FreshBooks vs QuickBooks — Which One Wins?
Pick FreshBooks if: Freelancers and service businesses that want gorgeous invoicing and time tracking without accounting headaches
Pick QuickBooks if: US small businesses that want the most widely supported accounting software with massive accountant network
Our take: FreshBooks is easier to pick up, but QuickBooks is more powerful long-term.
| FreshBooks | QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | 30-day free trial | Lite $19/mo (5 clients) | 30-day free trial | Simple Start $30/mo |
| Features | Client-friendly invoicing, Time tracking and project costing, Expense management, Double-entry accounting, Proposals and contracts | Invoicing and payments, Expense tracking and receipt capture, Profit and loss reports, Tax deduction tracking, Payroll add-on |
| Best for | Freelancers and service businesses that want gorgeous invoicing and time tracking without accounting headaches | US small businesses that want the most widely supported accounting software with massive accountant network |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
FreshBooks stands out with Client-friendly invoicing and Time tracking and project costing. QuickBooks counters with Profit and loss reports and Tax deduction tracking.
FreshBooks's Achilles heel: client limits on lower tiers are frustrating — lite caps you at 5 billable clients which is nothing. QuickBooks's: pricing has crept up aggressively — $30/mo for basic bookkeeping feels steep when wave is free. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value client-friendly invoicing and freelancers and service businesses, go with FreshBooks. If us small businesses that matters more, QuickBooks is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.