Last updated: October 2026 | Prices checked against the official QuickBooks and FreshBooks pricing pages
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FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online are both cloud accounting tools, but they start from different places. FreshBooks was built for freelancers and service businesses that live on sending invoices, tracking time and getting paid. QuickBooks Online is a full bookkeeping system that also invoices, and it is the software most US accountants know.
QuickBooks vs FreshBooks at a glance
| QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | Simple Start, $38/mo | Lite, $23/mo |
| Free plan | Yes (2 invoices/month, 1 user) | No |
| Client limits | None | 5 (Lite), 50 (Plus), unlimited (Premium) |
| Extra users | Included by plan (1, 3, 5, 25) | $11/mo per team member |
| Proposals | Estimates | Unlimited proposals from Plus |
| Double-entry reports | All paid plans | Plus and up |
| Payroll | QuickBooks Payroll bundles | FreshBooks Payroll $40/mo + $6 per user |
| Best for | Growing businesses, inventory, accountants | Freelancers and agencies billing clients |
FreshBooks pricing in 2026
| FreshBooks plan | Monthly price | Billable clients | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $23 | 5 | Recurring invoices, mileage tracking |
| Plus | $43 | 50 | Unlimited proposals, double-entry reports, accountant access |
| Premium | $70 | Unlimited | Everything in Plus |
| Select | Custom | Unlimited | Includes 2 team members and Advanced Payments |
When we checked, FreshBooks Lite was $1 a month for the first year, and Plus and Premium were 80% off for three months. Team members cost $11 a month each, and Advanced Payments costs $20 a month on most plans.
Watch the client limit. Lite allows only five billable clients. A freelancer with more regular clients needs Plus at $43 a month.
QuickBooks Online pricing in 2026
| QuickBooks plan | Monthly price | Users | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | 2 invoices a month, top 3 reports, no mobile app |
| Simple Start | $38 | 1 | Real-time P&L, automated bookkeeping, bill pay |
| Essentials | $85 | 3 | Employee time on invoices, enhanced reports |
| Plus | $140 | 5 | Budgets, project profitability, inventory |
| Advanced | $340 | 25 | Automation, permissions, priority support |
When we checked, paid plans were 50% off for the first three months.
Cost example: three freelancers
| Situation | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Solo designer, 4 clients | Lite: $23/mo | Simple Start: $38/mo |
| Solo consultant, 20 clients | Plus: $43/mo | Simple Start: $38/mo |
| Agency of 3, 60 clients, projects | Premium $70 + 2 × $11 = $92/mo | Essentials $85 (time) or Plus $140 (projects) |
Regular prices before introductory discounts.
Features compared
Invoicing and getting paid
FreshBooks is excellent here: branded invoices, recurring billing, deposits, reminders and proposals that convert to invoices. QuickBooks also invoices well and lets you add billable time on Essentials, but its invoicing is one part of a bigger bookkeeping system.
Time and project tracking
FreshBooks is built around clients and projects, with time tracking that flows into invoices. QuickBooks adds employee time to invoices on Essentials and full project profitability on Plus.
Bookkeeping depth
QuickBooks wins. It offers full double-entry accounting, bank rules, bill management, budgets and inventory on higher tiers. FreshBooks adds double-entry reports from Plus, which covers what most freelancers’ accountants need.
Accountants
Most US accountants know QuickBooks. FreshBooks gives accountants access from the Plus plan.
Pros and cons
FreshBooks
Pros
- Very easy invoicing, proposals and time tracking
- Cheap Lite plan for a handful of clients
- Built for service businesses
Cons
- Client limits on Lite and Plus
- $11 a month per extra team member
- Lighter bookkeeping than QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online
Pros
- Full bookkeeping that grows with you
- No client limits
- The default for US accountants
Cons
- Simple Start costs more than FreshBooks Lite
- User limits by plan
- More than a pure freelancer may need
Which should you choose?
Choose FreshBooks if you are a freelancer or small agency whose main job is billing clients, tracking time and sending proposals, and you have a modest number of clients.
Choose QuickBooks Online if you want full bookkeeping, expect to grow into employees, inventory or more complex finances, or your accountant prefers it.
Three real-world scenarios
A freelance copywriter with 3 retainer clients. She sends three recurring invoices a month and tracks expenses for taxes. FreshBooks Lite at $23 a month covers everything, including recurring invoices and mileage tracking. QuickBooks Simple Start at $38 would work but costs $180 more a year for features she won’t use.
A web developer with 25 project clients a year. He sends proposals, tracks hours and bills by the project. FreshBooks Plus at $43 a month adds unlimited proposals and accountant access, which suits his workflow. QuickBooks Simple Start is $5 a month cheaper, but proposals and time tracking feel more natural in FreshBooks.
A three-person video agency planning to hire. The founders expect employees, equipment purchases and project profitability tracking within a year. QuickBooks Plus at $140 a month is more expensive today, but it covers projects, budgets, five users and payroll bundles without switching systems later.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- How many clients will you bill this year? FreshBooks Lite caps you at five.
- Who else needs to log in? FreshBooks charges $11 a month per team member; QuickBooks includes users by plan.
- Does your accountant have a preference? Their time is often worth more than the subscription difference.
- Do you sell products? Inventory tracking is only on QuickBooks Plus and up.
- Will you run payroll? Compare FreshBooks Payroll ($40 + $6 per user) with QuickBooks’ payroll bundles.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move from FreshBooks to QuickBooks later?
Yes. You can export clients, invoices and reports from FreshBooks, and many accountants handle the conversion at year end.
Is FreshBooks cheaper than QuickBooks?
For a freelancer with five or fewer clients, yes: Lite costs $23 a month against $38 for QuickBooks Simple Start. With more clients, FreshBooks Plus ($43) costs slightly more than Simple Start.
Does FreshBooks do double-entry accounting?
FreshBooks includes double-entry accounting reports, such as a balance sheet and general ledger, from the Plus plan.
Can my accountant use FreshBooks?
Yes, accountant access is included from the Plus plan.
Does FreshBooks have payroll?
Yes. FreshBooks Payroll costs $40 a month plus $6 per user.
The bottom line
FreshBooks is the friendlier tool for freelancers who mainly invoice clients. QuickBooks Online is the better long-term bookkeeping system for businesses that will grow. If you have more than five regular clients, compare FreshBooks Plus with QuickBooks Simple Start side by side.
Related: QuickBooks Online vs Xero · Wave vs QuickBooks