5 Best FreshBooks Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 17 min read
FreshBooks is a popular tool for freelancers and service businesses. With pricing starting at $17/mo, it can be expensive for many teams. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 5 best FreshBooks alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 5
- Free alternatives: 3 (Wave, Zoho Books, Harvest)
- Best overall: QuickBooks
- Best free: Wave
Why Look for FreshBooks Alternatives?
People commonly look for FreshBooks alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: At $17/mo, FreshBooks isn't cheap, especially for small teams and startups.
- Feature gaps: Limited for complex accounting and expensive for features are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find FreshBooks overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | ✗ No | $17/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Freelancers and service businesses |
| QuickBooks | ✗ No | $30/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting |
| Xero | ✗ No | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Small businesses outside the US |
| Wave | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing | Free | ⭐ 4 | No | Freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting |
| Zoho Books | ✓ Free for <$50K revenue | $15/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Growing businesses in the Zoho ecosystem |
| Harvest | ✓ 1 seat, 2 projects | $10.80/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Agencies and freelancers tracking billable time |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
QuickBooks
Leading small business accounting software by Intuit.
QuickBooks by Intuit is the most popular accounting software for small and medium businesses. It offers invoicing, expense tracking, tax preparation, payroll, and financial reporting. Available in both online and desktop versions, QuickBooks serves millions of businesses worldwide.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Comprehensive features
- ✓ Great for taxes
- ✓ Large ecosystem
Cons
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Can be complex
- ✗ Price increases
- ✗ Subscription only
Xero
Cloud-based accounting software for small businesses.
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform that's particularly popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It offers beautiful design, strong bank reconciliation, and a large ecosystem of add-ons. Xero is known for being more user-friendly than QuickBooks while still offering powerful accounting features.
Pros
- ✓ Beautiful interface
- ✓ Great bank reconciliation
- ✓ Large app ecosystem
- ✓ Good for non-US businesses
Cons
- ✗ Limited US payroll
- ✗ Can be pricey
- ✗ Reporting limitations
- ✗ Learning curve
Wave
Free accounting software for small businesses and freelancers.
Wave is a free accounting platform that offers invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost. It makes money through payment processing and payroll services. Wave is ideal for freelancers and very small businesses who need basic accounting without the cost.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Easy to use
- ✓ Good for basics
- ✓ Receipt scanning
Cons
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No inventory
- ✗ No time tracking
- ✗ Basic reporting
Zoho Books
Online accounting software for growing businesses.
Zoho Books is an online accounting platform that's part of the Zoho ecosystem. It offers comprehensive features including invoicing, expense tracking, inventory management, and bank reconciliation. As part of Zoho's suite, it integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM, Projects, and other Zoho apps.
Pros
- ✓ Free for small businesses
- ✓ Comprehensive features
- ✓ Zoho ecosystem
- ✓ Good value
Cons
- ✗ Complex interface
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ US features limited
- ✗ Support can be slow
Harvest
Time tracking and invoicing for teams.
Harvest is a time tracking and invoicing tool designed for teams and freelancers. It offers simple time tracking, expense management, project budgets, and invoicing. Harvest integrates with popular project management and accounting tools.
Pros
- ✓ Simple and effective
- ✓ Great integrations
- ✓ Clean interface
- ✓ Reliable
Cons
- ✗ Limited free plan
- ✗ Basic features
- ✗ Expensive for teams
- ✗ No task management
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
QuickBooks — Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting
Best Free Alternative:
Wave — Free accounting and invoicing
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to FreshBooks?
The best free alternative to FreshBooks is Wave, which offers Free accounting and invoicing.
Is there an open-source alternative to FreshBooks?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to FreshBooks at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to FreshBooks?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Wave, Zoho Books, Harvest. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $10.8/mo.
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