Clearmargin vs QuickBooks
QuickBooks is accounting software built for accountants. Clearmargin is business software built for freelancers. Here is how they compare.
The fundamental difference
QuickBooks
Chart of accounts, journal entries, double-entry bookkeeping. Designed for accountants and businesses with dedicated bookkeepers. Has payroll, inventory, and balance sheets.
Clearmargin
Proposals, time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, and profitability. Designed for freelancers who need to run their business, not learn accounting. Has recipe costing, pipeline management, and an AI assistant.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Clearmargin | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Proposals | Third-party add-ons only | |
| Time tracking | Separate add-on (QuickBooks Time) | |
| Invoicing | ||
| Expense tracking | ||
| Mileage tracking | ||
| Receipt capture | ||
| Schedule C tax reports | ||
| Client profitability | ||
| Project tracking | ||
| Rate cascading | ||
| Minimum billable hours | ||
| Pipeline & milestones | ||
| Recipe / BOM costing | ||
| AI assistant | ||
| Booking page | ||
| Calendar sync | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Inventory management | ||
| Balance sheet & P&L | ||
| Live bank feeds | ||
| Accounting knowledge required | ||
| Starting price | $14.99/mo | $20/mo |
| Client limit | Unlimited | Unlimited (Plus and above) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Clearmargin a replacement for QuickBooks?+
Clearmargin replaces QuickBooks for freelancers and small teams who do not need full double-entry accounting. It covers proposals, time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, and tax exports — the things freelancers actually use QuickBooks for — without the chart of accounts, journal entries, or bookkeeping complexity.
Can I import my data from QuickBooks?+
Yes. Clearmargin has a self-service QuickBooks import that brings in your clients, invoices, and history in minutes. Read-only access means your QuickBooks data is never modified.
Does Clearmargin have bank feeds like QuickBooks?+
Clearmargin supports bank reconciliation via CSV and OFX import rather than live bank feeds. For freelancers, this covers the common use case — matching transactions to expenses — without the cost and complexity of a live banking integration.
Is Clearmargin cheaper than QuickBooks?+
QuickBooks Online ranges from $20 to $80 per month depending on the plan. Clearmargin starts at $14.99 per month with unlimited clients, proposals, invoicing, time tracking, expense tracking, and tax exports included.
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