QuickBooks Online pricing
What QuickBooks Online really costs, plan by plan, and the payroll, payments and add on fees that change the final number.
QuickBooks Online lists four clean monthly tiers, but the sticker is rarely the whole bill. Simple Start covers a solo operator, Essentials adds bill pay and a couple of users, Plus brings inventory and projects, and Advanced layers on reporting, automation and more seats. Most small businesses land on Essentials or Plus. Below we lay out each plan as published, then the payroll, payment processing and promotional cliff costs that tend to push real spend past the per plan figure. Treat the list price as the floor, not the ceiling.
Plans and prices
Per month, billed monthlyPricing as of June 2026. New customers can take a 30 day free trial or 50 percent off for the first three months, after which the standard rate applies. Payroll, payments and other add ons are billed separately. Check the vendor for current pricing.
The plan price is the floor, not the bill.
Four things tend to separate the published plan price from what businesses actually pay for QuickBooks. Budget for these before you commit.
QuickBooks Online pricing FAQ
Is there a free version of QuickBooks Online?
No. The main QuickBooks Online lineup has no permanently free plan. The cheapest tier is Simple Start at $38 a month, and new customers can take a 30 day free trial or 50 percent off for three months. Pricing as of June 2026; check the vendor for current pricing.
How much does QuickBooks Online cost?
List prices run $38 a month for Simple Start, $75 for Essentials, $115 for Plus and $275 for Advanced, each billed monthly. New customers can take 50 percent off for the first three months. Most small businesses choose Essentials or Plus. Verified June 2026.
Which QuickBooks Online plan is best value?
For most growing small businesses, Plus at $115 adds the inventory, project tracking and budgets that Essentials lacks. Solo operators and very small firms can start on Simple Start or Essentials and upgrade as they grow.
Why is QuickBooks more expensive than the headline?
Payroll, payment processing fees and the jump after the introductory discount commonly push real spend above the plan price. Budget for these add ons from the start rather than the promotional rate.