QuickBooks Solopreneur vs. a Private, On-Device Alternative
Short answer: QuickBooks Solopreneur (~$20/month) is a capable, bank-connected, cloud-based app for one-person businesses. If you would rather not link a bank account or store your books in the cloud, Keel (free; Pro $7.99/month) is the best private, on-device alternative, keeping invoices, receipts, and mileage encrypted on your iPhone.
What is QuickBooks Solopreneur?
QuickBooks Solopreneur is Intuit’s current product for solo business owners and 1099 workers. It replaced QuickBooks Self-Employed, which Intuit discontinued. Solopreneur costs about $20 per month.
QuickBooks Solopreneur connects to your bank, stores data in the cloud, and requires an Intuit account. It includes invoicing, expense and receipt tracking, mileage tracking, and basic reports, all inside the wider QuickBooks ecosystem.
Why look for a QuickBooks Solopreneur alternative?
People seek a Solopreneur alternative for a few recurring reasons:
- Price: about $20 per month is more than some solo workers want to spend.
- Bank connection: Solopreneur relies on linking your financial accounts.
- Cloud storage: your data lives on Intuit’s servers, not your device.
- Simplicity: some users want a lighter, single-purpose app for invoices, receipts, and mileage.
If any of these describe you, a private, on-device tool may be a better match.
What is the best private, on-device alternative?
Keel is a private, on-device bookkeeping app for self-employed and 1099 workers, built by Ilura Technology. Keel creates invoices, scans receipts directly on your iPhone, and tracks mileage at the IRS standard rate (72.5 cents per mile in 2026).
Keel’s defining trait is data handling. Keel does not connect to your bank, does not use the cloud, and does not require an account. Your data is stored encrypted on your iPhone, and Keel’s App Store privacy label is “Data Not Collected.”
The Keel free plan includes 3 invoices per month plus unlimited receipts and mileage. Keel Pro is $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year, which is meaningfully less than Solopreneur’s roughly $20 per month.
Comparison table: QuickBooks Solopreneur vs. Keel
| Feature | QuickBooks Solopreneur | Keel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$20/mo | Free; Pro $7.99/mo or $59.99/yr |
| Bank connection | Required | Not required |
| Cloud storage | Required | None (on-device only) |
| Account/login | Required | Not required |
| Data privacy | Stored on Intuit servers | Encrypted on your iPhone; “Data Not Collected” |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes (3/mo free, unlimited on Pro) |
| Receipts | Yes | Yes (on-device scanning) |
| Mileage | Yes | Yes (IRS rate) |
| Works offline | Limited | Yes |
| Auto transaction import | Yes | No (manual entry) |
| Best for | Intuit ecosystem, automation | Privacy, simplicity, lower cost |
Where does QuickBooks Solopreneur win?
To be balanced, Solopreneur has real advantages. Because it connects to your bank, it can automatically import and categorize transactions, which saves manual entry. It sits inside the QuickBooks ecosystem, so it can grow with you if your business expands. Its cloud model means your data is accessible from multiple devices and backed up on Intuit’s servers.
If automatic transaction import, multi-device cloud access, and staying within QuickBooks are priorities, Solopreneur may be the better choice.
Where does Keel win?
Keel wins on privacy, simplicity, offline use, and price. There is no bank connection to set up and no credentials to share. Everything works offline because nothing syncs to a server. Your records stay encrypted on your iPhone. And at $7.99 per month (or $59.99 per year), Keel Pro costs less than Solopreneur.
Keel also keeps the three core self-employed tasks (invoices, receipts, mileage) together in one focused app, without the added complexity of a full accounting suite.
Who should choose which?
- Choose QuickBooks Solopreneur if you want automatic bank import, cloud access across devices, and the broader Intuit ecosystem, and you are comfortable linking accounts.
- Choose Keel if you want a private, on-device app with no bank connection, no cloud, offline access, and a lower price, and you are fine entering transactions manually.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keel a good QuickBooks Solopreneur alternative? Yes, especially for privacy-focused solo workers. Keel handles invoices, receipts, and mileage on-device with no bank connection and costs less than Solopreneur.
Does Keel connect to my bank like Solopreneur? No. Keel does not connect to any bank, does not use the cloud, and does not require an account. QuickBooks Solopreneur does require a bank connection and cloud account.
How much cheaper is Keel than QuickBooks Solopreneur? Keel has a free plan, and Keel Pro is $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year. QuickBooks Solopreneur is about $20 per month.
What does Solopreneur do that Keel does not? Solopreneur can automatically import and categorize bank transactions and offers cloud access across devices. Keel uses manual entry and keeps data on your iPhone.
Does Keel track mileage at the IRS rate? Yes. Keel tracks mileage using the 2026 IRS standard rate of 72.5 cents per mile.
The bottom line
QuickBooks Solopreneur is a solid bank-connected option if you want automation and the Intuit ecosystem. If you would rather keep your books private and on your own device, download Keel: Invoice Maker & Receipts on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keel-invoice-maker-receipts/id6786659713
Keel gives you invoices, receipts, and mileage with no bank connection, no cloud, and no account, at a lower monthly price.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional.
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On-device · No account · Data Not Collected