Pilot vs QuickBooks Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Pilot | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $99/mo | $38/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 5 |
| Free plan | — | |
| Free trial | — | |
| Pricing model | flat-rate | per-seat |
Essentials
- Cash-basis bookkeeping using data from your bank and credit cards
- Standard chart of accounts
- Year-end package for your tax preparer
- Instant AI answers about past transactions and current cash flow, plus run scenarios to plan ahead
- Support through in-app messaging
Core
Popular- US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains, and reviews your books
- Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping that pulls from your bank, credit cards, payroll, AP, inventory, and payment platforms
- Bill management for up to 10 vendor bills per month
- Custom chart of accounts
- Reports on the 10th business day
- Support from your dedicated team in-app, email, and over the phone
Custom
- Keep your existing QuickBooks account and historical data
- Support for complex business structures
- Custom workflows and reporting
- Reports on the 6th business day
- Full accounts receivable
- Full accounts payable
- Payroll administration
- CFO advisory, financial planning, and fundraising support. Connect with your dedicated CFO in-app, by email, phone, or Slack
Free
- 1 user
- No accountant access
- Track income and expenses
- Send 2 invoices per month
- Run profit & loss report
- Connect 1 bank
- Chat support
Simple Start
- 1 user
- With access for 2 accountants
- Run general business reports
- Automated bookkeeping
- Invoice and get paid
- Automate bill pay with free ACH
Essentials
- 3 users
- With access for 2 accountants
- Run enhanced reports
- Add employee time to invoices
- Integrate third-party data into KPIs and dashboards
- Collect leads from a custom form on your website
Plus
Popular- 5 users
- With access for 2 accountants
- Run comprehensive reports
- Plan budgets
- Track project profitability
- Track and manage inventory
- Track classes and locations (40)
Advanced
- 25 users
- With access for 3 accountants
- Free 1099 e-filing and approval workflows with Bill Pay Elite**
- Construction financials solution
- Advanced project financials
- Customize user permissions and access
- Automate workflows
- Sync data with Excel
- Batch invoices and expenses
- Get priority support and training
Pilot vs QuickBooks FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- QuickBooks is the cheaper option, starting at $38/mo vs $99/mo for Pilot.
- Can I use either one for free?
- QuickBooks has a free plan. Pilot doesn't — you'll need to pay from day one.
- How do they charge?
- Different approach here. Pilot uses flat-rate pricing, while QuickBooks goes with per-seat. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Pilot: With no free plan or trial, Pilot isn't competing on accessibility — they're positioning as a premium, done-for-you service aimed at funded startups who'd rather pay a human-backed team than DIY in QuickBooks. The pre-revenue startup discount on Core is a tell: they want high-potential companies locked in early, before they can shop around on price. QuickBooks: QuickBooks sits at the premium end of small-business accounting software, especially once you're past Simple Start — $85-140/mo is a big step up from competitors like Wave or even FreshBooks at similar tiers. They're leaning on brand trust and accountant ubiquity to justify the premium, targeting businesses that want the default choice their bookkeeper already knows.
Still deciding? See the best Pilot alternatives or the best QuickBooks alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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