Side-by-side comparison
QuickBooks Online Essentials vs QuickBooks Online Simple Start comparison on Luminxo. Compare pricing, features, ratings, and who each product is best for.
Intuit · Essentials
QuickBooks Online Essentials by Intuit starts at $30/mo (billed annually) with invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation. It includes 3 user seats and integrates with 750+ third-party apps.
Best for: Best for small businesses with growing teams.
Intuit · Starter
QuickBooks Online Simple Start by Intuit starts at $18/mo (billed annually) with invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation. It includes 1 user seat and integrates with 750+ third-party apps.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals.
| Metric | QuickBooks Online Essentials | QuickBooks Online Simple Start |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $75/mo | $38/mo |
| Annual Price | $30/mo | $18/mo |
| Included Users | 3 | 1 |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Integrations | 750+ | 750+ |
| Rating | 4.2/5.0 | 4.2/5.0 |
| Feature | QuickBooks Online Essentials | QuickBooks Online Simple Start |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expense Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inventory Management | ✗ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Project Tracking | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multi-Currency | ✗ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
We like QuickBooks Online Essentials because it connects with 750+ apps, offers a 30-day free trial, has a mobile app for on-the-go access.
Best for: Best for small businesses with growing teams.
We like QuickBooks Online Simple Start because it connects with 750+ apps, offers a 30-day free trial, has a mobile app for on-the-go access.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals.
The biggest tradeoffs are pricing, included features, and the type of business each product targets. This page compares those factors directly so you can choose the right fit.
QuickBooks Online Simple Start has the lowest price in this comparison at $38/mo.
QuickBooks Online Essentials has the most features in this comparison with 7 out of 11 tracked features.