FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online2026
FreshBooks
Accounting & Finance
Simple accounting and invoicing for freelancers and small business owners.
QuickBooks Online
Accounting & Finance
The world's most widely used small business accounting software for bookkeeping, payroll, and tax.
Our Verdict
FreshBooks is better suited to freelancers and solo operators, while QuickBooks Online is designed for small to mid-sized businesses. FreshBooks has the pricing advantage ($19/mo vs $35/mo).
Choose FreshBooks if…
teams at the freelancers and solo operators stage
Choose QuickBooks Online if…
teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage
Side-by-Side Comparison
Green highlight = advantage on that metric.
| Feature | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting price | $19/mo | $35/mo |
| Free tier | ||
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Ratings & Reviews | ||
| User rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Features & Capabilities | ||
| Best for | freelancers and solo operators | small to mid-sized businesses |
| Tracked features | 8 | 12 |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2003 | 1992 |
| Verified listing | ||
Pricing
FreshBooks
SubscriptionQuickBooks Online
SubscriptionFreshBooks
$19/moQuickBooks Online
$35/moFreshBooks
QuickBooks Online
FreshBooks
30 daysQuickBooks Online
30 daysRatings & Reviews
FreshBooks
No reviews yetQuickBooks Online
No reviews yetFeatures & Capabilities
FreshBooks
freelancers and solo operatorsQuickBooks Online
small to mid-sized businessesFreshBooks
8QuickBooks Online
12Company
FreshBooks
2003QuickBooks Online
1992FreshBooks
QuickBooks Online
Key Differences
FreshBooks
$19/mo✓
QuickBooks Online
$35/mo
FreshBooks
freelancers and solo operators
QuickBooks Online
small to mid-sized businesses
FreshBooks
8 tracked features
QuickBooks Online
✓12 tracked features
FreshBooks is best for…
Strengths
- Easiest accounting for non-accountants
- Professional invoicing with online payments
- Time tracking built in
- 30-day free trial
QuickBooks Online is best for…
Strengths
- Industry standard — every accountant knows it
- Most comprehensive feature set
- 750+ integrations
- Strong inventory management
Pricing Comparison
FreshBooks
From $19/mo
Lite plan from $19/month for up to 5 clients.
QuickBooks Online
From $35/mo
Simple Start from $35/month. Frequent discounts for new customers.
Pricing information is verified periodically. Visit each vendor's pricing page for current rates and plan details.
Feature Comparison
Only in FreshBooks
- Time Tracking
- Payment Processing
- Zapier Integration
Both tools
- Invoicing
- Expense Tracking
- Financial Reporting
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping
- API Access
Only in QuickBooks Online
- Bank Reconciliation
- Payroll Processing
- Automatic Tax Filing
- Inventory Management
- Multi-Currency Support
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main difference between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online?
- FreshBooks is better suited to freelancers and solo operators, while QuickBooks Online is designed for small to mid-sized businesses. FreshBooks has the pricing advantage ($19/mo vs $35/mo). Choose FreshBooks if you need it for teams at the freelancers and solo operators stage. Choose QuickBooks Online if you need it for teams at the small to mid-sized businesses stage.
- Is FreshBooks cheaper than QuickBooks Online?
- FreshBooks is cheaper at From $19/mo vs From $35/mo. Note that pricing tiers vary — check each vendor's current pricing page for up-to-date details.
- Is FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online better for small businesses?
- FreshBooks is better suited to freelancers and solo operators, while QuickBooks Online is designed for small to mid-sized businesses. If you're a small team, start with FreshBooks — you can always migrate as you scale.
- Can I switch from FreshBooks to QuickBooks Online?
- Yes — most teams can migrate from FreshBooks to QuickBooks Online with a data export/import process. Check whether both tools support CSV or API data export before starting. QuickBooks Online offers a free trial, so you can test it before cancelling FreshBooks.
- Does FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online offer a free trial?
- Both FreshBooks (30 days) and QuickBooks Online (30 days) offer free trials. Try both before committing.