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QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
QuickBooks Online: The default choice for most US accountants. Payroll, payments and time tracking are separate paid add-ons. FreshBooks: Built around invoicing and billing clients, with a limit on billable clients per plan.
Plans and prices
| Tool | Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Simple Start | $38/mo | 1 |
| QuickBooks Online | Essentials | $85/mo | 3 |
| QuickBooks Online | Plus | $140/mo | 5 |
| QuickBooks Online | Advanced | $340/mo | 25 |
| FreshBooks | Lite | $23/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. 5 billable clients |
| FreshBooks | Plus | $43/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. 50 billable clients |
| FreshBooks | Premium | $70/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. Unlimited billable clients |
The cheapest paid plan is $38 a month at QuickBooks Online and $23 a month at FreshBooks, a gap of $180 a year ($540 over three years).
Where each one rates higher
- QuickBooks Online rates higher on payroll, inventory, accountant access, several users.
- FreshBooks rates higher on invoicing, ease of learning.
| Our fit rating | QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Strong | Limited |
| Inventory | Strong | Minimal or none |
| Invoicing | Good | Strong |
| Accountant access | Strong | Good |
| Several users | Strong | Limited |
| Ease of learning | Good | Strong |
| Free plan | Minimal or none | Minimal or none |
Ratings are our editorial judgments, published on How we score. They are not vendor claims.
Who wins for four typical setups
Same scoring as the quiz, limited to these two tools, for US businesses.
| Setup | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Solo freelancer, 5 invoices a month, wants free | FreshBooks |
| Product shop, 3 users, works with an accountant | QuickBooks Online |
| Small team with payroll and an accountant | QuickBooks Online |
| Invoice-heavy, wants to stay under $30 a month | FreshBooks |
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