Learn how HoneyBook vs. QuickBooks compare and how you should use each platform.
HoneyBook and QuickBooks share several key features, including invoicing, payment processing, and financial management. But the real difference lies in their focus: HoneyBook excels as an all-in-one client management platform, while QuickBooks specializes in small business accounting.
Picking the right business management tool doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let’s break down how HoneyBook and QuickBooks compare—and explore how they measure up against other top QuickBooks alternatives.
And the best part? You don’t have to choose just one: HoneyBook integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online, offering the best of both worlds.
Key takeaways
- QuickBooks is a popular tool for accounting and business management, but it’s not your only option.
- HoneyBook is an all-in-one tool that offers invoicing, payment processing, financial planning, and reporting for small business—plus, a full suite of client management tools.Â
- To choose the best option for your business, think about your financial goals and the features you need to achieve them.
QuickBooks alternatives compared
Here’s how QuickBooks and HoneyBook stack up at a glance. Compare the following key features to see what’s right for your business needs.Â
| HoneyBook | QuickBooks | |
| Reporting | HoneyBook offers strong business reporting features. Report on your collected and outstanding payments, as well as your booking rate. | QuickBooks offers strong financial and accounting reports, including profit and loss statements and income statements. |
| Invoicing | Generate invoices directly from the HoneyBook CRM. Build from a wide library of invoice templates or customize with the drag-and-drop editor. | QuickBooks offers invoice generation and automation features, but doesn’t have as many customization options as HoneyBook does. |
| Payments | HoneyBook accepts credit card and ACH payments with low transaction fees starting at 2.9% + $0.25. | QuickBooks accepts credit cards, ACH payments, and online wallets. Online payments have a 2.99% flat fee. |
| Scheduling | HoneyBook syncs with your Google, Apple, and Microsoft calendars and has a built-in scheduler where clients can book meetings. | While QuickBooks doesn’t offer any client scheduling features, it does offer employee time tracking. |
| Lead management | With HoneyBook, you can create custom contact forms and lead forms that feed into your CRM. | QuickBooks doesn’t offer any lead management features. |
| Contracts | HoneyBook has a wide library of contract templates with industry-specific options. | QuickBooks doesn’t offer built-in contracts, but integrates with HoneyBook’s contracts. |
| Templates | HoneyBook offers templates for a wide variety of business needs, including invoices, contracts, proposals, and much more. | QuickBooks only offers invoice templates. |
| Client communication | HoneyBook integrates with top email clients so you can manage communication in one convenient portal. | QuickBooks integrates with email clients for invoice management, but it does not offer full-cycle communication options. |
| Mobile app | With the HoneyBook mobile app for iOS and Android, you can manage your calendar and project pipelines. | QuickBooks offers an extensive mobile app for iOS and Android, with most of the same financial tracking features as the desktop app. |
| Integrations | HoneyBook integrates with a variety of popular small business management tools, including QuickBooks, Google Docs, Gmail, and several popular email clients. | QuickBooks offers more than 750 integrations, including an integration with HoneyBook. |
| Customer support | HoneyBook provides live chat and email support seven days a week (Mon–Fri 4 AM–8 PM PT, Sat–Sun 8 AM–5 PM PT), plus 24/7 AI-powered chat support. The platform also offers file setup help and dispute resolution services. | QuickBooks offers live online customer support during daytime hours that vary by plan—typically 6 AM to 6 PM PT on weekdays with limited weekend coverage. Support options depend on your subscription level. |
| Pricing | HoneyBook offers a 30-day free trial and three subscription packages: Starter: $29/monthEssentials: $49/monthPremium: $109/month | QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial with the following subscription options: Simple Start: $38/monthEssentials: $75/monthPlus: $115/monthAdvanced: $275/month |
QuickBooks overview
QuickBooks is primarily accounting software, and its financial management features are where it truly excels. There are several versions of QuickBooks, including QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and a limited free version to suit different business needs.
You can use QuickBooks and HoneyBook together if you need both project management and bookkeeping features.
Accounting and financial reporting
QuickBooks has extensive accounting features, including double entry accounting, profit and loss reporting, expense tracking, cash flow visibility, tax support, and more.
Depending on your plan, you can also access advanced features such as inventory management and payroll processing.
Invoicing and payment tracking
With QuickBooks, create and send invoices, track payments, and set up automated billing for recurring clients. QuickBooks’ invoicing features focus on processing transactions, rather than managing the entire client lifecycle.
Integrations and ecosystem
QuickBooks is part of the Intuit ecosystem, which means it integrates naturally with TurboTax and Mailchimp. QuickBooks also offers hundreds of integrations with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, payment processors, communication tools, and ecommerce platforms.
QuickBooks
Invoicing is one of the areas where QuickBooks Online shines.
The platform offers basic invoice templates that you can use on an as-is basis, or you can customize them to fit your needs. If you decide to customize your invoices, you can change themes, colors, fonts, and more to align your invoices with your brand image. And your customers can pay your invoices as soon as they receive them with built-in online payments.
Not to mention, QuickBooks offers all the invoicing features you might need. You can set up recurring invoices for customers you charge regularly, take advantage of automatic invoice reminders, and benefit from milestone payments and other custom payment.Â
Skip the back-and-forth: Schedule meetings, sessions, consultations, and more in one click.Â
HoneyBook overview
HoneyBook helps small businesses manage the entire client lifecycle from inquiry to payment in one centralized platform. Unlike QuickBooks, which focuses on accounting, HoneyBook emphasizes broader business management and client communication.
While it’s not a direct replacement for QuickBooks, HoneyBook does include some overlapping payment features, making it a flexible complement for small business operations.
Client management and end-to-end workflows
HoneyBook helps you manage clients in a user-friendly CRM. You can process incoming leads, onboard new clients, schedule meetings, and handle payments. Because everything’s in one place, there’s no need to switch back and forth between platforms while working.
Integrated contracts, proposals, and payments
Unlike traditional accounting software, HoneyBook offers templates for contracts, proposals, and invoices. Clients can electronically sign documents and process payments all in the same platform. HoneyBook helps keep all of these key documents organized so you can revisit them at any time.
Automations for invoicing and follow-ups
With HoneyBook, you can set up recurring workflow automations for repetitive tasks, such as client follow-ups and repeat invoices. These automations keep your business running smoothly and free up valuable time in your workday.
Customizable templates
HoneyBook has an extensive library of templates for invoices, proposals, contracts, and more, with options tailored to a variety of industries and use cases. Invoice templates help bookkeepers work more efficiently—plus, they look sleek and professional.
QuickBooks
FreshBooks overview
FreshBooks is a popular QuickBooks software alternative that’s built for freelancers and small businesses.
Simple, client-friendly invoicing and billing
FreshBooks has an invoice generator with customizable templates. You can also set up automated billing and payments for recurring clients. It’s simple and user-friendly, so there’s no need to be an expert accountant.
Time tracking and project collaboration tools
If you work hourly, you can use FreshBooks’ time tracking feature to calculate billable hours. You can also generate proposals and share files directly in FreshBooks for faster collaboration.
Expense capture and reporting made easy
FreshBooks helps keep receipts organized and categorize your expenses so you’re prepared for tax season. FreshBooks also helps monitor cash flow and generate financial reports.
Use HoneyBook to capture leads and book instantly in a single step.Â
Zoho Books overview
Zoho Books is another software similar to QuickBooks with accessible accounting and payment processing features. This cloud-based software is part of the broader Zoho business management platform.
Comprehensive accounting across all platforms
Zoho Books’ extensive range of accounting features make it one of the top QuickBooks competitors. It offers features like bank reconciliation, tax compliance tools, expense management, inventory tracking, and more.
Customizable automation and workflows
Zoho Books helps create automated workflows tailored to your business needs, including automated invoicing and payment reminders. You can also automate approval processes, task assignments, and client notifications to save time and reduce manual work.
Deep integration with Zoho ecosystem
Zoho Books is built to integrate seamlessly with other Zoho products, including Zoho CRM. This makes it a convenient choice if you’re already using other Zoho tools, streamlining data flow across your business.
Skip the confusion, and get customizable, lawyer-approved contracts with HoneyBook ​
What to consider when choosing for your business
The best accounting software for your business depends on factors like your business model and the size of your team.
Here’s what to consider when evaluating accounting software alternatives to QuickBooks:
- Getting paid: Look for tools that help generate invoices and process payments without requiring technical knowledge.Â
- Tracking finances: User-friendly bookkeeping and financial reporting tools help you stay on top of your budget.Â
- Business management features: Integrated contracts, proposals, and client communication features help manage everything in one place.Â
Choosing software that aligns with your workflow and business needs supports smoother operations and long-term growth.
Capture leads, sell services, manage projects, and nurture client relationships from one platform. All that and more with HoneyBook.
FAQs
What’s the simplest bookkeeping software?
HoneyBook combines bookkeeping features with business management tools in one simple, user-friendly platform. If you need free accounting software, Wave Accounting is another good option that offers no-frills income and expense tracking.
Is QuickBooks for small businesses worth it?
QuickBooks is worth it for small businesses that have complex inventory management needs or require complex tech stack integrations. While it’s considered an industry standard, many small businesses find that it has more features than they need. In this situation, you can choose a client-focused QuickBooks alternative for small business, like HoneyBook.
What’s a good alternative to QuickBooks?
HoneyBook is a top QuickBooks alternative for service-based businesses. Rather than using a separate CRM and accounting software, HoneyBook offers the best of both worlds with client communication, contracts, payment tracking, and more all in one platform.
What software do most accountants use?
Accountants often use tools like HoneyBook, QuickBooks, and Xero to manage their finances. These cloud-based tools make real-time collaboration simple, providing transparent reporting and easy data exports for tax season.
