Quick answer
QuickBooks Self-Employed is no longer offered to new customers. Intuit points them to QuickBooks Solopreneur instead, and existing users can migrate. So the real 2026 comparison is Solopreneur vs FreshBooks vs Wave.
- QuickBooks Solopreneur (about $20/month): best for tax features. Mileage tracking, quarterly tax estimates and Schedule C categories.
- FreshBooks (Lite about $23/month): best for invoicing and time tracking. Lite covers only 5 billable clients.
- Wave (Starter free, Pro about $19/month): best on price. Free invoicing and bookkeeping, with bank imports on Pro.
Prices are approximate list prices as of September 2026. All three run introductory discounts, so check each provider before signing up.
What happened to QuickBooks Self-Employed?
Intuit’s own comparison page says new customers choose from other products, including QuickBooks Solopreneur. Current QuickBooks Self-Employed subscribers can keep their subscription or upgrade, and Intuit can migrate much of their data automatically.
Intuit lists these differences:
| Feature | QuickBooks Self-Employed | QuickBooks Solopreneur |
|---|---|---|
| Tax filing | Export to TurboTax | Integrated Schedule C filing help on some tiers |
| Business vs personal sorting | Mostly manual | More automated |
| Payment options | Fewer | Adds options such as PayPal and Venmo |
| Estimates | No | Yes |
Intuit has not published a firm shutdown date for existing subscribers. If you still use it, check your account for notices.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | QuickBooks Solopreneur | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (approx.) | $20/mo ($215/yr) | Lite $23/mo; Plus $43/mo | Free; Pro $19/mo ($190/yr) |
| Client limit | No stated limit | 5 on Lite, 50 on Plus | Unlimited |
| Bank feeds | Yes | Yes | Pro plan only |
| Mileage tracking | Yes, automatic | Yes | No built-in GPS tracker |
| Quarterly tax estimates | Yes | No | No |
| Receipt capture | Yes | Yes | Pro, or paid add-on on Starter |
| Time tracking | No | Yes | No |
| Payroll | Not in Solopreneur | Add-on about $40/mo plus $6 per person | Add-on from about $25 to $40/mo |
| Best for | Tax-focused sole proprietors | Client billing, hours, proposals | Tight budgets |
We compared published features and pricing. We did not run hands-on tests.
Strengths and trade-offs
QuickBooks Solopreneur
Strengths: it is built around one-person tax needs. It estimates quarterly payments, tracks mileage in the background and maps spending to Schedule C lines.
Trade-offs: it is not full double-entry accounting. If you add employees, inventory or partners, you move up to QuickBooks Online, which starts around $38/month for Simple Start.
FreshBooks
Strengths: polished invoices, proposals, retainers and time tracking. Clients see a professional portal.
Trade-offs: the 5-client limit on Lite pushes many freelancers to Plus at about $43/month. It has no built-in quarterly tax estimator.
Wave
Strengths: the Starter plan is free, with unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records. Pro adds automatic bank imports, unlimited receipts and late payment reminders for about $19 a month.
Trade-offs: fewer tax features, no mileage tracker and card fees of about 2.9% plus a fixed fee per payment on Starter.
Worked example: annual cost for three freelancers
Prices use list rates, not promotions.
| Freelancer | Needs | Best fit | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex, rideshare and delivery | Mileage, tax estimates | QuickBooks Solopreneur ($20 × 12) | $240 |
| Sam, consultant with 8 clients | Invoices, hours | FreshBooks Plus ($43 × 12) | $516 |
| Jo, part-time tutor | Simple invoices | Wave Starter | $0 |
Sam could save money on Lite at $276 a year, but not with 8 clients. Card processing adds cost in any app. If Sam’s clients paid $30,000 by card at 2.9%, fees would be about $870 plus per-transaction charges. Encouraging ACH bank payments cuts that sharply.
All of these costs are deductible business expenses on Schedule C. See Self-Employed Tax Deductions: The Complete List.
Moving off QuickBooks Self-Employed
If you still use QuickBooks Self-Employed, plan any switch around the tax calendar:
- Finish the current year first if you can, so one system holds a full year of records.
- Export everything: transactions, mileage logs, receipts, invoices and the tax summary report.
- Choose the destination. Intuit offers automatic migration to Solopreneur. FreshBooks and Wave accept CSV imports.
- Reconnect bank feeds and check that categories map to the right Schedule C lines.
- Keep your exports for at least three years after you file.
Which should you choose?
- You drive for work or want tax estimates: QuickBooks Solopreneur. Pair it with the 2026 mileage rates in Car Expenses: Mileage vs Actual.
- You bill clients by the hour or send proposals: FreshBooks.
- You want to spend nothing: Wave Starter, or Wave Pro once bank imports would save you time.
- You may form an S corporation soon: consider QuickBooks Online or Xero instead, since you will need payroll and full accounting.
Whichever you use, set aside tax money from each payment. See How Much Should I Set Aside for Taxes as a 1099 Contractor?
Frequently asked questions
Can I still buy QuickBooks Self-Employed?
New customers are directed to QuickBooks Solopreneur. Existing subscribers can keep their plan for now or migrate.
Is Wave really free?
The Starter plan is free for invoicing and bookkeeping. You pay for card processing, the Pro plan, receipt scanning on Starter, payroll and bookkeeping services.
Which one is best for taxes?
QuickBooks Solopreneur has the most tax-specific tools. FreshBooks and Wave produce reports your tax software or preparer can use.
Can I move my data between them?
Yes, usually through CSV exports of transactions, clients and invoices. Switch at the start of a year if you can.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Prices are approximate and change often. Consult a CPA or Enrolled Agent for your situation.
Related guides
- Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed (2026)
- Best Business Bank Accounts for LLCs and Freelancers (2026)
- Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed (2026)
About this guide
Written by the Freelancer Tax HQ editorial team, based on our professional experience, official US government sources (IRS, SSA and other agencies) and reputable informational articles listed in the sources below. Last reviewed on . Tax rules change often, and we update this guide when they do. Read our editorial policy or report an error.
Sources
Intuit: QuickBooks Self-Employed vs QuickBooks Solopreneur; QuickBooks Solopreneur; QuickBooks Online pricing; FreshBooks pricing; Wave pricing. Example figures are FreelancerTaxHQ illustrations.
Official resources linked in this guide: IRS: Tax preparer credentials.