2026 Quickbooks Online Pricing Explained: Compare Plans for Sole Traders in Australia

The following information reflects current Quickbooks Online pricing and plans as of June 2026. All plans are in AUD and include GST. 

2026 Quickbooks Online plans and pricing for sole traders at a glance

Quickbooks' dedicated Self-Employed offering was phased out in Australia in late 2024. Remaining plans were designed with small business bookkeeping in mind, but can be suitable for some sole traders.

Note: Quickbooks is also testing new Intuit Intelligence features that use AI to help with things like categorisation and catching errors. 

2026 Quickbooks pricing breakdown

Here's a quick look at the different Quickbooks Online plans that are available for sole traders, and how they compare.

Quickbooks Online Simple Start: Best for sole traders with basic accounting needs

Monthly cost: $33

Simple Start is QuickBooks' entry-level plan and the most relevant option for Australian sole traders.

It includes the basic tools you'll need for running your solo business: sending invoices, tracking expenses, capturing receipts, and lodging tax and BAS. Unlike Xero's entry-level plan, which is at a similar price point ($35/month), you also get unlimited invoicing and can capture receipts without using a separate app. 

What's included:

• Unlimited invoices and quotes

• Expense and income tracking

• Bank feeds and reconciliation

• GST tracking and BAS reporting

• Receipt capture via Quickbooks mobile app

• Mileage tracking

• Basic profit & loss and balance sheet reports

• Give your accountant access to your Quickbooks data

• 1 user access for your Quickbooks Online account

• Access to Intuit Intelligence: Chat, Accounting AI, GST AI

Pros:

• No invoice caps 

• Clean mobile app makes it easy to invoice and track expenses on the go

• 30-day free trial available (credit card required after trial)

• AI-powered transaction categorisation helps keep your books tidy with less manual work

Cons:

• No free data migration, making switching more difficult

• No recurring invoicing

• No time tracking

• No project tracking

• Limited reporting capability

• QuickBooks has a smaller footprint in Australia's accounting community than Xero or MYOB, meaning your accountant may be less familiar with it

Quickbooks Online Essentials plan: Best for sole traders looking to scale

Monthly cost: $60

Essentials adds bill management, time tracking, and multi-currency support on top of Simple Start, and opens up access for up to 3 users.

Consider this plan if you regularly receive and track supplier invoices before paying them, need to bill clients for time, or deal with overseas clients in foreign currencies.

What's included (on top of Simple Start):

• Manage and pay supplier bills

• Time tracking (billable hours by client or employee)

• Multi-currency transactions

• Accounts payable reporting

• Up to 3 users

Pros:

• Having multi-currency on this plan is a real differentiator vs competitors like Xero, who charge nearly double the price for the same feature (although there are other, more affordable alternatives to Quickbooks that offer multi-currency)

• Bill management lets you track what you owe suppliers and schedule payments

• Time tracking makes it practical for consultants, contractors, or anyone who bills by the hour

Cons:

• Nearly double the Simple Start price, which is a significant jump for a sole trader

• Still no inventory or project tracking

• Payroll remains a separate paid add-on

• Most service-based sole traders won't need many of these extras (like more users and AP reporting)

Quickbooks Online Plus plan: Best for product businesses with stock to manage

Monthly price: $84

Plus adds inventory management and project profitability tracking, making it relevant for sole traders selling physical products or running distinct client projects where they want to track costs and margins. It supports up to 5 users.

For service-based freelancers or contractors working solo, this plan is almost certainly more than you need.

Pros:

• Inventory tracking using FIFO (first-in, first-out) costing, stock quantities automatically update on sale

• Project profitability tracking lets you see margin by client or project

• Budgeting tools to plan ahead

• Track income by location, product, or service

• Access to Intuit Intelligence: Customer AI

Cons:

• At ~$84/month, it sits well above what most sole traders should spend on accounting software

• Payroll is still an add-on

• Feature complexity is designed for businesses with teams, not solo operators

Should I consider a Quickbooks Online Advanced plan as a sole trader?

Advanced is designed for small-to-medium businesses that have grown beyond the basics. Think teams of up to 25 people, complex automated workflows, and sophisticated accounting and reporting requirements,

At ~$125/month, it is far outside the scope and budget of most Australian sole traders, and offers no real functionality that would justify this overhead.

Frequently asked questions about Quickbooks pricing 

Does Quickbooks offer a free trial?

Quickbooks does offer a 30-day free trial for any plan, but this means you will not be able to take advantage of any special offers.

An important note: when you sign up on their site, Quickbooks automatically toggles all plans to 'Buy now'. This has caught some users out in the past, who ended up seeing their credit card get charged as soon as they signed up.

 If you do want to try Quickbooks for free, make sure you have switched the toggle to 'Free trial for 30 days' before you select a plan. 

Should I take advantage of big discounts on Quickbooks pricing plans?

QuickBooks frequently runs introductory discounts that can look like significant savings, usually 50–70% off for 3 months (sometimes up to 6 months). 

These can be worth taking for new Quickbooks customers and if you're already sure Quickbooks is the right fit for your business, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

The discount period typically lasts only a few months, after which you'll revert to the full ongoing price. When comparing QuickBooks against other options, always look at the price you'll actually pay once the promotional period ends, not the discounted rate. 

Is there a Quickbooks payroll plan?

Payroll is not included in any QuickBooks plan and adds an additional cost via their Employment Hero add-on (~$10/month base + ~$8/user/month). This is something to consider if you're a sole trader that pays themselves through a company structure, or if you're thinking about hiring staff in future. 

Will Quickbooks pricing change?

Quickbooks Australia has seen several price hikes over the last few years (although to a lesser extent than competitors like Xero and MYOB). While there's no knowing if there will be a price rise in the next 12 months, sole traders should consider this as a possibility when evaluating different solutions. 

Can I cancel anytime?

You can cancel your subscription at any time. 

What is the monthly price for Quickbooks Online?

A monthly subscription to Quickbooks Online will cost sole traders between $33-$84 per month. 

Who uses Quickbooks Online?

Quickbooks is primarily used by small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the accountants that work with them. 

The verdict: Choosing the right plan for your business needs

For most Australian sole traders, Simple Start and Essentials are the only plans really worth considering. 

Quickbooks Simple Start covers the core of what you need: unlimited invoicing, expense tracking, GST reporting, BAS preparation, and receipt capture via the mobile app.

Step up to Essentials only if you have a genuine need for one of its additions, most likely recurring invoices, multi-currency support (if you work with international clients), or time tracking (if you bill by the hour). 

The jump from $33 to $60 a month is significant for a solo operator though, so be honest with yourself about whether you'll actually use what you're paying for.

Plus and Advanced are designed for teams, not for sole traders working alone, with pricing to match. Unless you're selling physical products and need inventory management, there's no reason to go there.

When Quickbooks is a good fit for sole traders

Quickbooks can be a good fit if you:

• Want an alternative to Xero that doesn't have invoice caps (although there are some other options that may be a better fit for your business here that we'll explore below)

• Want a globally recognised platform with a large ecosystem of integrations (Shopify, Stripe, PayPal, and 300+ others)

• Sell physical products and need inventory management (Plus plan)

• Need detailed financial reporting (department/project tracking, advanced P&L reporting, cash flow forecasting, custom financial reports) and are willing to pay up to $84 per month

• Work with an accountant that only uses Quickbooks Online, and don't want to switch

When to consider an alternative to Quickbooks accounting software

You should think about looking at other options if you:

• Plan to hire staff. Payroll is not included in any QuickBooks plan and adds meaningful cost via the Employment Hero add-on (~$10/month base + ~$8/employee/month)

• Are budget-conscious. At $33/month minimum, QuickBooks is on the higher end for sole traders who only need to quote and invoice, keep track of expenses, and stay on top of tax.

• Work with an accountant who prefers another tool. QuickBooks has a smaller footprint in Australia's accounting community, which can mean more friction at tax time.

• Want a simpler solution: Quickbooks does have a learning curve like most accounting software solutions, meaning it can be tricky to use for business owners. 

• Want software built specifically for sole traders. QuickBooks is fundamentally small business management software adapted for solo use, not the other way around.

What are the best alternatives to Quickbooks Online in Australia for sole traders?

The right alternative depends on what you actually need from your accounting software.

Xero is the most widely used accounting platform among Australian small businesses and has the largest accountant and bookkeeper community. If you're planning to eventually grow your business and bring on more staff, it's widely seen as the best option. 

That said, pricing starts at $37/month (as of July 1 2026) and may be out of the budget of many sole traders, especially as most will need to upgrade to Grow ($78/month as of July 1 2026).

MYOB is another option if your accountant specifically works in MYOB, or if you anticipate hiring staff as it has more mature payroll functionality than most competitors. It also does have a dedicated sole trader app, although at this stage it lacks many of the essential tools many sole traders will need (such as quoting and automations).

Rounded is built specifically for Australian sole traders and freelancers. If you just need to quote and invoice clients, track expenses, and automate GST and tax, it's worth a look. 

How Rounded compares to Quickbooks for sole traders

Rounded is purpose-built for Australian sole traders and the way they run their businesses.

The helpful features offered in Quickbook's Essential plan are included on all Rounded plans:

• Recurring invoices

• Built-in time tracking

• Multi-currency invoicing

• Free data migration 

With Rounded Pro available at $29.95/month, sole traders get all the tools they need to run their business at a more affordable price than Quickbook's entry-level Simple Start plan, and less than half the cost of Essentials.

Why Australian sole traders choose Rounded to run their business

“I'm saving hours and hours with quoting and on the admin side of things.”

Lachlan B., Carpenter

"The invoicing system is simple, easy and just works! Connection to my bank account is flawless and it makes reconciliation a breeze. I highly recommend this app for any small business!"

Jo R., Blue Wren Creations

"The way Rounded works just makes sense to me. The invoices are beautifully designed, the payment tracking makes sense, and the overall design of both the website and the app are delightful to use. Wow, did I just call an accounting tool delightful?"

Chris B., Consultant

See if Rounded will suit your solo business

Try Rounded for free today.(No credit card required)