What it is
FreshBooks is accounting software built around invoicing, time tracking and projects, aimed at freelancers and service businesses rather than at retailers.
Its interface is considerably friendlier than traditional accounting software, which matters if you are the person doing your own books.
It is less complete than QuickBooks or Xero on the accounting side, which is fine until your accountant asks for something it does not do.
What it does
Invoicing with recurring schedules, automatic late payment reminders and online payment links, which is the single biggest improvement most freelancers can make to their cash flow.
Time tracking that flows into invoices, so billable hours become an invoice without retyping.
Project management with client access, budgets and expense tracking against each project.
Expense capture, bank reconciliation and basic reporting cover the bookkeeping, adequately rather than comprehensively.
Who it's for
Features
Pros and cons
Pricing
| PLAN | WHAT YOU GET | WORTH IT FOR |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | Full access for a limited period. | Testing. |
| Lite | Limited billable clients, core invoicing. | New freelancers. |
| Plus | More clients, recurring invoices, proposals. | Established freelancers. The usual tier. |
| Premium | Unlimited clients, deeper reporting. | Small agencies. |
Lower tiers cap the number of billable clients, which catches people out. Count your active clients before choosing.
The Plus tier for most freelancers, because the recurring invoicing and proposals are where the time saving is. Check the client cap against your actual list.
Alternatives
My verdict
FreshBooks is the right choice for a service business that bills time and projects and wants software it can actually use. The automatic payment reminders alone improve cash flow more than most people expect.
Its limitation is accounting depth. If your business grows into inventory, payroll or anything unusual, you will migrate, and migrating accounting software mid-year is unpleasant.
Ask your accountant before choosing. Whichever platform they prefer will save you both time, and that consideration outweighs interface preferences.
Try FreshBooks →Who should use it
Who should avoid it
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Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes the price you pay. It also does not decide what appears on this page: I recommend tools with no affiliate programme just as readily, and leave off tools with generous ones when they do not deserve the space.