Our verdict
Being tested. An editor is using QuickBooks hands-on; the verdict and score appear here once they sign it off.
What it does
QuickBooks is Intuit’s online accounting software. It brings in your bank transactions, sends invoices, tracks expenses and mileage, and files VAT returns to HMRC under Making Tax Digital, with payroll as an add-on. It suggests categories for your transactions, and its AI, Intuit Intelligence, automates tasks and gives insights into your business.
There are plans for sole traders as well as limited companies, and many UK accountants support it.
Why use it
- Bank feeds and suggested categories sort most everyday transactions.
- The phone app captures receipts and tracks business mileage.
- It is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital for VAT and Income Tax.
- Many UK accountants and bookkeepers use it.
How it works
- Choose a plan and start the free trial.
- Connect your business bank account and card.
- Photograph receipts in the app and match them to transactions.
- Check the categories it suggests, and correct any that are wrong.
- Send invoices and file your VAT return from QuickBooks.
How hard is it to use?
Intermediate Some set-up, or a little practice, to get good results.
Everyday use is straightforward, but setting up VAT, categories and payroll takes some learning, which is why we rate it Intermediate.
What it costs
Paid plans; free trial. Paid monthly plans, from Sole Trader and Simple Start up to Essentials, Plus and Advanced, with a choice of a 30-day free trial or an introductory discount (not both). Higher plans add more users, projects and reporting, and payroll costs extra.
Prices change often, so check QuickBooks’s own site before you pay.
Watch out for
- Introductory discounts end after a few months, so check the full monthly price.
- Check which AI features your plan includes before you rely on them.
- Check suggested categories before you file, because you are responsible for your return.
Your data
Intuit’s privacy statement covers QuickBooks. Check how your data is used to develop Intuit’s AI features and where UK customers’ data is stored.
We haven’t confirmed that QuickBooks can keep your data in the UK, so check where it keeps your data before you share anything private or about other people.