FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features and real-world ratings to help you choose between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online.
| Feature | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Accounting | Accounting |
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $35/mo |
| Free Trial | 30-day trial | 30-day trial |
| G2 Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Best For | Freelancers | Freelancers |
| Reviews | 4,400 | 7,300 |
Key differences between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online
FreshBooks undercuts QuickBooks Online by about $16/user/month at entry level — a gap that compounds quickly for teams of five or more.
User sentiment favors FreshBooks: it averages 4.4/5 across 4,400 reviews versus 4.3/5 for QuickBooks Online (7,300 reviews).
FreshBooks leans into invoicing and time tracking, while QuickBooks Online puts its weight behind invoicing and expense tracking — pick based on which of those you will actually use weekly.
🏆 Our Verdict
FreshBooks is our overall pick, scoring 4.4/5 across 4400 reviews. That said, QuickBooks Online remains a great option if you prioritise freelancers. Read the breakdown below before you decide.
Head to head
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is accounting for people who sell their time: freelancers, consultants and agencies who live on invoices, tracked hours and expense receipts. Its invoicing is the best-looking in the category, with retainers, proposals and late-payment reminders built in. It is intentionally lighter on double-entry depth than QuickBooks or Xero — accountants sometimes grumble — and client limits on lower tiers push growing practices upward.
FreshBooks
Invoicing and accounting built for freelancers.
Visit FreshBooks →Pros
- ✓Super easy
- ✓Great invoicing
- ✓Good support
Cons
- ✗Client limits on plans
- ✗Less robust accounting
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is the accounting lingua franca of US small business — the software accountants expect, with the deepest ecosystem of banks, apps and tax integrations. Invoicing, expense capture, mileage and reporting are comprehensive, and the accountant marketplace makes professional help easy to find. Prices have climbed steadily and the interface shows its age in places, but network effects keep it the safe default choice.
The go-to accounting suite for SMBs.
Visit QuickBooks Online →Pros
- ✓Feature-rich
- ✓Accountant-friendly
- ✓Lots of integrations
Cons
- ✗Pricey
- ✗Occasional bugs
How we compare tools
Every comparison on SaaS Compare follows the same recipe: we aggregate verified user ratings from G2 and Capterra, track published pricing (including free plans and trial terms), and weigh the practical pros and cons reported by real users. We refresh this data on a regular schedule and never let affiliate partnerships influence a verdict — the same criteria decide every matchup, including this FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is FreshBooks better than QuickBooks Online?
Based on aggregated ratings, FreshBooks edges ahead with a 4.4/5 score. The right choice still depends on your budget and use case — FreshBooks suits freelancers, while QuickBooks Online is strong for freelancers.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online?
FreshBooks starts at $19/mo and QuickBooks Online starts at $35/mo.
Does FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online offer a free trial?
FreshBooks: 30-day trial. QuickBooks Online: 30-day trial.
What do users say about FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online?
FreshBooks averages 4.4/5 from 4,400 reviews (G2: 4.5/5, Capterra: 4.5/5). QuickBooks Online averages 4.3/5 from 7,300 reviews (G2: 4/5, Capterra: 4.3/5). Ratings aggregate thousands of verified users, so small gaps are meaningful at this scale.
When should I pick QuickBooks Online instead?
Despite the overall verdict, QuickBooks Online is the better fit when feature-rich and accountant-friendly matter most to your workflow, particularly for freelancers.