Digits vs QuickBooks Online (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Digits if

• Fits if you run a startup and want AI to categorize transactions in a real general ledger
• Makes sense if you want an API or MCP on your books

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you're a freelancer: $65 a month is the starting price, with no free plan
• Skip it if you need budget against actuals, as that's Pro at $250 a month
• Watch out: extra entities start at $35 a month
• Watch out: full-service accounting, CFO and tax work come through partner firms and aren't in the plans
• Not for you if you want an Android or desktop app

Pick QuickBooks Online if

• Fits if your accountant wants to work in the same books as you
• Works for US businesses that expect to add payroll, inventory or project tracking later

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you're a small team or need inventory and budgets: $85 a month for 3 users, $140 for Plus with 5
• Watch out: the advertised prices are half off for 3 months only, then $38, $85, $140 or $340 a month
• Tight if you're on the free plan: 2 invoices a month, 1 bank, and no accountant access or mobile app
• Pricey if you need payroll, at $50 a month plus $7 an employee on top
• Skip it if you're outside the US, as these are US plans and prices and other countries have their own sites

Digits

• The pricing page states monthly prices but not whether annual billing changes them.
• Dimensional accounting and automated schedules start at Core; budget vs. actuals only on Pro.
• Extra entities beyond the free 250 transactions a year start at $35 a month.
• Full-service accounting, CFO and tax work are sold through partner firms, not in the plans.

QuickBooks Online

• The advertised prices are a 50% discount for the first 3 months; the plan then renews at $38, $85, $140 or $340 a month.
• Each plan caps users: 1 on Simple Start, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Plus and 25 on Advanced.
• Payroll costs extra: Workforce Payroll alone is $50 a month plus $7 per employee, and Premium is $88 plus $13 per employee.
• These are US prices and plans; Intuit runs separate country sites for Canada, the UK, Australia, India and others.

Digits

AI bookkeeping

AI models code incoming transactions from connected banks, cards and payroll, with checks that each one is coded and documented.

Agentic month-end close

A close workflow and checklist for finishing the month, with automated schedules for accruals from the Core plan.

Bill pay and invoicing

Drag, drop, approve and pay bills, and create invoices, on every plan.

Reports and dashboards

Live profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow; custom reports and dashboards arrive on Pro.

Multi-entity books

Several entities under one login with separate books; extra entities are free up to 250 transactions a year.

Developer API and MCP

An API and MCP connection to the ledger is included on all plans.

QuickBooks Online

Bank feeds and automatic categorizing

Connect bank and card accounts and QuickBooks learns how you categorize transactions, then matches and records new ones the same way.

Invoices and online payments

Send invoices and estimates, take card and bank payments through QuickBooks Payments, and get status updates and reminders.

Bills and accounts payable

Organize and pay bills by ACH from paid plans. Standard ACH payments beyond the monthly allotment cost $0.50 each.

Reports, budgets and projects

Profit and loss and sales reports on every paid plan. Budgets, project profitability, inventory and class tracking start on Plus.

Intuit Intelligence

AI tools that categorize expenses, reconcile books and flag anomalies, with more of them unlocked on Plus and Advanced.

Payroll through QuickBooks Workforce

A separate subscription that runs full-service payroll, files payroll taxes and e-files 1099s, added from the same checkout.

Digits

• Essentials$65

  per month; billing basis not stated, no per-seat fees

  For solopreneurs and early-stage businesses: core ledger, AI bookkeeping, bill pay and invoicing.

• Core$100

  per month; billing basis not stated, no per-seat fees

  Adds dimensional accounting for departments and locations, and automated schedules.

• Pro$250

  per month; billing basis not stated, no per-seat fees

  Adds custom reports, custom dashboards and budget vs. actuals.

QuickBooks Online

• Free$0

  1 user, 2 invoices a month, profit and loss, balance sheet and account quick report, and 1 connected bank account.

• Simple Start$38

  per month for 1 user, billed monthly

  Advertised at $19 a month for the first 3 months. Automated bookkeeping, invoicing with online payments, bill pay and access for 2 accountants.

• Essentials$85

  per month for up to 3 users, billed monthly

  Advertised at $42.50 a month for the first 3 months. Adds enhanced reports, employee time on invoices and web lead forms.

• Plus$140

  per month for up to 5 users, billed monthly

  Advertised at $70 a month for the first 3 months. Adds budgets, project profitability, inventory and up to 40 classes and locations.

• Advanced$340

  per month for up to 25 users, billed monthly

  Advertised at $170 a month for the first 3 months. Adds custom roles, workflow automation, Excel sync, batch invoices and priority support.

Digits

No public discounts listed.

QuickBooks Online

• Other savings

  50% off the first 3 months

  New customers on a monthly plan pay half the base price for the first 3 months, then the regular price. It does not apply to per-employee fees.