kitio.aiQuickBooks Online vs Puzzle
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 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
- AI transaction categorisation
- Stripe revenue recognition
- Live burn and runway
- Cash and accrual views
- Accountant collaboration
| Feature | QuickBooks Online | Puzzle |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents | AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Starting price | $38/mo | $30/mo |
| Free plan | No, 30-day trial | Yes |
| Made by | Intuit | Puzzle |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 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
4 plans
Starter
$30/mo
- AI suite: chat, cowork, close
- CPA-approved chart of accounts
Core
$72/mo
- QuickBooks replacement
- Full accounting software
Complete
$120/mo
- Stripe, Ramp, Mercury, Brex integrations
- Most popular plan
Scale
$360/mo
- High-volume accounting
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
Puzzle
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
- Built for startups, not all SMBs
- Replaces your existing ledger
- Fewer payroll integrations
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 Puzzle if you want:
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
Watch out: built for startups, not all smbs.
QuickBooks Online vs Puzzle FAQ
What is the difference between QuickBooks Online and Puzzle?
QuickBooks Online: Small business accounting software with Intuit AI agents. Puzzle: AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is QuickBooks Online or Puzzle cheaper?
Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 a month, against $38 for QuickBooks Online.
Do QuickBooks Online and Puzzle have free plans?
QuickBooks Online: No, 30-day trial. Puzzle: Yes.
Who makes QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online is made by Intuit, based in United States.
Who makes Puzzle?
Puzzle is made by Puzzle, based in United States.
Which should I choose, QuickBooks Online or Puzzle?
Choose QuickBooks Online if you value widely used by accountants and large app ecosystem. Choose Puzzle if you value free for early startups and strong stripe integration.