The Keeper Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Keeper in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Keeper
The Insider’s Guide
Expense tracking and tax filing for freelancers and contractors
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from Keeper’s own pages.
Made by Keeper Tax, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Keeper’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Keeper’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 11 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
Keeper is a US app for freelancers, contractors and small business owners that connects bank and card accounts, finds and categorizes deductions, and files federal and state tax returns. Yearly plans include a tax professional who reviews and signs the return; a monthly plan covers bookkeeping only. It runs on the web and as an iOS and Android app.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Keeper, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Linking your bank and setting rules comes first.
- 1
Best for a US freelancer who wants write-offs found and filing
Keeper finds expenses to write off and has a tax professional file your return, from $199 a year.
- 2
Paid plans start at $16.58 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $199 per year ($16.58 a month, billed yearly).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial on every plan; cancel before it ends and you are not charged.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Automatic expense tracking
Connects unlimited bank and card accounts and tracks expenses and income, with AI that finds and categorizes deductions.
- 6
Receipt scanning
Snap a receipt to add an expense or match it to a transaction, and split mixed retail orders into business and personal items.
- 7
Rules for merchants
Tell Keeper once how to treat a merchant and it applies the rule to future expenses.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 11 of 65
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Keeper you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Keeper at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $199 per year ($16.58 a month, billed yearly)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial on every plan; cancel before it ends and you are not charged.
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Keeper Tax, Inc.
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 12,798 ratings
The report card
Best for a US freelancer who wants write-offs found and filing
Keeper finds expenses to write off and has a tax professional file your return, from $199 a year. There is a 14-day trial but no free plan, and mileage tracking is still marked coming soon.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Standard is $199 a year, about $16.58 a month, inside accounting's $14 to $52 middle band. Premium is $399 and Business $1,199. |
| Free plan and trial | D | 14-day trial on every plan, and you cancel before it ends to avoid being charged, which means a card goes in first. |
| Features | C | Expense tracking, receipt scanning, rules and filing with a pro. Mileage tracking and an LLC service are marked coming soon, and S-Corp and partnership filing sits on the $1,199 plan. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Linking your bank and setting rules comes first. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iOS and Android; no integrations on record. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Keeper is for
- Fits if you are a US freelancer or contractor who wants someone else to file
- Works for people who would rather be told what they can deduct than learn it
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want it free, as there is no free plan and the trial needs a card
- Skip it if you track mileage, because that feature is marked coming soon
- Tight if you file in 3 or more states, since Standard covers federal plus 2 and more needs Premium
- Watch out: Bookkeeping Only is $20 a month, $240 a year, which costs more than the yearly Standard plan
- Watch out: S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan
Good to know
Good for
- Freelancers and contractors who want deductions found automatically
- Solo owners who want filing and bookkeeping in one subscription
- S-Corps and partnerships that want a filer included
Worth knowing
- Bookkeeping Only does not include tax filing; the yearly Standard plan at $199 costs less than 12 months of it at $240.
- Mileage tracking and an LLC formation service are marked coming soon.
- Standard covers federal plus 2 state returns; 3 or more states, audit protection and quarterly taxes need Premium.
- S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$16.58
A month to start, paid by the year
Keeper is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $199 per year ($16.58 a month, billed yearly).
Standard
$199
per year, billed yearly ($16.58 a month equivalent)
Year-round bookkeeping plus federal and up to 2 state returns, reviewed and signed by a tax pro.
Bookkeeping Only
$20
per month, billed monthly
Expense tracking and deduction finding with unlimited connected accounts. Tax filing is not included.
Premium
$399
per year, billed yearly ($33.25 a month equivalent)
Adds audit protection, returns for 3 or more states, rentals and K-1s, quarterly taxes, tax pro consultations, amended and late returns.
Business
$1,199
per year, billed yearly ($99.92 a month equivalent)
Premium plus S-Corp and partnership tax filing and a year-end book review and close.
Trying it first
14-day free trial on every plan; cancel before it ends and you are not charged.
Read from keepertax.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Expense tracking and tax filing for freelancers and contractors. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, bookkeeping, expense tracking.
Expense tracking, receipt scanning, rules and filing with a pro.
- Automatic expense tracking
- Connects unlimited bank and card accounts and tracks expenses and income, with AI that finds and categorizes deductions.
- Receipt scanning
- Snap a receipt to add an expense or match it to a transaction, and split mixed retail orders into business and personal items.
- Rules for merchants
- Tell Keeper once how to treat a merchant and it applies the rule to future expenses.
- Tax filing with a pro
- Federal and up to 2 state returns are included on yearly plans, and a tax pro checks and signs each return.
- Quarterly taxes and consultations
- Premium and Business schedule estimated payments and include one-on-one consultations with a tax pro.
- Business filings
- The Business plan files S-Corp (Form 1120-S) and partnership (Form 1065) returns and closes the books at year end.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Keeper is made by Keeper Tax, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/65
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
Keeper's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 11 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 13 of 65) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 11).
Its paid plans start at $16.58 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 26 of the 54 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Keeper’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 65
- DFree plan and trialAbove 11 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 65
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 65
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 13 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 58 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Keeper is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Keeper you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 44 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools grade higher. It costs $199 a year.
What you could make
- Expense tracking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Keeper’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
TaxAct, Hurdlr, QuickBooks Online, Wave and FreshBooks
The 5 tools Keeper is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
TaxAct
Free plan · from $44.99/yr
Online and downloadable tax filing for individuals and businesses.
- TaxAct has a free plan. Keeper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Keeper lists iOS and Android apps.
- Keeper also covers bookkeeping and expense tracking.
- 2.8GPA
Hurdlr
Free plan · from $8.34/mo
Mileage, expense and tax tracking app for freelancers.
- Hurdlr has a free plan. Keeper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Hurdlr also covers invoicing and reports.
- 2.4GPA
QuickBooks Online
Free plan · from $38/mo
Cloud accounting from Intuit, from a free plan to 25-user Advanced.
- QuickBooks Online has a free plan. Keeper does not, though it has a free trial.
- QuickBooks Online also covers invoicing, reports and payroll.
- 2.4GPA
Wave
Free plan · from $19/mo
Free invoicing and bookkeeping for US and Canadian small businesses.
- Wave has a free plan. Keeper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Wave also covers invoicing, reports and payroll.
- 2.6GPA
FreshBooks
Free trial · from $23/mo
Invoicing and accounting for freelancers and service businesses.
- FreshBooks also covers time tracking, invoicing, reports and payroll.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Keeper free?
No, Keeper is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial on every plan; cancel before it ends and you are not charged.
How much does Keeper cost?
Keeper lists 4 plans. Standard: $199 per year, billed yearly ($16.58 a month equivalent).
What platforms does Keeper work on?
Keeper is available on Web, iOS and Android.
How is Keeper rated?
Keeper's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12,798 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Keeper have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Keeper is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Keeper have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Keeper is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Keeper open source?
Keeper is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Keeper?
Keeper is made by Keeper Tax, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Keeper?
The closest alternatives to Keeper in our directory are TaxAct, Hurdlr, QuickBooks Online, Wave and FreshBooks.
How does Keeper compare with other accounting and invoicing tools?
Keeper's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 11 of the 65 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 10.
Is Keeper good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Keeper C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $16.58 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $18.09 for the category: 26 of the 54 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Keeper?
To replace Keeper you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Keeper’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Keeper's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Keeper Tax, Inc. Prices change, so check keepertax.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Keeper, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/keeper-tax
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Keeper: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/keeper-tax
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/keeper-tax/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after Keeper, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Accounting & Invoicing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 67 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Invoice Insider's GuideFree invoicing app from Zoho for freelancers and small businesses3.6 GPA
- Zoho Books Insider's GuideOnline accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers3.4 GPA
- Odoo Insider's GuideBusiness app suite whose Accounting app is free when used on its own3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Keeper’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Keeper is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Keeper Tax, Inc. Prices and plans change: check keepertax.com before you buy.