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FreshBooks alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave FreshBooks: lower tiers cap the number of billable clients, and each extra team member costs more. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces FreshBooks, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. QuickBooks Online currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1QuickBooks Online logoQuickBooks OnlineFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 566.5
2Wave logoWaveFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 462.6
3Zoho Invoice logoZoho InvoiceFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 359.6
4Invoice Ninja logoInvoice NinjaFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +45 of 557.2
5Xero logoXeroPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 555.3
6Zoho Books logoZoho BooksFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 553.6
  1. QuickBooks Online logo

    1. QuickBooks OnlineTop pick

    Best for: US small businesses that work with an accountant and want the most widely supported tool

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Fuller accounting with inventory and the accountant ecosystem behind it.

    Pros

    • Almost every US accountant and bookkeeper knows it
    • Large integration catalogue plus payroll and payments add-ons
    • Scales from a sole trader to a mid-sized company on one product

    Cons

    • Prices have risen repeatedly and add-ons add up
    • Free tier is limited to one user and basic tracking
    • Support quality is a frequent complaint
    Visit QuickBooks Online Compare with FreshBooksDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is QuickBooks Online a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, 1 user
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quickbooks.intuit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Simple Start price
    $38/month (regular price)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quickbooks.intuit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quickbooks.intuit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    800+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quickbooks.intuit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026quickbooks.intuit.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Wave logo

    2. Wave

    Best for: Freelancers and very small US or Canadian businesses that want free bookkeeping

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Free invoicing and bookkeeping for freelancers on a tight budget.

    Pros

    • Free plan with unlimited invoices and records
    • Simple enough for owners with no accounting background
    • Payments and payroll available in the same account

    Cons

    • No inventory tracking
    • Bank-feed automation needs the paid Pro plan
    • Limited integrations and multi-user controls
    Visit Wave Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Wave a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes (Starter, $0)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026waveapps.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $19 USD/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026waveapps.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Card fee on free plan
    2.9% + $0.60 per transaction
    Checked Oct 25, 2026waveapps.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Invoices on free plan
    Unlimited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026waveapps.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Zoho Invoice logo

    3. Zoho Invoice

    Best for: Freelancers and small businesses that only need invoicing and want it free

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Completely free invoicing with time tracking if you only need to bill clients.

    Pros

    • Free with recurring invoices and reminders
    • Time and expense tracking for billable work
    • Easy upgrade path to Zoho Books

    Cons

    • Not full accounting: no bank reconciliation or ledgers
    • Payment gateway fees still apply
    • Best value only if you stay in Zoho
    Visit Zoho Invoice Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Invoice a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free for small businesses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cost
    $0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Recurring invoices
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Invoice Ninja logo

    4. Invoice Ninja

    Best for: Freelancers and small firms that want flexible invoicing and the option to self-host

    Free plan + paidSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Generous free tier and a self-hosted option for invoicing, quotes and time.

    Pros

    • Self-host option alongside the hosted service
    • Many payment gateways and a client portal
    • Low-priced paid plans

    Cons

    • Not full accounting: no ledger or reconciliation
    • Source-available licence, not standard open source
    • Free hosted plan is limited to five clients
    Visit Invoice Ninja Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Invoice Ninja a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 5 clients
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invoiceninja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $14/month billed monthly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invoiceninja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Code licence
    Source-available
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    200,000+ businesses
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invoiceninja.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026invoiceninja.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Xero logo

    5. Xero

    Best for: Small businesses, especially outside the US, that want accountant-friendly cloud books

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Unlimited users and stronger reconciliation as the business grows.

    Pros

    • Unlimited users included on every plan
    • Large marketplace of connected apps
    • Strong bank reconciliation workflow

    Cons

    • Entry plan limits the number of invoices and bills
    • US payroll relies on a Gusto add-on
    • Costs climb once you need projects or multi-currency
    Visit Xero Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Xero a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $27/month after intro offer (Early)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Growing plan
    $59/month after intro offer
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    1,000+ apps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Customers
    5 million worldwide
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026xero.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Zoho Books logo

    6. Zoho Books

    Best for: Cost-conscious small businesses, especially those already using other Zoho apps

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from FreshBooks

    Lower price per organisation with no per-client limits.

    Pros

    • Free plan plus low per-organisation pricing
    • Automation rules and custom fields at small-business prices
    • Works closely with Zoho CRM, Inventory and Payroll

    Cons

    • Fewer accountants know it than QuickBooks or Xero
    • Features and pricing vary by country edition
    • Interface can feel crowded
    Visit Zoho Books Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Books a good FreshBooks alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan users
    1 user + 1 accountant
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard plan
    $15/org/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Professional plan
    $40/org/month billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Apps
    Mobile and desktop
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best FreshBooks alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

QuickBooks Online logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for most people

QuickBooks Online

Fuller accounting with inventory and the accountant ecosystem behind it.

Zoho Invoice logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for a free option

Zoho Invoice

Completely free invoicing with time tracking if you only need to bill clients.

Wave logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Wave

Free invoicing and bookkeeping for freelancers on a tight budget.

Invoice Ninja logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for self-hosting

Invoice Ninja

Generous free tier and a self-hosted option for invoicing, quotes and time.

Zoho Books logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for Mac

Zoho Books

Lower price per organisation with no per-client limits.

Invoice Ninja logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for Windows

Invoice Ninja

Generous free tier and a self-hosted option for invoicing, quotes and time.

Invoice Ninja logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for Linux

Invoice Ninja

Generous free tier and a self-hosted option for invoicing, quotes and time.

Xero logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for iPhone and Android

Xero

Unlimited users and stronger reconciliation as the business grows.

QuickBooks Online logo

Best FreshBooks alternative for working in the browser

QuickBooks Online

Fuller accounting with inventory and the accountant ecosystem behind it.

FreshBooks alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to FreshBooks?

QuickBooks Online ranks first right now. Fuller accounting with inventory and the accountant ecosystem behind it. Wave and Zoho Invoice follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to FreshBooks?

Yes. QuickBooks Online (free plan + paid), Wave (free plan + paid), Zoho Invoice (free) and Invoice Ninja (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to FreshBooks?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which FreshBooks alternatives work on Linux?

Invoice Ninja runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from FreshBooks?

The complaints we hear most: lower tiers cap the number of billable clients; each extra team member costs more; weak for inventory-heavy businesses.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces FreshBooks, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.