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FreshBooks

FreshBooks

Overview

What is FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is an accounting service for small businesses. The solution enables users to send and manage invoices, track billable time and collect online payments. The vendor’s value proposition this that their solution provides a straightforward service that simplifies the billing…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

FreshBooks is a user-friendly accounting software that has been highly praised by users for its ability to streamline invoice creation, …
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Know what you are buying first

2 out of 10
November 02, 2023
Our main use for FreshBooks is invoicing and estimates, linking with our credit union is very spotty so not reliable enough to do any …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 20 features
  • Dashboards (52)
    4.6
    46%
  • Standard reports (50)
    4.1
    41%
  • Expense management (46)
    2.8
    28%
  • Accounts receivable (50)
    2.4
    24%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Lite

$15

Cloud
per month

Plus

$30

Cloud
per month

Premium

$55

Cloud
per month

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttp://www.freshbooks.com/?ref=11573&ut…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

Working Better Together with FreshBooks

YouTube

InfoPoc: Freshbooks Connector for Salesforce - Demo

YouTube

Create Freshbooks Invoices for New WooCommerce Orders

YouTube

FreshBooks Demo

YouTube

Freshbooks Demo

YouTube

Become a Certified FreshBooks Accounting Partner

YouTube
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Features

Customization

This addresses a company’s ability to configure the software to fit its specific use case and workflow.

1.2
Avg 7.1

Security

This component helps a company minimize the security risks by controlling access to the software and its data, and encouraging best practices among users.

6.3
Avg 8.0

Reporting & Analytics

Users can report on and analyze usage, performance, ROI, and/or other metrics of success.

4.5
Avg 7.6

General Ledger and Configurable Accounting

Financial management solution, including capabilities for general ledger and configurable accounting

4.6
Avg 7.4

Order Management

The ability to process orders, and track them from quote to cash.

3.9
Avg 7.4
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Product Details

What is FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is an accounting service for small businesses. The solution enables users to send and manage invoices, track billable time and collect online payments. The vendor’s value proposition this that their solution provides a straightforward service that simplifies the billing process.

FreshBooks Features

General Ledger and Configurable Accounting Features

  • Supported: Accounts payable
  • Supported: Accounts receivable
  • Supported: Expense management
  • Supported: Time tracking
  • Supported: Regulations compliance

Order Management Features

  • Supported: Pricing
  • Supported: Order entry
  • Supported: Credit card processing

Reporting & Analytics Features

  • Supported: Dashboards
  • Supported: Standard reports

Customization Features

  • Supported: API for custom integration
  • Supported: Plug-ins

Security Features

  • Supported: Role-based user permissions

FreshBooks Screenshots

Screenshot of DashboardScreenshot of Invoice OverviewScreenshot of Beautiful, Customizable InvoicesScreenshot of Invoice seamlessly across devicesScreenshot of ExpensesScreenshot of Time TrackingScreenshot of Time TrackingScreenshot of Time TrackingScreenshot of Time TrackingScreenshot of App IntegrationsScreenshot of Recurring BillingScreenshot of PaymentsScreenshot of ReportsScreenshot of Projects

FreshBooks Videos

Accounting, for the Non-Accountant.
Say Hello to FreshBooks Cloud Accounting

FreshBooks Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Mac
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android
Supported LanguagesEnglish

Frequently Asked Questions

QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Zoho Invoice are common alternatives for FreshBooks.

Reviewers rate Self-service portal highest, with a score of 9.1.

The most common users of FreshBooks are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).

FreshBooks Customer Size Distribution

Consumers0%
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)95%
Mid-Size Companies (51-500 employees)5%
Enterprises (more than 500 employees)0%
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(201)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

FreshBooks is a user-friendly accounting software that has been highly praised by users for its ability to streamline invoice creation, email tracking, and expense management. With FreshBooks, users can effortlessly create, email, and track invoices, as well as set up recurring invoices. The detailed reports provided by FreshBooks allow users to efficiently manage their financials and gain insights into their expenses and client details. Clients also appreciate the convenience of accessing their accounts, viewing/printing invoices, and even filing disputes through FreshBooks. Another notable aspect of FreshBooks is its responsive and helpful customer support team, which is always ready to address any issues or questions that users may have.

Freelancers in particular rely on FreshBooks to stay organized and generate reports for estimating, invoicing, expense tracking, and timekeeping. However, the versatility of FreshBooks extends beyond freelancers. It has been widely used across industries for invoicing clients and keeping the process organized and efficient. For example, Picobarn implemented FreshBooks as a mandatory tool for its employees, enabling them to streamline the invoicing process and provide real-time project tracking. Additionally, FreshBooks has been adopted by organizations to integrate accounting and bookkeeping activities, simplifying day-to-day tasks and ensuring security. By replacing manual bookkeeping processes with FreshBooks, users have saved time and resources while improving client understanding of financial documents.

FreshBooks handles all invoicing needs effectively by making invoice creation quick and easy while enabling online payments. The software has become a valuable tool for independent representatives in various business sectors such as graphic design, helping them track business expenses effortlessly. Similarly, freelance writers and editors find FreshBooks indispensable for tracking hours worked, invoicing clients accurately, and managing their one-person operations smoothly. Companies also utilize FreshBooks to track time and expenses for both staff and consultants working on client projects. In addition to customer invoicing and expense tracking capabilities, it provides direct access for tax advisors, facilitating bank account reconciliation and ensuring accurate financial reporting.

While FreshBooks has garnered positive feedback from users, some have experienced challenges with credit card integrations and payment processing, leading them to explore alternative options. Despite this, FreshBooks has remained a popular choice for businesses seeking to centralize invoicing and accounting processes, improving efficiency and organization. Consultants and support teams have also found value in FreshBooks as it helps them track time, invoice clients, and consolidate tasks within one program.

FreshBooks has successfully helped users streamline their invoicing process, resulting in faster invoice creation, professional-looking invoices, and improved payment tracking. By allowing users to set automatic reminders for overdue invoices, FreshBooks ensures timely follow-up for payment. However, some users prefer to send manual reminders.

FreshBooks has been praised for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to navigate and use for multiple purposes. It is particularly beneficial for small businesses and freelancers who need a simple accounting solution without the complexity of tools like QuickBooks. Users appreciate the ease of use and simplicity of FreshBooks for handling administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, expense tracking, and invoicing. The software eliminates the need for more complex tools and reduces the need to hire additional staff.

One of the key advantages of FreshBooks is its cloud-based nature, allowing users to access and send invoices from their smartphones and tablets. This flexibility enables users to manage their financials on the go, keeping them connected to their business at all times. The ability to track time spent on projects, calculate project estimates, invoice clients, and accept payments all within FreshBooks makes it a valuable tool for freelancers and small businesses alike. Additionally, FreshBooks offers a free trial without requiring credit card information, allowing users to test the software before committing.

FreshBooks caters to a wide range of industries and has been used by marketing and manufacturing customers to properly track invoices and increase productivity and cost savings. It is also utilized across entire organizations for account receivables, setting up and sending invoices, collecting payments, tracking hours on projects, and efficiently managing billing. Moreover, FreshBooks has found its place in small family businesses that depend on it for managing expenses, logging hours, invoicing companies, and tracking total sales. Users have even customized FreshBooks using its API to automate payment entry and tracking according to their specific needs.

Overall, FreshBooks has proven itself as a reliable accounting software that simplifies the invoicing process, tracks expenses effectively, provides comprehensive financial insights, and offers user-friendly features. Its extensive range of functionalities makes it a valuable tool for freelancers, small businesses, and organizations looking to streamline their financial management processes.

Based on user recommendations, FreshBooks receives the following common suggestions:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the interface: Users recommend purchasing the free version of FreshBooks to get acquainted with the interface. This allows users to understand how the software works before committing to a paid plan.

  2. Suitable for small businesses: FreshBooks is highly recommended for small businesses. It is seen as a valuable program that caters to their day-to-day transactions and accounting needs. The software's simplicity and user-friendly interface make it an ideal choice for small business owners.

  3. Try before committing: Users suggest trying the trial version or taking advantage of the 1-month free trial offered by FreshBooks. This allows potential users to test out the software and assess its suitability for their specific business needs before making any financial commitments.

Overall, users find FreshBooks to be a valuable and user-friendly tool for online accounting, billing, invoicing, and expense tracking. They recommend giving it a try, especially for small businesses looking for a simple and easy-to-use accounting or invoicing program.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 70)
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Score 2 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Part of our move to FreshBooks was the lower monthly cost over quickbooks, but quickly learned to get the same amenities as quickbooks, In my experience, FreshBooks will just nickel and dime you for each little feature and end up costing more.

In my opinion, the mobile app is garbage, basically only good for looking up customer information on the go.

FreshBooks recently changed their bank transfer payment policy to hold onto your money for what they say is 5 business days. They did this with no notice to my knowledge, which was a switch from next day payments. currently it is taking 8 days from the customer paying to us actually getting paid.

Sending invoices through email always causes us issues with customers since, in my experience, FreshBooks makes it always appear that your are invoicing the total amount to the customers, the customer needs to open the invoice to see how much they are actually being invoiced.
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I was disappointed with FreshBooks software because it was overpriced and expensive to use. The features were not worth the cost, and the customer service was not helpful as they would not respond to my emails to cancel the account. I would not recommend FreshBooks to anyone. FreshBooks is not well suited for smaller companies. Particularly short term rental properties.
Armand Ruci | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
This application is very useful and it is something that has helped me tremendously in my part-time company as a book publisher. I wish that they could improve their invoicing because they have gotten away from this part but there is room for improvement. I also want the app to be more user-friendly as well.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
For medium-sized companies it is a pleasant option to use in US Operations. The elaboration of Mexican invoices is not yet perfected, also the "Contabilidad Electronica" is not carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Mexican tax authority. The integration to reconcile banks automatically including CFDI is not natively included yet.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
It is the ideal package for a small businesses to get started and to manage the accounting, Billing’s and client revenue.

It automatically generates the books and allows for an accountant to be invited which in turn ensures triple bookkeeping which has allowed me to focus more on growing the business and less on the books.
Tim Vahsholtz | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
For small businesses, this is a really great invoicing program. We used PayPal to manually send invoices before, and FreshBooks helped to automate a significant portion of the process. Plus, the interface with Fundbox is quite helpful. Once you send an invoice, it shows up in Fundbox, and you can borrow against that invoice. This helps with positive cash flow.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As we implemented FreshBooks for few customers. I strongly recommend for all small to medium customers--it is easy to implement, has cloud support, onboard process is easy, and has great API support. I had a good experience with the support team. They are available 24/7 via email and are quick at responding.

Mike Calabro | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
There might be a few better options for someone like me who is running a photography business. I have been using Freshbooks for a long time and my fear of having to learn a new system has kept me from trying the other options out there. It excels in sending and organizing invoices but I am not sure if it is the best. My accountant often has issues using the exported data as compared to one of the well-known apps. Freshbooks adds new features a few times a year, but most of the features seem more like a bandaid than an actually useful feature. If you need to keep track of your invoices and make them easy to create than Freshbooks is what you want.
Lou Gallo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
For a small business where you want to add to link your business bank account, track expenses, log hours on projects and invoice customers without any hassle, this is the platform to use. Easy to set up, customize and you can send invoices via email and get paid electronically. If they send you checks you can send them into your bank, log the checks and close out invoices. I also love sharing a link with my accountant so they can log in and get whatever reports are needed. Mobile apps are great for tracking time and checking on payments. You cannot beat the simplicity. If you use other tools like Gusto, the integration is great and I get reports of those costs to run the business right inside Freshbooks.
Gary Shouldis | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If you are a freelancer, small agency or business owner and need a no-fuss invoicing option then FreshBooks is the perfect tool for you. It's really easy to get started even without tutorials and the interface is just intuitive. If you are a bigger team or need something with accounting features, you may want to look elsewhere. FreshBooks does integrate with 3rd party software, including accounting software, so you could still make it work.
Dana Darla | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My client started with FreshBooks on a previous version and since the upgrade it’s been more difficult to navigate and get reporting out of FreshBooks even over previous version. If I had my choice FreshBooks would be one of the last accounting systems to use. Right now we are using a different software for accounts payable, payroll and bank reconciliations.
Laura Cain | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If customer service is your number one factor, FreshBooks is definitely the choice to go with. However, if you're trying to do complex things within one client's account, the interface isn't necessarily set up to make this as easy as possible. If you have recurring invoices (i.e. a client is always billed at the same time either weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.) this is extremely easy to set up.
Ryan Freeman | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 3 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Billing/invoicing is a pretty critical function for any business. When your provider aims to pull the rug out from under you and force you into a more expensive credit card processing system (that doesn't integrate with the rest of your business!), that's a significantly problematic issue. I can't recommend a company that has a track record of doing this to their clients.
FreshBooks might be ok for a new/small company that has minimal billing activity and doesn't want to bother with getting their own merchant services account. For anyone with even moderate volume, though, the processing fees are too high.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
If you're tired of manually keeping up with which clients have paid and not paid, FreshBooks is for you.

FreshBooks is a no brainer for those who want to combine client billing, client management, expense tracking, and reporting into one service/app.

If you're tired of paid services that don't respond to your phone calls or emails, FreshBooks will be a breath of fresh air.
Yemsi Pino | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FreshBooks is suitable for all business in a global scale, I can make geographical data work for customers in other countries, and this system allows me to have only one database to give support and send work and invoices with the same language. The software is well suited in every scenario I've been working with. If we have some changes to the hourly rate to daily rate in consecutive invoices it's very difficult to present an invoice, so it's less appropriate, but not impossible.
Amara Omoregie | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 4 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I really like it, but now that the new FreshBooks doesn't accept PayPal payments, I'm not a huge fan and will look for other solutions. The majority of my clients pay me via PayPal so this is a problem. Not a huge fan of PayPal not being an option. Also, accounting with FreshBooks isn't the best. QuickBooks is much better.
Asia Matos | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FreshBooks is perfect for the solopreneur, freelancer, consultant, and small agency. I recommend it for pretty much everyone who fits this category since it makes it so easy to invoice and keep track of payments from clients.

If you track time, it's also incredibly useful. I don't track time myself, but if you do, there's an entire suite of features dedicated to time tracking that proves to be quite useful!
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