Cheapest Accounting Software for Contractors and Tradespeople in 2026
Updated 16 April 2026
Contractors need job costing, estimates, progress invoicing, and simple expense tracking. Here is the cheapest option that covers those needs, and why the free options fall short.
What contractors need
Job costing
Track costs per project or per job site to know which jobs are profitable
Estimates and quotes
Send professional estimates that convert to invoices when approved
Progress invoicing
Bill clients in stages as project milestones are completed
Mileage and vehicle tracking
Log travel to job sites for tax deductions
Receipt capture
Photograph receipts from suppliers and hardware stores in the field
Subcontractor 1099 tracking
Track payments to subcontractors for year-end 1099 filing
Ranked Options for Contractors
FreshBooks Plus
$15/moBest ValueFreshBooks Plus is the strongest option for contractors who value estimates, time tracking, and polished client-facing documents. It includes proposal generation, automated late payment reminders, and up to 50 active clients. The main gap is progress invoicing, which is not available, so contractors who bill in stages will need Zoho Books.
The built-in mileage tracker is useful for contractors traveling between job sites. Receipt capture via the mobile app works well for photographing hardware store receipts on the go.
Zoho Books Standard
$15/moZoho Books Standard is the better pick for contractors who need progress invoicing and project-level profitability tracking. It includes 3 user seats, which is useful if you have a bookkeeper or office manager. Job costing and time tracking are both included.
The main downside for contractors is the lack of built-in mileage tracking. You would need a separate app (like MileIQ) for that. Subcontractor 1099 tracking is included natively.
QuickBooks Simple Start
$18/moQuickBooks has the deepest job costing features of any option on this list. If detailed per-job profitability analysis is critical to your business, QuickBooks is worth the premium. It also includes mileage tracking, 1099 contractor management, and the best accountant compatibility. The $18/month price is only $3 more than the alternatives but includes features that genuinely matter for contractors.
Contractor Feature Comparison
| Feature | FreshBooks Plus | Zoho Standard | QB Simple Start | QB Essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job costing | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Estimates/quotes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Progress invoicing | No | Yes | No | No |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mileage tracking | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Receipt capture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1099 tracking | Via Gusto | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly cost | $15/mo | $15/mo | $18/mo | $30/mo |
Why Wave is not ideal for contractors
Wave is free and excellent for basic accounting, but it lacks three features that most contractors need: estimates/quotes, job costing, and time tracking. Without these, you are managing project profitability in spreadsheets instead of your accounting tool.
The $15/month for FreshBooks Plus or Zoho Books Standard is worth it if you are running multiple jobs simultaneously and need to track costs per project. The time saved on job profitability reporting alone justifies the cost.
Total cost for a typical contractor
A solo contractor with 1 to 2 users, 30 invoices per month, needs estimates, and basic job tracking: