Managing finances is one of the least glamorous parts of running a business, yet it is also one of the most important. From tracking income and expenses to making sure invoices are sent and paid on time, bookkeeping can quickly feel overwhelming. That’s where accounting software steps in to save the day. Among the many options available, FreshBooks has carved out a solid reputation as a user-friendly, feature-packed platform that caters primarily to freelancers, solopreneurs, and small business owners.

In this review, I’ll break down everything you need to know about FreshBooks in 2025. To keep things easy to follow, I’ll organize this as a listicle, moving through each important aspect of the software: its origins, pricing, features, ease of use, strengths, weaknesses, and who it’s best suited for. By the end, you should have a clear sense of whether FreshBooks is the right choice for you and your business.

1. What Is FreshBooks, and Why Does It Stand Out?

FreshBooks started life as a simple invoicing tool designed to help freelancers get paid faster. Over the years, it has evolved into a full-fledged accounting platform with time tracking, project management, reporting, and client portals. What sets FreshBooks apart is its focus on simplicity. While some accounting tools can feel like they’re designed for professional accountants, FreshBooks positions itself as the tool for people who don’t want to wrestle with complicated systems.

If you’re a consultant, designer, copywriter, or service-based entrepreneur, FreshBooks tries to act as your financial sidekick. It strips away unnecessary clutter and instead emphasizes tools you’ll actually use on a daily basis. That approach is what makes it so appealing to smaller businesses and independent professionals who want to save time without sacrificing professionalism.

2. Pricing and Plans: A Breakdown of What You Get

FreshBooks offers several pricing tiers, each designed for a different stage of business growth. These are typically structured as Lite, Plus, Premium, and Select.

• Lite: This plan is often marketed toward freelancers just getting started. It lets you manage a limited number of clients (usually up to five), send invoices, track time, and capture expenses. It covers the basics and nothing more, which might be enough if you’re working with only a handful of clients.
• Plus: Aimed at growing small businesses, the Plus plan removes some client limits and adds features like recurring invoices, proposal creation, and more detailed reporting. This tier tends to be the most popular because it balances affordability with functionality.
• Premium: Designed for businesses with a larger client base, the Premium plan often includes unlimited billable clients, more advanced reporting, and tools for tracking project profitability.
• Select: This is the top-tier plan, usually customized with pricing to fit your business. It includes VIP customer support, personal account management, and advanced features tailored for companies handling bigger volumes of work.

The key thing to note about FreshBooks pricing is that the base costs look affordable, but add-ons can creep in. For example, if you want to process payments, pay team members, or integrate with payroll providers, you may face extra charges. Still, compared to traditional accounting systems, FreshBooks remains competitive and transparent enough for most small business owners.

3. Invoicing: The Heart of FreshBooks

FreshBooks built its name on invoicing, and even today, it remains the software’s strongest feature. The invoicing tools are intuitive, customizable, and fast to use. You can create branded invoices with your logo, adjust color schemes, and include payment terms. Clients can pay online through credit cards, ACH, or other supported gateways, which speeds up the payment process.

Recurring invoices are a huge time-saver for businesses that bill clients the same amount every month. Instead of drafting the same invoice over and over, FreshBooks lets you automate the process. Late-payment reminders are another handy feature, ensuring you spend less time chasing unpaid bills.

This simplicity matters because invoicing is often the first impression you make on a client after completing work. A clean, professional invoice can set the tone for a smooth working relationship, and FreshBooks makes that easy to achieve.

4. Expense Tracking and Receipt Management

No accounting system is complete without expense tracking. FreshBooks allows you to connect your bank account and credit card to automatically import transactions. You can categorize expenses, attach digital receipts, and match them to projects or clients.

The receipt-capture feature, available on mobile, is especially useful for people constantly on the go. Snap a photo of a receipt, upload it to FreshBooks, and the software saves it for future reference. Come tax season, you’ll be thankful you don’t have to sort through a shoebox full of paper receipts.

This isn’t as advanced as some enterprise-level platforms, but for small business owners, the balance of simplicity and functionality is exactly what’s needed.

5. Time Tracking That Feeds Into Billing

For freelancers and service providers, time is literally money. FreshBooks integrates time tracking directly into its platform, so you can log hours and assign them to specific projects or clients. With one click, tracked hours can be turned into invoices.

This integration is powerful because it eliminates the guesswork around billable hours. Instead of toggling between different apps for time tracking and invoicing, FreshBooks ties them together seamlessly. If you’re charging by the hour, this feature alone can save you significant time and ensure accuracy in billing.

6. Reporting and Insights: Useful but Limited

FreshBooks provides the basic reports that most small businesses need: profit and loss, expense summaries, invoice status, and tax-time reports. These give you a clear overview of your business health without requiring advanced accounting knowledge.

That said, FreshBooks isn’t as robust in reporting as tools like QuickBooks or Xero. If you need advanced forecasting, budgeting, or multi-currency support, you might find the reporting side lacking. But for freelancers and smaller teams, the essentials are more than covered.

7. Mobile Apps and Accessibility

FreshBooks has invested heavily in mobile access, with apps for both iOS and Android. The mobile experience mirrors the simplicity of the desktop version, letting you create invoices, log expenses, and track time from anywhere.

For business owners who travel frequently or juggle tasks on the go, this flexibility is invaluable. Being able to send a professional invoice right after a client meeting—or log an expense while at the airport—makes financial management feel much less like a chore.

8. Customer Support and Resources

Customer support is often praised as one of FreshBooks’ standout qualities. Users highlight the responsiveness of the support team and the helpfulness of their resources. In addition to live support, FreshBooks maintains an extensive library of guides, FAQs, and how-to articles that make onboarding easier.

The importance of support shouldn’t be underestimated. For many small business owners, accounting software can feel intimidating at first. Having a team that’s easy to reach and a knowledge base that’s clear and comprehensive takes a lot of stress out of the process.

9. Integrations and Add-Ons

FreshBooks integrates with a wide range of third-party apps, from payment processors like Stripe and PayPal to project management tools and CRMs. This ecosystem of integrations makes FreshBooks adaptable to different business workflows.

For payroll, FreshBooks typically integrates with Gusto in the United States and other providers in different regions. While this isn’t as seamless as having built-in payroll, the integrations work well for small businesses that don’t need overly complex HR systems.

10. Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Strengths:

• User-friendly design with a short learning curve
• Excellent invoicing and billing tools
• Time tracking built into projects and invoices
• Mobile apps for on-the-go management
• Responsive customer support
• Affordable entry-level pricing

Weaknesses:

• Limited reporting and forecasting features
• No built-in payroll (requires integration)
• Add-ons and team member access can raise costs
• Not ideal for inventory-heavy businesses
• Lacks deep functionality for mid-to-large companies

11. Who Should Use FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is perfect for:

• Freelancers and consultants who need reliable invoicing and time tracking
• Service-based businesses that want to keep expenses, payments, and projects in one place
• Small teams that prioritize simplicity and speed over advanced accounting tools

It’s less ideal for:

• Companies with complex inventory needs
• Larger businesses requiring multi-currency support or in-depth financial forecasting
• Businesses that want payroll built directly into their accounting system

Final Thoughts

FreshBooks isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, and that’s its strength. Instead of overwhelming users with advanced features that most freelancers and small business owners won’t use, it focuses on the core tools that save time and help you look professional.

If you want an intuitive accounting platform that handles invoicing, time tracking, and expense management with ease, FreshBooks is one of the strongest choices on the market. But if you see your business expanding into areas like inventory, advanced financial reporting, or international operations, you may eventually outgrow it.

Think of FreshBooks as the perfect starting point for service-based businesses. It gives you confidence in your finances without bogging you down in accounting jargon, and for many entrepreneurs, that’s exactly what they need.

FAQs

What is FreshBooks mainly used for?

FreshBooks is best known for simple invoicing, expense tracking, and time management for small businesses.

Is FreshBooks good for freelancers?

Yes, it’s especially popular with freelancers and service-based professionals who bill clients regularly.

Does FreshBooks include payroll?

No, payroll isn’t built in, but it integrates with third-party providers like Gusto.

Can I use FreshBooks on mobile?

Yes, FreshBooks has mobile apps for iOS and Android that let you invoice and track expenses on the go.

Is FreshBooks worth the price?

For freelancers and small teams, FreshBooks offers strong value, but larger businesses may need more advanced tools.