QuickBooks vs FreshBooks
Last updated: 2026-07-11
QuickBooks and FreshBooks are both accounting platforms, but they target different users. QuickBooks is a full accounting system for small businesses — double-entry, payroll, tax prep, inventory. FreshBooks is a simpler tool focused on invoicing and time tracking for freelancers and service businesses.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | popular QuickBooks | best FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $38/mo | $8.50/mo |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial | 30-day free trial |
| Best for | Small business accounting (US-focused) | Freelancers and service-based businesses |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✗ |
| Starting price | $38/mo (Simple Start), $75/mo (Essentials), $115/mo (Plus) | $8.50/mo (Lite), $15/mo (Plus), $27/mo (Premium) |
| Invoicing | ✓ | Unlimited on all plans |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payroll | Add-on ($45/mo + $5/employee) | — |
| Tax prep | ✓ | — |
| Bank sync | Major US banks | — |
| Receipt capture | ✓ | — |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support | Chat + phone | Phone + email + chat |
| Time tracking | — | ✓ |
| Bank reconciliation | — | Plus plan+ |
| Double-entry accounting | — | Plus plan+ |
| Integrations | — | Stripe, PayPal, Gusto, Zapier |
QuickBooks Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industry standard for US small business accounting
- Comprehensive feature set — invoicing, expenses, payroll, taxes
- Excellent receipt capture (mobile app)
- Integrates with major US banks and payment processors
- Tax-ready reports — easy for accountants to use
- Payroll add-on handles all tax calculations and filings
Cons
- US-focused — limited support for international accounting standards
- Pricing tiers gated — Simple Start $30, Essentials $55, Plus $83
- Payroll is an expensive add-on ($45/mo + $5/employee)
- Customer support quality has declined in recent years
- Frequent upsell prompts within the dashboard
FreshBooks Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easiest accounting software to use — designed for non-accountants
- Excellent time tracking with automatic invoicing
- Professional invoice templates with online payment acceptance
- Good mobile app for tracking time and expenses on the go
- Strong customer support (phone, email, chat)
Cons
- Limited compared to QuickBooks for full accounting
- No inventory management on lower plans
- Pricing: Lite $8.50, Plus $15, Premium $27 — scales with usage
- Double-entry accounting only on Plus plan+
- Bank reconciliation limited compared to QuickBooks/Xero
Final Verdict
If you need full accounting — double-entry, payroll, inventory, tax-ready reports — QuickBooks is the better choice. If you're a freelancer or service business that primarily needs invoicing, time tracking, and expense management without accounting complexity, FreshBooks is easier to use and starts cheaper ($8.50/mo vs $38/mo).
Our pick: QuickBooks (full accounting) / FreshBooks (freelancers)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FreshBooks cheaper than QuickBooks?
Yes. FreshBooks starts at $8.50/mo (Lite) while QuickBooks starts at $38/mo (Simple Start). However, FreshBooks Lite is limited — double-entry accounting requires the Plus plan ($15/mo). Compare features at each tier, not just price.
Does FreshBooks do double-entry accounting?
Yes, but only on the Plus plan ($15/mo) and above. The Lite plan ($8.50/mo) is single-entry only. QuickBooks does double-entry on all plans including Simple Start.
Which is better for freelancers: QuickBooks or FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is generally better for freelancers — its time tracking, simple invoicing, and lower price point are designed for solo service providers. QuickBooks is overkill for most freelancers unless you need payroll or inventory management.
Ready to try?
Start with a free trial and see which tool fits your workflow.