FreshBooks review
Verdict: Best for freelancers and smaller service businesses that prioritize invoicing simplicity.
What FreshBooks costs
List prices checked August 2026. Vendors change plans and pricing frequently, and regional pricing differs — confirm current figures on FreshBooks’s own pricing page before you buy.
| Plan | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | ~$21/mo | 5 billable clients |
| Plus | ~$38/mo | 50 clients, recurring invoices, proposals |
| Premium | ~$65/mo | Unlimited clients |
| Select | Custom | Larger service businesses |
Free option: No free plan; a trial and frequent introductory discounts are offered.
What FreshBooks is genuinely good at
- The best invoicing experience in this group — genuinely pleasant to use.
- Time tracking is built in and properly integrated with billing.
- Designed for service businesses that bill by project or hour, and it shows.
- Easiest of the three for a non-accountant to operate alone.
Where FreshBooks frustrates people
The honest half. These are the complaints that come up repeatedly, not edge cases.
| Limitation | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Billable client limits | The defining constraint. Lite's five-client cap catches people out quickly. |
| Not full accounting | Inventory and more complex accounting needs are not well covered. |
| Extra users cost more | Each additional team member is charged on top. |
| Accountant preference | Fewer accountants work in it day to day than QuickBooks or Xero. |
Should you buy it?
Buy it if…
You are a service business or freelancer whose main job is invoicing time and projects.
Avoid it if…
You need inventory, complex accounting, or you have many small clients.
Related pages
- Alternatives to FreshBooks — Useful when buyers outgrow the product.
- Xero review — Best contrast page.
- Alternatives to QuickBooks — Useful adjacent switching page.
Try them yourself
Pricing and free tiers change often — check the current plans directly before deciding.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does FreshBooks cost?
Prices checked August 2026. Lite is ~$21/mo; Plus is ~$38/mo; Premium is ~$65/mo; Select is Custom. FreshBooks changes pricing regularly, so confirm on the vendor's own pricing page.
Is there a free version of FreshBooks?
No free plan; a trial and frequent introductory discounts are offered.
Who should not use FreshBooks?
You need inventory, complex accounting, or you have many small clients.
What is the main downside of FreshBooks?
Billable client limits. The defining constraint. Lite's five-client cap catches people out quickly.