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QuickBooks Online

Accounting Software

A solid all-rounder with strong automation and built-in payroll.

Overview

QuickBooks Online is the global market leader in cloud accounting, and its UK offering has matured significantly. Intuit has invested heavily in AI-powered features like automatic categorisation and receipt matching, and the built-in payroll is a genuine differentiator.

The platform is intuitive for clients who need to use it directly, and the mobile app is one of the best in the category. For firms with international clients, the multi-entity and multi-currency handling is strong.

The integration ecosystem is smaller than Xero's in the UK, but the core integrations are solid, and the API is well-documented for custom work.

Best for

Firms with international clients or those wanting built-in payroll

Key Features

AI-powered transaction categorisation
Built-in payroll (no separate subscription needed)
Bank feeds with automatic matching
MTD for VAT compliant
Multi-currency and multi-entity support
Project profitability tracking
Class and location tracking for detailed reporting
Receipt capture via mobile app

Pros & Cons

What We Like

  • Built-in payroll saves a separate subscription
  • Strong automation with AI-powered categorisation
  • Excellent mobile app for on-the-go access
  • Good for firms with US or international clients
  • Competitive pricing for what you get

Watch Out For

  • Smaller UK integration ecosystem than Xero
  • Fewer accountant-specific practice tools
  • User limits on lower-tier plans
  • Some UK-specific features lag behind Xero

Pricing

Plans from £12/month (Simple Start) to £32/month (Advanced). Payroll included on some plans. User limits apply on lower tiers.

Key Integrations

DextHubDocZapierStripePayPalSpotlight Reporting

Our Verdict

QuickBooks Online is a strong choice if you need built-in payroll, have international clients, or your clients are already using it. The AI features are genuinely useful. For most UK-only firms, Xero's ecosystem still edges ahead, but QBO is a very capable alternative.

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QuickBooks Online Review for Accounting Firms | NerdNumbers