Alternatives to QuickBooks: 8 Best Free QuickBooks Alternatives

Accounting software such as QuickBooks has revolutionized the game when it comes to accounting automation. The perks of using this type of tool to automate accounting are endless — it’s intuitive and easy to use, has an unbeatable AppStore full of great add-ons to optimize automation even further, and can be effectively used by small business owners.

Here you’ll find the best QuickBooks alternative, read about the top features, pricing and even more to make an informed decision for your small business!

Great functionality comes with a cost – it’s not free. This isn’t a bad thing, as many of us are happy to pay for a service that will eventually pay for itself by saving the company from spending money paying somebody else to do the job. But the thing is that many small businesses that are just starting out might not need the full QuickBooks functionality to manage their accounting. At least not in the beginning.

We offer you a list of 8 best free QuickBooks alternatives for small businesses that can streamline their accounting and be a good way out if for some reason you don’t want to or can’t use QuickBooks Online:

1. Synder

2. Wave

3. ZipBooks

4. GnuCash

5. Zoho Invoice

6. Sunrise

7. Akaunting

8. Manager

But first, let’s review the reasons why your small business might want to look for alternatives to QuickBooks in more detail.

Comparing the best free QuickBooks alternatives: why look for QuickBooks alternatives?

QuickBooks Online is one of the most popular accounting software programs for small businesses, and for good reason. It has a wide range of features that simplify the management of your finances, including invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll management. However, while QuickBooks is a powerful tool, it may not be the best fit for everyone, especially if you run a small business.

One of the main drawbacks of QuickBooks is its cost. QuickBooks offers different pricing plans to suit different needs, but these plans can be expensive, especially for a small business or an individual who is just starting out and may have loans. For example, QuickBooks’ most popular plan, QuickBooks Online Plus, costs $85 per month, which can add up quickly for businesses with limited budgets.

In such cases, businesses start looking for an alternative to help them cut costs on accounting. Fortunately, there are many free QuickBooks alternatives available that can provide similar features and capabilities without the high cost and need to provide a credit card.

Another reason why one may look for QuickBooks alternatives is the complexity of the software. QuickBooks is known for having a steep learning curve, and it can be challenging to use for those without experience in accounting. Small business owners and individuals with limited accounting expertise may find QuickBooks overwhelming and difficult to navigate. A free QuickBooks alternative can be a simpler and more intuitive option, especially for beginners. Many free QuickBooks alternatives offer user-friendly interfaces and intuitive features that can help users to ease their finance management.

In addition, some people may want to avoid QuickBooks because they do not want to be locked into a proprietary software ecosystem or vendor. QuickBooks is a proprietary software, which means that users are dependent on the vendor for updates, maintenance, and support. This can be a concern for businesses that want to maintain their independence and flexibility. Choosing a free QuickBooks alternative can provide businesses with more control over their accounting software and greater flexibility to customize the software to meet their unique needs.

Another benefit of free QuickBooks alternatives is that they are cloud-based management tools. This means that the software is hosted online and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud-based accounting software is becoming increasingly popular among small businesses, as such tools allow teams to work together in real-time, regardless of their location. This can be especially useful for small businesses with remote workers or those who need to collaborate with external partners.

While free QuickBooks alternatives may not have a perfect score and the highest rates on major review platforms, they offer more flexibility and customization options compared to QuickBooks. Many free QuickBooks alternatives offer a range of features and add-ons that can be customized to suit individual business needs, which means their functionality is not fixed. This can be beneficial for any small business that has unique accounting requirements or processes that may not be supported by QuickBooks. Some free QuickBooks alternatives offer advanced features, such as project management, time tracking, and inventory management, that QuickBooks may not provide. This can give businesses a competitive edge and help them streamline their operations.

Finally, free QuickBooks alternatives may also have a simpler interface, making it easier for beginners to learn and use. QuickBooks can be overwhelming for new users, and it can take some time to get up to speed with all of its features and functions. A free QuickBooks alternative can be a more straightforward option, allowing new users to learn the software easily and streamline their accounting quickly.

Read on to explore our overview of the best tools which your small business can use as an alternative to QuickBooks Online. We’ll have a look at the main features, pricing as well as pros and cons users have to consider when choosing tools to facilitate their accounting.

Synder – the best alternative to QuickBooks on the market

What is it?

Synder is an all-powerful accounting software helping thousands of businesses automate their accounting. The software mirrors the actual money flow happening in your payment platform or e-commerce platform and offers smart invoicing. A 15-day free trial (no credit card required) is available and it includes all the essential features for a smooth accounting workflow. Let’s review the most important features available and see why this software can become a good alternative to QuickBooks Online for your small business.

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Instant analytics and reporting (P&L, Balance sheet) features;
• Swift invoicing to automate your accounting;
• Simplified and meticulous inventory tracking;
• No-code Smart Rules feature for categorization and classification unique for such accounting software.

Read more about the features Synder Sync provides its users with and why it’s one of the best tools on the market 👉 Click here.

Pros

• The software is easy to adjust and use;
• Multi-currency management to ease the management of international transactions;
• Access to consolidated cash flow;
• 24/7 support via live chat, phone, email, Zoom;
• Free trial and 5 plans to choose from (with the Scale plan being the most popular one among clients).

Cons

• Available online only;
• A great number of features may be overwhelming at first for some users;
• Some platforms have limitations on how far back users can import historical data.

Want to turbocharge the way you do your accounting? Create a free account to get the most of automatic software.

Check out other Synder products, and Synder Business Insights in particular, to master your KPIs and handle them like a pro.

Wave – a QuickBooks alternative with a comprehensive suite of features

What is it?

Wave is accounting software that will perfectly suit freelancers and young small businesses with little to no inventory. It’s one of the best free QuickBooks alternatives for a small business, but you have to know all the pros and cons. Here’s the review of Wave and its features.

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Invoicing: the software works with recurring invoices;
• Credit card processing which is done automatically with a very low 1% fee;
• Auto-categorization with AI in place to remember your categorization edits. If you change a category for a transaction that was automatically placed somewhere else, next time Wave will put it into the right category.
• Wave App for receipt scanning.

Pros

• Easy dashboard and overall great user experience;
• Minimum company information required to start;
• The software is compatible with both Mac and PC.

Cons

• No real-time inventory tracking;
• No purchase orders and printable vendor checks;
• Limited management of expenses: expenses cannot be automatically converted into invoices.

ZipBooks – one of the few alternatives with unlimited invoicing

What is it?

ZipBooks accounting software is a great alternative to QuickBooks that has a free plan. The software will suit small businesses that don’t have many employees and don’t require reconciliation of several bank accounts. These features are only available in the paid version (you may choose from 3 paid plans). 

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Smart expense management to simplify your accounting;
• Unlimited invoicing with an interactive overview of how much of the invoice has been paid by your clients;
• U.S. and Canadian bank account synchronization available;
• Business health tracking services.

Pros

• Rich features users benefit from;
• Great reporting;
• Users can switch between cash and accrual accounting.

Cons

• Software has a limited free plan;
• No inventory tracking;
• Only 1 bank account is available to connect for free.

GnuCash – a double-entry alternative to QuickBooks

What is it?

GnuCash is a downloadable QuickBooks alternative for small businesses, available for Windows, Mac, and other operating systems. It is a double-entry accounting platform with lots of useful features that simplify small business accounting. 

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Professional layout;
• Detailed financial reports to ease accounting for your business;
• Helpful multi-ledger structure;
• Pie charts, bar charts, scatter plots.

Pros

• Great graphs and charts;
• Double-entry bookkeeping;
• Open-source software.

Cons

• Single-user system; 
• Stocks and budgeting features of the software aren’t very intuitive;
• The interface isn’t as intuitive as those of its competitors.

Zoho Invoice – a cloud accounting alternative to QuickBooks

What is it?

Zoho Invoice is a cloud-based invoicing software that suits microbusinesses and can be a great free QuickBooks alternative. This tool allows you to craft professional invoices, track time and expenses, and create up to 5 automated workflows. Let’s review Zoho and its features.

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Time tracking and timesheets in the free version of Zoho;
• Invoice management services: easy-to-use invoicing with customizable invoice templates;
• Expense tracking tools;
• Automated workflows feature.

Pros

• Clear and comprehensive reporting;
• Automated payment reminders;
• SSL encryption.

Cons

• After crossing a threshold of 5 customers you will be asked to purchase a plan;
• Additional users need to be purchased;
• Auto-scans need to be purchased.

Sunrise – an alternative to QuickBooks with a free self-service plan

What is it?

Sunrise is a great QuickBooks alternative with a free Self-Service plan perfect for solopreneurs and small businesses in service-based industries. With a free plan, you can facilitate your accounting and send invoices with no limit, customize them, as well as create cash flow reports. Let’s see what features make Sunrise a good alternative to QuickBooks Online.

Editorial note: The software has low payment processing fees: 

• 3.55% + $0.30 (per CC transaction)
• 1.5% + $0.30 (per ACH transaction)

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• Process discounts and refunds;
• Unlimited number of users;
• Great cash flow reports;
• Invoicing: customized invoices.

Pros

• Unlike some of its competitors, the software will allow you to connect an unlimited number of bank accounts for auto-synchronization;
• Free plan allows you to add other users to your account;
• Quotes and estimates are available to ease your accounting.

Cons

• Bill payment and tracking isn’t available and must be entered into a spreadsheet;
• Auto-categorization isn’t available on a free plan of this software;
• Payment integration with Stripe, PayPal and Square only on the purchased plan (paid plans start from $19.99).

Akaunting –  a free and open-source alternative to QuickBooks

What is it?

Akaunting is a securely-built, open-source free QuickBooks alternative for small businesses. It allows creating invoices and tracking expenses, as well as managing your finances online from any device. Let’s have a look at the main features of this accounting software.

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• This is one of the few truly free options on the market – all features are available for free;
• Open-source software accessible online from any device;
• Easy management: the software offers a clear dashboard with powerful reporting features.

Pros

• Billable expenses, rare for this category of software;
• The software has unlimited bank and cash accounts;
• Sharing transactions and invoices with clients.

Cons

• Little information available about the company;
• Clients who choose to go with this accounting software get minimal to no support;
• The software might not suit businesses with professional, advanced requirements to accounting.

Manager – a desktop-based alternative to QuickBooks

What is it?

Manager is a desktop-based QuickBooks alternative for those preferring to work offline. You will be asked to pay only in case you want to create a cloud backup (which is easily avoidable by saving your files on something like Google Drive). Read on to find out more about Manager and the features that make it a worthy alternative to QuickBooks Online.

What are some of its best features compared to other QuickBooks alternatives?

• It’s one of the most respectable completely free options for desktop users;
• The software has a very simple, albeit somewhat spartan interface;
• The software offers modules that you can enable and disable to create your own interface;
• Preconfigured reporting to ease your accounting.

Pros

• The software is easy to process and intuitive to use;
• Good support community;
• Flexibility in setting up the chart of accounts.

Cons

• Bank importing can be time-consuming and isn’t as automated as in many cloud-based options;
• Reporting features of the software are limited;
• No system checks.

Final thoughts on alternatives to QuickBooks

As our review shows, while QuickBooks is a powerful accounting software program, it may not be the best fit for everyone. Small businesses and individuals with limited budgets or accounting expertise may find QuickBooks too expensive or too complex to use. 

Choosing the best free QuickBooks alternative can save you money while offering similar features and capabilities to QuickBooks. Free QuickBooks alternatives are cloud-based, customizable, and very often offer more flexibility than QuickBooks. By comparing the best free QuickBooks alternatives, businesses can find software that meets their unique needs and provides a cost-effective and user-friendly way to ease their finance management.

Hopefully, our overview of the alternatives with pros and cons will be useful when choosing your first accounting software. Most of these options are great free QuickBooks alternatives when you’re just starting out – no credit card is required to test them. In time you may find that some of them lack some important features that you need (project management, inventory tracking, more automation, less manual data entry, a greater variety of reports available – just to cite a few features), but it’s good to keep these accounting software solutions in mind as a way to learn more about business accounting and save money on more complex options. Make the most of cloud accounting even if you don’t use QuickBooks Online!