FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Comparison: Which Is Better for You?

Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner? Do you have questions about managing your financial accounts? Or are you looking for guidance to help in your financial accountability? Then you’re in the right place! Follow along as we explore the leading accounting tools in our FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Comparison.

These accounting software options have a lot of features that favor small businesses and foster growth. Sit back as we run through what makes both software stand out as leaders in their niche.

What is the difference between FreshBooks and QuickBooks?

The main difference between QuickBooks and FreshBooks is the extent to which one can be applied above the other when it comes to small business accounting. While Freshbooks acts as a simpler companion for freelancers and solopreneurs, QuickBooks offers more extensive services suited for small businesses.

The call for financial accountability and bookkeeping is one that has come to the forefront for various tiers of businesses nowadays. The influx of people into the freelance role and entrepreneurship has increased the need for a financial, tax and accounting software solution that aids small business owners and freelancers in better managing their finances helping them track expenses while keeping them in the loop regarding their income.

At the forefront of bookkeeping for small businesses is a set of software with various features that help self-employed freelancers and small business owners stay on top of their finances.

While it’s difficult to pick a single software as the best accounting software, both FreshBooks and QuickBooks have a set of basic features that have kept them relevant amidst the flurry of working accounting software.

Today, we will be pitting these two business accounting software giants against each other to help you better decide which ones suit you the most when making that decision. We’ve also done an extensive FreshBooks review if you’re interested in taking a better look at the software, and we also have a well-researched QuickBooks online review.

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks comparison chart

For a quick overview, we will compare FreshBooks to QuickBooks and see how they both stack up.

QuickBooks vs FreshBooks pricing

When it comes to picking accounting software, the cost is a very important factor. The way it works with both QuickBooks and FreshBooks is that there are varying pricing plans for varying pocket sizes. The lowest plans on both software have the software's basic features.

QuickBooks has 5 pricing plan tiers from Simple Start to Desktop pro, ranging from $8.8 to $349. Each plan has its perks and there is room for more integration with each plan.

FreshBooks has 4 plans and the price ranges between $15 per month to $50+, from its plus plan to its custom price. And like QuickBooks, there are additional benefits to higher prices plans. There currently is a 6 month 60% price slash on each plan.

Winner: 

On the subject of price point, FreshBooks clinches it as it has cheaper options and presently offers the more cost-effective plans for self-employed workers and small businesses.
 

QuickBooks vs FreshBooks free versions

Quite unfortunately, both QuickBooks and FreshBooks do not have a free plan for users, what they both share in common is access to their services for a 30-day free trial period. 

This trial period gives potential customers an opportunity to test various features to find what works for them.

Another perk both accounting software offer are discounts. As at the time of writing this, QuickBooks offers a 50% discount on each plan that lasts for 3 months. Freshbooks offers a 60% discount on all its plans and the discount lasts for 3 months.

Winner: 

Since both of them do not have free versions, it would be ideal to call this category a draw, but FreshBooks clinches this category due to its larger discount percentage for a longer time frame.
 

Customer support

The customer support system of any software is a huge factor in its ranking as it helps new users navigate the software better and older users can resolve novel issues with it.

QuickBooks offers a couple of effective customer support options, including a QuickBooks Online chatbot that's available 24/7 and an active community forum. You can use the online chatbot to make quick queries and get quick responses too. 

The chatbot can also be a gateway to direct chat with a member of the software support staff. All you need to do is type "Chat to a human," and you will be linked with a person. This process, though, is not as quick as relating with the chatbot directly. There are also resources available, and the community is also quite helpful.

FreshBooks customer support has a good reputation, and there are multiple contact options, including chat, email, and phone. They have open phone support from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays. FreshBooks also has a help center with a ton of useful resources to help you navigate your business needs with ease. 

Winner:

On the subject of customer support in this FreshBooks vs QuickBooks review, FreshBooks inches our QuickBooks. It has a good reputation, and its phone support option is both responsive and adds a personal touch.
 

Knowledge Base & Learning

Both FreshBooks and QuickBooks have an extensive knowledge base and provide resources to educate their users on basic accounting tools and accounting solutions for which they can employ them.

Winner: 

Although they both offer very similar resources, FreshBooks takes the win here because the organization of its materials is better than QuickBooks.

QuickBooks vs FreshBooks features & functionality

Now that we’ve considered some major things that affect the standing of both business accounting software for users, we will be taking a look at the key features and functionality that improve customer enjoyment of both software and how they stack up against each other.
 

FreshBooks or QuickBooks for ease of use?

The popular gist in town regarding ease of use between FreshBooks and QuickBooks is that FreshBooks is easier to use than QuickBooks. 

Both FreshBooks and QuickBooks have an intuitive interface, but with QuickBooks, there is an existing learning curve in usage. Especially since it has more accounting tools and it seems more suited for accountants and people with the above basic knowledge of bookkeeping and small business accounting.

FreshBooks has a user-friendly interface and is much more friendly for beginners and solopreneurs who are not looking to learn the intricacies of proper accounting.

Winner: 

This round, without a doubt, goes to FreshBooks. While QuickBooks is not too complicated, it still has a longer learning curve compared to FreshBooks.
 

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks online versions

When comparing QuickBooks online vs FreshBooks, their online services are a major point to watch. Most accounting software users use them directly on their PCs or via their mobile apps.

Both software serve up a decent range of online services, including time tracking, inventory management, reporting, invoicing, and other essential accounting features, QuickBooks has the larger repository, and its larger add-on compatibility gives it the edge.

Winner: 

QuickBooks takes this round due to its more extensive online reach.
 

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks desktop versions

When looking at FreshBooks vs QuickBooks desktop, unlike QuickBooks online vs FreshBooks, Quickbooks seems to be losing its grip. In recent news, it seems like Intuit is phasing out QuickBooks desktop; this is a move to focus on their more profitable versions, like their online versions  

Winner: 

FreshBooks has this round. While QuickBooks desktop might have excelled in the past, attempting to phase it out will undoubtedly create more room for FreshBooks.
 

Mobile apps

Initially, QuickBooks did not have an app in this category but developed apps for both Android and iOS devices, On the whole, their apps are not bad on their mobile designs.

FreshBooks seems to have gotten a wind if the mobile solopreneurs and freelancers much earlier and have used this to their advantage. 

Winner: 

FreshBooks takes the crown here, and it is due to its longevity. 
 

Integrations

Integration is one area where Quickbooks excels. Both Quickbooks and FreshBooks have integration options, and this helps customers to use this accounting software alongside other external apps and software.

FreshBooks, on the one hand, has over 100 integration happens, which is an impressive collection of integrations. The core integrations that you will need as a freelancer are available, but when you need to get deeper into small business accounting, the need for more accountant-centric integrations come up. QuickBooks offers over 750 integration options, from the popular options to the more obscure options for those who are used to the intricacies of accounting.  

Winner: 

The winner of his round by a mile is QuickBooks. If it is not yet apparent, Quickbooks offers your small business much more to work with, especially if you have an accountant with the technical know-how to handle the various needed integrations.

A note on FreshBooks QuickBooks integration

For users using either of both accounting tools, the question might arise, how do I connect FreshBooks to QuickBooks, there is an integration for that. FreshBooks integration with QuickBooks can be done with the “FreshBooks Connector by Intuit” developed by the developers of QuickBooks; it allows users to link their FreshBooks account to QuickBooks and allows for data transfer between both platforms. 

An alternative is to use Zapier, which allows for seamless integration between tools and software without the need for coding. It works quite well, and it is easy to use too. 
 

Product limitations

Both software options are great for growing businesses, but they both have noticeable limitations that various users want worked upon.

Quickbooks can be a bit technical, which is a limitation to its use for simple freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses without an accountant. 

Another problem is its weak auditing trials. Since it allows many users without a form of editing storage, any user can make manual changes to figures without it being monitored. 

FreshBooks' first major limitation is that it is difficult to scale beyond the smallest of businesses. Once you begin to expand into a larger business type, there is a limit to what it can actively do for your business accounting. 

The currency options on FreshBooks also seem limited, this could affect users that do not manage their finances in either USD, Euro, Pounds, or Australian Dollar. 

Winner: 

This round is a tie as both systems have their limitations. 
 

QuickBooks or FreshBooks for Invoicing

Invoicing is essential to every freelancer and small business. It can be very useful in gauging cash flow and can also help to rack income for the users. Preparing your invoices from scratch is not a scalable solution, thus the need for invoicing software like FreshBooks and QuickBooks. 

With FreshBooks, invoicing is a straightforward process. 

The software allows you to pick from easily customizable templates. If you are working with billable clients and need recurring invoices, you can use the track time feature to monitor existing activities and customize your invoicing to address that client. You can also set up payment reminders using this invoicing system.

Then there is the user-friendliness of FreshBooks invoicing, which QuickBooks does not have.

Quickbooks has a functioning invoicing system, allowing users to add time-tracking data to invoices. This feature comes with a higher-end subscription, and sometimes the invoicing for QuickBooks could be more suited for a larger type of organization than for a solopreneur.   

Winner: 

FreshBooks edges QuickBooks out here, especially for small businesses and freelancers due to its basic features being worth its every buck.
 

Inventory Management

QuickBooks is undoubtedly ahead of FreshBooks regarding inventory management. QuickBooks seems designed to be more for product-oriented businesses than service-based businesses. Its inventory management is top-notch, as it can track your current inventory and reconcile product sales or services offered to existing stock.

FreshBooks’s inventory management feature is a fairly new one. While it does a decent inventory job, it is not as comprehensive or as clinical as QuickBooks. 

Winner: 

It is not a contest in this round, as QuickBooks’s effective inventory tracking and management system clearly trumps out FreshBooks.
 

Time Tracking

Time tracking is one area where FreshBooks excels above QuickBooks, first because it is available on every plan and also because it is quite effective too. You’ve the option of time tracking by project and by the client. You can also record billable hours for each of your clients and include this in their invoices. This can help freelancers calculate the profitability of certain projects or clients.

QuickBooks time tracking is restricted to higher plans. It works more on a large-scale project basis than for self-employed freelancers. 

Winner: 

FreshBooks Clinches this round as it is both effective for freelancers and can be used alongside team members to track time and ensure project profitability.
 

Reporting 

Data reporting is an important factor in picking accounting software for your business. QuickBooks and FreshBooks offer superb reporting analysis, but QuickBooks has the advantage here. With QuickBooks, there is the provision for more features and a more customizable reporting system, which FreshBooks lacks.

Winner: 

QuickBooks slightly edges FreshBooks out due to its better customization feature and more reporting options.
 

Assisted Bookkeeping

Assisted Bookkeeping has to do with the availability of a professional bookkeeper to assist you with your bookkeeping troubles. QuickBooks is ahead of FreshBooks in this category based on two major factors: its popularity and its direct provision of bookkeeping services on its platform. 

These factors allow you to enjoy help from local bookkeepers and access to professional bookkeepers from QuickBooks. Since the bookkeepers are in-house, they can better deal with issues with your bank accounts, reporting, credit card payments, and the like. 

FreshBooks has a third-party online bookkeeping service, Bench, which is not a bad option. But, FreshBooks does not offer as much benefit in this category as QuickBooks.

Winner: 

The winner of this round is QuickBooks due to its popularity and the professionalism of its in-house bookkeepers. 

Is FreshBooks better than QuickBooks? Our conclusion

After placing both accounting software side by side and considering additional factors such as QuickBooks checking account review, it is still difficult to tell which one has the higher advantage over the other, and this is a testament to the effectiveness of both tools. Eventually, you will evaluate the pros and cons of both tools, including their checking account features, and decide on which you would rather go with.

If you are a self-employed entrepreneur who wants an accounting tool that would bring ease to his accounting and money management worries, then FreshBooks would be the best accounting software for you. It achieves the basics, helping you track income and track expenses too.

If, on the other hand, you are a small business looking to expand and have a team member with an interest in all things accounting, then QuickBooks offers you more to work with. 

If you've looked through the two accounting solutions above and they are just not for you, there are other great options for your use, including Stripe and Xero, which like QuickBooks and FreshBooks, acts as a financial organizer for your business to increase productivity and help you better manage money.

FAQs

FreshBooks vs QuickBooks self employed use: which is a better choice?

For people who work for themselves, either as freelancers or running a one-man business enterprise, a lot of factors go into your choice of accounting solution. Chief among these is functionality. FreshBooks offers you all you need to carry out your business without overburdening you with other features.