FreshBooks is accounting software: invoicing, expenses, time tracking, reports and tax-time bookkeeping. That's a lot of tool if all you do is bill a few clients a month. Its regular prices start at $23/month for Lite, which is limited to 5 billable clients, then $43/month for Plus (50 clients) and $70/month for Premium. Promotional discounts are common, but they end. Here are the alternatives freelancers actually switch to.
Do You Need Accounting Software at All?
Many freelancers pay for FreshBooks but only use the invoice button. If an accountant does your taxes once a year from a spreadsheet of income and expenses, a dedicated invoicing app plus that spreadsheet may be all you need. If you track expenses daily, run payroll or reconcile bank feeds, you need accounting software, and the comparison is FreshBooks vs Wave, Zoho Books or QuickBooks rather than an invoice app.
1. InvoiceNexora: Free Invoicing from Your Phone
- Price: Free with unlimited invoices and clients. No client cap like FreshBooks Lite's five.
- Templates: 7 free templates; all 16 on Pro ($9.99/month).
- Strengths: Works offline, multi-currency, 10 invoice languages, status tracking from draft to paid.
- Not included: Expenses, time tracking, card payments or bookkeeping. Clients pay you directly.
2. Wave: Free Invoicing and Bookkeeping
- Price: Starter is free with unlimited invoices, estimates and bookkeeping records. Pro is $19/month for bank imports, receipt capture, automatic reminders and your own branding.
- Card fees: 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment on Starter.
- Best for: Freelancers in the US and Canada who want their books in the same tool.
3. Zoho Invoice: Free, Desk-Based Invoicing
- Price: Free up to 500 invoices a year and two users, with Zoho branding on invoices.
- Best for: Freelancers who want estimates, time-based billing on projects and a client portal.
- Upgrade path: Zoho Books if you later need full accounting.
4. Invoice Ninja: Free for 5 Clients, Cheap Beyond
- Price: Free for up to 5 clients with unlimited invoices; Ninja Pro is $14/month or $140/year.
- Best for: Developers and technical freelancers who want detailed control.
5. Invoice Fly: All-in-One Mobile App
- Price: $8.99/week or $98.99/year after a trial that needs a card.
- Includes: Unlimited invoices and estimates, card payments via Stripe and PayPal, and expense tracking.
- Best for: Trades and service businesses that want FreshBooks-style features on a phone. See InvoiceNexora vs Invoice Fly.
Yearly Cost at Regular Prices
- FreshBooks Lite: $276/year (5 billable clients).
- FreshBooks Plus: $516/year.
- Wave Pro: $190/year billed annually (Starter is free).
- Invoice Fly: $98.99/year.
- Invoice Ninja Pro: $140/year (free for up to 5 clients).
- InvoiceNexora: free, or $89.99/year for Pro.
- Zoho Invoice: free.
Still comparing? Read our roundup of the best free invoice apps for freelancers and Wave alternatives.
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Mobile-first invoicing for freelancers and small businesses. Templates, clients, multi-currency, and clear payment tracking - all from your phone. This article is only the plan. The app is the shortcut.
