FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a paid accounting service for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses that bill for client work. It is best suited to service providers who want project activity, time, expenses, and invoices connected in one workflow. Choose it for that connected billing process, but account for client caps on lower plans and desktop-only reporting.

Overview

FreshBooks combines invoicing, online payments, time tracking, expense capture, and project records. An invoice can include tracked time and expenses, calculate taxes, and use configurable payment options, while recurring invoices support repeat billing. Projects bring client work, team members, time, invoices, and expenses together and include profitability views. That makes the service particularly practical for consultants, contractors, and other businesses whose work is sold by project or hour.

The company is based in Toronto and was founded in 2003. FreshBooks is a web service with companion iOS and Android apps, rather than a desktop-native accounting package.

Key features

Invoicing and payments

Invoices can be built from recorded time and expenses instead of re-entering them manually. Tax calculation, recurring invoices, and configurable payment choices cover common client-billing needs. Listed payment methods include cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and buy now, pay later. The range is useful for businesses serving clients with different preferences, although payment-method availability is not tied to individual plans.

Time, projects, and expenses

Time entries attach to clients and projects and can flow into invoices. Project records also include team members, expenses, invoices, and profitability views, giving an owner a way to judge whether work is paying off rather than merely recording hours. Expense tracking and a client portal round out the client-service workflow.

Accounting, integrations, and automation

Double-entry accounting is available on Plus, Premium, and Select, so Lite is not the right tier for buyers who require that accounting model. FreshBooks recommends integrations such as Acuity, Checkeeper, FreshCurrencies, Income Importer, Mailform, SurePayroll, Employment Hero, and Zapier; it says Zapier connects to more than 1,500 apps. Developers can use the OAuth2 API to create integrations and automate account tasks.

Security and support

FreshBooks states that browser traffic uses 256-bit SSL encryption and that it maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance with an annual independent audit. Its application runs on Google Cloud Platform; account data is replicated across two geographic locations and backed up nightly. Free support operates during office hours, while self-serve help and FreshBot are available globally around the clock. Contact options vary by region, time, and plan.

Pricing

FreshBooks is paid software with a 30-day trial and no free plan. Plans are billed monthly:

Active and archived clients both count toward Lite and Plus limits, so the practical allowance can be lower than a simple active-customer count suggests. Lite fits a very small practice that can stay within five total client records. Plus is the more defensible choice for a growing consultancy or anyone needing double-entry accounting, while Premium is aimed at businesses beyond 50 clients. Select is for organizations needing unlimited clients and a negotiated package, but its price must be obtained from FreshBooks.

Platforms

FreshBooks runs on the web and offers iOS and Android apps, plus an API and an extension ecosystem. Mobile apps require iOS 15 or later or Android 7.0 or later. Some capabilities, including reporting, are desktop-only, so a mobile-first workflow will not expose the complete product.

Who it's for

Freelancers, solopreneurs, agencies, and small service businesses should consider FreshBooks when client billing depends on hours, expenses, and project status. It is less suitable for a five-client ceiling, for teams that need reporting away from a desktop, or for buyers who require double-entry accounting while keeping costs at Lite.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Connected project billing: tracked time and expenses can feed invoices, reducing duplicate entry.
• Broad stated payment support: cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and buy now, pay later are listed.
• Useful project oversight: profitability views add a financial check to project records.
• Integration and developer paths: Zapier connectivity and an OAuth2 API support broader automation.
• Documented safeguards: PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, encryption, geographic replication, and nightly backups address core data concerns.

Cons

• Lower-tier client caps: Lite allows five clients and Plus 50, counting archived clients too.
• Double-entry starts at Plus: accounting requirements raise the minimum monthly spend to 43.00 USD.
• Desktop-only reporting: mobile users cannot rely on the apps for every reporting task.
• No free plan: ongoing use requires a paid subscription after the 30-day trial.

Alternatives

Choose FreeAgent instead if a freemium service and lower-priced UK plans suit you; its apps run on Android, iOS, and web, with a Sole trader plan at £10 a month.

Odoo Accounting is the alternative for buyers seeking a free plan and self-hosted deployment alongside web and mobile access.

Pick Zoho Books when an indefinitely free tier for solopreneurs and micro businesses under 50K in annual revenue is the priority.

Zoho Inventory is better when inventory limits such as 50 orders per month, one user, and one location define the need.

Consider Exact Online for web-based accounting with CRM, bank feeds, and invoicing on its accounting plans.

Holded API suits buyers wanting API access and a 15.00 EUR monthly entry plan capped at 250 invoices per year.

Zuora CPQ is aimed at organizations buying configured quote-to-cash software with pricing determined by scope and transaction needs.

Numarics Accounting is another paid accounting option with Android, iOS, and web apps.

Verdict

FreshBooks is a strong choice for freelancers and small service teams that want time, expenses, projects, and invoicing in one place, backed by recurring billing and multiple stated payment methods. Look elsewhere if you need double-entry accounting on the cheapest tier, must stay within a free plan, or depend on full reporting from mobile devices.