Comparison · Prices checked 18–19 October 2026
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks (2026): Prices, Plans & Which to Choose
Disclosure: The FreshBooks button in this article is an affiliate link (marked “partner link”). If you click through and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We hold both products to the same criteria. Learn more.
Quick verdict
Choose FreshBooks if you bill clients for your time. Every plan includes unlimited time tracking, estimates and online payments, and it’s built around the invoice. Choose QuickBooks if you need fuller accounting: inventory, automatic sales tax, more users, or an accountant who already works in QuickBooks. For a solo self-employed person, QuickBooks’ Solopreneur Lite ($20) undercuts FreshBooks Lite ($23). It has no accountant access, though, and FreshBooks Lite caps you at 5 clients. Pick the limit that bothers you less.
All prices are regular monthly US list prices from each provider’s official pricing page, read on 18–19 October 2026. We haven’t run a hands-on test for this comparison. Comparing more than two tools? See our accounting software rankings.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks at a glance
| FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Freelancers and service businesses that bill clients | Small businesses that need full accounting |
| Cheapest paid plan (US) | Lite, $23/mo (5 billable clients) | Solopreneur Lite, $20/mo (1 user, no accountant access) |
| Free plan | No (30-day free trial) | Yes (2 invoices/month) |
| Time tracking | Unlimited, every plan | Employee time on invoices from Essentials ($85) |
| Users | 1, plus $11/mo per team member | 1, 3, 5 or 25 depending on plan |
| Inventory | Not on the pricing page | Plus, $140/mo |
| Promotion when checked | 80% off for 4 months | 50% off for 3 months, or a 30-day free trial |
US pricing compared
FreshBooks has three published plans plus a custom one. Lite is $23 a month (5 billable clients), Plus $43 (50 clients) and Premium $70 (unlimited clients), with Select priced on request. Yearly billing takes off an extra 10%. Extra team members are $11 a month each, Advanced Payments $20 a month, and FreshBooks Payroll $40 a month plus $6 per person.
QuickBooks splits its US range in two. For the self-employed, it lists Free ($0, 2 invoices a month), Lite ($20, with receipts, mileage, up to 3 contractors, automated sales tax and TurboTax expert-assisted tax you pay for when you file) and Simple Start ($38). The small-business range is Simple Start ($38, 1 user plus 2 accountants), Essentials ($85, 3 users), Plus ($140, 5 users) and Advanced ($340, 25 users).
Prices in other countries
Both sell in several currencies, and the gap changes by country (regular monthly prices):
| Market | FreshBooks | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Lite C$26 · Plus C$42 · Premium C$72 | Lite C$20 · Essentials C$70 · Plus C$110 · Advanced C$220 |
| United Kingdom (excl. VAT) | Lite £16 · Plus £30 · Premium £42 | Sole Trader Plus £10 · Simple Start £16 · Essentials £38 · Plus £56 · Advanced £123 |
| Australia | Lite A$29 · Plus A$43 · Premium A$60 | Simple Start A$33 · Essentials A$60 · Plus A$84 · Advanced A$125 |
| South Africa | Lite R170 · Plus R300 · Premium R700 | Simple Start R322 · Essentials R508 · Plus R708 · Advanced R1,144 |
| Eurozone / Ireland | Lite €16 · Plus €30 · Premium €50 (EUR pricing) | Ireland: Simple Start €21 · Essentials €31 · Plus €45 · Advanced €75 |
QuickBooks isn’t sold in India or France. Pick your country in our comparison table to see both side by side with local plans.
In South Africa and Australia, FreshBooks’ Premium plan costs about the same as QuickBooks Plus, or less. In the UK and Canada, QuickBooks has the cheaper way in.
Which plan includes what
| Feature (US) | FreshBooks (from) | QuickBooks (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Estimates & invoices | Lite (5 clients); unlimited clients on Premium | Free (2 invoices/month); paid plans from Lite |
| Time tracking | Unlimited, Lite | Employee time to invoices, Essentials |
| Bank connections | Automated bank import from Lite; reconciliation from Plus ($43) | 1 bank connection on Free; more on paid plans |
| Receipt capture | Plus, $43 | Solopreneur Lite, $20 |
| Accountant access | Plus, $43 | Simple Start, $38 (2 accountants) |
| Sales tax | Not on the pricing page | Automated sales tax from Lite / Simple Start |
| Project profitability | Premium, $70 | Plus, $140 |
| Bills / accounts payable | Premium, $70 | Pay bills from Free |
| Inventory | Not on the pricing page | Plus, $140 |
| Multi-currency | Not on the pricing page | Essentials, $85 |
| Payroll | Add-on: $40/mo + $6 per person | QuickBooks Payroll add-on |
From each provider’s US pricing page and plan comparison, 18–19 October 2026.
The limits that decide it
For most buyers, one limit settles this:
- Clients (FreshBooks): plans are priced by billable clients: 5 on Lite, 50 on Plus, unlimited on Premium. FreshBooks counts archived clients toward the limit. If you work with many small clients, you’ll likely need Plus or Premium.
- Users (QuickBooks): Lite and Simple Start allow 1 user, Essentials 3, Plus 5, Advanced 25. FreshBooks instead charges $11 a month per extra team member.
- Your accountant: FreshBooks gives accountant access from Plus ($43). QuickBooks includes 2 accountants from Simple Start ($38), but not on Free or Solopreneur Lite.
- Products: if you sell physical goods, QuickBooks Plus has inventory, purchase orders and shipping labels. FreshBooks doesn’t list inventory. See our ecommerce guide.
Who should choose which
Choose FreshBooks if…
- You bill clients by the hour or by project
- You want estimates, retainers and polished invoices front and centre
- You have a handful of clients and want unlimited time tracking at $23
- You’re in South Africa or Australia, where its plans can cost less
Choose QuickBooks if…
- You need inventory, sales tax automation or multi-currency
- A few people need access (3 users on Essentials, 5 on Plus) without paying per team member
- Your accountant already uses QuickBooks
- You want a free plan, or the $20 Solopreneur Lite plan with TurboTax help
Try FreshBooks free (partner link, opens in a new tab) QuickBooks pricing (official site, opens in a new tab)
Neither quite right? Compare Xero vs QuickBooks or Zoho Books vs QuickBooks, see our QuickBooks alternatives, or read the freelancer guide.
FAQ
Is FreshBooks cheaper than QuickBooks?
At entry level in the US, QuickBooks Solopreneur Lite ($20) is cheaper than FreshBooks Lite ($23), but it has no accountant access. FreshBooks Plus ($43) is cheaper than QuickBooks Essentials ($85). The answer depends on how many clients and users you have.
Is FreshBooks better for freelancers than QuickBooks?
For freelancers who bill clients for time, usually yes: every FreshBooks plan includes unlimited time tracking, estimates and online payments. QuickBooks suits freelancers who want a free plan or TurboTax-assisted tax help on Solopreneur Lite.
Does FreshBooks have inventory?
Inventory isn’t listed on FreshBooks’ pricing page. QuickBooks Online Plus ($140 a month) includes inventory tracking, purchase orders and shipping labels.
Do both have free trials?
Yes. FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial, and QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial as an alternative to its launch discount. QuickBooks also has a permanent Free plan in the US.
