This guide compares accounting software in Canada: QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave and Sage. Pick by how the software sets up GST/HST (and QST in Quebec), whether its sales-tax report matches your filing period, multi-currency needs and the price after any promotion. A tax report can help prepare a GST/HST return; it does not classify a supply, establish an input tax credit, or file a return.
Accounting software in Canada for GST/HST: 5 vendors compared
| Product | Canadian price observed October 21, 2026 | GST/HST and QST setup and report | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Lite $2/mo, EasyStart $3/mo, Plus $11/mo, Advanced $22/mo, each 90% off for 6 months (regular $20/$30/$110/$220). | Sales tax calculated and tracked on every plan; the pricing page does not detail Quebec QST handling. | A business planning to add users later. | The 90% discount lasts 6 months; recheck plan names and inclusions before subscribing. |
| Xero | Starter $5/mo, Standard $12/mo, Premium $16/mo for the first 3 months (new-customer offer), then $25/$60/$80/mo. | Multi-currency only on the Premium plan; the pricing page describes no sales-tax report, but Xero’s Canadian sales-tax page lists GST/HST, provincial PST/RST and Québec QST return reports. | A business billing clients in more than one currency, on the Premium plan. | The new-customer discount covers the first 3 months; Xero’s regular price applies after that. |
| FreshBooks | As observed on October 21, 2026, Lite at $5.20/mo, Plus at $8.40/mo and Premium at $14.40/mo, each 80% off for four months (regular $26/$42/$72). | Pricing page doesn’t detail sales-tax or multi-currency features; confirm GST/QST setup with FreshBooks. | A client-service business billing by project. | Client limits apply by plan — check the current limit before subscribing. |
| Wave | As observed on October 21, 2026, Starter $0 and Pro $25/mo or $250/year. | Prices exclude applicable tax; no sales-tax report or QST handling is described on the pricing page. | A small business wanting a free core workflow, paying only for add-ons it needs. | Card-processing fees apply on top (for example 2.9% plus $0.60 per credit card transaction on the Starter plan). |
| Sage Accounting / Sage 50 | Sage Accounting $23, $50 or $72/mo plus tax by tier after 75% off for 6 months; Sage 50 Pro $142.25/mo, Premium $199.58/mo, Quantum from $734.92/mo (one-year minimum). | Sage Accounting’s page says it automates GST/HST/PST/QST; Sage 50 lists GST/HST and PST/QST tracking and online GST/HST filing. | A business that tracks PST or QST alongside GST/HST. | Sage Accounting renews at the then-current rate after the promotion; Sage 50 requires a one-year commitment. |
QuickBooks Online
As observed on October 21, 2026, its Canadian pricing page listed Lite at $2/month, EasyStart at $3, Plus at $11 and Advanced at $22, each at 90% off for six months, with regular prices of $20, $30, $110 and $220. Every plan includes sales-tax tracking; the pricing page does not spell out Quebec QST handling, so confirm that during a trial before committing to a plan.
Xero
Xero suits a business that already bills clients in more than one currency, since multi-currency support sits only on its top plan. As observed on October 21, 2026, Xero’s Canadian pricing page listed Starter at $5 CAD/month, Standard at $12 and Premium at $16 for the first three months as a new-customer offer, then $25, $60 and $80 afterward. The pricing page states prices exclude applicable taxes and does not describe a sales-tax report; Xero’s separate Canadian sales-tax page says GST/HST, British Columbia PST, Manitoba RST, Saskatchewan PST and Québec QST return reports are currently available.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks lists project budget and billing tools on every plan, which suits a business that bills clients by project. As observed on October 21, 2026, its Canadian page listed Lite at $5.20 CAD/month, Plus at $8.40 and Premium at $14.40, each at 80% off for four months, with regular prices of $26, $42 and $72. The page doesn’t detail sales-tax or multi-currency features, and client limits apply by plan, so check both on FreshBooks’ site before subscribing. For a narrower comparison of pure invoice-sending tools, see our guide to invoicing software in Canada.
Wave
Wave fits a small business that wants a genuinely free core workflow and only pays for payments or payroll as add-ons. As observed on October 21, 2026, Wave listed Starter at $0 and Pro at $25 CAD/month or $250 CAD/year, with card-processing fees on top (for example 2.9% plus $0.60 per credit card transaction on the Starter plan) and prices shown excluding applicable tax. The pricing page doesn’t describe a sales-tax report or Quebec QST handling.
Sage Accounting / Sage 50
This comparison covers two Sage products: Sage Accounting and Sage 50. As observed on October 21, 2026, Sage Accounting offered 75% off for six months to new customers on monthly plans, then $23, $50 or $72 plus tax per month depending on tier, and its page says it automates GST/HST/PST/QST. Sage 50 listed Pro Accounting at $142.25/month, Premium at $199.58/month and Quantum from $734.92/month, with a minimum one-year commitment; its feature comparison lists GST/HST and PST/QST tracking and online GST/HST filing. Confirm Quebec QST setup before subscribing.
What are people replacing QuickBooks with?
This guide has no data on why businesses leave QuickBooks. The comparison above shows where the alternatives differ: Wave’s Starter plan is $0, FreshBooks lists project billing on every plan, and Xero lists multi-currency support only on its Premium plan. Weigh those against QuickBooks’ regular prices listed above.
Is there free accounting software in Canada?
Yes — Wave’s Starter plan is free, covering unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, with payment and payroll features added only if you choose them. As observed on October 21, 2026, card-processing runs 2.9% plus $0.60 per credit card transaction on the Starter plan, and Wave’s prices are shown excluding applicable tax. There is no published free tier for QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks or Sage Accounting in the sources reviewed for this guide.
Test before buying
- Enter a taxable Ontario invoice, a supported business expense and a refund.
- Export the sales-tax detail for the exact reporting period and reconcile it to source records.
- Confirm export access, users, data retention, add-ons, payment fees and the post-promotion price.
- For Quebec or multi-tax work, test separate GST/QST labels, registrations and rounding.
Figures for QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave and Sage above were observed on October 21, 2026 for the stated billing cycle and introductory period. Prices, promotions, payment fees and plan features can change; check the vendor page before buying.
Sources: QuickBooks Canada pricing; Xero Canada pricing; FreshBooks Canada pricing; Wave pricing; Xero Canada sales tax; Sage Accounting Canada; Sage 50 Canada pricing; Sage 50 feature comparison; CRA registrant guide.