Werx vs. QuickBooks: The Billing QuickBooks Can't Do
Updated for 2026
Werx and QuickBooks compared on price, features, and fit.
First, the honest part: this is not really either-or. QuickBooks Online is great accounting, and you should keep it. Werx works with QuickBooks, not instead of it. Here is the gap. QuickBooks does not do AIA-style G702/G703 billing, progress billing with a schedule of values, retainage, or change orders. Those aren't native concepts in QuickBooks. Its Projects feature is surface-level job costing with no cost codes or real-time budget-to-actual. Most contractors end up building pay apps in Excel and re-keying totals. Werx fills that exact gap for $49/mo: native AIA and progress billing, retainage, change orders, and real job costing, then syncs two-way back to QuickBooks Online. Honest take: keep QuickBooks for the books. Add Werx for the construction billing it was never built to do.
What you actually pay
QuickBooks runs your books. Werx adds the construction billing on top.
Werx starts at
/mo · works with your QuickBooks
Native AIA-style and progress billing, retainage, change orders, and budget-to-actual job costing, then a two-way sync back to QuickBooks Online. Add crew users at $6/mo each. No contract.
QuickBooks starts at
/mo (Plus, the job-costing tier)
QuickBooks Online Plus is about $115/mo, the lowest tier with the Projects feature. Advanced is about $275/mo. Neither does AIA-style G702/G703, progress billing with a schedule of values, retainage, or change orders. You build those in Excel.
✦ The Werx Win
- QuickBooks is the books of record. Werx adds the construction billing it can't do, and syncs back to it.
- Werx does native AIA-style billing, progress billing, retainage, and change orders. QuickBooks does none natively.
- Werx gives you real job costing with cost codes. QuickBooks Projects is surface-level.
- Adding Werx is $49/mo. Jumping to QuickBooks Advanced is $275/mo, and still no AIA-style billing.
- No more Excel pay apps and re-keying totals. Werx automates it and reconciles back to QuickBooks.
QuickBooks alone vs. QuickBooks plus Werx
Keep QuickBooks for accounting. Add Werx for the billing it can't do.
| Core Feature | Werx Construction | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Construction billing + job costing | Accounting / books of record |
| Accounting & General Ledger | Syncs to QuickBooks | Full accounting (its strength) |
| AIA-style G702/G703 Billing | Included | Not native (Excel workaround) |
| Progress Billing (SOV + retainage) | Included | Not native |
| Change Orders | Included (every plan) | Not a concept in QuickBooks |
| Job Costing | Included (budget-to-actual) | Surface-level (Plus $115+) |
| Cost Codes | Included | Not supported |
| WIP Reporting | Supported | Not native |
| Two-Way QuickBooks Sync | Yes (built in) | It is QuickBooks |
| Starting Price for Job Costing | $49/mo (works with QBO) | $115/mo (Plus tier) |
| Free Trial | 14 days, no card | 30 days |
Where QuickBooks ends and Werx begins
AIA-style and progress billing, done for you
QuickBooks can't generate a G702/G703 style pay app, track a schedule of values, or hold retainage across periods. Werx does all of it natively, then sends the totals back to QuickBooks.
Job costing with real cost codes
QuickBooks Projects shows totals, not true budget-to-actual by cost code. Werx tracks every dollar against budget so you catch overruns mid-job.
Add billing, don't replace your books
You keep QuickBooks for accounting, payroll, and tax. Werx layers the construction billing on top and syncs two-way, so nothing gets re-keyed.
Industry-specific wins
Werx adds project billing on top of the QuickBooks you already run.
General Contractors
Send AIA-style pay apps your GC accepts first time, then sync the approved totals to QuickBooks.
Electrical
Multi-phase work with change orders and AIA-style billing per phase, with job costs by cost code.
Plumbing
Bill progress draws on new construction and reconcile back to your books automatically.
HVAC
Progress billing on big installs, with budget-to-actual margin QuickBooks Projects can't show.
Roofing
Retainage and stored materials on pay applications, synced cleanly to QuickBooks.
Remodeling
Handle change orders and allowances, then push the numbers to QuickBooks with no double entry.
Common questions about Werx and QuickBooks
What contractors ask when comparing QuickBooks and Werx.
Does QuickBooks do AIA-style billing?
Do I have to replace QuickBooks with Werx?
What does QuickBooks cost for contractors?
Why not just upgrade to QuickBooks Advanced?
How good is QuickBooks job costing?
How does the sync work?
See the difference for yourself
Start a 14-day free trial. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
No credit card required · Free setup help · Cancel anytime