FreshBooks: invoicing and accounting built around client work
Invoicing, time tracking, proposals and accounting for freelancers and self-employed professionals
FreshBooks is invoicing and accounting software designed around client work. Beyond your books, it handles estimates, proposals, time tracking and payment reminders, which makes it closer to a freelancer's day than a pure accounting tool.
Where it works: we read FreshBooks pages for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. FreshBooks says it has paying customers in over 160 countries, but we found no official list, so check that your country and tax setup are supported.
Who is FreshBooks for?
Small businesses, with dedicated pages for freelancers and self-employed professionals. If you bill several clients for your time and want to send invoices quickly, this is the core use case.
Features
- Invoicing: recurring invoices, online payments and automated reminders.
- Client work: estimates, proposals, projects and client statements.
- Time tracking: log your hours and bill them.
- Expenses and mileage: tracked through the year for tax time.
- Reports: profitability, cash flow and spending.
- UK: Making Tax Digital VAT returns to HMRC are listed on every UK plan.
FreshBooks pricing in 2026
Prices checked on the official site in October 2026, per month, before any discount:
| Plan | United States (USD) | United Kingdom (GBP) | Canada (CAD) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Lite | $23 | £16 | $26 | | Plus | $43 | £30 | $42 | | Premium | $70 | £42 | $72 |
Select is on request. On the US page, Lite covers 5 billable clients, Plus 50, and Premium has no limit. Team members cost $11 a month each in the US. The UK page does not say whether its prices include VAT. For Australia, check the local site.
The pricing pages show limited-time discounts, so check the current offer. The US FAQ also describes a 30-day free trial with no credit card.
Why we recommend FreshBooks
We recommend it if you are a freelancer who thinks in clients and invoices rather than in ledgers. The weak point to know about: Lite stops at 5 billable clients, so an active freelancer can quickly move to a pricier plan. There is also no free plan.
FreshBooks or another solution?
Wave has a free plan in the US and Canada, while QuickBooks and Xero go further on accounting. For direct debits, look at GoCardless.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Dedicated pages for freelancers and self-employed professionals
- Recurring invoices, online payments and automated reminders
- Estimates, proposals, time tracking and client statements in one tool
- 30-day free trial with no credit card, according to the US FAQ
Weaknesses
- The Lite plan is limited to 5 billable clients
- No free plan, and team members cost extra
- FreshBooks publishes no clear list of the countries it supports
Frequently asked questions about FreshBooks
FreshBooks is invoicing and accounting software for small businesses. It covers invoices, online payments, expenses, estimates, proposals and time tracking.
Yes, that is one of its stated audiences: it has dedicated pages for freelancers and self-employed professionals. Check the client limit of each plan first, since Lite stops at 5 billable clients.
We read regional FreshBooks pages for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. FreshBooks says it has paying customers in over 160 countries, but we found no official list, so check the site for your country.
In October 2026, before any discount: Lite $23, Plus $43 and Premium $70 a month in the US. The UK prices are £16, £30 and £42, and the Canadian prices are $26, $42 and $72 CAD. Select is on request.
Yes: the US FAQ describes a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. There is no free plan on the pricing pages we read.
Alternatives to FreshBooks
What we would use instead, in the same category.
