QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online starts at £16/mo (Simple Start) for Simple Start, which covers 1 (Simple Start) user and unlimited bank feeds. Essentials is £38/mo (Essentials) and adds multi-currency and more users, and Advanced is £123/mo (Advanced) for larger businesses that need deeper reporting. All plans are month to month.

Not in the base subscription. Payroll is a paid add-on at £5/mo + £1.50/emp, which runs PAYE with RTI submissions to HMRC. Budget for it separately when comparing against Xero, where payroll is included in the plan.

User allowances depend on the plan: the Simple Start plan includes 1 (Simple Start), Essentials includes three, and Plus includes five. If you need more users, you would need to move to the Advanced plan.

Yes. QuickBooks Online is Making Tax Digital compatible and can submit VAT returns straight to HMRC, with VAT tracked automatically as you categorise transactions. It also supports MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment, Self Assessment preparation, and CIS for construction businesses, which is the widest UK compliance coverage on this table.

QuickBooks' entry plan is slightly cheaper than Xero's Ignite plan, and both mid-tier plans are similarly priced. However, QuickBooks includes only one user on Simple Start versus unlimited users on every Xero plan. Payroll is also an extra cost on QuickBooks, whereas it is included in every Xero plan. For businesses with multiple staff or employees on payroll, Xero may offer better overall value at comparable subscription tiers.

Yes. All QuickBooks Online plans include Unlimited bank feeds, which allows you to connect multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and payment processors without restriction.

No. QuickBooks Online is a monthly subscription you can cancel at any time. QuickBooks runs frequent introductory discounts for new subscribers; those are first-term promotions and the price reverts to the standard rate shown here, so compare on the ongoing cost.