FreshBooks Review
Invoicing and bookkeeping software built for freelancers and small service businesses
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Looking for a FreshBooks alternative? See our ranked comparison.→What is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is invoicing and bookkeeping software aimed at freelancers, agencies, and small service businesses rather than full-scale accounting departments. You send invoices and estimates, track time and expenses, accept online payments, and run basic reports, all from one place.
Every plan caps you by number of billable clients, not users. Lite tops out at 5 clients, Plus at 50, and only Premium and Select give you unlimited clients. Every plan ships with a single user; adding teammates costs extra. Double-entry accounting reports, accountant access, and proposals only show up starting on Plus.
FreshBooks screenshots
Who it's for
- ✓ Solo freelancers and small agencies who mainly need to invoice clients and track expenses
- ✓ Service businesses that want simple time tracking and mileage tracking tied to invoices
- ✓ Teams that plan to hand books to an outside accountant
Who should look elsewhere
- ✗ Businesses with more than 50 active clients that don't want to pay for Premium
- ✗ Teams of several people, since every extra user is a paid add-on
- ✗ Companies that need deep inventory or multi-entity accounting
Pros
- + Invoicing and estimate workflows are fast to set up
- + Mobile mileage tracking is included on every plan, even the cheapest Lite tier
- + 30-day trial with no credit card, plus a money-back guarantee
Cons
- – The 5-client cap on Lite is tight; hitting a sixth client forces an upgrade to the $43/month Plus plan
- – Every plan includes only 1 user, so team member add-ons ($11/month each) stack up fast
- – Dedicated phone support is reserved for the Select plan, and reviewers report standard support has gotten slower with more scripted responses
FreshBooks pricing
What you pay for
FreshBooks is fully disclosed and tiered by number of billable clients, not by user seats. You start at $23/month for 5 clients and pay more as your client list grows, up to $70/month for unlimited clients on Premium. Every plan includes just 1 user, so a team costs extra on top of the plan price. Larger firms that want dedicated support and custom onboarding get a quote through the Select plan.
At about $23/month to start, it sits mid-pack on price in Accounting Software.
| Plan | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $23/mo | Invoice up to 5 billable clients · 1 user included · Mobile mileage tracking included · No accountant access or proposals |
| Plus | $43/mo | Invoice up to 50 billable clients · Accountant access · Unlimited proposals and client retainers · Double-entry accounting reports and bank reconciliation |
| Premium | $70/mo | Unlimited billable clients · Everything in Plus · Project profitability tracking · Automatic bill receipt scanning and accounts payable |
| Select | Custom | Unlimited clients · 2 team member accounts included · Line-item bill receipt capture · Dedicated phone support and onboarding · Lower, capped payment processing fees |
Prices shown are the regular monthly rate per the vendor's pricing page. Paying annually saves an extra 10% (for example Lite drops to about $20.70/month billed annually instead of $23/month billed monthly). FreshBooks is also currently running a promotional "90% off for 6 months" discount on Lite, Plus, and Premium on top of that. Every plan includes only 1 user; extra team members cost $11/month each on top of the plan price. Select is quote-only.
Pricing verified July 7, 2026 · source
How FreshBooks's pricing compares
FreshBooks next to its closest alternatives on entry price, billing, and whether pricing is public.
| Tool | Starting price | Billing | Free option | Pricing disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | $23/mo | tiered | Trial (30 days, no credit card required) | Partly public |
| QuickBooks | $20/seat/mo | tiered | Trial (30 days (or you can take an intro discount instead of the trial)) | Public |
| Xero | $25/mo | tiered | Trial (1 month free on any plan (US), then the regular monthly price applies) | Public |
| Wave | $19/mo | tiered | Yes | Partly public |
| Zoho Books | $15/mo | tiered | Yes | Public |
| Puzzle | $25/mo | tiered | Trial (14 days with full Complete plan access) | Public |
Is FreshBooks still actively developed?
Last significant update: June 2026. Recurring invoice templates now automatically mark generated $0 invoices as paid, and payroll users can manage post-tax deductions and garnishments for employees.
Top FreshBooks alternatives
FreshBooks FAQ
Does FreshBooks have a free plan?+
No. FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, but there is no permanent free tier.
How many clients can I invoice on the cheapest plan?+
The Lite plan, at $23/month, covers up to 5 billable clients. Once you pass that, you need Plus at $43/month for up to 50 clients, or Premium at $70/month for unlimited clients.
Does the plan price include a team?+
Mostly no. Lite, Plus, and Premium each include only 1 user; Select is the exception and includes 2 team member accounts at no extra charge. On every plan, additional team members cost $11/month each.
Is there a discount for paying annually?+
Yes. FreshBooks takes an extra 10% off if you pay annually instead of monthly, for example Lite works out to about $20.70/month paid yearly versus $23/month paid monthly. It's also running a separate rotating promotion, currently 90% off for the first 6 months, that applies on top of either billing frequency.