The best accounting software for freelancers and sole proprietors is usually QuickBooks Solopreneur or QuickBooks Online Simple Start, because both are built for a single person tracking income, expenses, and taxes without the overhead of multi-user features you will not use. Here is how to pick between them and the alternatives worth considering.
Last verified: October 2026.
What freelancers and sole proprietors actually need
- Simple income and expense tracking without departments, classes, or multi-user complexity you will never touch.
- Estimated quarterly tax help, since most freelancers pay taxes themselves rather than through withholding.
- Easy invoicing for client work, often with just a handful of clients at a time.
- Mileage and home office tracking, two of the most common deductions freelancers miss without a system for recording them.
- A low cost, since freelance income is often inconsistent and a $70 a month tool is a much bigger bite out of a lean month than a full-time business budget.
Best accounting software for freelancers compared
| Option | Best for | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | Single-person freelancers with simple needs | Built specifically for one person, includes tax estimates | Limited if you ever add an employee or contractor |
| QuickBooks Online Simple Start | Freelancers who may grow into a small team | Upgrades smoothly to higher tiers as you grow | Costs more than Solopreneur for similar features today |
| FreshBooks | Service-based freelancers focused on invoicing | Strong invoicing and time tracking | Less robust general accounting than QuickBooks |
| Wave | Very early-stage or low-volume freelancers | Free for core accounting and invoicing | Fewer integrations, support is limited on the free tier |
Pricing and plan details change, so confirm current costs on each vendor’s site. Our guide to QuickBooks pricing and every plan covers the QuickBooks side, and our guide to QuickBooks alternatives compared by use case covers Wave and others in more depth.
QuickBooks Solopreneur vs Simple Start
Solopreneur is built specifically for a single person with no employees, combining business and personal finances in a way that is genuinely useful when you are the entire business. It estimates quarterly taxes and tracks mileage automatically through a connected phone app. Simple Start costs more but is a true multi-user QuickBooks Online plan underneath, which matters the moment you bring on a contractor, a part-time employee, or eventually sell the business, since Solopreneur does not upgrade into the full QuickBooks Online product line the same way.
Why mileage and home office tracking matter so much here
These two deductions are consistently among the largest a freelancer can claim, and they are also the easiest to lose entirely without a system. Mileage has to be tracked contemporaneously, meaning close to when the trip happened, not reconstructed from memory months later at tax time. A home office deduction needs a measured, exclusive-use space and consistent records. Software with built-in mileage tracking removes the single biggest reason freelancers under-claim this deduction, which is simply forgetting to log trips.
Handling estimated quarterly taxes
Unlike an employee who has tax withheld from every paycheck, most freelancers are responsible for estimating and paying their own taxes four times a year. Software that estimates this for you based on your actual income and expenses removes a lot of the guesswork, and some tools will even set aside a suggested percentage of each payment you receive. Missing a quarterly payment or badly underestimating it can mean a penalty at tax time, so this feature is worth weighing heavily if you are comparing options.
What a good support experience looks like for a solo business
As a one-person business, you rarely have the time to spend an afternoon on a support ticket. Favor a tool with responsive chat or email support and a searchable help center over one that only offers phone support during limited business hours. Read a handful of recent reviews specifically about support responsiveness before committing, since this detail rarely shows up on a feature comparison page but affects you every time something goes wrong.
Invoicing as a freelancer
Look for simple, professional invoice templates, the ability to accept online payment directly from the invoice, and automatic payment reminders for late clients. A tool that gets paid faster is worth more to a freelancer than one with deep inventory or payroll features you will never use. Our guide to getting paid faster with better invoicing and payments covers the setup choices that actually move the needle.
When you outgrow freelancer-tier software
The moment you hire your first employee or regularly work with subcontractors who need 1099s, it is worth reassessing whether your current tool still fits. Solopreneur in particular is not designed to grow into a multi-employee business. QuickBooks Online Simple Start or a higher tier handles that transition more smoothly, since it is the same underlying product with more capability unlocked as you upgrade.
How to choose based on your situation
- Solo, simple, staying solo: QuickBooks Solopreneur.
- Solo now, might grow: QuickBooks Online Simple Start.
- Invoicing is your main need: FreshBooks.
- Very tight budget, basic needs: Wave.
For a wider comparison across business types, see our guide to the best accounting software by business type.
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Solopreneur worth it over the free alternatives?
If quarterly tax estimates and mileage tracking save you from a missed deduction or a tax penalty, the subscription pays for itself quickly. For very simple needs with no tax complexity, a free tool like Wave may be enough.
Can I upgrade from Solopreneur if my business grows?
Solopreneur does not upgrade directly into the full QuickBooks Online line. If you expect to hire or add contractors soon, starting with Simple Start avoids a future migration.
Do I need accounting software as a very small freelancer?
Even minimal freelance income benefits from separating business and personal finances and tracking deductible expenses. A simple tool used consistently beats a sophisticated one used rarely.
How much does freelancer accounting software typically cost?
Costs vary by vendor and tier, so check current pricing directly. See our guide to small business software costs for the broader context of what to budget.
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