If you run a small business, you have likely asked yourself: Freshbooks vs Quickbooks, which one should I choose? Both are big names in accounting software, and both handle invoices, expense tracking, and reports.
QuickBooks: A Broader Toolkit for Growing Teams
QuickBooks Online is built for small business owners who want room to grow. If you sell products, track inventory, or plan to hire, QuickBooks gives you the structure you need. There is a learning curve, but you get more long-term power once you settle in.
Features of QuickBooks
- Custom invoices and recurring billing
- QuickBooks Payroll add-on for employees and contractors
- Time tracking as an add-on (QuickBooks Time)
- Inventory management is built in
- Expense tracking with bank feeds
- Multi-currency support
- Strong tax, cash flow, and profit reports
QuickBooks also has a desktop version, though most owners prefer the online app for easy updates and access from anywhere.
FreshBooks: Simpler Accounting for Service Work
FreshBooks focuses on freelancers, consultants, and small service teams. If you bill for time and projects, FreshBooks is easy to learn and fast to use. It keeps the screen clean and helps you send polished invoices in minutes.
FreshBooks Plan Options and Features
- Lite plan for up to 5 clients
- Quick invoice creation with your logo and thank-you notes
- Time tracking with a built-in timer
- Client retainers and recurring billing
- Expense tracking with receipt photos
- Estimates and deposits
- Payroll through Gusto integration
FreshBooks does not include inventory management. For many service businesses, that is not a dealbreaker.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks: Quick Comparison
Sometimes it’s easier to see it all at once. Here’s a table with the core differences:
| Feature | QuickBooks | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | Robust, customizable, batch sending | Simple, polished, client-friendly |
| Estimates | Yes | Yes |
| Expense tracking | Yes, with bank feeds | Yes |
| Time tracking | Add-on (QuickBooks Time) | Built-in timer |
| Inventory management | Yes | No |
| Payroll | QuickBooks Payroll add-on | Gusto integration |
| Reporting | Advanced and detailed | Basic and clear |
| Mobile app | Invoices, expenses, reports, and reconciliation | Invoices, expenses, time tracking |
| Client limits | Unlimited | Limited by plan |
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Plans
Prices change over time, but the structure stays similar. FreshBooks uses clear tiers with client limits. QuickBooks tiers scale by features and user seats.
FreshBooks Plan Snapshot
- Lite: budget option for up to 5 clients
- Plus: up to 50 clients, adds retainers and late fees
- Premium: up to 500 clients for larger books of business
QuickBooks Online Plan Snapshot
- Simple Start: invoicing, payments, basic reports
- Essentials / Plus: more users, bills, projects, inventory
- Advanced: automation and role-based access for bigger teams
Quick note: QuickBooks costs more overall and offers more advanced features than FreshBooks. FreshBooks is friendly to start with, especially on a Lite or Plus plan. If you hit client limits, you may need to step up a tier.
Invoices and Payments
Both tools handle invoices well. FreshBooks makes it feel easy and personal. QuickBooks adds more control and automation.
- FreshBooks: logos, thank-you notes, deposits, late fees, retainers
- QuickBooks: batch sending, recurring invoices, more templates
Payment processing fees are close. Most cards run near 2.9% plus a small fixed amount. If you send only a few invoices, you may not notice small fee differences. If you send many, QuickBooks automation can save clicks and time.
Mobile Apps for Daily Tasks
Both apps run on iOS and Android.
- FreshBooks app: send invoices, track time, snap receipts
- QuickBooks app: all of the above, plus reports and reconciliation
QuickBooks offers more. FreshBooks feels lighter and faster for quick tasks between client calls.
Make Either One Better With G-Accon
Here is where many owners get stuck. You want live reports. You want to share numbers with your accountant without constant exports. You want one sheet your team can trust. That is why many small businesses use G-Accon.
What G-Accon does:
- Integrates with QuickBooks Online and FreshBooks
- Lets you pull live data into Google Sheets in seconds
- Allows you to schedule auto-refresh daily, weekly, or monthly
- Combines accounting data with other sources in one dashboard
- Simplifies sharing with a single Google Sheet link
Two quick examples:
- Service shop on FreshBooks: use time tracking for billable hours, then let G-Accon update a Google Sheet that shows hours, unpaid invoices, and who owes what.
- Retail team on QuickBooks: track inventory, sales, and expenses. G-Accon pushes fresh numbers to a weekly sheet so your staff sees stock and cash flow at a glance.
FreshBooks and QuickBooks handle bookkeeping. G-Accon turns that data into live, simple reports your team will actually use.
How to Choose: FreshBooks Vs QuickBooks?
Choose FreshBooks if you are a freelancer, consultant, or service business that bills for time and projects. FreshBooks excels at time tracking, clean invoices, and smooth client work. It focuses on the tasks you do every day without extra clutter.
Choose QuickBooks if you sell products or need payroll, inventory management, and deeper reports. QuickBooks offers more advanced tools and scales as you add users and complexity. There is a learning curve, but the power is there when you need it.
FreshBooks vs QuickBooks: Making the Right Choice for Your Business
When it comes to FreshBooks vs QuickBooks, it is easy to get lost in the details, payment fees, reporting features, or which app looks cleaner. The bigger call is your stage of business and what you need right now.
FreshBooks is best for small service teams that want simple time tracking and billing without fuss.
QuickBooks is best for small business owners who need inventory, QuickBooks Payroll, or advanced accounting and reporting features.
And do not forget, whichever one you pick, G-Accon takes it further. By linking QuickBooks Online or FreshBooks to Google Sheets, you stop worrying about stale reports and start making decisions with live numbers.
So maybe the real question is not FreshBooks or QuickBooks. The smarter question is: how do you make either one work harder for you?
