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Comparison · Prices checked

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online: which one fits

FreshBooks is invoicing-first software for service businesses, with accounting added. QuickBooks Online is full accounting software that also sends invoices.

IN SHORT

FreshBooks is invoicing-first software for service businesses, with accounting added. QuickBooks Online is full accounting software that also sends invoices. FreshBooks Lite starts at $23/month (before any intro discount); QuickBooks Online Simple Start starts at $38/month (before any intro discount). If neither fits, SoloWOS Invoicing lets you send invoices clients pay by card, with 50 invoices a month on Solo and 12 other tools for $15/month.

Prices and limits as of .

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online at a glance

FreshBooks compared with QuickBooks Online
ComparedFreshBooksQuickBooks Online
Cheapest paid plan$23/month (before any intro discount) (Lite)$38/month (before any intro discount) (Simple Start)
Free planNo free plan, only a free trialNo free plan; check their page for trials and intro offers
Plan limits5 billable clients · 1 userSimple Start: 1 billable user
Users on the cheapest plan1 user, 5 billable clients (Lite)1 billable user (Simple Start)
Main strengthInvoices, time and expenses for service workBookkeeping, bank feeds and reports

Sources: FreshBooks pricing (checked ) and QuickBooks Online pricing (checked ). Prices change and can vary by region, so check their pages for current plans.

Which one to pick

Pick FreshBooks if

  • You bill clients for time and want simple accounting next to it.
  • Your accountant already works in FreshBooks.
FreshBooks vs SoloWOS

Pick QuickBooks Online if

  • You need real bookkeeping that your accountant files from.
  • You plan to add payroll or inventory later.
QuickBooks Online vs SoloWOS

Or use SoloWOS Invoicing if

  • You need invoices paid by card into your own Stripe account, created from proposals and tracked hours.
  • Your bookkeeping lives with your accountant and you need the client side.
See Invoicing

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online questions

Is FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online cheaper?
FreshBooks's cheapest paid plan started at $23/month (before any intro discount) (Lite), and QuickBooks Online's at $38/month (before any intro discount) (Simple Start), when we checked in October 2026. Free plans: FreshBooks: No free plan, only a free trial. QuickBooks Online: No free plan; check their page for trials and intro offers.
What's the main difference between FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online?
FreshBooks is invoicing-first software for service businesses, with accounting added. QuickBooks Online is full accounting software that also sends invoices.
Is there a cheaper option than FreshBooks and QuickBooks?
If you need this together with proposals, invoices and scheduling, SoloWOS includes Invoicing with 50 invoices a month on the Solo plan, plus 12 other tools, for $15/month. It does less than either app in some areas, so read the lists above first.

FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online are trademarks of their owners. SoloWOS is not affiliated with or endorsed by either. Comparisons are based on their public pages as of the dates above.

Try SoloWOS Invoicing for 14 days

14 days free, no card needed · Then Basic for $2/month.

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