FreshBooks is cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small service businesses. It simplifies invoicing, time tracking, expense management, and client billing in one platform — with features optimized for non-accountants. FreshBooks integrates with payment processors for online payments and generates financial reports like P&L statements and tax summaries.
Finance & Business ServicesVerified listing
FreshBooks
Cloud accounting software for freelancers and small service businesses with invoicing, time tracking, expense management, and double-entry bookkeeping.
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and service-based small businesses that bill clients by time or project and want invoicing + accounting in one place without QuickBooks complexity
- Free trial
- $23/month
4.5/5 ratingEditorial score 82/100Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026freshbooks.com
The editorial note
What to know about FreshBooks
Is it right for you?
Who FreshBooks suits
Choose it if
- Freelancers, consultants, and service-based small businesses that bill clients by time or project and want invoicing + accounting in one place without QuickBooks complexity
Look elsewhere if
- Growing businesses with employees and complex accounting needs — QuickBooks or Xero handle payroll, inventory, and multi-user accounting workflows better
What you get
Key features
- Professional invoicing with automatic payment reminders
- Time tracking and project billing
- Expense tracking and receipt capture
- Client retainer billing
- Financial reports (P&L, balance sheet, tax summary)
- Credit card and ACH payment acceptance
- Proposals and estimates
- Team time tracking
Works with
Integrations8
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $23/monthBilled monthly | Up to 5 billable clients. Unlimited invoices, estimates, expense tracking, time tracking, and online payments. Tax-time reports. |
| Plus | $43/monthBilled monthly | Up to 50 billable clients. Everything in Lite plus proposals, client retainers, double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, and accountant access. |
| Premium | $70/monthBilled monthly | Unlimited clients. Everything in Plus plus project profitability, accounts payable, automatic bill capture, and custom email templates. |
| Select | Custom pricing | Unlimited clients + 2 team member seats included. Lower CC transaction fees, capped ACH fees, remove FreshBooks branding, dedicated phone support, and Easy Switch data migration. |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clean, intuitive interface designed for non-accountants and freelancers
- Automatic payment reminders reduce late payments without awkward follow-ups
- Time tracking built into projects — log hours and bill clients directly from timesheets
- Mobile apps let you invoice and track expenses from your phone
- Strong client portal for professional invoice delivery and payment collection
Cons
- Pricing increases significantly when adding more than 5 clients on the Lite plan
- Not ideal for product-based businesses — lacks inventory management
- Less powerful than QuickBooks for complex accounting needs or growing businesses
- Double-entry accounting added relatively recently and less mature than competitors
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Finance & Business Services
- Pricing model
- Subscription
- Entry plan
- $23/month
- Free plan
- Not listed
- Free trial
- Available
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Website
- freshbooks.com
- Last reviewed
- Oct 4, 2026
Head to head
FreshBooks compared
The verdict
Our take on FreshBooks
FreshBooks earns its reputation as the most freelancer-friendly accounting software. The invoicing is polished, time tracking is tightly integrated, and the UI stays simple even as you add accounting features. The per-client limits on lower plans can feel arbitrary, and Premium at $70/month is steep for solopreneurs—but for freelancers and agencies billing 10–50 clients, the Plus plan hits the sweet spot.
Editorial review
From the journal
Editorial review of FreshBooks
FreshBooks earns its reputation as the most freelancer-friendly accounting software. The invoicing is polished, time tracking is tightly integrated, and the UI stays simple even as you add accounting features. The per-client limits on lower plans can feel arbitrary, and Premium at $70/month is steep for solopreneurs—but for freelancers and agencies billing 10–50 clients, the Plus plan hits the sweet spot.
Where this appears
Mentioned in
Use cases
Audiences
Platforms
Tags
Finance
Keep exploring
More from Finance & Business Services
Actual Budget
Finance & Business Services
Privacy-focused, local-first zero-based budgeting system and YNAB alternative.
Best for: Budgeters seeking a modern, zero-based envelope budgeting app without…
- Free plan
4.9/5 ratingRead review
Mercury
Finance & Business Services
Banking built for startups and tech companies.
Best for: Startups and tech companies who want a modern bank account with…
- Free plan
4.7/5 ratingRead review
Plaid
Finance & Business Services
Financial services API connecting consumer bank accounts to fintech applications.
Best for: Fintech startups, SaaS developers, and lending platforms requiring…
- Free plan
- Free trial
4.7/5 ratingRead review