kitio.aiQuickBooks Online vs CPA Pilot
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. CPA Pilot has the lower starting price: about $29 a month, against $38 for QuickBooks Online.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Invoicing and payments
- Automatic transaction categorisation
- AI accounting agents
- Bank reconciliation
- Payroll add-on
- Tax return review
- Tax research
- Client email drafting
- Tax plan generator
- Projections
- Client-ready reports
| Feature | QuickBooks Online | CPA Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents | AI tax assistant for CPAs, EAs and tax firms |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starting price | $38/mo | $29/mo |
| Free plan | No, 30-day trial | No, trial available |
| Made by | Intuit | CPA Pilot |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
CPA Pilot has the lower starting price: about $29 a month, against $38 for QuickBooks Online.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Simple Start
$38/mo
- 1 user plus 2 accountants
- Invoicing and payments
- Intuit Intelligence
Essentials
$85/mo
- 3 users
- Custom performance metrics
- Bill management
Plus
$140/mo
- 5 users
- Class and location tracking
- Personalized insights
Advanced
$340/mo
- 25 users plus 3 accountants
- Project cost allocation
- All-in-one financial suite
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
QuickBooks Online
- Widely used by accountants
- Large app ecosystem
- AI agents reduce manual entry
- Prices rise frequently
- Advanced features on top tiers
- Support quality is inconsistent
CPA Pilot
- Built around tax-firm workflows
- Flags issues in uploaded returns
- Generates client-facing planning reports
- Free trial needs a credit card
- Limited to U.S. tax work
- Plan details are not shown on the page
Which one should you choose?
Choose QuickBooks Online if you want:
- Widely used by accountants
- Large app ecosystem
- AI agents reduce manual entry
Watch out: prices rise frequently.
Choose CPA Pilot if you want:
- Built around tax-firm workflows
- Flags issues in uploaded returns
- Generates client-facing planning reports
Watch out: free trial needs a credit card.
QuickBooks Online vs CPA Pilot FAQ
What is the difference between QuickBooks Online and CPA Pilot?
QuickBooks Online: Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents. CPA Pilot: AI tax assistant for CPAs, EAs and tax firms. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is QuickBooks Online or CPA Pilot cheaper?
CPA Pilot has the lower starting price: about $29 a month, against $38 for QuickBooks Online.
Do QuickBooks Online and CPA Pilot have free plans?
QuickBooks Online: No, 30-day trial. CPA Pilot: No, trial available.
Who makes QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes CPA Pilot?
CPA Pilot is made by CPA Pilot, based in United States.
Which should I choose, QuickBooks Online or CPA Pilot?
Choose QuickBooks Online if you value widely used by accountants and large app ecosystem. Choose CPA Pilot if you value built around tax-firm workflows and flags issues in uploaded returns.