6 Best QuickBooks Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 20 min read
QuickBooks is a popular tool for small businesses needing comprehensive accounting. With pricing starting at $30/mo, it can be expensive for many teams. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 6 best QuickBooks alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 6
- Free alternatives: 4 (Wave, Zoho Books, GnuCash)
- Open-source options: GnuCash, Akaunting
- Best overall: Xero
- Best free: Wave
Why Look for QuickBooks Alternatives?
People commonly look for QuickBooks alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: At $30/mo, QuickBooks isn't cheap, especially for small teams and startups.
- Feature gaps: Expensive and can be complex are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find QuickBooks overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | ✗ No | $30/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting |
| Xero | ✗ No | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Small businesses outside the US |
| FreshBooks | ✗ No | $17/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Freelancers and service businesses |
| Wave | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing | Free | ⭐ 4 | No | Freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting |
| Zoho Books | ✓ Free for <$50K revenue | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Growing businesses in the Zoho ecosystem |
| GnuCash | ✓ Completely free | Free | ⭐ 3.8 | ✓ Yes | Users wanting free desktop accounting software |
| Akaunting | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 3.9 | ✓ Yes | Small businesses wanting free, self-hosted accounting |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Xero
Cloud-based accounting software for small businesses.
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that's particularly popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It offers beautiful design, strong bank reconciliation, and a large ecosystem of add-ons. Xero is known for being more user-friendly than QuickBooks while still offering powerful accounting features.
Pros
- ✓ Beautiful interface
- ✓ Great bank reconciliation
- ✓ Large app ecosystem
- ✓ Good for non-US businesses
Cons
- ✗ Limited US payroll
- ✗ Can be pricey
- ✗ Reporting limitations
- ✗ Learning curve
FreshBooks
Accounting software built for service-based businesses.
FreshBooks is an accounting platform designed specifically for self-employed professionals and small service-based businesses. It excels at invoicing, time tracking, and expense management with an incredibly user-friendly interface that makes accounting less intimidating.
Pros
- ✓ Very user-friendly
- ✓ Great invoicing
- ✓ Time tracking built-in
- ✓ Beautiful design
Cons
- ✗ Limited for complex accounting
- ✗ Expensive for features
- ✗ Basic inventory
- ✗ Client limits on plans
Wave
Free accounting software for small businesses and freelancers.
Wave is a free accounting platform that offers invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost. It makes money through payment processing and payroll services. Wave is ideal for freelancers and very small businesses who need basic accounting without the cost.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Easy to use
- ✓ Good for basics
- ✓ Receipt scanning
Cons
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No inventory
- ✗ No time tracking
- ✗ Basic reporting
Zoho Books
Online accounting software for growing businesses.
Zoho Books is an online accounting platform that's part of the Zoho ecosystem. It offers comprehensive features including invoicing, expense tracking, inventory management, and bank reconciliation. As part of Zoho's suite, it integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM, Projects, and other Zoho apps.
Pros
- ✓ Free for small businesses
- ✓ Comprehensive features
- ✓ Zoho ecosystem
- ✓ Good value
Cons
- ✗ Complex interface
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ US features limited
- ✗ Support can be slow
GnuCash
Free, open-source personal and small business accounting software.
GnuCash is a free, open-source accounting application suitable for personal finance and small business accounting. It uses double-entry bookkeeping and supports multiple currencies, making it a solid choice for users who want powerful accounting without any cost.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Double-entry
- ✓ Multi-currency support
Cons
- ✗ Dated interface
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ No cloud sync
- ✗ Desktop only
Akaunting
Free, open-source online accounting software.
Akaunting is a free, open-source online accounting software designed for small businesses and freelancers. It provides invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting with a modern web interface. Being open source, it can be self-hosted for complete data control.
Pros
- ✓ Free and open source
- ✓ Web-based
- ✓ Self-hostable
- ✓ Modern interface
Cons
- ✗ Limited features vs paid tools
- ✗ Requires hosting
- ✗ Small community
- ✗ Basic reporting
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to QuickBooks?
The best free alternative to QuickBooks is Wave, which offers Free accounting and invoicing.
Is there an open-source alternative to QuickBooks?
Yes! GnuCash, Akaunting are open-source alternatives to QuickBooks that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to QuickBooks?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Wave, Zoho Books, GnuCash. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $15/mo.
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