Freshbooks

General Overview

FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed primarily for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses, particularly those in service-based industries like consulting, marketing, and IT. Launched in 2003 by co-founder Mike McDerment, who created the platform to address his own invoicing frustrations while running a small design agency, FreshBooks has grown into a widely-used solution with over 30 million users worldwide as of 2025.

While it excels in accounts receivable tasks like invoicing, it’s less robust for growing businesses needing advanced features like inventory management or detailed financial forecasting.

Pros and Cons

Usability and Setup

FreshBooks is designed with simplicity in mind, making it one of the easiest accounting software options for small business owners. The setup process begins with a 30-day free trial, during which users answer a short questionnaire about their business (e.g., industry, name, and currency) to personalize the experience. 

After setup, users are guided to connect their bank accounts, add clients, and create their first invoice, with in-app prompts and video tutorials to assist. The dashboard provides a clear overview of key metrics like outstanding invoices, profit, and expenses, with a sidebar for navigating features like invoicing, expenses, and time tracking. 

The mobile app, available for iOS and Android, mirrors this simplicity, allowing users to manage tasks on the go, though it lacks some desktop features like report viewing. Overall, FreshBooks’ interface is visually appealing and intuitive, requiring minimal learning for new users.

Pricing and Plans

FreshBooks offers four pricing tiers, with costs based on the number of billable clients and features included. As of April 2025, the plans are as follows:

FreshBooks frequently offers discounts, such as 50% off for the first three months, and annual billing can save up to 10%. Additional users cost $11 per month each, which can add up for teams.

The 30-day free trial includes access to most features, except Advanced Payments, allowing businesses to test the platform before committing.

Main Features and Integrations

FreshBooks provides a streamlined set of features focused on invoicing, time tracking, and basic accounting, making it ideal for freelancers and small service-based businesses. Here’s a detailed look at its capabilities:

• Invoicing: FreshBooks excels in invoicing, allowing users to create professional, branded invoices in seconds. Features include automated payment reminders, recurring invoices, and online payment options via credit cards, ACH transfers, Stripe, and PayPal (transaction fees apply). The platform tracks invoice status, showing when clients view or pay them.

• Expense Tracking: Users can track expenses by connecting bank accounts for automatic imports or uploading receipts via the mobile app. Expenses can be categorized, marked as billable, or set as recurring, simplifying reimbursement and tax preparation.

• Time Tracking: Available in all plans, time tracking lets users log billable hours, assign them to clients or projects, and convert them into invoices. The mobile app includes geolocation-based tracking for on-site work, updated in February 2025.

• Double-Entry Accounting: Available in Plus and higher plans, this feature includes a customizable chart of accounts and journal entries, though it’s not as robust as competitors like QuickBooks Online.

• Reporting: FreshBooks offers basic reports like profit-and-loss, expense summaries, and tax summaries. Advanced reporting, such as custom reports, is limited to the Premium plan, and there’s no option to create reports from scratch.

• Project Management: Users can create projects, track time, and collaborate with team members, with features like shared files and client messaging. However, project budgeting is not available.

• Mobile App: The FreshBooks mobile app, updated in April 2025, allows users to create invoices, track expenses, and message clients on the go. It also includes mileage tracking and receipt capture, though it lacks report viewing and payment sending.

• Security: FreshBooks uses 256-bit SSL encryption, firewalls, and regular vulnerability scans to protect data. Physical servers are housed in secure data centers with biometric access controls.

• Tax Support: The platform calculates sales tax and generates VAT return forms (MTD-compliant in the UK), but it doesn’t estimate quarterly tax payments or support all tax types.

Integrations

FreshBooks integrates with over 100 third-party apps, enhancing its functionality for small businesses. Key integrations include:

• Payment Processors: Stripe and PayPal for online payments.

• E-commerce: Shopify and Squarespace for syncing sales data.

• Payroll: Gusto for payroll processing and tax filings.

• Communication: Zoom for attaching meeting minutes to projects.

• Productivity: Zapier for connecting with over 5,000 apps.

A detailed plan comparison highlights the feature set across FreshBooks’ plans:This structure shows FreshBooks’ focus on simplicity for small businesses, with higher plans offering more features for growing teams, though it lacks the depth of competitors for larger enterprises.

Support Options

FreshBooks is known for its award-winning customer support, having won 11 Stevie Awards for excellence. All plans include access to phone and email support, with a chatbot available for quick queries. 

The support team operates across North America and Europe, with over 100 staff members, and boasts a 4.8/5 rating across 120,000+ reviews. Response times are generally quick, though some users have noted delays with complex issues. The platform also offers a comprehensive help center with articles, video webinars, and setup guides. 

For accountants, the FreshBooks Accountant Hub provides additional resources, including a Collaborative Accounting certification program launched in 2023. While live chat is not available, the existing support options are robust, making it easy for users to get help when needed.

Conclusion

FreshBooks is a top choice for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small service-based businesses seeking a user-friendly accounting solution with exceptional invoicing capabilities.

Its intuitive interface, time tracking across all plans, and strong customer support make it ideal for those new to accounting or managing a small client base. 

The mobile app and automation features further enhance its appeal for business owners on the go. However, its limitations—such as restricted billable clients, lack of advanced reporting, and no inventory management—make it less suitable for growing businesses or those with complex needs.