Freshbooks Review (2025): Is It Right for Your Business?
I've spent over 8 years working with different accounting platforms for small businesses, and I know how important it is to find software that actually makes your life easier.
This review breaks down everything you need to know about FreshBooks; what it does well, where it falls short, and whether it's worth your money.
Quick Summary
FreshBooks is cloud-based accounting software designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers.
The platform focuses on making invoicing and expense tracking simple for people who aren't accountants.
It helps you send professional looking invoices, accept payments online, and keep track of your business expenses without needing a degree in finance.
Freshbooks has a user friendly interface that's easy to learn and quick invoice creation with attractive invoice templates.
Key Service Highlights
- Invoicing and Payment Processing: Create recurring invoices for regular customers, send payment reminders automatically, and accept payments through multiple methods with instant delivery.
- Expense Tracking and Receipt Management: Snap photos of receipts with your phone, and the platform automatically pulls the relevant information to save time during tax time.
- Time Tracking and Project Management: Built-in time tracking monitors billable hours for different clients and projects, then converts tracked time directly into invoices.
- Support Options: Phone support, live chat, email support, and a detailed help center are available to all users.
Pros & Cons
✅Minimal training required
✅Time tracking automatically converts to invoice line items
✅Professional looking invoices
✅Complete control over accounting tasks from mobile app
✅Payment reminders reduce outstanding invoices and improve cash flow
❌Phone support limited
❌Fewer integrations
❌Mobile app limitations
❌Complex user permissions
❌Report generation
Zoho Books
FreshBooks
- Minimal training required
- Time tracking automatically converts to invoice line items
- Professional looking invoices
- Complete control over accounting tasks from mobile app
- Payment reminders reduce outstanding invoices and improve cash flow
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of November
- Basic inventory management
- No double entry accounting for traditional accountants
- Expensive when adding multiple users
- Limited advanced accounting features
- No free plan available for testing
Pricing & Packages
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lite Plan | $10.50/month | • Invoice up to 5 clients • Track unlimited expenses • Accept payments online • Basic reporting |
| Plus Plan | $19/month | • Everything in Lite • Unlimited clients • Recurring billing • Time tracking features • Proposal creation |
| Premium Plan | $32.50/month | • Everything in Plus • Project profitability tracking • Client retainers • Advanced reports |
| Select Plan | Custom pricing | • Everything in Premium • Dedicated account manager • Lower credit card fees • Custom features |
For most small businesses, the Plus Plan offers the best value. It includes unlimited clients and recurring invoices, which are essential for growing businesses. The Lite Plan works if you only serve a few regular clients, but you'll quickly outgrow it.
The Premium Plan makes sense if you need detailed financial reports and manage client retainers. Custom pricing on the Select Plan means you'll need to contact their support team for a quote.
Verdict: 4.6/5
Competitor Comparison
| Feature/Package | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online | Xero | Wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10.5/month | $30/month | $29/month | Free |
| Mid-Tier | $19/month | $55/month | $46/month | N/A |
| Premium | $32.5/month | $155/month | $69/month | N/A |
| Inventory Tracking | Basic | Advanced | Good | None |
| User Limit | Limited | Limited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
FreshBooks sits in the middle on pricing. It's cheaper than QuickBooks Online at the entry level but more expensive than Xero.
User Experience & Filing Process
The platform offers an intuitive design that feels modern and clean. New users can navigate the main features without watching tutorial videos. The dashboard shows your key numbers; outstanding invoices, recent expenses, and cash flow, right when you log in.
Setting up your account takes about 15 minutes. You'll add your business information, connect your bank account, and customize your invoice templates. The step-by-step guidance walks you through each section clearly.
The learning curve is gentle. Most accounting tasks become familiar after a week of regular use. The software doesn't bury important features in complex menus like some other software does.
One weakness is that the platform offers limited accessibility features for users with disabilities. Screen reader support could be better.
Verdict: 4.4/5
Website & Mobile Experience
The desktop website loads quickly and works smoothly. All major features are accessible through the main navigation. Generating reports, sending invoices, and tracking expenses happen with just a few clicks.
Mobile responsiveness is excellent. The website adapts well to tablets and phones, though the native apps provide a better experience.
The FreshBooks mobile app is available for both iOS and Android. You can capture receipts, track time, send invoices, and check account balances from your phone. The app includes all core features, so you're not stuck waiting until you're at your computer.
Cloud synchronization happens instantly. Changes you make on your phone appear on your desktop immediately. The cross-device experience feels seamless, which saves time when you're managing a business on the go.
Verdict: 4.7/5
Invoicing and Payment Process
Creating and sending invoices is where FreshBooks really shines. The process is straightforward: select a client, add line items (or pull from tracked time), and hit send. The whole thing takes less than five minutes.
The timeline for getting paid depends on your client, but FreshBooks helps speed things up. Online payments through FreshBooks Payments let clients pay with credit cards or bank transfers. Money typically arrives in your account within 2-3 business days.
Strengths include the ability to set up recurring invoices for regular customers, automatic payment reminders that reduce late payments, and professional templates that make even new businesses look established.
I didn't like that you can't customize invoices as much as some medium sized businesses might want. The flat fee structure for FreshBooks Payments adds up if you process many large payments.
Post-invoice support is solid. You can see when clients view invoices, send follow-up reminders, and apply late fees automatically.
Verdict: 4.6/5
Invoice Preparation & Filing
Invoice templates look professional right out of the box. You can add your logo, adjust colors, and modify the layout to match your brand. The quality is high enough that clients won't question your legitimacy.
Accuracy is strong for invoicing and basic expense tracking. The software reduces errors by pulling information from your time tracking and recurring billing setups. However, without double entry accounting, the platform isn't suitable for businesses that need full general ledger control.
Filing speed for tax documents is decent. You can generate financial reports quickly, though you might need your accountant to review them before filing.
Verdict: 4.3/5
Expense Management and Tracking
Expense tracking is one of FreshBooks' strongest features. You can photograph receipts with your mobile app, and the software automatically extracts vendor names, amounts, and dates. This saves enormous amounts of time compared to manual entry.
The service is included in all pricing plans. You get unlimited expense tracking even on the Lite Plan, which is generous compared to competitors.
Key features include automatic categorization of expenses, mileage tracking for vehicle expenses, and the ability to mark expenses as billable to specific clients. You can then add those expenses directly to invoices.
Verdict: 4.4/5
Additional Services & Features
- Time Tracking (included in Plus Plan and above)
- Project Management (included in Premium Plan)
- Payment Processing through FreshBooks Payments (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
- Proposal Software (included in Plus Plan and above)
Verdict: 4.3/5
Customer Support
FreshBooks provides multiple ways to get help. Phone support connects you with real people during business hours (8am-8pm ET, Monday-Friday). Email support typically responds within a few hours. Live chat is the fastest option for quick questions.
The help center includes articles, video tutorials, and guides for common accounting tasks. The content is written in plain language that non-accountants can understand.
Support quality is consistently good. Representatives are knowledgeable about the software and financial tasks. They explain things clearly without using excessive jargon.
The support team is available during extended hours compared to some competitors, though there's no weekend phone support. This could be challenging if you need help outside normal business hours.
Verdict: 4.7/5
Also Read: Zoho Books vs QuickBooks
Third-Party Review Ratings
- G2: 4.5/5
- Trustpilot: 3.8/5
- Software Advice: 4.5/5
FAQs
1. Can FreshBooks Handle Inventory Tracking for Product-Based Businesses?
FreshBooks offers basic inventory management, but it's not designed for businesses with complex inventory needs. You can track inventory items and link them to invoices, but you won't get advanced features like automatic reordering or detailed inventory reports.
2. Does FreshBooks Work Well for Multiple Users?
Yes, FreshBooks works well for multiple users, but you'll pay extra for each user on most pricing plans. The Plus Plan includes one user, with additional team members costing more per month.
3. Is FreshBooks Suitable for Larger Businesses?
No, FreshBooks is not suitable for larger businesses. While the Select Plan with custom pricing can accommodate medium sized businesses, the platform lacks the advanced accounting features and double entry accounting that larger businesses typically need.
Our Verdict
FreshBooks accounting software is decent for small entities that prioritize simple invoicing and expense tracking. However, the platform is not suitable for businesses needing advanced accounting capabilities, detailed inventory tracking, or full double entry accounting,
This is why I always recommend QuickBooks Online as the better choice.
QuickBooks Online provides advanced inventory management that actually works for product-based businesses. The software includes a complete general ledger with double entry accounting, making it suitable as your business grows.
You get more detailed financial reports, better integration with POS systems, and stronger tools for managing bill payments and vendor relationships.
If you want software that grows with your business and provides true accounting capabilities, QuickBooks Online is worth the investment. The additional features and flexibility will save time and reduce errors as your business expands.
Our #1 Recommendation
QuickBooks
- Easy-to-use interface
- Excellent privacy protection
- Useful integrated tools
- Great value for money
- Simplified tax management
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of November
- Lack of business-specific features
