Side-by-side comparison
QuickBooks manages your accounts. PayReady manages your jobs - quotes in 30 seconds, invoices in one tap, PayReady AI-written payment reminders when clients go quiet. These are different tools, and for most tradesmen, both earn their place.
Free during Early Access. No credit card. Ready in 2 minutes.
The key difference
QuickBooks is for your accountant. PayReady is for the job.
PayReady - for the job
Describe the job in plain English. PayReady AI builds the quote in 30 seconds - your rates, your VAT rate, your currency. Send via WhatsApp in one tap. Convert to invoice when the job is done. When a client goes quiet, PayReady AI drafts the chaser. No laptop required.
QuickBooks - for the books
QuickBooks is an accounting platform used by bookkeepers and small business owners to manage bank reconciliation, payroll, VAT returns, and year-end accounts. It can produce invoices, but that is one feature in a system built for accounting - not for a tradesman quoting on site.
Feature comparison
| Feature | PayReady | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| PayReady AI quote from plain English (30 sec) | ||
| WhatsApp send | ||
| Mobile-first (works fully on phone) | ||
| VAT rate set once, applied to every document | Set per line item | |
| PayReady AI payment reminders - 3 tones | ||
| Stage invoicing | ||
| Built for tradesmen on site | ||
| Bank feed reconciliation | ||
| Full accounting and P&L | Tax records only | |
| VAT returns filing | ||
| Mileage tracking | ||
| Starting price | Free | £10/mo (Sole Trader) |
Pricing comparison
PayReady
Free now
Free while Early Access runs, with no credit card. Early Access members can lock in the founding rate for life before Early Access closes.
QuickBooks
£10/mo
For accounting, MTD submissions, and mileage tracking. Not for quoting on site.
Most tradesmen use both: PayReady for quoting and invoicing from the phone, QuickBooks for the accountant and tax returns. They complement each other.
Our honest take
Use PayReady for
Use QuickBooks for
PayReady AI quotes in 30 seconds. WhatsApp send. One-tap invoicing. PayReady AI payment reminders. All from your phone.
Free during Early Access. No credit card. Ready in 2 minutes.
Common questions