FreshBooks review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and service firms, priced by billable client count.
Our take for buyers
FreshBooks is a simple, guided accounting tool for freelancers and service firms that bill a small number of clients. Reviewers praise how easy invoicing is for non-accountants, the reputation of its customer support, and the way time tracking feeds billing. It carries a 4.5 rating from 981 G2 reviews. Shortlist it if your team is small and your main job is sending invoices and getting paid.
Skip it if you need inventory, deep ledger control or many staff logins. Plans are capped by billable clients, and extra team members are charged individually. Enterprise-style admin controls are not published, so FreshBooks is a better fit for owner-run businesses than for companies with a formal security review. Ask for the SOC 2 report early.
Pros
- Very easy invoicing for non-accountants.
- Strong customer support reputation.
- Time tracking integrated with billing.
Cons
- Cost for solo users and annual price increases.
- Limited invoice flexibility.
- Access to records after cancelling.
- Best for
- Freelancers and service businesses billing a limited number of clients.
- Starting price
- $23/month (Lite, 5 billable clients)
- G2 rating
- 4.5 (981 reviews)
What is FreshBooks?
Invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and service firms, priced by billable client count. Freelancers and service firms that bill a handful of clients will feel at home here, because pricing follows client count and setup is guided. Check how many staff you will add, as each extra user costs $11, and whether you need inventory, which is not the focus. FreshBooks was founded in 2003 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
Category: Accounting Software, Invoicing Software
FreshBooks key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Invoicing and billing | Recurring invoices and late payment reminders on all tiers. |
| Bank feeds and reconciliation | Bank reconciliation from Plus. |
| Financial reporting | Financial and double-entry accounting reports from Plus. |
| Expense and bill management | Expense tracking all tiers; bill scanning and accounts payable on Premium. |
| Payroll and sales tax support | FreshBooks Payroll $40/month + $6 per user. |
| Accountant access and integrations | Accountant access from Plus. |
| Pricing model | Client-count tiers plus $11 per extra user. |
| Target company size | Freelancers to small service firms. |
| Recurring invoices and subscriptions | Automated recurring invoices on all tiers. |
| Online payment acceptance | Cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, BNPL; lower fees on Select. |
| Automated payment reminders | Automated late payment reminders on all tiers. |
| Sales tax and multi-currency | Tax-time reports on Lite; multi-currency not confirmed by the vendor. |
| Accounting integration | Native accounting from Plus. |
| Time and expense billing | Unlimited time tracking and expenses on all tiers. |
| Branding and templates | Custom email templates on Premium; branding removal on Select. |
FreshBooks plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $23/month | 5 billable clients | Intro $4.60/month for 4 months |
| Plus | $43/month | 50 billable clients | Adds accountant access, reconciliation, proposals |
| Premium | $70/month | unlimited clients | Adds accounts payable, project profitability |
| Select | Custom | unlimited clients | 2 team members included, phone support, onboarding |
Extra team member $11/month on every tier; Advanced Payments $20/month (included in Select); FreshBooks Payroll $40/month + $6 per user. Page shows a yearly toggle with 'Extra 10% off' but annual prices were not captured.
Who should shortlist FreshBooks
A strong fit for
- Freelancers and service businesses billing a limited number of clients.
- Teams wanting time tracking and invoicing in one tool.
- Buyers who want simple, guided accounting.
A weak fit for
- Teams that need many staff seats cheaply ($11 per extra user)
- Businesses needing inventory or deep ledger control.
FreshBooks alternatives
QuickBooks OnlineSmall businesses that work with an outside accountant who already uses QuickBooks.
XeroTeams that need unlimited users without per-seat cost.
WaveFreelancers and micro businesses wanting free bookkeeping.
Zoho BooksSmall firms already on Zoho CRM or other Zoho apps.
HarvestAgencies and consultancies that bill clients by the hour from tracked time.
Bill.comFinance teams that run both bill pay and invoicing in one tool with approval chains.
Security, admin and compliance
The only published security credential is SOC 2 Type 1, announced in February 2023, with the report available under NDA. SSO, SCIM, audit logs and a DPA are not published. A third-party review says personal data is processed in Canada, but the vendor has not confirmed this, so ask directly about data residency. Contract terms are limited to a monthly or yearly toggle. Ask for the SOC 2 report, the data export process after cancellation, and renewal pricing before you sign.
- Data residency
- Third-party review says personal data processed in Canada; not vendor-confirmed.
- Certifications
- SOC 2 Type 1 (A-LIGN, announced Feb 2023; report under NDA)
Contract and buying terms
- Implementation
- Select includes customized onboarding.
- Support
- Dedicated phone support on Select.
- Starting price
- $23/month (Lite, 5 billable clients)
- Pricing model
- Per plan by billable client count plus per extra user.
- Free plan or trial
- Free trial.
What to test in a FreshBooks demo or trial
In a trial, bill a realistic number of clients and see where the plan limit bites: Lite stops at 5 billable clients. Test recurring invoices, late payment reminders and the online payment options you actually need. If you need bank reconciliation, reports or accountant access, confirm them on Plus, since they are not on Lite. Reviewers mention limited invoice flexibility, so build your real invoice template. Time tracking should feed an invoice cleanly. Finally, ask how you get your records out if you cancel, because access after cancelling is a recurring complaint.
Questions to ask FreshBooks before you sign
These are the points FreshBooks's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Which plan includes SAML SSO, and what does it cost for our seat count?
- Is SCIM provisioning included, or a paid add-on?
- Which plan includes audit logs, and how long are they kept?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- Is there a monthly option, and what are the cancellation and renewal terms?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Plans are capped by billable clients (5/50/unlimited), not by users, so Lite stops working once you bill a sixth client.
- Every extra team member costs $11/month on all tiers; only Select includes 2.
- Only SOC 2 Type 1 found (Feb 2023), report available under NDA.
- Advanced Payments is a $20/month add-on except on Select.
- Accounting features like reconciliation start on Plus, not Lite.
Head-to-head comparisons
FreshBooks FAQ
What is FreshBooks used for?
Freelancers and service firms that bill a handful of clients will feel at home here, because pricing follows client count and setup is guided. Check how many staff you will add, as each extra user costs $11, and whether you need inventory, which is not the focus. It suits freelancers and service businesses billing a limited number of clients.
Is FreshBooks SOC 2 certified?
FreshBooks announced a SOC 2 Type 1 attestation from A-LIGN in February 2023. The report is available under NDA. No Type 2 report is published.
Who is FreshBooks best for?
It suits freelancers and small service businesses that bill a limited number of clients and want invoicing and time tracking together. It is a weaker fit for teams needing many staff seats or inventory features.
Does FreshBooks support SSO?
SSO is not mentioned on the published plans. If single sign-on matters to your team, ask the vendor in writing before you trial it.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 2003.
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Canada.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from FreshBooks's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.