QuickBooks remains the default choice for small business accounting, and the AI additions in 2025-2026 have made the platform genuinely more useful rather than just adding a chatbot on top. The Accounting Agent handles transaction matching and categorization based on your historical patterns. The Payments Agent flags overdue invoices and drafts follow-ups. These run in the background and reduce the manual work that makes bookkeeping unpleasant.
The price increases in May 2026 (15-25% across plans) are noticeable. Simple Start for a solo operator starts around $35/month, Essentials at $65/month, and Plus at $110/month. The seat caps are the most frustrating structural issue: going from 3 to 4 users forces you from Essentials to Plus, a $45/month jump for one additional seat. If you're near a user limit boundary, that should factor into your plan selection.