro free for 30 days. Import your QuickBooks data and lock in your price for 12 years.
Start Free TrialHow to Choose the Right QuickBooks Alternative
Here's a quick decision framework:
Choose BizBooks Pro if:
- You're sick of annual price increases
- You want your data stored locally
- You need multi-currency or multi-company support
- You value predictable, long-term pricing
Choose Xero if:
- You do a lot of international business
- You want unlimited users included
- Your accountant prefers it
Choose Wave if:
- You're just starting out
- Your needs are very basic
- You can't afford any software cost right now
Choose FreshBooks if:
- You're a freelancer or service business
- Invoicing and time tracking are priorities
- You want the best mobile experience
Choose Zoho Books if:
- You want full features at a lower price
- You already use other Zoho products
- You're comfortable with a learning curve
Conclusion: Which QuickBooks Alternative is Best?
There's no single "best" QuickBooks alternative—it depends on your specific needs:
- For price stability: BizBooks Pro (12-year price lock)
- For international business: Xero
- For zero cost: Wave
- For freelancers: FreshBooks
- For budget-conscious: Zoho Books
The most important thing is to stop accepting annual price increases as inevitable. There are excellent alternatives that respect your budget.
Whatever you choose, take advantage of free trials to test the software with your actual data before committing.
Switching tip: Most accounting software (including BizBooks Pro) can import your QuickBooks data. The switch is usually easier than you expect—often just a few minutes to import your chart of accounts, customers, and vendors.