Comparison
CarteFi vs. QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks forces you into tiers full of features you do not need. CarteFi lets you pick exactly what you use and pay only for that.
Real-World Pricing
What you actually pay, by business type
Solo Freelancer
One person, needs invoicing and time tracking
CarteFi
$29/mo
Base + Invoicing + Time Tracking
QuickBooks
$75/mo
Essentials (time tracking requires Essentials)
Save $46/mo ($552/year)
Small Team (5 people)
Agency with invoicing, AP, time tracking, and projects
CarteFi
$69/mo
Base + 4 users + Invoicing + Bills + Time + Projects
QuickBooks
$141/mo
Plus (projects) + 2 extra users at $13
Save $72/mo ($864/year)
Growing Business (10 people)
Full suite with inventory and bank sync
CarteFi
$119/mo
All modules + 9 users
QuickBooks
$275/mo
Advanced (>5 users)
Save $156/mo ($1872/year)
Feature-by-Feature
The complete comparison
| Feature | CarteFi | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15/mo | $38/mo |
| Users included | 1 | 1 |
| Cost per additional user | $6/user | $13/user |
| Invoicing | $8/mo add-on | All plans |
| Bill management / AP | $8/mo add-on | Essentials+ ($75/mo) |
| Time tracking | $6/mo add-on | Essentials+ ($75/mo) |
| Project accounting | $8/mo add-on | Plus+ ($115/mo) |
| Inventory tracking | $10/mo add-on | Plus+ ($115/mo) |
| Bank connections (auto-sync) | $5/mo add-on | All plans |
| Bank CSV import | ||
| Reporting & dashboards | ||
| Class & location tracking | Plus+ ($115/mo) | |
| Data export (CSV, JSON) | ||
| Full REST API | Paid add-on | |
| Multi-currency | $5/mo add-on | Essentials+ ($75/mo) |
| Accountant portal | Free | Free |
| Mobile app | Coming soon | |
| Price increase policy | CPI + 2% cap, 90-day notice | No cap, no advance notice |
| Data retention after cancel | 90 days export access | 1 year read-only |
Included Free
What CarteFi includes free that QuickBooks charges for
- Full financial reporting (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, trial balance)
- Data export in CSV, JSON, and QuickBooks-compatible format
- Full REST API access for integrations
- Class and location tracking for any chart of accounts
- Accountant portal for your CPA or bookkeeper
- Unlimited bank CSV imports
- Dashboard with real-time KPIs
- Audit trail for every transaction
Full Transparency
What QuickBooks has that CarteFi does not (yet)
We believe in honest comparisons. Here is where QuickBooks still has an edge -- and what we are doing about it.
Payroll and W-2 processing
CarteFi focuses on accounting. Payroll integrations are on our roadmap.
Mileage tracking (built-in)
CarteFi supports manual expense tracking. GPS mileage tracking is planned.
Extensive third-party app marketplace
CarteFi has a full REST API for integrations, but the ecosystem is still growing.
Mobile app for iOS and Android
CarteFi is mobile-responsive, with native apps planned for 2026.
25+ years of market presence
QuickBooks has brand recognition and a massive accountant ecosystem. CarteFi is new.
Advanced inventory (lot tracking, assemblies)
CarteFi supports FIFO inventory. Lot tracking and assemblies are on the roadmap.
Ready to make the switch?
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