Accounting Software Pricing Comparison 2026
Entry price vs realistic spend after add-ons. Freshness chips show when each price was last verified against the vendor's own pricing page.
| Vendor | From | Verified | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | $0 | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
| FreshBooks Lite | $19/mo | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
| QuickBooks SE | $20/mo | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
| Bonsai Starter | $21/mo | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
| HoneyBook Starter | $16/mo | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
| FreeAgent (retail) | £19/mo | ✓ Verified 2026-05-19 | Try it |
Prices verified from vendor websites. Always confirm current pricing before purchasing. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Why "entry price" and "realistic spend" differ
Accounting software vendors use entry prices that exclude common add-ons. The realistic spend includes the plan features most businesses actually need:
- FreshBooks: Most freelancers need Plus ($33/mo), not Lite ($19/mo) which caps at 5 active clients. Team members add $11/user/mo.
- QuickBooks Self-Employed: The TurboTax bundle ($35/mo) is what most sole proprietors actually buy for the Schedule C export integration.
- Wave: Core features remain free; automation and multi-user require Pro ($16/mo). Payroll is $35/mo base + $6/employee (US only).
- Bonsai: Annual billing cuts about 15% vs monthly. Most freelancers start at Professional ($32/mo annual) for full automations.
- FreeAgent: Free with a NatWest, RBS, or Mettle business current account. Retail price is £19/mo + VAT.
Prices verified 2026-05-19 directly from vendor pricing pages. Accounting software vendors change pricing 1-3x per year. Always verify current pricing before purchasing. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.