FreshBooks alternatives: top competitors compared
Named alongside FreshBooks
QuickBooks OnlineBest forSmall and mid-market businesses100% of FreshBooks answersXeroBest forSmall businesses, and the accountants and bookkeepers who work with them100% of FreshBooks answersZohoBest forBusinesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, wanting one suite for sales, support, finance and HR83% of FreshBooks answersWaveBest forFreelancers, solopreneurs, contractors and consultants who run small businesses and want simple books and invoicing without accounting expertise67% of FreshBooks answers
Data from SlateIndex weekly runs
FreshBooks has a visibility score of 28.8 in Accounting Software, #4 of 48. AI answers that name FreshBooks most often also name these 4.
Quick reference
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Visibility | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Small and mid-market businesses | — | 63% | — |
| Xero | Small businesses, and the accountants and bookkeepers who work with them | $27 / mo | 52.2% | Connects the business's bank, accountant, bookkeeper and other apps in one login. |
| Zoho | Businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, wanting one suite for sales, support, finance and HR | — | 44.8% | A broad suite of 60+ in-house products on a technology stack and data centers Zoho owns, with no ad-based revenue |
| Wave | Freelancers, solopreneurs, contractors and consultants who run small businesses and want simple books and invoicing without accounting expertise | Free; paid from $19 / mo | 21% | Built for small business owners and solopreneurs rather than accountants, with a free core accounting and invoicing plan |
Alternative 1
QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks →QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online suits small and mid-market businesses.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 63% visibility score · #1 in Accounting Software
Key features
- QuickBooks Online — Cloud accounting for small and mid-market businesses, with cloud access and a mobile app.
- QuickBooks Online Advanced — Higher tier with construction job costing, deeper inventory, and guided migration from Desktop.
- Bill Pay Elite — Bill payment feature included in QuickBooks Advanced with no added fee as of August 2026.
- QuickBooks Time — Time tracking built into QuickBooks Online since June 2026.
QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
| Dimension | QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 63% | 28.8% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | $23 / mo |
| Free plan | — | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Market leader and most widely used accounting software, especially for small businesses
- Best overall choice for most small and medium businesses
- Safest general-purpose option, with strong bookkeeper support and integrations
- AI-assisted categorization, reconciliation, reporting, and financial insights
- 30-day free trial across plan tiers
Cons
- Pricing can be less transparent, relying on promotional rates that expire and possible price increases
- Free plan is limited to one user, few invoices, and no accountant access
- Not sufficient for enterprise-scale organisations or mid-market companies that have outgrown it
Alternative 2
Xero vs FreshBooks →Xero
Xero suits small businesses, and the accountants and bookkeepers who work with them.
Quick facts
- $27 / mo · flat tiers
- 52.2% visibility score · #2 in Accounting Software
Key features
- Xero accounting plans (Early, Growing, Established) — Cloud accounting with invoicing, bill payments, bank reconciliation, reporting and cash flow forecasting, sold in three monthly tiers.
- Smart Document Capture — Pulls bills and receipts straight into Xero.
- Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto — Calculates and files payroll taxes, pays staff and tracks compliance inside Xero.
- Inventory Plus — Optional add-on for inventory management.
Xero vs FreshBooks
| Dimension | Xero | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 52.2% | 28.8% |
| Pricing model | Flat tiers | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | $27 / mo | $23 / mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Strong bank reconciliation
- Intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Free trial available
- Strong integrations with other accounting and business software
- Unlimited users on plans, good for collaboration
Cons
Alternative 3
Zoho vs FreshBooks →Zoho
Zoho suits businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises, wanting one suite for sales, support, finance and HR.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 44.8% visibility score · #3 in CRM
Key features
- Zoho CRM — Manage sales, marketing and support in one CRM platform.
- Zoho Desk — Customer service software for support teams.
- Zoho Creator — Low-code platform to build custom business apps.
- Zoho One — Unified suite of 50+ business applications.
Zoho vs FreshBooks
| Dimension | Zoho | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 44.8% | 28.8% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | $23 / mo |
| Free plan | — | No |
| Trial | — | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Strong value for money and low cost
- Free tier for small teams
- Broad functionality and integrated app ecosystem
- Good customization options
- Scales well as businesses grow
Cons
- Less premium user experience
- Pricing varies dramatically across products
Alternative 4
Wave vs FreshBooks →Wave
Wave suits freelancers, solopreneurs, contractors and consultants who run small businesses and want simple books and invoicing without accounting expertise.
Quick facts
- Free; paid from $19 / mo · flat tiers
- Free plan available
- 21% visibility score · #7 in Accounting Software
Key features
- Wave Accounting — Double-entry bookkeeping, income and expense tracking, cash flow management and reporting.
- Wave Invoicing — Create and send invoices and estimates, with recurring invoices and late payment reminders on paid plans.
- Wave Payments — Online card and bank payments on invoices, as an add-on to any plan.
- Wave Payroll — Pay employees and contractors, available as an add-on in some regions.
Wave vs FreshBooks
| Dimension | Wave | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 21% | 28.8% |
| Pricing model | Flat tiers | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | Free; paid from $19 / mo | $23 / mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Trial | Free plan available | 30-day free trial |
Pros
- Free accounting and invoicing for micro-businesses
- Well suited to freelancers and very small businesses
- Ongoing free plan rather than a time-limited trial
- Affordable and reliable for small businesses
- Clear public pricing
Cons
- Free plan mainly suits a single user, not teams
- Free products offer fewer controls and growth features
How to choose
Match the pricing model to your cost driver: headcount, usage or features.
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Flat tiers | $23 / mo |
| QuickBooks Online | — | — |
| Xero | Flat tiers | $27 / mo |
| Zoho | — | — |
| Wave | Flat tiers | Free; paid from $19 / mo |
More alternatives
Ranked by how often AI answers name them alongside FreshBooks in the latest weekly run.