Alternatives · Accounting
Shoeboxed alternatives
Shoeboxed compared with 5 alternatives: Dext, QuickBooks Online, Wave, Xero and FreshBooks.
Shoeboxed is a paid product, starting at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly). 2 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 18, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShoeboxedThis tool | From $8.08/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Dext | Free trial · from $25.21/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| QuickBooks Online | Free plan · from $38/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Wave | Free plan · from $19/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Xero | Free trial · from $27/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| FreshBooks | Free trial · from $23/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Dext, QuickBooks Online, Xero and FreshBooks score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Shoeboxed
- Free trial · from $25.21/mo
Dext
Receipt and invoice capture that codes documents for your ledger
- Dext starts at $25.21 per month for up to 250 documents, billed annually ($31.50 billed monthly). Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly).
- Only Dext lists a browser extension.
- Shoeboxed also covers reports.
Suits: Small businesses that want receipts and bills coded before they reach the books
- Free plan · from $38/mo
QuickBooks Online
Cloud accounting from Intuit, from a free plan to 25-user Advanced
- QuickBooks Online starts at $38 per month, billed monthly. Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly).
- QuickBooks Online has a free plan. Shoeboxed does not.
- QuickBooks Online also covers invoicing and payroll.
Suits: US small businesses that want their accountant working in the same books
- Free plan · from $19/mo
Wave
Free invoicing and bookkeeping for US and Canadian small businesses
- Wave starts at $19 per month, billed monthly. Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly).
- Wave has a free plan. Shoeboxed does not.
- Wave also covers invoicing and payroll.
Suits: Sole proprietors in the US or Canada who mainly need to send invoices
- Free trial · from $27/mo
Xero
Cloud accounting for small businesses, with unlimited users
- Xero starts at $27 per month, billed monthly. Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly).
- Xero also covers invoicing and payroll.
Suits: Small businesses that want every staff member and adviser in the books at no extra cost
- Free trial · from $23/mo
FreshBooks
Invoicing and accounting for freelancers and service businesses
- FreshBooks starts at $23 per month, billed monthly. Shoeboxed starts at $8.08 per month, billed annually at $97 ($9 billed monthly).
- FreshBooks also covers time tracking, invoicing and payroll.
Suits: Freelancers and consultants who bill a handful of clients for their time
Limits worth knowing in Shoeboxed
- There is no free plan or free trial: the card is charged at sign-up, with a 30-day money-back guarantee that ends once a Magic Envelope has been shipped.
- Scans past a plan's allowance cost extra, from $0.07 to $0.19 per digital scan and $0.77 to $2 per paper scan, and extra envelopes are $9 each.
- QuickBooks Online, Xero and Gmail sync need Pro or higher, and Starter keeps digital scans for 3 years rather than for as long as the account is active.
- It captures receipts and mileage but does not keep books; cancelling means calling the billing team rather than doing it in the account.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Shoeboxed?
The alternatives to Shoeboxed in this directory are Dext, QuickBooks Online, Wave, Xero and FreshBooks. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Shoeboxed.
Is there a free alternative to Shoeboxed?
Yes. QuickBooks Online and Wave have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.