kitio.aiQuickBooks Online vs Pilot
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. QuickBooks Online has the lower starting price: about $38 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
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
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Tax preparation
- Fractional CFO services
- Burn and runway reports
- QuickBooks and NetSuite support
| Feature | QuickBooks Online | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents | Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Paid |
| Starting price | $38/mo | $99/mo |
| Free plan | No, 30-day trial | No |
| Made by | Intuit | Pilot |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
QuickBooks Online has the lower starting price: about $38 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
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
3 plans
Essentials
$99/mo
- Up to $100K monthly expenses
- AI-run cash-basis bookkeeping
- Year-end package for tax preparer
Core
Contact sales
- Billed annually
- Dedicated US-based bookkeeper
- Cash or accrual-basis books
- Reports by the 10th business day
Custom
Custom
- Complex business structures
- Full accounts payable
- Payroll administration
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
Pilot
- Real accountants review the books
- Covers tax and CFO needs
- Good startup reporting
- Costlier than software alone
- Less control over daily entries
- Prices rise with spend
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 Pilot if you want:
- Real accountants review the books
- Covers tax and CFO needs
- Good startup reporting
Watch out: costlier than software alone.
QuickBooks Online vs Pilot FAQ
What is the difference between QuickBooks Online and Pilot?
QuickBooks Online: Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents. Pilot: Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is QuickBooks Online or Pilot cheaper?
QuickBooks Online has the lower starting price: about $38 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
Do QuickBooks Online and Pilot have free plans?
QuickBooks Online: No, 30-day trial. Pilot: No.
Who makes QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes Pilot?
Pilot is made by Pilot, based in United States.
Which should I choose, QuickBooks Online or Pilot?
Choose QuickBooks Online if you value widely used by accountants and large app ecosystem. Choose Pilot if you value real accountants review the books and covers tax and cfo needs.