QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks: Full Comparison (2026)
Quick Answer
QuickBooks is full-service accounting for growing businesses. FreshBooks is invoicing-first software for freelancers and service businesses. If you send invoices and track time, FreshBooks is simpler and cheaper. If you need inventory, payroll integration, or your accountant demands QBO, go with QuickBooks.
QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks at a Glance
| Dimension | QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease Of Use | 7.5/10 | 9.0/10 | FreshBooks |
| Features | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | QuickBooks Online |
| Overall | 7.5/10 | 7.2/10 | QuickBooks Online |
| Pricing | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | FreshBooks |
| Support | 6.5/10 | 8.0/10 | FreshBooks |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start / Select | $30/monthly | $Custom/quote |
| Essentials / Lite | $60/monthly | $19/monthly |
| Plus | $90/monthly | $33/monthly |
| Advanced / Premium | $200/monthly | $60/monthly |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt scanning | Yes | Yes |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes |
| Tax preparation | Yes | Yes |
| Accountant access | Yes | Yes |
| Bank reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Bill pay | Yes | Yes |
| Double-entry accounting | Yes | Yes |
| Expense tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | Yes | No |
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-entity | Yes | No |
| Role-based permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Bank feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Payroll integration | Yes | Yes |
| Budgeting | Yes | No |
| Custom reports | Yes | Yes |
| Financial reports (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) | Yes | Yes |
| Project profitability | Yes | Yes |
Ease Of Use: QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
FreshBooks is the easiest accounting software to use, period. It was designed for non-accountants. QBO assumes you know basic accounting concepts. If you don't know what a chart of accounts is, FreshBooks is your tool.
Features: QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
QBO has inventory, job costing, multi-currency, class tracking, and deep payroll integration. FreshBooks has excellent invoicing, time tracking, and proposals but lacks inventory and advanced accounting features.
Overall: QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
QBO is the more capable platform overall. FreshBooks wins on invoicing workflow and ease of use. The right choice depends entirely on whether you need full accounting or just great invoicing.
Pricing: QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
FreshBooks Lite at $19/mo is cheaper than QBO Simple Start at $30/mo. But FreshBooks caps billable clients (5/50/500 by tier), while QBO doesn't. For high-volume businesses, QBO may actually be cheaper per-client.
Support: QuickBooks Online vs FreshBooks
FreshBooks consistently scores higher on customer support in user reviews. Phone support is available on all plans. QBO's support quality varies wildly depending on the agent you get.
Our Recommendation
FreshBooks for freelancers and service businesses under 50 clients. QuickBooks for everyone else — especially product businesses, companies with inventory, or anyone whose accountant insists on QBO (which is most of them).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FreshBooks real accounting software?
FreshBooks added double-entry accounting in 2018. It's real accounting software, but it's designed for simplicity over depth. For complex accounting needs (inventory, job costing), QBO is stronger.