About FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a cloud accounting software that claims to make financial management a breeze for freelancers and small businesses. I put this tool through its paces, and here’s what I found. First off, the automated invoicing feature is quite nifty. You can create professional-looking invoices in mere minutes and even include payment options so clients can pay you directly online. This is a real time-saver, especially when you're juggling multiple clients and projects. However, while the feature is straightforward, the customisation options for invoices could use a bit more flexibility. You can only tweak the colours and logos but not much else, which might be limiting for those with a strong brand identity.
Expense tracking is another strong feature. FreshBooks allows you to scan receipts, categorise expenses, and even track mileage, which is crucial for freelancers who need to keep an eye on their spending. But here’s where it fell short for me: I found the expense categorisation a bit clunky. It doesn’t always auto-categorise expenses correctly, which means you may have to double-check and manually adjust a lot of entries. For those who want to minimise time spent on bookkeeping, this could be frustrating.
The time tracking feature is handy for service-based professionals. You can log hours spent on projects and bill clients accurately. However, I did notice that the timer function can be a bit finicky. If you forget to hit start or stop, well, that’s on you, and there’s no way to retroactively adjust the time. This could lead to some awkward conversations with clients about billing discrepancies. In terms of pricing, the tiers start at £19 per month for the Lite plan, which allows for five clients. The Plus plan at £33 per month supports up to 50 clients, and the Premium plan at £60 per month accommodates 500 clients. It’s a decent range, but honestly, the Lite plan feels a bit restrictive for anyone with more than a few clients.
FreshBooks also includes project management tools, allowing you to collaborate with team members and clients effectively. However, I found these tools to be basic at best. If you're used to something like Asana or Trello, the project management features might feel a bit lacking. The financial reporting capabilities are useful; you can generate profit and loss statements, and tax reports, giving you a snapshot of your business performance. Still, I wish they offered more insights and analytics to help you understand your financial health better. Overall, FreshBooks is a solid choice for freelancers and small business owners looking for a user-friendly accounting solution, but it has its fair share of drawbacks that might make you think twice before committing.
Our Review
Verified 11 May 2026Reviewed by Delv Editorial, Delv Team
When I first opened FreshBooks, I was greeted by a clean, intuitive interface that promised to make my accounting woes disappear. As a freelancer, I often dread the end of the month when I have to sort out invoices and expenses, but FreshBooks seemed like it could be my saviour. I jumped right in, eager to try out the automated invoicing feature. The process was indeed simple—I could whip up a polished invoice in a matter of minutes. Clients can pay online, which is fantastic because it cuts down on the awkward 'have you sent that payment yet?' conversations. However, I did find myself wishing for more customisation options; I have a specific brand colour I like to use, and FreshBooks only lets you change a few basic elements. It felt like a missed opportunity.
Next, I dove into expense tracking, and while the receipt scanning feature is a gem, the categorisation could use a bit more polish. I found the software sometimes miscategorised my expenses, which meant I had to go back and adjust things manually. Given how much I rely on accurate records for tax season, this was a bit of a headache. And let’s talk about the time tracking. It’s great to know how much time I spend on projects, but the timer function can be a bit temperamental—forgetting to hit start or stop can lead to billing issues that I’d rather avoid.
I appreciated the project management tools, but let’s be real: if you’re expecting anything more than basic task assignments and comments, you might be disappointed. I found myself missing the more comprehensive capabilities of dedicated project management software. In terms of pricing, starting at £19 per month for the Lite plan seems reasonable, but you’re limited to just five clients. If you’re like me and juggling multiple gigs, that’s going to feel a bit constrictive.
In comparison to QuickBooks, FreshBooks has a more user-friendly approach, but QuickBooks offers a more extensive range of features and integrations. Ultimately, I think FreshBooks is perfect for freelancers and small business owners looking for simplicity in their accounting tasks, but if you have a growing client base or need more advanced features, you might want to explore other options.
Overall, FreshBooks has its strengths, but it’s not without its drawbacks. If you’re after an easy-to-use platform that can handle the basics, it’s worth considering, but if you need more flexibility and advanced features, you might want to keep looking.
Getting started with FreshBooks
In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up FreshBooks and create your first invoice in under five minutes. By the end, you’ll be able to manage your finances more efficiently and streamline your invoicing process.
Step 1: Sign up and set up
Step 2: Your first invoice
Step 3: Get better results
Pro tip
Set up your "Expense Tracking" immediately by clicking on the "Expenses" tab and then the "Add Expense" button. This allows you to keep all your financial records in one place and generate better reports.
Common mistake to avoid
Avoid skipping the client setup step. If you don’t add your clients before creating invoices, you’ll have to re-enter their details each time, wasting time and effort. Always set up your client list first.
The Verdict
FreshBooks is a solid choice for freelancers and small business owners seeking a straightforward accounting solution, but it has limitations that may frustrate more advanced users. If you want something easy to use and don’t mind the lack of customisation, give it a go. However, if you need more robust features or have a growing client base, you might want to look elsewhere.
Best For
- Freelancers who prioritise ease of use over advanced features.
- Small business owners who need a reliable invoicing and expense tracking solution.
- Service-based professionals who bill clients by the hour.
- Self-employed individuals looking for a mobile-friendly accounting tool.
- Creative professionals requiring basic project management features.
At a Glance
FreshBooks is a cloud accounting software designed specifically for freelancers and small businesses, offering features like automated invoicing, expense tracking, and time management. While it simplifies financial management, its limitations in customisation and expense categorisation may frustrate some users.
Strengths
- +The automated invoicing feature saves time by allowing users to create and send professional invoices in minutes, complete with online payment options.
- +Expense tracking is straightforward, enabling users to scan receipts and categorise expenses, which helps keep financial data organised.
- +The time tracking capability is beneficial for service-based professionals, ensuring accurate billing based on hours worked.
- +FreshBooks has a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for those without extensive accounting knowledge, which is a huge plus for freelancers.
- +The financial reporting features provide valuable insights into business performance, helping users make informed decisions.
- +The platform’s mobile app makes it easy to manage finances on the go, allowing users to track expenses and send invoices from anywhere.
Limitations
- -The customisation options for invoices are limited, which could be a deal-breaker for businesses wanting to maintain a strong brand identity.
- -Expense categorisation can be clunky, with the software not always auto-categorising correctly, leading to potential manual adjustments.
- -The time tracking timer function can be finicky, requiring users to remember to start and stop it or risk billing inaccuracies.
- -Project management tools feel basic compared to dedicated project management software, which may disappoint users looking for more robust features.
- -The Lite plan is quite restrictive with only five clients, making it less suitable for freelancers with a growing client base.
Use Cases
- -Freelancers who need to send out professional invoices quickly and efficiently without getting bogged down in accounting complexities.
- -Small business owners looking for a straightforward way to track expenses and generate financial reports to assess their performance.
- -Service providers who bill clients by the hour and need a reliable way to track time spent on projects.
- -Self-employed individuals who want to manage their finances on the go using a mobile app.
- -Creative professionals who require basic project management features to collaborate with clients and team members.
