Side by side · Accounting software
QuickBooks vs FreshBooks
Who should pick which, from each company’s own pricing pages and terms.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
How we researched this page: we read each company’s own pricing pages and terms, independent tests, and customer reviews. We did not use these products ourselves. Prices change often, so each one shows the date we checked it.
In short: QuickBooks — most small businesses; accountant-friendly. FreshBooks — service businesses and freelancers who invoice. The details, prices and honest downsides are below.
| Item | QuickBooks | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most small businesses; accountant-friendly | Service businesses and freelancers who invoice |
| Starting price | $38/mo (Simple Start), 50% off 3 months, checked October 25, 2026 | $23/mo (Lite) list price, checked October 25, 2026 |
| Trial / refund | Free trial or discount | 30-day money-back |
Who QuickBooks fits
Most small businesses, especially those working with an accountant or bookkeeper.
Watch out for: Price increases are frequent. Payroll and payments cost extra.
Who FreshBooks fits
Freelancers and service businesses whose main job is sending invoices and tracking time and expenses.
Watch out for: The cheapest plan limits how many clients you can bill. Less suited to inventory businesses.
Quick verdict
QuickBooks Online is the default most accountants know and suits most small businesses. FreshBooks is easier if your main job is sending invoices and tracking time and expenses, and its list price starts lower ($23 against $38 a month), though its cheapest plan limits how many clients you can bill.
Visit QuickBooks’s official site
Visit FreshBooks’s official site
More on each: our full QuickBooks Online review · our full FreshBooks review
See every option in Best Small-Business Accounting Software, including companies not covered here.
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