FreshBooks

FreshBooks: Pricing, Features & Review

Freelancers and service-based solopreneurs (designers, consultants, photographers) who send fewer than 50 invoices per month and want invoicing, time tracking, and expenses in one app without learning accounting

Accounting ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 $19/month (Lite) Visit Official Site

What Is FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is a accounting tool. It's positioned for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs (designers, consultants, photographers) who send fewer than 50 invoices per month and want invoicing, time tracking, and expenses in one app without learning accounting. Pricing starts at $19/month (Lite). Based on our evaluation across pricing, features, ease of use, integrations, and support, we rate it 4.3/5.

This profile summarizes the key facts: pricing tiers, the strongest features, and the trade-offs to weigh before committing. For a hands-on opinion-led review, see the related articles section at the bottom.

FreshBooks Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Invoice creation takes under 60 seconds with customizable templates, automatic payment reminders at 1/7/14-day intervals, and online payments via credit card, ACH, or PayPal
  • Built-in time tracker logs billable hours per project and client, then converts tracked time into invoice line items with one click
  • Client portal gives each customer a branded login where they view invoices, approve estimates, pay online, and comment on projects
  • Automated late payment reminders and interest charges (configurable percentage) reduce the average days-to-pay by prompting overdue clients without awkward follow-up emails
  • Expense tracking with mobile receipt scanning uses OCR to extract vendor, amount, and date, then auto-categorizes into tax-relevant expense categories

Cons

  • Lite plan limits you to 5 billable clients; the 6th client requires the Plus plan at $33/month, making FreshBooks expensive per-client versus QuickBooks Simple Start's unlimited clients
  • Double-entry accounting was added later and lacks journal entries, chart of accounts customization, and multi-currency P&L that Xero and QuickBooks handle natively
  • Inventory tracking is limited to simple item lists with prices; there is no stock quantity management, reorder points, or COGS calculation
  • Integration catalog covers 100+ apps but lacks native connections to Shopify, Amazon, or major e-commerce platforms without Zapier

FreshBooks Key Features

FreshBooks ships with the following core capabilities. Feature availability depends on your plan tier.

  • Professional invoicing with customizable templates, recurring invoices, deposit requests, and online payment acceptance
  • Time tracking with per-project timers, manual entry, team timesheets, and one-click conversion to invoice line items
  • Expense tracking with bank import, mobile receipt scanning (OCR), and billable expense assignment to clients
  • Client portal for invoice viewing, estimate approval, online payment, and project collaboration
  • Double-entry accounting with profit & loss, balance sheet, tax summary, and expense reports
  • Project profitability dashboard showing budget vs. actual hours, expenses, and revenue per engagement

FreshBooks Pricing

FreshBooks starts at $19/month (Lite). Pricing changes frequently, so verify the latest tiers directly on the official FreshBooks pricing page before purchasing. Our linked review articles include full per-tier breakdowns at the time of writing.

Who Is FreshBooks Best For?

Freelancers and service-based solopreneurs (designers, consultants, photographers) who send fewer than 50 invoices per month and want invoicing, time tracking, and expenses in one app without learning accounting. If your situation differs significantly, the related comparisons below help you weigh FreshBooks against the leading alternatives in accounting.

FreshBooks Reviews & Comparisons on ToolScout

comparisons FreshBooks vs QuickBooks: Which Accounting Software Fits Your Business in 2026? roundups Best Accounting Software for Freelancers in 2026 comparisons Xero vs FreshBooks: Best Small Business Accounting in 2026 roundups Best Accounting Software for Contractors in 2026 comparisons QuickBooks Alternatives in 2026: 5 Better Accounting Options

Sources & References

Pricing and feature information last verified January 0001. Software vendors update plans frequently — always confirm current pricing on the vendor's site before purchase. See our review methodology.