Quick answer
QuickBooks Online is full small-business accounting software. Free Invoice App is focused invoicing and expense tracking, built for Australia. If you have employees, hold inventory, or want bank-feed reconciliation, QuickBooks earns its price. If you’re a sole trader who needs to send GST-compliant invoices, get paid, log expenses, and see a P&L at tax time, Free Invoice App does what you actually need for a fraction of the cost.
Honest disclosure
We make Free Invoice App, so treat this as a comparison from an interested party. We still recommend QuickBooks for the cases where it’s the right fit - if you pick the wrong tool you’ll switch within a quarter anyway. The rest of this is a feature-by-feature look based on each product’s public 2026 Australian pricing and documentation. Always check current pricing on each provider’s site, since promotional rates change often.
Pricing (Australia, 2026)
Free Invoice App QuickBooks Online (AU) Free plan Yes (7 sends/mo) Trial only Entry plan A$5/mo (Pro) ~A$29/mo (Simple Start) Mid plan A$20/mo (Pro+) ~A$45/mo (Essentials) Top plan A$20/mo (Pro+) ~A$60/mo (Plus) Setup cost A$0 A$0
The catch with QuickBooks (and most accounting suites) is the introductory discount. You’ll often see 50-90% off for the first few months, then the price jumps to the standard rate at renewal. Budget for the full price, not the sign-up price. Free Invoice App’s pricing is flat: free, A$5, or A$20 a month, no renewal surprises.
Feature comparison: what each one does
Free Invoice App QuickBooks Send invoices Yes Yes Recurring invoices Yes (Pro) Yes Quotes / estimates Yes Yes GST on invoices Yes Yes ATO-compliant tax invoices Yes Yes Pay by card (Stripe) Yes (all plans) Yes (add-on fees) Custom branding / logo Yes Yes Custom email domain Yes (Pro+) No Scheduled send Yes (Pro) Limited Per-service T&Cs Yes (Pro+) No AI receipt scanning Yes (all plans) Yes (higher tiers) Expense tracking Yes Yes P&L / revenue dashboard Yes Yes Full double-entry accounting No Yes Bank feeds No Yes Bank reconciliation No Yes Payroll (Single Touch Payroll) No Yes (add-on) Inventory tracking No Yes (Plus) Direct BAS lodgement No Yes
The pattern is the same as every accounting suite: QuickBooks does everything Free Invoice App does, plus a lot more, for a much higher price. Free Invoice App is deliberately narrower - the features 90% of sole traders actually use, at a sole-trader price.
Where QuickBooks is the right answer
- You have employees. Single Touch Payroll is mandatory for wages in Australia, and QuickBooks has a payroll add-on. Free Invoice App doesn’t do payroll.
- You hold inventory. QuickBooks Plus tracks stock and cost of goods sold. Free Invoice App treats each line item as a one-off.
- You want bank feeds and reconciliation. Once your transaction count is high, matching transactions automatically saves real time.
- Your accountant works in QuickBooks. If you’re paying a bookkeeper, use the tool they already use.
Where Free Invoice App is the right answer
- You’re a sole trader, freelancer, or tradie with no staff. You need to send invoices, get paid, and log a few expenses a week, not run a general ledger.
- You want to invoice from your phone. Free Invoice App is mobile-first, which suits tradies invoicing from the job site. See the best free invoice apps for tradies.
- You don’t want to pay for features you never touch. A large share of accounting-suite subscribers use only invoicing and expenses.
- You file BAS yourself through MyGov. Most sole traders do. The P&L view gives you the totals you need - see how to prepare for BAS.
GST and tax invoices
Both tools produce GST-compliant tax invoices. Free Invoice App calculates 10% GST per line and formats invoices to meet ATO tax invoice requirements out of the box, including ABN fields and the wording the ATO expects. If you’re under the GST threshold, it also handles invoices without GST correctly.
The export question
If you outgrow Free Invoice App, you export your invoices and expenses as CSV and your accountant imports them into QuickBooks. Nothing is locked in. Plenty of businesses run on Free Invoice App for their first few years, then graduate to a full suite when staff or inventory appear.
How to decide in 60 seconds
- Do you have employees on payroll? If yes → QuickBooks.
- Do you hold inventory? If yes → QuickBooks.
- Does your accountant insist on QuickBooks? If yes → QuickBooks.
If you answered no to all three, Free Invoice App will do everything you need at a tiny fraction of the price. Start free - 7 sends per month forever, no card required.
Frequently asked questions
Is Free Invoice App a QuickBooks alternative?
For invoicing, expense tracking, and a P&L view, yes. For payroll, full double-entry accounting, or direct BAS lodgement, no.
How much does QuickBooks cost in Australia?
Around A$29 / A$45 / A$60 a month for Simple Start / Essentials / Plus (2026), often after a heavy introductory discount. Free Invoice App is free for 7 sends a month, then A$5 (Pro) or A$20 (Pro+).
Does QuickBooks have a free plan?
No, only a trial and discounted intro pricing. Free Invoice App has a permanent free plan.
Can Free Invoice App handle GST and BAS like QuickBooks?
GST per line and a quarterly P&L, yes. Direct ATO lodgement, no - you file via MyGov with the totals.
Who should use QuickBooks instead of Free Invoice App?
Businesses with employees, inventory, bank-feed reconciliation needs, or an accountant who works in QuickBooks.