FreshBooks
Invoicing-first accounting software for freelancers, consultants, and small service firms
What is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is an all-in-one cloud accounting platform built around invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and double-entry bookkeeping for service-based small businesses. It includes online payment acceptance via cards/ACH/digital wallets/BNPL, automated late payment reminders, project profitability tracking, and accountant access. The company reports a 4.8/5 rating across more than 120,000 reviews.
Accounting, FP&A, billing, spend management, bookkeeping, and finance automation tools.
See the full Finance & Accounting guide to compare more tools, buyer criteria, and related workflows.
Use cases to evaluate
Solo consultant sending recurring retainer invoices and accepting ACH/card payments with auto-reminders
Agency tracking billable hours against client projects and turning timesheets into invoices
Contractor capturing receipts on mobile and reconciling expenses to client jobs
Small firm collaborating with an external accountant via shared books and tax-ready reports
Fit to evaluate
Freelancers and solopreneurs who bill hourly or by project
Marketing, legal, and consulting firms under ~20 staff
Trades and home services contractors invoicing on-site from mobile
Accountants supporting service-business clients who prefer simpler UX than QuickBooks
Business fit
Right for you if you run a service business, bill clients by project or hour, and want invoicing, payments, and books in the same tool without a steep learning curve. Particularly well-suited to freelancers, agencies, lawyers, contractors, and consultancies under 50 staff who prioritize getting paid quickly over inventory or manufacturing depth. Skip if you carry physical inventory, need a robust ERP, or want a free tier; Wave or Zoho Books may fit better at the low end.
How to evaluate FreshBooks
Use this category when finance work depends on spreadsheets, manual reconciliation, or slow reporting.
Confirm the exact workflow
Map FreshBooks to one concrete workflow first, such as solo consultant sending recurring retainer invoices and accepting ach/card payments with auto-reminders. Avoid buying before the owner, trigger, output, and success metric are clear.
Check category fit
Compare accounting workflows, approvals, reconciliation, reporting, and audit trails.
Compare practical alternatives
Shortlist FreshBooks against CostAllocation Pro, Wave, Sage so the decision is based on fit, effort, and workflow ownership rather than brand recognition alone.
Validate cost and rollout effort
Lite $23/mo (5 billable clients), Plus $43/mo (50 clients), Premium $70/mo (unlimited clients), Select is custom-quoted. Currently 70% off for first 4 months (Lite $6.90, Plus $12.90, Premium $21). Add-ons: extra team member $11/mo, Advanced Payments $20/mo, FreshBooks Payroll $40/mo + $6/user. 30-day free trial. Also confirm implementation time, support needs, and whether the medium setup matches your team.
Compare FreshBooks with alternatives
Use this quick comparison before booking demos or moving data into a new system.
| Primary workflow | Solo consultant sending recurring retainer invoices and accepting ACH/card payments with auto-reminders, Agency tracking billable hours against client projects and turning timesheets into invoices |
|---|---|
| Best-fit team | Freelancers and solopreneurs who bill hourly or by project, Marketing, legal, and consulting firms under ~20 staff |
| Implementation effort | Medium setup and maintenance profile |
| Pricing check | Free plan + paid plans |
| Closest alternatives | CostAllocation ProWaveSageZoho Books |
FreshBooks pricing
| Model | Free plan + paid plans |
|---|---|
| Snapshot | Lite $23/mo (5 billable clients), Plus $43/mo (50 clients), Premium $70/mo (unlimited clients), Select is custom-quoted. Currently 70% off for first 4 months (Lite $6.90, Plus $12.90, Premium $21). Add-ons: extra team member $11/mo, Advanced Payments $20/mo, FreshBooks Payroll $40/mo + $6/user. 30-day free trial. |
| Checked |
Common questions about FreshBooks
What is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is an all-in-one cloud accounting platform built around invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and double-entry bookkeeping for service-based small businesses. It includes online payment acceptance via cards/ACH/digital wallets/BNPL, automated late payment reminders, project profitability tracking, and accountant access. The company reports a 4.8/5 rating across more than 120,000 reviews.
What is FreshBooks used for?
Common use cases: Solo consultant sending recurring retainer invoices and accepting ACH/card payments with auto-reminders; Agency tracking billable hours against client projects and turning timesheets into invoices; Contractor capturing receipts on mobile and reconciling expenses to client jobs; Small firm collaborating with an external accountant via shared books and tax-ready reports.
How much does FreshBooks cost?
Lite $23/mo (5 billable clients), Plus $43/mo (50 clients), Premium $70/mo (unlimited clients), Select is custom-quoted. Currently 70% off for first 4 months (Lite $6.90, Plus $12.90, Premium $21). Add-ons: extra team member $11/mo, Advanced Payments $20/mo, FreshBooks Payroll $40/mo + $6/user. 30-day free trial.
Who is FreshBooks best for?
FreshBooks fits Freelancers and solopreneurs who bill hourly or by project, Marketing, legal, and consulting firms under ~20 staff, Trades and home services contractors invoicing on-site from mobile, Accountants supporting service-business clients who prefer simpler UX than QuickBooks. Right for you if you run a service business, bill clients by project or hour, and want invoicing, payments, and books in the same tool without a steep learning curve. Particularly well-suited to freelancers, agencies, lawyers, contractors, and consultancies under 50 staff who prioritize getting paid quickly over inventory or manufacturing depth. Skip if you carry physical inventory, need a robust ERP, or want a free tier; Wave or Zoho Books may fit better at the low end.
What are alternatives to FreshBooks?
Common alternatives to FreshBooks include CostAllocation Pro, Wave, Sage, Zoho Books, Bench, Pilot.