QuickBooks Online dominates with 3x more integrations and broader accounting features, while FreshBooks excels for service-based businesses with superior invoicing, time tracking, and client portals at a lower entry price.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based invoicing and accounting platform designed for freelancers and small service businesses.
US-dominant accounting platform with comprehensive tax compliance and accountant tools.
Starting Price. Third-Party Integrations. Built-in Time Tracking. Client Portal Features. Mobile App Rating. Payroll Support. Learning Curve
Choose QuickBooks Online if you need comprehensive accounting, extensive integrations (650+), native payroll, and advanced reporting for established businesses with complex needs. Choose FreshBooks if you're a freelancer or service-based business prioritizing invoicing speed, time tracking, client collaboration, and lower costs—it's purpose-built for that workflow.
FreshBooks: $17 | QuickBooks Online: $30
FreshBooks: Limited by additional per-user charges | QuickBooks Online: Unlimited per plan tier
FreshBooks: Unlimited | QuickBooks Online: Unlimited
FreshBooks: Included as core feature | QuickBooks Online: Available in higher tiers
FreshBooks: Basic automation | QuickBooks Online: Advanced (Intuit Intelligence, Tax AI beta, batch processing)
FreshBooks: Supported | QuickBooks Online: Supported with advanced workflows
FreshBooks: Yes | QuickBooks Online: iOS & Android
FreshBooks: $11 | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Invoicing-specific optimized | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Standard OCR | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Low to moderate | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Simplified migration service | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: No FreshBooks branding (Select tier+) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1 user | QuickBooks Online: 1 user
FreshBooks: 20+ | QuickBooks Online: 80+
FreshBooks: Yes, included in all plans | QuickBooks Online: No (add-on $10/user/month)
FreshBooks: All plans | QuickBooks Online: Limited/Premium plans only
FreshBooks: 24 hours | QuickBooks Online: 1-2 hours
FreshBooks: iOS and Android | QuickBooks Online: iOS, Android (full-featured)
FreshBooks: $17.50 | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1-3 (plan dependent) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Advanced - project, task, and user-level tracking | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Built-in with Stripe/PayPal integration | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 100+ integrations | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 12+ report types (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Tax Summary) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Included with payment collection | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 30 days | QuickBooks Online: 30
FreshBooks: No free plan | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 4.8/5 (12,400 reviews) | QuickBooks Online: 4.5/5
FreshBooks: 8 templates | QuickBooks Online: 80+ templates
FreshBooks: Receipt scanning only | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 30% faster with automated reminders | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 2-3 hours | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: $15/month | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: $240/year (Plus plan, billed annually) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Unlimited with timer | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1 user | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 4.6/5 (12,400+ reviews) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1 day (real-time) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: $30.00 (Plus plan) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: No - proposals only | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Full double-entry accounting | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 40+ (P&L, balance sheet, tax, aging, project profitability) | QuickBooks Online: 50+ customizable reports
FreshBooks: No (requires third-party or manual) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Not available | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 100+ (Stripe, QuickBooks, Shopify, Zapier) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 4.7/5 (42,000 reviews) | QuickBooks Online: 4.6/5 (89,000 reviews)
FreshBooks: Basic (payment reminders, invoice scheduling) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Unlimited | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Up to 10 | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1-3 | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 1-3 days | QuickBooks Online: 2-4 weeks
FreshBooks: 92% | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 168 (24/7) | QuickBooks Online: 50 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm ET)
FreshBooks: Basic (quantity only) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 120 requests/min | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: $17 | QuickBooks Online: $35
FreshBooks: $55 | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 100+ | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Full invoicing, expense entry, receipt capture | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: All plans | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Cloud only | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: No (single entity) | QuickBooks Online: Limited (separate subscriptions)
FreshBooks: 50+ | QuickBooks Online: 650+
FreshBooks: Full: projects, file sharing, payment tracking | QuickBooks Online: Limited: invoice viewing only
FreshBooks: No (integration only) | QuickBooks Online: Yes, native QuickBooks Payroll
FreshBooks: 2-3 days | QuickBooks Online: 5-7 days
FreshBooks: 1 user (Lite plan) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 2.5 minutes | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Yes (all plans) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Basic (1099 tracking only) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Yes (with payment processing) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Not available (contractor 1099s only) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Included | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 90+ | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 160 currencies | QuickBooks Online: 160 (limited real-time conversion)
FreshBooks: 600+ | QuickBooks Online: 500+ integrations
FreshBooks: 30 days | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: Basic (single-location, limited) | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: 4.5 stars | QuickBooks Online: N/A
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $30 (Simple Start)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 3+ (scalable)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Yes, included
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Phone, chat, and expert-assisted
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Yes (Advanced plan)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Available via add-ons
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Enhanced 2026 features
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Limited USD focus
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 25 users
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Strong integration
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Deepest in market
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Free (QBO Accountant)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Industry-leading recommendation
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 4.3M
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Built-in
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $540/year
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Multiple (Online Plus+)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Single entity focus
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Up to 500 SKUs
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Unlimited
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $30/month
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: No (14-day trial only)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Single currency per company
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 10,000+ banks
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 1 user
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 300,000+ certified
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Unlimited custom templates
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Advanced (recurring transactions, bill pay, expense automation)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Full accounting, reporting, and transaction management
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $180-$2400
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $15/month
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 4.6 million
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 3 users (Essentials plan)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 500+
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Full invoicing + real-time sync
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 5 standard roles
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 3-5 days
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 99.9%
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 4.5M
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 4.2/5
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 1 (U.S. primary)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 10,000
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Native (Payroll Plus plan included)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 750+
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 3 users
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Automated (SmartMatch AI)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Included in plan
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 16,000+ global institutions
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 100+ customizable reports
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $30
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Up to 10
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 1-2 weeks
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 900+
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Basic (serial/lot tracking, stock transfers)
Average Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $600-$1,200
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $15
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $55 (Plus)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 80%
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 650+
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Single currency per file
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: None
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $15/month (Self-Employed)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: $55/month (Plus plan)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 3 users (Self-Employed plan)
Payroll Module Cost (Per Employee/Month)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Included in Plus plan ($55/month)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Automatic (10,000+ institutions)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Available (Paid app)
Max Client Accounts (Accountant Edition)
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: 50+ simultaneous
FreshBooks: N/A | QuickBooks Online: Native with tax calculations
How to choose between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online. Contains 161 attribute comparisons, 4 FAQ pairs.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online.
Should I use FreshBooks or QuickBooks for a small consulting business?
For a solo consultant or small consulting firm billing by the hour: FreshBooks is often the better starting point. Its time tracking → invoice workflow is seamless; the client portal makes online payment easy; and the interface is far less overwhelming than QuickBooks. If your accounting needs are simple (invoicing, expense tracking, basic P&L) and you don't have employees: FreshBooks handles this well. Switch to QuickBooks when: you hire employees and need integrated payroll; your accountant specifically requests QuickBooks access; you grow to the point where you need bank reconciliation and full financial statements for a bank loan or investors. Many consultants start on FreshBooks and migrate to QuickBooks Online at the 5–10 employee mark.
Is QuickBooks or FreshBooks better for taxes?
QuickBooks is better for tax preparation. QuickBooks Online produces all the financial reports needed for tax filing — profit & loss, balance sheet, general ledger, expense categorization by deductible category. Its integration with TurboTax Business and most professional tax software is seamless. Accountants and CPAs who file your business taxes almost universally know QuickBooks. FreshBooks produces adequate reports for simple sole proprietor taxes (Schedule C), but lacks the depth needed for S-corp, partnership, or multi-state filing. If you use an accountant: ask which software they prefer before choosing — many will say QuickBooks and can provide access to QBOA (QuickBooks Online Accountant) for your account.
Can I switch from FreshBooks to QuickBooks easily?
The migration is doable but requires effort. FreshBooks allows data export (clients, invoices, expenses as CSV). QuickBooks doesn't have a direct FreshBooks import wizard — you'll use CSV imports or a migration service. Best approach: migrate at year-end or start of new fiscal year; bring over open invoices and customer records; let your accountant or a QuickBooks ProAdvisor handle the chart of accounts setup; don't attempt to import years of historical FreshBooks data unless it's critical for your records. Budget 4–8 hours of setup or $300–500 for a bookkeeper to manage the migration cleanly. Many businesses keep FreshBooks running through the end of a fiscal year before fully cutting over.
What is the difference between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Self-Employed?
QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/month) is a simplified cash-basis tracker for freelancers and gig workers — it connects to bank/credit card accounts, categorizes transactions as business/personal, tracks mileage, and prepares Schedule C estimates. It is NOT a full accounting system (no invoicing, no accounts receivable, no P&L). FreshBooks ($19+/month) is a full invoicing and accounting platform — it creates invoices, tracks billable hours, manages client relationships, and provides full financial reporting. If you're a gig worker or solo contractor who just needs expense/income tracking for tax prep: QuickBooks Self-Employed is simpler and cheaper. If you actively bill clients, track projects, or need professional invoices: FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online (not Self-Employed) are the better options.
How to Choose Between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online
Starting Price: FreshBooks has $17/month, while QuickBooks Online has $30/month.
Third-Party Integrations: FreshBooks has 50+, while QuickBooks Online has 650+.
Built-in Time Tracking: FreshBooks has Yes, with mobile app, while QuickBooks Online has No (requires add-on).
Client Portal Features: FreshBooks has Full project visibility, file sharing, while QuickBooks Online has Limited (invoice view only).
Mobile App Rating: FreshBooks has 4.7/5 stars (42K reviews), while QuickBooks Online has 4.6/5 stars (89K reviews).
Payroll Support: FreshBooks has Via integration only, while QuickBooks Online has Native QuickBooks Payroll.
Learning Curve: FreshBooks has 2-3 days for basics, while QuickBooks Online has 1 week for full mastery.
FreshBooks is better than QuickBooks Online