Ekue vs QuickBooks

A straightforward, side-by-side look at how Ekue stacks up as a practical QuickBooks alternative for small businesses.

QuickBooks has been the default choice for small business accounting for years, and for good reason — it's established, widely supported, and feature-rich. But "feature-rich" often comes with complexity, rising costs, and a user experience that hasn't kept pace with modern software.

Ekue is a cloud-based accounting platform built specifically for small businesses and growing teams. It focuses on the features that matter most — invoicing, expense tracking, financial reports, and multi-user roles — without the overhead. Below is an honest comparison to help you decide which tool is right for your business.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature Ekue QuickBooks Online
Starting Price $19/month $30/month (Simple Start)
Users Included 3 users on Starter, unlimited on Business 1 user on Simple Start; extra users cost more
User Interface Modern, clean design with minimal learning curve Feature-dense; steeper learning curve
Invoicing ✓ Create, send, track ✓ Create, send, track
Expense Tracking ✓ Categorization & reporting ✓ Categorization & receipt capture
Financial Reports ✓ P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Trial Balance ✓ Extensive report library (65+ reports)
Multi-User Roles ✓ Granular, role-based permissions ✓ Roles available (varies by plan)
Audit Logs ✓ Built-in on every transaction Limited audit trail (higher plans)
Multi-Currency ✓ Included on all plans Available on Plus and above
Bank Reconciliation ✓ Manual & account management ✓ Automatic bank feeds
Payroll ✗ Not included (planned) ✓ Add-on available
Inventory Management ✗ Not included (planned) ✓ Available on Plus and above
Data Ownership ✓ Full export anytime, no lock-in Export available but format limitations
Pricing Transparency Flat monthly rate, no surprise fees Promotional pricing; increases after first term
Support Email & in-app (real people) Chat, phone, community (varies by plan)

Who Is Each Platform For?

Ekue is a good fit if you…

  • Want straightforward accounting without the bloat
  • Need multi-user access with fine-grained permissions
  • Value transparent, predictable monthly pricing
  • Prefer a modern, easy-to-learn interface
  • Want built-in audit logs on every transaction
  • Care about data ownership and portability
  • Are a freelancer, consultant, or service-based business

QuickBooks may be better if you…

  • Need payroll built into your accounting software
  • Require inventory management features
  • Rely on automatic bank feed integrations
  • Need a large ecosystem of third-party integrations
  • Have an accountant who specifically requires QuickBooks
  • Need 65+ specialized financial reports

How to Switch from QuickBooks to Ekue

Migrating your accounting data doesn't have to be painful. Here's a high-level overview of the process.

Export Your Data from QuickBooks

Download your chart of accounts, customer list, vendor list, and transaction history as CSV files from QuickBooks Online. Go to Reports > select a report > Export to Excel/CSV.

Create Your Ekue Account

Sign up for an Ekue plan, set up your company profile, and configure your fiscal year and base currency. This takes about five minutes.

Import Your Data

Upload your CSV exports into Ekue. The import tool maps columns automatically and lets you review before confirming. Start with your chart of accounts, then customers and vendors.

Verify and Reconcile

Review your imported balances against QuickBooks. Run a trial balance in both systems to make sure everything matches. Adjust any opening balances as needed.

Invite Your Team

Add team members and assign roles. Set up permissions so everyone has the access they need — and nothing more.

Need help migrating? Our support team can walk you through the process. Contact us and we'll make the transition smooth.

Switching FAQs

No. You export your data from QuickBooks as CSV files, which you then import into Ekue. Your original QuickBooks data remains untouched. We recommend running both systems in parallel for a short period until you're confident everything has transferred correctly.
For most small businesses, the core migration (accounts, customers, vendors) can be completed in under an hour. Historical transactions may take longer depending on volume. Our support team is available to help throughout the process.
Yes. You can invite your accountant as a user with a specific role. They'll have access to the reports and data they need. Ekue's standard financial reports (P&L, balance sheet, trial balance) are formatted in ways accountants expect.
Currently, Ekue supports manual bank account management and reconciliation. Automatic bank feed integrations are on our roadmap. Many small businesses find that manual reconciliation gives them better oversight of their transactions.
Ekue is month-to-month with no long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime and export all your data before you go. We believe you should stay because the product works for you, not because you're locked in.

Compare Ekue to Other Platforms

See how Ekue stacks up against other popular accounting tools.

vs Xero vs FreshBooks vs Wave

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