The Four QuickBooks Online Plans and Their Monthly Costs

QuickBooks Online offers four subscription tiers: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. Each tier adds features and user seats as the price increases. Simple Start costs $30 per month, Essentials runs $55 per month, Plus is $85 per month, and Advanced is $200 per month. These are the standard prices when you pay monthly; annual prepayment typically offers a discount of about 50 percent off the first year.

All four plans include core accounting features: invoice creation, expense tracking, bank connections, and basic reporting. The differences lie in how many users can access the account simultaneously, which automation tools are included, and what inventory or project management features you get. If you are just starting out or running a very small operation, Simple Start may be enough. If you need multiple team members or more complex workflows, you will move to a higher tier.

QuickBooks also offers a 30-day free trial for any plan, so you can test the features before committing to a subscription. The trial does not require a credit card to start.

Key Takeaways

  • Simple Start ($30/month) supports one user and covers invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting for solo operators or very small businesses.
  • Essentials ($55/month) adds a second user seat and includes time tracking and mileage tracking, useful for service businesses.
  • Plus ($85/month) allows up to three users, adds inventory tracking, and includes project profitability reports for tracking job costs.
  • Advanced ($200/month) supports up to five users, includes advanced inventory features, custom user roles, and API access for third-party integrations.
  • Annual prepayment typically costs about half the monthly rate for the first year, making it significantly cheaper than month-to-month billing.

Simple Start: Solo Operators and Minimal Needs

Simple Start is the entry-level plan at $30 per month. It is designed for sole proprietors, freelancers, or very small businesses that do not need multiple team members. The plan includes unlimited invoices and estimates, expense tracking tied to your bank accounts, and basic profit-and-loss reporting. You can create up to 10 custom fields to track information specific to your business.

Simple Start does not include time tracking, mileage tracking, or inventory management. You also cannot add additional users — only the account owner can log in. If you bill clients hourly or need to track job costs, you will need to move to Essentials or higher. The plan works well for service providers who invoice a flat rate, consultants, or anyone whose accounting needs are straightforward.

Essentials: Adding a Second User and Time Tracking

Essentials costs $55 per month and adds two significant features: a second user seat and time tracking. This plan is common for small service businesses — plumbers, electricians, consultants, accountants — where one person handles billing and another tracks hours or manages jobs.

Essentials includes everything in Simple Start, plus mileage tracking (useful for field service work), the ability to track time by project or customer, and basic project reporting. You can see how many hours were logged on a job and compare that to what you billed. The second user can be a team member, contractor, or bookkeeper with their own login credentials. You control what each user can see and do through role-based permissions.

Essentials does not include inventory management or advanced project profitability features. If you sell physical products or need detailed cost-of-goods tracking, Plus is the next step up.

Plus: Inventory Tracking and Three Users

Plus costs $85 per month and is built for small businesses that sell products, manage inventory, or need more detailed project tracking. The plan includes everything in Essentials, plus up to three user seats and full inventory management.

With Plus, you can track stock levels, set reorder points, and see which items are your best sellers. The plan includes project profitability reports, which show you the actual cost of materials and labor on each job compared to what you charged. This is critical for contractors, manufacturers, or any business where project margins matter. You can also create custom forms and workflows to match your business process.

Plus does not include advanced user role customization or API access for integrations. If you have a large team or need to connect QuickBooks to specialized software, Advanced is the option.

Advanced: Five Users, Custom Roles, and API Access

Advanced costs $200 per month and is designed for growing businesses with complex operations. The plan includes everything in Plus, plus up to five user seats, advanced user role customization, and API access for third-party integrations.

With Advanced, you can create custom user roles that restrict what each team member can see and do — for example, a warehouse manager might see inventory but not financial reports, while a controller sees everything. The API access means you can connect QuickBooks to specialized software for payroll, project management, CRM, or custom workflows. Advanced also includes priority support, which means faster response times when you contact QuickBooks.

Advanced is the highest tier QuickBooks Online offers. If you need more than five users or enterprise-level features, you would typically move to QuickBooks Desktop or a different accounting platform.

How to Compare Plans Side by Side

The easiest way to see which plan fits your business is to list what you actually need. Do you have employees or contractors who need to log in? How many? Do you sell products or services? Do you track inventory? Do you bill by the hour or by the project? Do you need to connect QuickBooks to other software?

If you answer "no" to all of those questions, Simple Start is likely sufficient. If you have one other person who needs access and you track time, Essentials is the fit. If you manage inventory or need detailed project costing, Plus is the standard choice. If you have a larger team or need custom integrations, Advanced is necessary.

You can also start with a lower tier and upgrade later — QuickBooks prorates the cost if you change plans mid-month. Many businesses start with Simple Start or Essentials and move up as they grow.

Annual Prepayment Discounts

QuickBooks typically offers a discount of roughly 50 percent off the first year when you prepay for 12 months instead of paying month to month. For example, Simple Start at $30 per month costs $360 per year on a monthly plan, but prepaying for the year might cost around $180 for the first 12 months. After the first year, you renew at the regular annual rate.

The exact discount varies by plan and changes periodically, so check the QuickBooks pricing page for current offers. Annual prepayment is a good option if you are confident you will use QuickBooks for at least a year. If you are uncertain or testing the software, stick with month-to-month billing until you are sure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch plans or cancel anytime?

You can change plans at any time through your account settings. If you upgrade mid-month, QuickBooks charges you the difference prorated to your billing date. If you downgrade, the change takes effect on your next billing date. You can cancel anytime, though any prepaid balance is typically non-refundable.

Do all plans include bank connections?

Yes, all four plans connect to your bank and credit card accounts to download transactions automatically. This works with most U.S. banks and many international banks. The connection is read-only — QuickBooks sees your transactions but cannot move money or change account settings.

What is the difference between QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop?

QuickBooks Online is cloud-based and accessed through a web browser; you can log in from anywhere. QuickBooks Desktop is installed on your computer and works offline. Online is subscription-based with the four plans described here. Desktop requires a one-time purchase and is typically used by businesses with more complex needs or those who prefer not to use cloud software.

Do I need to pay for additional users beyond what my plan includes?

No. Each plan includes a set number of users, and you do not pay extra for additional seats within that limit. If you need more users than your plan allows, you must upgrade to a higher tier.

Is there a plan for nonprofits or very small businesses?

QuickBooks does not offer a separate nonprofit plan through QuickBooks Online. However, some nonprofits use Simple Start or Essentials. QuickBooks also offers a separate product called QuickBooks for Nonprofits, which has different features and pricing. Check the QuickBooks website to see which product fits your organization's structure.