FreshBooks review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing

Invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and service firms, priced by billable client count.

Researched by Max Benz · Facts checked October 24, 2026 · How we research

Verdict at a glance

FreshBooks is invoicing-first accounting built for freelancers and service firms, with tiers based on billable client count. It stands out for easy guided invoicing, time tracking tied to billing and a reputation for helpful customer support.

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.

What is FreshBooks?

Invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and service firms, priced by billable client count. It is built for freelancers and service businesses billing a limited number of clients and teams wanting time tracking and invoicing in one tool. FreshBooks was founded in 2003 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

Category: Accounting Software, Invoicing Software

FreshBooks key features

FreshBooks features, checked October 24, 2026
Feature	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.
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 pricing

FreshBooks plans are capped by billable clients. Lite covers 5 clients at $23 a month, Plus covers 50 at $43, Premium is unlimited at $70, and Select is custom priced with two team members included. Lite shows an intro price of $4.60 a month for 4 months. Each extra team member is $11 a month on every tier. Optional add-ons are Advanced Payments at $20 a month (included in Select) and Payroll at $40 a month plus $6 per user. The page offers a yearly toggle with an extra 10% off, but the annual prices are not published in full, so confirm them before you commit.

FreshBooks plans as published on October 24, 2026
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 FreshBooks is best for

Best 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.

Not ideal 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.

Compare all FreshBooks alternatives

What FreshBooks really costs

Per seat per month: $11 per extra team member per month.
Billing: Monthly and annual.
Annual discount: Page mentions an extra 10% off for yearly; exact figures not captured.

Add-ons and extras to budget for

Extra team member $11/month.
Advanced Payments $20/month.
Payroll $40/month + $6 per user.

Questions to ask about price

Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?

Is FreshBooks worth the price?

FreshBooks is good value for a freelancer or a small service business that bills a limited number of clients and wants invoicing and time tracking in one tool. It gets expensive when you need several staff seats, since each costs $11 a month on top of the plan, or when you outgrow 5 clients on Lite and have to move up. Businesses needing inventory or deep ledger control will find it awkward.

Worth it if

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.

Look elsewhere if

Teams that need many staff seats cheaply ($11 per extra user)
Businesses needing inventory or deep ledger control.

Cheaper per seat than FreshBooks

Xero$0 per user (no per-user license fees per vendor page)
Zoho Books$2.50 per extra user per month (annual billing), $3 monthly.
Harvest$9 (Teams, billed annually) or $11 monthly.

Pricing details most reviews leave out

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.

FreshBooks compared

Our verdict on FreshBooks

FreshBooks is invoicing-first accounting for freelancers and small service firms, and its price follows the number of clients you bill, not the number of people who log in. Lite costs $23 a month for 5 billable clients, Plus is $43 for 50, and Premium is $70 for unlimited clients. That structure is cheap while your client list is short, but the plan you need depends on that count, so check it before you sign up.

The catch is seats. Every extra team member costs $11 a month on every tier, and only the custom Select plan includes two. FreshBooks holds a 4.5 rating from 981 G2 reviews, yet the complaints focus on cost for solo users and annual price increases. There is no free plan, only a trial.

FreshBooks FAQ

What is FreshBooks used for?

Does FreshBooks have a free plan?

No. FreshBooks offers a free trial but no permanent free plan. Lite starts at $23 a month for 5 billable clients, with an intro price of $4.60 a month for the first 4 months.

How much do extra users cost on FreshBooks?

Each extra team member costs $11 a month on every tier. Only the Select plan includes two team members. Ten extra users would add $110 a month to your plan price.

What happens when I bill more than 5 clients on Lite?

Lite is limited to 5 billable clients, so a sixth means moving to Plus at $43 a month for up to 50 clients. Premium at $70 a month removes the client cap.

About FreshBooks

Founded: 2003.
Headquarters: Toronto, Canada.

Listed in: Accounting Software, Invoicing Software

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.

Sources (3)