QuickBooks' 1099 wizard or Ninesift?
If every payment is in QuickBooks Online, its free 1099 wizard is the easiest. Ninesift is for payments outside QuickBooks, or checking the mapping from an export.
| Ninesift | QuickBooks Online 1099 wizard | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In your browser tab. No account. The payments file is never uploaded. | Inside your QuickBooks Online company |
| Price | Free: payee decisions, totals and checks for any number of payments, with full rows for the first 10 payees. Pro: $12 for 7 days, $15/month or $69/year, no payee, form or client limits. | Preparing is free; e-file fees apply |
| What it does | Decides who needs a 1099 and the box amounts, from your payments export. It doesn't file or mail forms. | Prepares and e-files 1099s from QuickBooks data |
Honest take: QuickBooks' wizard is better if everything is already there. Ninesift is useful for combining other payment sources or reviewing a client's export.
Competitor details checked on 2026-10-28 from their public pages: QuickBooks Online: create and file 1099s. Prices change — check their site for the current offer. Product names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them.
FAQ
What does Ninesift do?
It reads your year's vendor payments and works out which payees need a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC, the amount for each box, who you still need a W-9 from, and the filing deadlines. It doesn't file or mail forms.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Your file is read by JavaScript in your browser tab and never sent to us or anyone else. Payments and TINs aren't stored, so closing the tab clears them. Your settings (tax year, account mappings, corporation names) can be saved in this browser.
Which files can I use?
CSV, tab-separated or Excel with one row per payment. Date, payee and amount are required; payment method, account and memo are optional. QuickBooks Online Transaction Detail by Account and expense reports are recognised. A separate vendor list can add entity type, W-9 status, TIN and address. Download the template to see the layout.
What's free?
Importing and checking any number of payments, the decision counts and totals (forms to file, NEC and MISC amounts, card payments excluded, W-9s needed), every check, plus full rows for the first 10 payees. Pro shows and exports everything: all payees, the Excel workbook, the forms-to-file CSV, the W-9 list and the payee and payment CSVs.
What isn't covered?
Filing, mailing and TIN matching, state-only 1099 rules, backup withholding calculations, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-K and 1042-S. Fishing boat proceeds, crop insurance, section 409A and direct sales boxes aren't filled.
Is this tax advice?
No. Ninesift applies the rules in the IRS instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC to the data you provide. Check the results, and ask your tax adviser about anything unusual. It isn't affiliated with the IRS, Intuit or Xero.