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
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.
Cloud-based invoicing and accounting platform designed for freelancers and small service businesses.
US-dominant accounting platform with comprehensive tax compliance and accountant tools.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online — Comparison Data
Structured comparison data for FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online with 161 attributes.
Average Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
Payroll Module Cost (Per Employee/Month)
Max Client Accounts (Accountant Edition)
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.