FreshBooks review

FreshBooks is built around getting paid, and it does that better than the general ledgers. Lite, at a regular $23 per month, sends invoices and estimates, tracks expenses, takes card, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later payments and produces tax-time reports. The catch is a five-client limit. Plus, at $43, raises that to 50 clients and adds proposals, client retainers, financial and accounting reports, receipt scanning and accountant access, which is where most freelancers should start. Premium, at $70, removes the client cap. Add-ons push the cost up: $11 per extra team member, $20 for advanced payments and $40 plus $6 per person for payroll. Accountants also find it less complete than QuickBooks or Xero for full bookkeeping. For a consultant, designer or agency that lives on invoices and retainers, it is the most pleasant tool to use.

Who it is for

Freelancers and client-service businesses that bill by project or by the hour.

Price

Lite $23 per month regular price (80% off for 4 months when checked); Plus $43; Premium $70.

Was $23.00 | Save $73.60 $ 23 .00 USD/mo
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 4, 2026.

Key features

• Invoices, estimates and expense tracking
• Card, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later payments
• Proposals and client retainers on Plus
• Expense receipt scanning and accountant access on Plus
• Payroll add-on at $40 per month plus $6 per person

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Easiest invoicing workflow on this list
• Strength: Wide range of client payment methods
• Strength: 30-day money-back guarantee
• Weakness: Lite bills only 5 clients
• Weakness: Team members cost $11 per user per month extra
• Weakness: Accounting reports and accountant access wait until Plus

Key facts

• Free trial: 30 days
• Lite client limit: 5 clients
• Plus client limit: 50 clients
• Extra team members: $11 per user per month

Where it ranks

FreshBooks is No. 5 in our Best Accounting Software verdict.