FreshBooks: what it does, who it is for and alternatives
Updated · By Robert Breen
Invoicing, expenses and accounting built for freelancers and service businesses.
Official site: freshbooks.com
What FreshBooks does
FreshBooks lets you track billable time and expenses, then pull them straight onto client invoices with taxes calculated. Receipts can be scanned with the mobile app, bank transactions imported and categorized, and clients can pay online by card or bank transfer with automatic reminders. It connects to apps like Zapier, Gusto and HubSpot, and has an API for custom integrations.
Who FreshBooks is for
- Freelancers
- Bookkeepers
- Agency owners
- Consultants
Key features
- Invoices that pull in tracked time and expenses, plus recurring invoices
- Receipt scanning in the mobile app and bank transaction import
- Billable time tracking and project profitability
- Online card and bank transfer payments with automated reminders
- Double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation and financial reports
Privacy and data
FreshBooks says it protects browser traffic with 256-bit SSL encryption and maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance with an independent annual audit. Source: FreshBooks’s own page. Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings.
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Alternatives to FreshBooks
Other AI finance and accounting tools in the directory.
- QuickBooks Online Free trial Small business accounting with Intuit Assist AI that categorizes transactions and chases invoices.
- Xero Free trial Cloud accounting for small businesses with bank feeds, invoicing and the JAX AI assistant.
- Ramp Free plan Corporate cards and spend management with AI that codes expenses and flags policy issues.
- Expensify Free plan Scan receipts and submit expenses automatically, with an AI concierge.
- Wave Free plan Free accounting and invoicing for very small businesses, with paid payments and payroll.
- Brex Free plan Corporate cards, expenses and travel with AI that handles receipts and reviews.
All 30 AI finance and accounting tools
Frequently asked questions
- What is FreshBooks?
- Invoicing, expenses and accounting built for freelancers and service businesses. FreshBooks lets you track billable time and expenses, then pull them straight onto client invoices with taxes calculated. Receipts can be scanned with the mobile app, bank transactions imported and categorized, and clients can pay online by card or bank transfer with automatic reminders. It connects to apps like Zapier, Gusto and HubSpot, and has an API for custom integrations.
- Who is FreshBooks for?
- FreshBooks fits freelancers, bookkeepers, agency owners and consultants, and other office teams with the same job to do.
- Is FreshBooks free?
- FreshBooks has a free trial, then it is a paid tool. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit.
- What are some alternatives to FreshBooks?
- Other AI finance and accounting tools include QuickBooks Online, Xero, Ramp, Expensify and Wave.
- Is FreshBooks safe for work data?
- FreshBooks says it protects browser traffic with 256-bit SSL encryption and maintains PCI DSS Level 1 compliance with an independent annual audit. Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data.
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Checked against FreshBooks’s official site on October 20, 2026: source 1, source 2. Spotted something out of date? Email rbreen@ynteractive.com. Listings are free; submit your AI tool.
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