Roadfolio vs QuickBooks Self-Employed
This article includes Roadfolio, which is built by ITF Business. Other tools may include affiliate links; if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
QuickBooks Self-Employed (QBSE) is Intuit's stripped-down accounting app aimed at solo earners. It does mileage, bank import, basic invoicing, and pushes you into TurboTax at year end. Roadfolio is the newer challenger that combines mileage, invoicing, client management, and a voice assistant in one app. Here's a clear comparison.
Bottom line
- QBSE: picks if you want Intuit's tax-prep ecosystem and don't need client/job management
- Roadfolio: picks if you want a real client-facing toolkit and AI assistance, especially for contractors and freelancers
Pricing
- QuickBooks Self-Employed: $20/mo, or $30/mo bundled with TurboTax Self-Employed
- Roadfolio: Free tier, Pro $29.99/mo (includes voice assistant), Elite $49.99/mo (includes proposals and job costing)
What QBSE does well
- Bank account connection for auto-categorizing transactions
- Quarterly tax estimate calculator
- Direct export to TurboTax
- Basic invoicing
- Mileage tracking with auto-detect
- Intuit's name recognition
What QBSE doesn't do
- No real client/job management
- No quotes or proposals
- No voice assistant
- No project tracking
- Can't grow with you. If you hire help or take on partners, you have to switch to QuickBooks Online ($35+/mo)
- Intuit has signaled QBSE may be deprecated in favor of QBO Solopreneur, which means a forced migration at some point
What Roadfolio does that QBSE doesn't
- RoadBuddy AI voice assistant (log expenses and invoices by voice)
- Full client and job management
- Quotes and proposals with e-signature (Elite)
- Recurring invoices for retainer clients
- Time tracking with timer
- Job costing/profitability (Elite)
- Multiple businesses in one account
- Designed mobile-first for trade and field workers
Mileage tracking head-to-head
- Auto GPS tracking: both
- Business hours auto-classify: both
- Swipe classify: both
- Tag to client/job: Roadfolio
- Voice log: Roadfolio
- Bulk classify by date range: both
Invoicing head-to-head
- One-click pay link: both (QBSE uses QuickBooks Payments at 2.9%; Roadfolio uses Stripe/Square)
- Recurring invoices: Roadfolio Pro, not QBSE
- Auto reminders: Roadfolio Pro, not QBSE
- Quotes/estimates: Roadfolio Elite, not QBSE
- Branded templates: Roadfolio Pro
Tax preparation
- QBSE: seamless TurboTax handoff. Best if you self-file with TurboTax.
- Roadfolio: CSV/PDF export for any tax preparer. Best if you use a CPA or independent tax pro.
Bank connection
QBSE imports bank transactions automatically and categorizes them. Roadfolio focuses on transaction-by-transaction expense tracking (with receipt photos) rather than bank import. If your business spending is mostly on a single card and you want hands-off categorization, QBSE has the edge. If you want explicit, audit-proof expense documentation, Roadfolio is cleaner.
When QBSE wins
- You self-file with TurboTax
- You want bank import auto-categorization
- You're a single-person operation forever (no growth plans)
- You don't quote work or send recurring invoices
When Roadfolio wins
- You're a contractor, tradesperson, or service provider with clients
- You quote work or send proposals
- You want voice-driven workflow
- You have recurring or retainer clients
- You want to grow (Elite supports team)
The Intuit deprecation question
In 2024-2025 Intuit started moving QBSE customers to "QuickBooks Solopreneur" or "QuickBooks Online Simple Start." The future of QBSE specifically is uncertain. If you're picking new software in 2026, consider that you may be migrated within a year or two whether you like it or not.
How to switch from QBSE to Roadfolio
- Export QBSE data: bank txns, mileage, invoices (Reports section)
- Install Roadfolio
- Add clients (manual or CSV import on web)
- Enable mileage auto-tracking
- Run parallel for one billing cycle
- Cancel QBSE once Roadfolio is dialed in
5 things to do this week
- Decide who files your taxes (you, TurboTax, CPA).
- If TurboTax: stick with QBSE or trial Roadfolio for the side features.
- If CPA: try Roadfolio free.
- Run both for 30 days. See which fits your daily flow.
- Pick the keeper. Cancel the other.
Want a recommendation?
Tell me your tax-filing setup and client volume; I'll tell you which fits.