FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online: which is better for a new business? (2026)
7.9/10
FreshBooks
From $23/mo
Choose FreshBooks if: Solo service providers who bill clients by invoice
Skip it if: You bill more than 5 clients yet need a plan under $43/month.
Visit FreshBooks9.4/10
QuickBooks Online
Free plan
Choose QuickBooks Online if: Businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks
Skip it if: You need a cheap paid plan; Essentials costs $85/mo after the August 2026 increase.
Visit QuickBooks OnlineQuick verdict
| Higher OwnerUnlocked score | QuickBooks Online (7.9 vs 9.4) |
|---|---|
| Lower starting price | QuickBooks Online (From $23/mo vs Free plan) |
| Better public ratings | QuickBooks Online (4.2 vs 4.7 / 5) |
| More Spanish help | QuickBooks Online (Not confirmed vs Spanish support) |
Side by side
| Best for | Solo service providers who bill clients by invoice | Businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Skip if | You bill more than 5 clients yet need a plan under $43/month. | You need a cheap paid plan; Essentials costs $85/mo after the August 2026 increase. |
| Free plan or trial | 30 days | Free plan |
| Spanish | Not confirmed | Spanish support |
| Support | Phone, email in office hours; 24/7 AI chatbot | Phone callback, chat; M-F 6am-6pm, Sat 6am-3pm PT |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Public rating | 4.7/5 (App Store, 10,979) | 4.7/5 (App Store, 269,626) |
| Price | $23/mo (Lite); $1/mo first-year promo | $0 (Free); paid from $38/mo |
| Free plan | No free plan | 2 invoices/mo, 1 bank, 1 user, 2 receipts/mo, 5 trips/mo |
| Users | Owner only; +$11/mo per team member | 1 user + 2 accountants (Simple Start) |
| Invoicing | Unlimited invoices; client limits by plan | Unlimited on paid plans; 2/mo on Free |
| Bank connection | Yes, all plans; reconciliation on Plus and up | Yes; Free plan limited to 1 bank |
| Receipt capture | Plus and up | Yes; 2/mo on Free |
| Mileage tracking | Yes, mobile app, all plans | Yes, GPS in mobile app; 5 trips/mo on Free |
| Payroll add-on | $40/mo + $6/mo per person | Bundle from $88/mo + $6.50/employee (with Simple Start) |
| Sales tax | Taxes on invoices + sales tax summary report | Automatic on paid plans; manual on Free |
| Time tracking | Yes, all plans | Essentials and up |
| Inventory | Basic stock counts on items | Plus and up |
| Accountant access | Plus and up | 2 accountants on paid plans; none on Free |
| 1099 contractors | Expense reports only; 1099-NEC via payroll add-on | Track and file 1099s; free e-file on Advanced |
| Online payment fees | Cards 2.9% + 30¢; ACH 1% | Cards 2.99%; ACH 1% ($1 min); keyed 3.5% |
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FreshBooks
- Lite promo: $1/month for the first year (regular $23).
- Unlimited time tracking and mobile mileage tracking on every plan.
- Invoices and estimates can be sent in Spanish to chosen clients.
- 30-day free trial with no credit card; 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Lite caps billable clients at 5; Plus caps them at 50.
- No team members included; each added user costs $11/month.
- Receipt scanning and accountant access start at Plus ($43/month).
QuickBooks Online
- Free plan includes 1 bank connection and 2 invoices per month.
- Paid plans include automatic sales tax, mileage tracking and receipt capture.
- Simple Start lets 2 accountants access your books at no extra cost.
- Mobile app rated 4.7/5 from about 270,000 App Store ratings.
- Essentials and Plus rose to $85 and $140 per month in August 2026.
- US version has no Spanish interface; Spanish help uses an interpreter.
- Free plan has no accountant access and only 2 receipt scans monthly.
Also worth a look
Questions
Is FreshBooks or QuickBooks Online cheaper?
QuickBooks Online starts lower: From $23/mo for FreshBooks vs Free plan for QuickBooks Online. Compare the plan you'd actually use, including add-ons.
Which has better reviews?
QuickBooks Online, with 4.7/5 on average across the public ratings we checked.
Which one helps in Spanish?
FreshBooks: Not confirmed. QuickBooks Online: Spanish support.
Can I switch from one to the other later?
Yes, though switching mid-year takes some setup. Export your records before you cancel, and check for annual contracts or cancellation notice periods.
Facts from each company's own pages and public rating sites, checked Oct 4, 2026. How we rate.