FreshBooks
The most approachable accounting software on the market — built for small business owners who don't have an accounting background and just want to get paid and stay organized.
Visit FreshBooks →Pros
- + Easiest accounting software to learn in its class — non-accountants get operational in an afternoon
- + Time tracking by client or project is included on every plan — essential for hourly billing
- + 30-day free trial with full access, no credit card — the most generous in the category
- + Clean, professional invoices that clients consistently praise
- + Gusto-powered payroll add-on runs payroll, files taxes, and manages 1099s in-platform
Cons
- − Lite plan caps you at 5 active clients — forces early upgrades as your roster grows
- − You lose data access if you cancel — invoices and client records disappear when you stop paying
- − Reporting is limited vs QuickBooks — advanced reports locked to Premium and up
- − Fewer native integrations than QuickBooks — leans on Zapier for many connections
- − Not ideal for product businesses — inventory management is basic
What Is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting platform built from the ground up for service-based small businesses — freelancers, consultants, designers, contractors, coaches, and agencies that bill clients for time or project-based work. Founded in 2003 in Toronto by two entrepreneurs frustrated by clunky accounting software, FreshBooks set out to build something a non-accountant could actually use, and that remains its defining characteristic today.
Rather than trying to do everything, FreshBooks excels at a specific set of tasks: sending professional invoices, tracking expenses, logging billable hours, accepting online payments, and keeping your finances organized for tax season. Most owners can create and send their first invoice within minutes of signing up, with no training required.
In 2026, FreshBooks added a native payroll feature (powered by Gusto) as an optional add-on, expanded its project profitability tracking, and improved its mobile app for on-the-go receipt capture, time logging, and payment collection. It now serves over 30 million people across 160+ countries.
FreshBooks Pricing (2026)
All plans include a 30-day free trial. Annual billing saves roughly 10%, and promotional discounts (up to 90% off the first 4 months) are often available at signup.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits & features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $21/mo | ~$16/mo | Up to 5 active clients, unlimited invoices, expense + time tracking |
| Plus (Best for Most) | $38/mo | ~$29/mo | Up to 50 clients, proposals, recurring invoices, double-entry accounting, receipt capture |
| Premium | $65/mo | ~$50/mo | Unlimited clients, accounts payable, project profitability, advanced reports |
| Select | Custom | Custom | Dedicated account manager, custom onboarding, custom reports, API access |
Additional team members cost extra on all plans. Payroll (via Gusto) is an optional add-on from ~$40/mo + per-employee fees. Payment processing is 2.9% + $0.30 per online card transaction.
Who Is FreshBooks Best For?
Great fit
- Freelancers, consultants, designers, and solo service providers who invoice clients and track billable hours
- Small agencies and creative businesses that need clean client-facing invoices and project tracking
- Owners without accounting backgrounds who want software they can use without a bookkeeper
- Coaches, lawyers, and contractors who bill on an hourly or project basis
Not a great fit
- Product-based or retail businesses that need real inventory management and purchase orders
- Businesses with more than a handful of employees who need robust payroll without an add-on
- Rapidly growing businesses that will need enterprise reporting and multi-entity accounting soon
- Businesses whose accountant needs to work directly in the same platform — QuickBooks is more familiar to pros
Our Verdict
FreshBooks is the right call for any service-based small business owner who wants clean, professional invoicing and organized finances without wrestling with accounting software. The 30-day free trial is genuinely risk-free, the interface is the most intuitive in the category, and the invoicing and time-tracking tools are exactly what freelancers and small agencies need day to day. The main limitations — the 5-client cap on Lite, the basic reporting, and the data loss on cancellation — are real and worth knowing before you commit. But for the audience it’s built for, FreshBooks delivers strong value and a stress-free experience.
This review may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure →