Wave
FreemiumFree accounting and invoicing for small businesses (US/CA).
Pros
- +Core accounting free
- +Simple invoicing
- +Good for very small businesses
Cons
- −Payments/payroll monetized
- −Less powerful than QBO advanced
- −Geographic limits
Best for: Solos and micro-SMBs who mostly need invoices + basic books.
Pricing notes: Accounting free; Wave charges for payments and add-ons.
Visit website →Xero
PaidCloud accounting popular with accountants worldwide.
Pros
- +Strong accountant ecosystem
- +Clean bank feeds
- +Multi-currency
Cons
- −Paid
- −US payroll story differs from QBO
- −Migration effort
Best for: SMBs whose bookkeeper already lives in Xero.
Pricing notes: Paid subscription tiers by features/bills.
Visit website →FreeAgent
PaidUK-friendly accounting for freelancers and small companies.
Pros
- +Great UK tax workflows
- +Freelancer-focused UX
- +Time tracking tied in
Cons
- −UK-centric
- −Paid
- −Less global SMB mindshare than QBO
Best for: UK freelancers and contractors leaving QuickBooks.
Pricing notes: Paid monthly; often discounted via accountants.
Visit website →Akaunting
Open SourceOpen-source online accounting software.
Pros
- +OSS & self-host
- +Invoicing + expenses
- +No Intuit lock-in
Cons
- −Fewer bank-feed polish moments
- −You handle hosting
- −Less accountant ubiquity
Best for: Technical SMBs wanting free/self-hosted books.
Pricing notes: OSS free; Akaunting Cloud paid.
Self-host tip: spin up containers on Railway or DigitalOcean (our referral links).
Visit website →Invoice Ninja
Open SourceOpen-source invoicing, quotes, and payments.
Pros
- +Strong invoicing OSS
- +Client portal
- +Self-host or hosted
Cons
- −Full accounting ≠ QBO depth
- −Setup time
- −Integrations thinner
Best for: Freelancers who care most about invoices and payments.
Pricing notes: OSS free; hosted plans available.
Self-host tip: spin up containers on Railway or DigitalOcean (our referral links).
Visit website →