FreshBooks vs QuickBooks for Solo Freelancers: Which Fits?
How we compared these. We did not run hands-on tests. This comparison is built from each company's public pricing and feature pages, which we read on 2026-10-06. Prices change often, so confirm them on the vendor's site. This site earns a commission if you sign up through some links; see our disclosure and methodology.
The short version
- FreshBooks is built around invoicing, billable clients and client-facing features such as proposals and retainers. Plans are priced by number of billable clients.
- QuickBooks Online is a fuller accounting product, priced by plan tier and number of users, with a limited free tier.
- If you mainly send invoices to a handful of clients and want simple reports, FreshBooks' entry plan is the closest match on paper. If you want bookkeeping depth, bank connections and a path to working with an accountant or growing a team, QuickBooks is the more standard choice.
Published pricing (US, checked 2026-10-06)
Promotional prices apply for a limited period, then the regular price applies.
| Plan | Promo price | Regular price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks Lite | $1/mo for first year | $23/mo | 5 billable clients |
| FreshBooks Plus | $8.60/mo for 3 months | $43/mo | 50 billable clients |
| FreshBooks Premium | $14/mo for 3 months | $70/mo | Unlimited clients |
| QuickBooks Free | $0 | $0 | 1 user, 2 invoices per month, 1 bank account |
| QuickBooks Simple Start | $19/mo for 3 months | $38/mo | 1 user plus 2 accountants |
| QuickBooks Essentials | $42.50/mo for 3 months | $85/mo | 3 users plus 2 accountants |
Sources: FreshBooks pricing, QuickBooks pricing.
What the table means for a solo freelancer. For the first months the entry plans are cheap on both sides, so the number to compare is the regular price after the promotion. FreshBooks Lite is $23 and QuickBooks Simple Start is $38, so on list price the FreshBooks entry plan costs less, but it caps you at 5 billable clients. If you have 6 to 50 clients, the comparable FreshBooks tier is Plus at $43, which is above QuickBooks Simple Start at $38.
What each plan includes (from the vendor pages)
- FreshBooks Lite: expense tracking, estimates, payment acceptance (card, ACH, wallets), tax reports. Plus adds proposals, client retainers, e-signatures, receipt scanning and accountant access. Premium adds unlimited clients and project profitability tracking.
- QuickBooks Free: income and expense tracking, 2 invoices a month, top-3 profit and loss reports, one bank account. Simple Start adds automated bookkeeping, invoicing and payments, and general reports. Plus (not in the table) adds budgets and project profitability.
How to choose
| If you... | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| Have 5 or fewer clients and mostly need to invoice | FreshBooks Lite (check the post-promo price) |
| Send fewer than 2 invoices a month and want to try bookkeeping for free | QuickBooks Free |
| Want proposals, retainers and e-signatures in the same tool | FreshBooks Plus |
| Expect an accountant to work in your books or plan to hire | QuickBooks |
| Need project profitability tracking | FreshBooks Premium or QuickBooks Plus |
What we could not verify
- We have not used either product, so we say nothing about interface quality, speed or customer support.
- Payment processing fees vary by method and change; check them on each vendor's site before you choose.
- Promotional prices end. Put the regular price in your budget.
Next steps
If you are still choosing, read how to pick invoicing software by invoice volume, then try the free or promotional entry tier of whichever fits. You can look at FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online directly.