ZipBooks vs QuickBooks Comparison: Which Is Better for You?

If you're running a small business, choosing the right accounting software is a big deal. 

You've probably heard of ZipBooks and QuickBooks, two of the top choices among small business owners. 

But ZipBooks vs QuickBooks, which one should you opt for? 

We've dug deep into both options, looking at their features, the good bits, and the not-so-good bits. We want to help you understand which one will work best for your business. 

Let’s waste no more time and dive straight into it! 

What is the difference between ZipBooks and QuickBooks?

The main difference between QuickBooks and ZipBooks is in their target audiences and the depth of features they offer. ZipBooks is typically favored by freelancers, sole proprietors, consultants, and small businesses. On the other hand, QuickBooks caters to small and medium-sized businesses, as it offers more features.

To elaborate, ZipBooks, with its user-friendly design, free plan, and affordable pricing structure, is a fantastic option for those just starting out or operating smaller businesses. It offers basic accounting features like invoicing, expense tracking, and simple reporting. Additionally, its focus on service-based businesses makes it an excellent tool for consultants or freelancers who need a straightforward accounting solution.

QuickBooks, meanwhile, is a powerhouse of functionality. Its versatility in handling various business needs makes it a preferred choice for small and medium-sized businesses across various industries. Beyond basic accounting, QuickBooks provides advanced features like inventory tracking, project management, and robust reporting capabilities. Its scalability makes it a fitting solution for businesses planning for growth.

However, the choice between ZipBooks and QuickBooks isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It depends heavily on the specific needs, industry, and growth plans of your business. 

We recommend reading our extensive ZipBooks review and QuickBooks online review to learn about their features, pricing, and user experience. These reviews will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of each platform's strengths and weaknesses so that you make an informed decision about which one to choose.

ZipBooks vs QuickBooks comparison chart

We've put together an easy-to-understand comparison chart for ZipBooks vs QuickBooks. This visual guide places their features next to each other to make it simpler for you to spot the ideal accounting tool that aligns with your business requirements.

ZipBooks vs QuickBooks pricing

Both ZipBooks and QuickBooks offer a variety of subscription levels. ZipBooks provides three paid options, priced between $15 and $35+ each month (Smarter, Sophisticated, and Accountant), while QuickBooks has four, with prices ranging from $30 to $200 (Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced). 

One advantage of QuickBooks is that it often provides a 50% discount for the first three months across all plans. Depending on the subscription, QuickBooks supports between 1 and 25 users, and ZipBooks caters to anywhere from 1 to an unlimited number of users. 

ZipBooks is free for non-profits, while QuickBooks offers discounts through TechSoup, a nonprofit tech marketplace.

Winner: 

ZipBooks' plans, such as the Smarter ($15/month) and the Sophisticated plan ($35/month), are more budget-friendly for smaller businesses. 

If you're operating on a tight budget, QuickBooks might be a bit pricey, especially when you factor in additional costs like payroll and live bookkeeping services. 

ZipBooks also has an Accountant plan that comes with custom pricing, which is a great option for accountants who are managing multiple clients. 
 

QuickBooks vs ZipBooks free versions

Sadly, QuickBooks doesn't provide a free plan, just a 30-day trial. Remember, if you opt for the free trial, you won't qualify for the three-month discount on the paid plans. On the other hand, ZipBooks offers a quite substantial free plan. 

This is particularly beneficial for freelancers as it includes all the essential features for billing and monitoring both expenses and income. The free plan lets you send unlimited invoices, manage unlimited customers, accept digital payments, get basic reports, and connect one bank account.

Winner: 

ZipBooks is the winner in this category as it's the only solution of the two that offers a free accounting software. 
 

Customer support

QuickBooks doesn't offer support via email. However, you can access quick assistance through their 24/7 online chatbot. The chatbot can either guide you to a helpful article or link you with a live support team member. If you prefer phone support, it's available, but only as a callback service. ZipBooks offers chat and email support, but there’s no phone support. 

Winner: 

QuickBooks has a slight lead in this category as it comes with phone support, although it’s only available as a callback option. 
 

Knowledgebase & learning

ZipBooks has a searchable knowledge base that contains hundreds of help articles. Similarly, QuickBooks boasts an extensive knowledge base with help articles, video tutorials, blogs, setup guides, troubleshooting advice, and a community forum.

Winner: 

We’ll yield this round to QuickBooks as it offers a richer knowledge base than ZipBooks. 
 

ZipBooks or QuickBooks for ease of use?

ZipBooks is frequently praised for its ease of use, thanks to a straightforward interface and easy-to-navigate system. This makes it a favorite among smaller businesses. On the other hand, QuickBooks might take a bit more time to get used to because of its more intricate accounting functions.

Winner: 

Both tools are generally easy to use, but ZipBooks is slightly easier to set up.

QuickBooks vs ZipBooks features & functionality

Now that we covered the basics, let's compare QuickBooks vs ZipBooks in terms of key features and functionality to see which one stands out in each category.

QuickBooks vs ZipBooks online versions

ZipBooks and QuickBooks Online are both SaaS business accounting platforms, which means you can use them on any web browser without having to install anything. This online setup gives you the freedom to handle your accounting from any device as long as you have an internet connection. 

QuickBooks offers mobile apps for Android and iOS so that you can keep track of your finances even when you're on the move. You can send invoices, monitor expenses, and get instant updates on your financial status, all from your mobile device. While ZipBooks doesn't offer a mobile app, you can still use it on any device's web browser.

Check out our detailed breakdown of the pros and cons of QuickBooks Online to get a comprehensive understanding of what this platform has to offer.

Winner: 

QuickBooks has an advantage in this round as it has solid mobile apps for Android and iOS. 
 

ZipBooks vs QuickBooks desktop versions

QuickBooks offers a downloadable desktop version of its software, with plans starting at $799 per year. It comes packed with a wide range of features, including advanced inventory management, job costing, and industry-specific editions. 

This could be a suitable choice for those who prefer storing data locally instead of using cloud-based solutions. 

On the other hand, ZipBooks doesn't have a desktop app. It operates purely as a cloud-based software, which means you can only use it through a web browser on any device with internet access.

Winner: 

QuickBooks has an edge here as it offers a desktop app for both Windows and Mac devices.
 

Invoicing 

QuickBooks offers easy invoice creation and customization, along with options to add clients, products, or services. It allows adding messages, statements, and attachments to invoices, as well as automating recurring invoices and sending payment reminders. There are six invoice templates you can customize to fit your needs. 

ZipBooks lets you create professional-looking invoices tailored to your customers. There’s only one invoice template you can customize with different elements like your logo, accent color, payment methods, and more. You can even add notes and messages to your invoices. 

Additionally, you can create an invoice template and use it for future invoicing. ZipBooks also lets you auto-send recurring invoices, as well as save items and tasks for use on future invoices.

Winner: 

QuickBooks has an edge in this category as it offers six invoice templates, while ZipBooks offers only one. 
 

Online payments 

QuickBooks supports online payments through debit/credit cards, eCheck, Paypal, Apple Pay, Venmo, and ACH. ZipBooks supports online payments through debit/credit cards, Paypal, Stripe, and Square. 

Both platforms offer features like automating recurring invoices, tracking invoice status, and sending payment reminders.

Winner: 

This round is a tie as both solutions offer a good selection of payment gateway options. 
 

Integrations

QuickBooks connects to over 650 popular business apps, including Stripe, Square, PayPal, Amazon Business Purchases, Method: CRM, and Gusto. It also connects seamlessly with other QuickBooks apps like QuickBooks Payments (payment processing software), Payroll (payroll software), and Time (time tracking software). 

Via Zapier, QuickBooks connects to 5,000 more apps. Zipbooks has only 12 integrations with third-party apps like Slack, Asana, Google Workspace, and Gusto, as well as with PayPal, Square, and Stripe for easy online payment. Zipbooks hasn’t yet built an integration on Zapier.

Winner: 

QuickBooks Online takes this round as it connects to 650+ apps, while ZipBooks connects to 12, although an API is available. If you're looking for a greater range of integrations, such as marketing tools, ecommerce platforms, and CRMs, QuickBooks would be the better choice.

A note on ZipBooks QuickBooks integration

Unfortunately, there’s no QuickBooks ZipBooks integration at this time. They don't connect with each other natively or through other services like Zapier.
 

Income and expenses

Your bank and credit card transactions automatically sync to QuickBooks so you can track your cash flow. For example, when a client pays you through QuickBooks Payments, that transaction will be recorded in the system.

In the same way that the system syncs your income transactions, it does the same with your expenses. You have the ability to review and approve all expense transactions. 

Over time, QuickBooks will learn to recognize your categories and start suggesting categories for each of your expenses; you also have the option to divide an expense across multiple categories. Additionally, there's a handy feature where you can use your phone to take and store photos of receipts, and then add them to your expenses.

Last but not least, you can seamlessly integrate and connect Quickbooks with your checking account. Make sure to read more on this in our QuickBooks checking account review.

As an accounting software, ZipBooks is designed to keep record of all your business transactions, including income. You can invoice clients directly through the platform, and when payments are made, the software automatically logs and tracks these as income. This helps you keep a clear and up-to-date view of your financial situation. 

ZipBooks also efficiently tracks and documents your expenses. You can enter expenses manually or connect your bank account to the software to automatically import transactions. ZipBooks then helps you categorize and manage these expenses. 

You can also mark billable expenses and designate transactions as 1099 expenses.

Winner: 

This round is a tie as both platforms come with solid income and expense features. 
 

QuickBooks or ZipBooks for project management 

The projects feature of QuickBooks Online lets you track project profitability by adding project income, expenses, and labor costs. You can access project-specific reports from a single dashboard and add old transactions to new or ongoing projects when necessary. However, you won’t be able to create tasks and assign them to team members. 

ZipBooks also comes with some project management functionality. You’ll be able to track time spent on a project, assign tasks to projects, and monitor project expenses. This can be a useful feature for freelancers and businesses that bill clients based on time spent on a project. 

ZipBooks also allows you to assign tracked time and expenses to specific projects, which can be helpful for understanding the profitability of each project.

Winner: 

You can use both ZIpBooks or QuickBooks to manage your projects. ZipBooks has a slight lead as it lets you create tasks, which is a feature QuickBooks Online doesn’t currently provide.
 

Bank reconciliation

Both ZipBooks and QuickBooks Online offer a feature for bank reconciliation. This feature allows you to confirm that the transactions listed in your bank account align with the ones you've logged in your online accounting software. 

The process for reconciling accounts is simple and intuitive on both platforms. You can conveniently select the accounts you want to reconcile and specify the reporting period. This period can be aligned with a specific reporting timeframe, like a month or a quarter, or you can opt to reconcile your accounts at the end of each month.

Winner: 

This round is a tie. 
 

Payroll 

Both QuickBooks and Zoho let you add payroll as an add-on service. QuickBooks has QuickBooks Payroll that offers three monthly plans, ranging from $45 to $125 per month. ZipBooks integrates with Gusto to enable payroll processing. Plans start at $39/month + $6/month per person.

Winner: 

QuickBooks has a slight lead in this category as it offers an integrated service for processing payroll. ZipBooks integrates with Gusto, which is a third-party app. 
 

Taxes 

QuickBooks monitors the sales tax you’ve collected from clients and develops sales tax reports. Its Tax Preparation tool assists you in preparing your taxes, while the Tax Reports feature provides you with various reports to help you understand your tax situation. Additionally, you can create tax forms, like W-2s and 1099s, directly within QuickBooks, which makes the tax filing process more straightforward.

ZipBooks also supports various sales tax standards, allowing you to add as many sales tax rates as you need. This can be helpful if you need to charge different sales tax rates for different types of goods or services, or if you do business in multiple tax jurisdictions. 

You can run a tax report at the end of the year to see how much sales tax you’ve collected. ZipBooks supports various sales tax standards, including VAT, across different countries such as Canada.

Winner: 

This round is a tie as both tools come with similar tax features. 
 

Inventory management 

QuickBooks provides a feature for monitoring inventory that lets you track the cost of goods and receive alerts when inventory levels are low. Additional capabilities include the creation of purchase orders, managing vendor relations, and integrating inventory with external platforms like Amazon and Shopify.

ZipBooks doesn’t offer a comprehensive inventory tracking feature.

Winner: 

If you sell physical products and need to track inventory, QuickBooks would be a better option for you. 
 

Multi-currency support 

QuickBooks includes a multi-currency feature that lets you log transactions in various foreign currencies. This feature allows for accurate tracking of transactions, as well as exchange rate profits and losses, for customers, suppliers, or bank accounts that use a currency different from your local one. 

ZipBooks, on the other hand, provides support for over 160 different currencies, with exchange rates being updated automatically.

Winner: 

This round is a tie.
 

Reporting 

QuickBooks comes with 80+ reports that are fully customizable. You can generate Profit and Loss, Sales, and Expense reports, depending on your plan. You can view Sales and Expense reports by day, week, month, or year. 

ZipBooks offers a comprehensive range of reports and insights to help you stay on course. A standout feature is the Business Health Score, which assesses the overall health and success of your business. 

Additionally, ZipBooks offers a wide array of reports in several categories, including financial statements, accounting and tax reports, expense reports, and tracking reports.

Winner: 

While both platforms offer strong reporting features, QuickBooks Online might be a better choice if you require extensive, detailed, and customizable financial reporting. On the other hand, if you're a smaller business or freelancer looking for straightforward, easy-to-understand reports and unique insights into your business health, ZipBooks might be the better option.
 

Product limitations 

While QuickBooks Online is a powerful tool, it can also be complex and difficult for beginners or users without an accounting background. Moreover, it tends to cost more than other options, which may be a drawback for small business owners or freelancers operating on a tight budget. 

Some users have also reported issues with the quality and speed of customer service. While QuickBooks Online does offer customizable invoices, the options can be somewhat limited compared to other platforms like Zoho Books.

On the other hand, ZipBooks, being a newer and more basic software, doesn't offer some of the advanced features that you can find in more robust systems like QuickBooks Online. For instance, it doesn’t come with comprehensive inventory management or advanced tax preparation features.

Also, ZipBooks operates solely as a cloud-based software and doesn’t offer a desktop version, which might be a disadvantage for users who prefer software that can be installed directly on their computer. While ZipBooks does integrate with some popular apps, its overall number of integrations falls short compared to QuickBooks Online. 

Winner: 

This round is a tie as both platforms come with limitations. 

Is ZipBooks better than QuickBooks? Our conclusion

Deciding whether ZipBooks or QuickBooks is better greatly depends on your unique business needs, your budget, and your comfort level with accounting software.

QuickBooks Online offers an impressive range of features, including inventory management, advanced reporting, and a vast selection of integrations with other software applications. It's ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that need extensive accounting functionalities and have the budget to support the cost of the platform. If you're a business that needs to manage complex accounting tasks and prefers a high degree of customization, QuickBooks Online is a solid choice.

On the other hand, as a user-friendly and affordable option, ZipBooks is a great choice for freelancers, sole proprietors, consultants, and small businesses. ZipBooks also offers a free plan, which is a great way for businesses to get started with online accounting without any upfront investment. If you're looking for an accessible, cost-effective solution that covers basic accounting needs with ease, ZipBooks could be the perfect fit.

To choose the best option, consider trying out both platforms, and make a decision based on what fits your requirements the best. 

As you consider your choices between QuickBooks and ZipBooks, we recommend browsing our extensive list of the best bookkeeping app tools for 2023. This list allows you to compare QuickBooks and ZipBooks with other leading competitors, such as Xero, Freshbooks, and Wave. By examining these alternatives, you'll be better equipped to make the most suitable decision for your business's accounting requirements.