The Ultimate FreshBooks Reviews

If you work as an accountant, you would be familiar with all the daily struggles. You find yourself constantly struggling with organizing finances, creating invoices while running around trying to get paid.

This is why many business accountants consider FreshBooks to be their holy grail. But what exactly does it mean? And how can it help manage your daily work, tasks, and assignments?

If you’ve got these questions going through your mind, you are in the right place. In this post, you will find a comprehensive review of what FreshBooks is as well as what it can do for you!

So, without further ado, let’s get started, folks!

What Is FreshBooks?

In simple words, the FreshBooks software is a simple, special cloud-based solution to help simplify everyday invoicing and accounting tasks for small businesses.

In addition to these tasks, this accounting software also allows you to organize your expenses, create accurate invoices and other accounts and reports, and more!

And the best part is that business owners can easily use this on computers, laptops, web browsers, or even the official FreshBooks app. Moreover, both the website version and the app have an easy-to-use interface that allows the customer to navigate with ease.

This is one of the reasons why FreshBooks stands as one of the leading names in the world of business and accounting. In fact, they have over 10 million dedicated users and clients!

And while this may be ideal for big businesses as well, its primary target is small and growing accounting businesses.

What Are the Features That Make the FreshBooks Software the Best?

One of the most noteworthy aspects of FreshBooks is that it is power-packed with both basic and advanced features to help you cut down on time for your client.

Listed below are a few of those features to help give you a gist of what FreshBooks is all about!

Organized Dashboard

When you first enter the FreshBooks website, you will naturally navigate your way to the dashboard. Here you will find all the important details regarding your business’s financial details.

Moreover, the dashboard is neatly categorized with different graphs for areas like:

• Revenue streams
• Outstanding revenue
• Total profit
• Total spending
• Unbilled time, and more!

Simplified Invoicing Process

As mentioned earlier, the FreshBooks software is known to break down the complexities of the invoicing process to make it easier.

This is why the software allows the users with two templates to create invoices that can be customized according to the needs of your business. This way, you can edit the image, fonts, colors, logo, header, and more!

Additionally, the premium users have access to extra special features like setting reminders, options to create recurring invoices, late fees, and more.

Accurate Estimates

Yet another day-to-day struggle that accounts face is with sending estimates. Not only is this task tedious to do, but it is also a long time-consuming process.

Fortunately, the FreshBooks software can help you with that too! This way, you can easily make accurate estimates, duplicate them and change them into invoices.

Furthermore, you will be able to check the status (whether it is viewed, or accepted, etc.) of your estimates when you send them.

Convenient Portal for Clients

As a business owner, one of the key aspects you would look into is to ensure your customers have a good client portal to access your website.

This is why FreshBooks gives you a superb client portal especially designed for your customers! With this site, your clients will be able to comment, save, show, or print their financial documents like estimates, invoices, or financial proposals.

Moreover, they will be able to choose whether or not they want to save their info on the portal. This makes all processes crystal clear and transparent.

Seamless Expense Tracking System

The reason why FreshBooks can benefit small business accounting is that it can help you keep track of your expenses.

This can be done manually by transferring the bank statements or making it an easier process by connecting the profile to the live feeds of the bank. However, keep in mind that these are still not automatic as you will have to update them once every day.

By doing this manually, you will also need to add a description, an image of the receipt, vendor info, and so on. This makes it easier to track personal and business expenses without any hassle.

As for premium users, they have the option to access the “accounts payable” aspect, which allows them to look into bill payments, transaction details, vendor details, and more.

Smooth Project Management Function

This might not seem like a necessary feature, but with this, your users will be able to easily assign flat-rate/hourly projects to their clients or employees.

Moreover, you will be able to fix the best budgets on time and create a due date for the project as well. Furthermore, the FreshBooks software has introduced a special feature, “discuss,” to help with internal communication.

This allows you to answer questions or queries, add images, attachments, etc., to help make the workflow smoother.

Quick FreshBooks Proposal

Yet another feature that makes FreshBooks stand out from the rest of the software is its unique proposal feature. This is an advanced feature that helps you showcase your best work by using different images, content, attachments, and more.

And when you navigate to this section, you will be able to find different categories like:

• Overview
• Scope of work
• Terms
• Pricing
• Notes

In addition to this, you can turn in your e-Signature to help you get your proposals approved faster. This, in turn, will allow you to turn your proposals into invoices.

However, this feature is only accessible for Plus and Premium users.

Easy Reports Feature

Manually writing reports is not only a time-consuming task, but it can also physically wear you out. However, this is not the case with FreshBooks Reports feature!

The reason is that this software uses eight separate reports as well as three additional reports to help you manage your tasks efficiently. Furthermore, you have a separate “reports tab” to help with easier data access.

However, just like the previous feature, this too is available only for the Plus and Premium users.

Faster Importing and Exporting Process

Here’s another feature that your clients will love! Manually importing and exporting your data can be a bit annoying. However, with this feature, you will be able to tackle this via the .csv easily.

Whether you want to transport important estimates, financial reports, or PDF invoices, the FreshBooks support team will do all the heavy lifting for you.

Extra Features

Other than these unique attributes and services, you also have extra site benefits like:

• Journal entries
• Time tracking feature
• Sales tax feature
• Management of several currencies
• Chart of accounts
• Bank reconciliation

What Are the Different Price Plans for Small Business Accounting?

If you are interested in using the FreshBooks software, you need to choose one of three pricing levels. Keep in mind that only two of those plans have special subsequent and double-entry accounting features.

However, you can also choose between a yearly (you can opt for a 10% discount) or a monthly subscription. Moreover, you will have a convenient 30-day free trial without filling in sensitive information like banking details, credit card details, etc.

Furthermore, you have the freedom to cancel the plan whenever you need it.

And the best part is that you can get a special custom plan suited to your business’s needs and requirements!

Listed below are the three pricing plans of the FreshBooks software you can choose from:

#1 FreshBooks Lite

The first plan you can sign up for is the Lite plan that is priced at around $15 every month. Here’s what you can expect from the Lite plan:

• Unlimited estimates and invoices
• Convenient expense tracking features
• Superb contact management program and project management
• Efficient time tracking features
• Show mobile tracking
• Reports systems
• Access to five billable clients
• Only one user

#2 FreshBooks Plus

Next up, you have the FreshBooks Plus plan that is priced at $25 every month. The attributes included in this plan include Lite benefits and:

• Easy double-entry accounting
• Access to advanced reports
• Ease in creating proposals
• Access to live bank feeds
• Access to over 50 billable clients
• Only for one user

#3 FreshBooks Premium

Last but not least is the premium plan that is priced at $50 every month. Here, you get the benefits of the Plus plan, and:

• Comfortable bill-tracking features
• Access to almost 500 billable clients
• Only one user

#4 FreshBooks Select

As a bonus, the FreshBooks software offers a special service known as “FreshBooks Select,” which you can access if you work with over 500 clients. The best part about this plan is that you get the features of Lite, Plus, and Premium plans while also getting more advanced features like:

• Xero integrations
• QuickBooks
• Personal account manager, and so much more!

And that’s not all! FreshBooks is also giving away handsome online referrals with which you can get $5 (per referral). However, this offer stops after the free trial ends. Fortunately, you can get better referral benefits by using a paid subscription.

In addition to this, you have a special 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with this software.

Extra Factors to Consider Before You Purchase a Plan

Opting for a FreshBooks plan is always a good idea. However, before you decide to go all-in, make sure you consider these few extra factors to ensure you make the right decision.

All the FreshBooks software plans are designed to support only one user. And if you want to upgrade your plan to suit more users, your cost will increase to $10 every month for every additional user.

To make this easier, it has introduced a manager role that will help give you greater control over the extra users. And the best part is that you can use this, completely free of cost!

In addition to this, you need to consider FreshBooks payments, a feature designed to help you process payments and other transactions from credit cards.

Typically, the processing cost is around a full 2.9% + $0.30 for every transaction.

And as for advanced payments, you will need to pay an extra $20 every month. However, with this, you will be able to manage different saved credit cards, subscriptions, and more.

How Is its Customer Service?

One of the most useful attributes of small business software is the customer support service, and this is an area that the FreshBooks software excels in!

As per reviews, there is great regard for customer service at FreshBooks. In fact, every new employee here works in the customer support team for the first month. This has helped them earn a good reputation over the years and several different customer service awards.

Here is a list of all the customer support options you can make use of:

Telephone Line

If you want to reach an executive directly over the phone, the telephone line is the best way to reach them. Moreover, they are operational on all five weekdays from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Eastern time)!

Email

Up next is the email service and most email queries receive timely responses in just a few quick hours.

Support Form

If you have time to spare, you can try filling out FreshBooks’s online support form. According to reviews, their teams typically reply within a day.

In-Software Help

Besides directly contacting them via the above-mentioned methods, you can reach out to the team by going through the help section of the software.

Help Center

Are you looking for the FAQ section or a detailed how-to guide? You will find your answers at the help center! And the best part is that the instructions can be easily read as they are all clearly written with detailed instructions to follow.

Other

Apart from the basic customer support services, the FreshBooks software also offers other services, including:

Webinars

If video guides and instructions interest you, you are sure to enjoy FreshBooks’s webinars as they are easy to understand and use.

Blogs

This might be similar to FreshBooks’s help center. However, there are tens and thousands of blogs and articles in this section. Whether you need a product update or business advice, you are sure to find the answer you are looking for in this section.

Press Center

If you are looking to find all the latest news articles and other media coverage for FreshBooks, you can read it all collected and compiled on the official Press Center.

Social Media

You will be thrilled to know that FreshBooks is extremely active on social media platforms and apps like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

In addition to this, this software program has a growing YouTube channel, and this page is also regularly updated with demonstrations, how-to videos, customer reviews and testimonials, small business career advice, and more!

Is FreshBooks Safe to Use for Accounting?

Thanks to its 256-bit SSL encryption, FreshBooks is one of the safest accounting software on the market today. And for added safety, the team has also added firewalls by Cisco to help back up user info and data on two separate serves in secret locations/

Moreover, this software has vulnerability tests and intrusion detection programs that run behind your activities constantly.

What Do Customer Reviews Say?

In general, FreshBooks’s users seem to really enjoy the benefits of this product. In fact, it holds a stunning 4.5/5 star rating on the GetApp application, an A+ rating on the BBB, an 8.2/10 star rating on TrustRadius, and a 4.5/5 star rating on the G2 Crowd app!

Moreover, they also have stellar customer testimonials and reviews features on their Youtube channel and official website.

Here are some of the features that clients love the most about FreshBooks:

Convenient Usage

One of the most loved features of FreshBooks is its easy usability. In fact, plenty of users praise this accounting software for being easy for invoices project management, credit loans, tracking, billing, and other similar project management features.

In addition to this, users have reported how easy it is to learn the software without knowing the basics of online accounting!

Impressive Customer Service

Yet another feature that the customers really love is the quick, timely responses of their customer service. Specifically, they appreciate the quick emails and the fact that they can easily reach out to an executive without having to wait in line.

Perfectly Optimized Mobile App

While several users have faced a few glitches on the mobile app, most consumers have found the FreshBooks app to be very convenient to carry around while on the go.

Moreover, the iOS app got an impressive 4.8/5 star rating from its loyal users. And while the mobile app does not have all the same desktop tracking features, the software does seem to hold most of the important features and services to make online accounting as easy as a breeze.

Easy Invoice-Creating Process

Lastly, consumers also appreciate the fact that the software makes invoices an easy process. This is especially useful for freelancers and part-time employees.

What Are the Pros and Cons?

By now, you may have understood the fact that FreshBooks comes with a plethora of features to break down the complexities of accounting and simplify the entire process. Needless to say, this cloud accounting technology has completely transformed the field of accounting.

Whether it is a basic bookkeeping function or something more important like keeping track of all financial transactions, FreshBooks can alleviate all financial struggles and which in turn helps them make better decisions.

And the best part is that not only do these features and benefits cater to small business owners, but to well-established entrepreneurs as well!

Listed below are some of the biggest accounting benefits you avail of.

The Pros of Using FreshBooks

#1 Multi-Platform Support

One of the most significant benefits you can get by using FreshBooks is that it is a feasible solution for plenty of operating systems like:

• Linux
• HP-UX
• AIX
• Solaris
• Unix
• IBM OS/400
• Web browser (i.e., the OS agnostic)
• Windows 2000
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 10
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• MAC
• iOS
• Android

Thanks to this, you will now be able to take your accounts with you wherever you go! And the best part is that you will not have to carry any physical receipts or expenses with you to get your billing and records done!

In addition to this, the user-friendly interface allows the user to use FreshBooks without any glitches, regardless of which platform you use. 

#2 Choose a Pricing Plan Based on Your Budget

After reading the pricing plans, you may have understood that FreshBooks is a high-priced investment. Fortunately, these pricing plans can easily be adjusted based on your budget!

Moreover, they give you the option of canceling your subscription if you are not satisfied with their deliverance.

Here is a quick recap of their pricing chart for better understanding:

Lite Plan: $15 (can support up to 5 clients)

Plus Plan: $25 (can support up to 50 clients)

Premium Plan: $50 (can support up to 500 billable users for $10/for every member)

Select Plan/Custom Plan: Usually suited for larger clients and organizations that can support 500+ clients

#3 Free Trial of FreshBooks Before You Get Started

Did you know that most established online accounting applications do not offer a free trial period for the users to test out their features? Thankfully, this is not the case with FreshBooks.

In fact, they have an extensive 30-day trial period during which you can take the application for a test run to see if it is a viable option for your business. This way, you will be able to carefully analyze the perks before you sign up for their monthly subscription!

Moreover, you can make use of their one-month free use if you want professional accounting services for just a month without paying!

#4 Country-Specific Taxations

Yet another stellar benefit that comes with using FreshBooks is that it allows you to become familiar with country-specific taxations. Moreover, this program also supports tax calculations and other methodologies from over 120 countries around the world!

In order to access your countries tax info, all you need to do is select the country you belong to when you sign up.

Furthermore, this multi-national support system is also widely used in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Therefore, FreshBooks works in compliance with HST, Canadian GST, US sales taxes, UK’s MTD, and more!

#5 Maximum Security

With most cloud-based applications, people are worried about the privacy and safety of their data. However, with FreshBooks, you will not have to fear any theft or data loss!

In fact, you can even verify your online account from any device like laptop, desktop, mobile, and more.

In addition to this, it takes extra steps to ensure every user’s safety by restricting the total number of users from their subscriptions. This way, no one except you can get into the sensitive business data.

#6 Top Service Agents

Yet another distinct advantage of FreshBooks is their highly professional customer service team. And because of their high-quality services, they have become one of the most trusted customer services for accounting!

Needless to say, the sole strength of this cloud-based application lies in its customer support service. Whatever queries or questions you have, their representatives will immediately look for a solution to help you get back on track!

Undoubtedly, an attentive, well-prepared support team is one of the biggest aspects to ensure customer loyalty. This is why FreshBooks holds its customer service support team in high regard. And this, in turn, helps to increase the loyal rating among their customers.

#7 Access to Plenty of FreshBooks Integrations

Not only does FreshBooks work with different types of software and programs, but it also comes with plenty of different integrations to cater to businesses!

Whether it is Dropbox or Zoom Conferencing, this cloud-based application will be able to easily smoothen your day-to-day work activities to deliver interoperability and efficient performance.

In addition to this, the flexible, customizable pricing plan ensures you have a comfortable plan quickly!

Here are some of the other integrations it offers:

• 123Form Builder
• 2Ship
• Bench
• Boomr
• Everlance
• Fundbox
• GSuite
• Gusto
• HubSpot
• Hurdlr
• Mail Form
• OneLocal
• ONESAAS
• Shopify
• Squarespace
• Stripe

The Cons of Using FreshBooks

Undoubtedly, FreshBooks comes with a plethora of interesting attributes and services that are designed to cater to all businesses. However, it comes with a list of drawbacks and limitations that users face while using this application.

But do the pros outweigh the cons? Here’s what you should know.

#1 Costly Plans

As mentioned earlier, FreshBooks comes with a free trial period that lasts about 30 days. And if you are satisfied with their services, you can always get your money back. However, if the program appeals to your business, you will have to subscribe to their service with a high fee.

This would be worth the money if you were to use their services 24/7. But since this is not the case, most users find this investment to be a bit “too much.”

The only way to make your subscription worth its money is by putting to use every feature, even if you do not have a lot of clients.

In addition to this, you also have a subscription cycle. FreshBooks does have an option where you can limit the number of users and clients. However, the employers who use this free online service want the app to work without the subscription cycle.

Others have even mentioned that the subscription program needs to be based on the pay-per-use model.

Extra taxes and additional charges are yet another drawback that does not appeal to the professionals who used a paid subscription. Moreover, if you would like to add more users to your account, you would have to pay an extra fee which comes up to $39.95 every month!

And if the number of extra users in your accounts exceeds the limit, you will need to pay an extra $29.95 for every month.

#2 Missing Features

When the latest reviews for FreshBooks were released, users from all around the world had expressed their views on including more attributes and services in this accounting tool. Listed below are some of the missing features that the users complained of:

More integrations for CRM, Payroll tools and techniques, project management, third-party applications, and more

• An automatic budgeting tool
• A tool to make payments faster and smoother (for example, PayPal)
• A smart tool for double-entry accounting
• A training program for beginner users
• Special management system for inventory
• Quick ways to add more users and clients to the pricing plan
• An efficient payroll system (some users make use of third-party payroll software like FICA, HAS, IRA, Social Security, life insurance, and more)
• A screen-capturing feature
• An offline feature
• Quick usability even with larger teams and programs

With this, the FreshBooks team has started to work on an upgrade for their application.

#3 Manual Entry Methods and Invoice Template

FreshBooks offers several templates for invoices, and this is one of its most robust features. However, there are only a limited number of templates available. And while this may suffice beginner users, these services do not do justice for professional users.

Moreover, the tool could also use a few tweaks and changes to generate invoices smarter. However, even with these flaws, this cloud-based application works smoothly in making financial reports, proposals, estimates, and more.

Furthermore, the only way to enter data into the invoice template is manual. Not only is this a long, tedious process, but it also has greater chances of errors and mistakes in the numeration system.

However, if this was an automated method, you could work much faster while reducing mistakes!

In addition to this, several users have had troubles while working with the default invoice templates. Even with this, you will need to personalize the invoice a bit to meet your demands.

However, there is no way to save your edits or replicate them onto another invoice template. This means you will have to spend more time making the same changes over and over again.

#4 No Multi-Currency Support

While FreshBooks provides taxable calculations based on different locations, it still has no way to support a wide range of currencies. Because of this, many users have found this to be a major hitch in the platform.

Currently, there is no way to activate any fiscal transactions using your local currencies. Therefore, people who use currencies other than Australian dollars, pounds, euros, USD may face a few issues using FreshBooks.

#5 Less Beneficial for Large Businesses

FreshBooks was mainly designed to cater to small accounting businesses, enterprises, and freelancers to simplify basic reporting and accounting. And while it may work for a bigger business, this might require a few advanced changes to match their workflow.

This is why major businesses do not opt to use FreshBooks as they do not want to work manually.

Are There Any Good FreshBooks Alternatives for Your Accounting Business?

As mentioned earlier, FreshBooks is considered to be the holy grail for accounting purposes for many small businesses. Thanks to its simplicity and mobile-friendly design, this software has become the go-to option for many business owners and clients.

However, if you are falling short on FreshBooks’s subscription plans, you might be looking for a good alternative. Fortunately, there are a few good FreshBooks alternatives that almost match its tracking standards.

Listed below are your top 6 options.

#1 QuickBooks Online

Your first best accounting alternative is QuickBooks, an online financing service with a multitude of reporting and accounting capabilities.

Not only is it just as good, but it also stands as one of the most popular software for accounting in the United States! And if your main dealbreaker is budget, you will be extremely pleased with what QuickBooks has to offer.

Their most affordable plan starts at $25 every month and goes up to their advanced services that cost about $150 every month. And with this, you can easily manage your incomes, keep good track of your expenses, organize and categorize your receipts, and import all your data!

Undoubtedly, QuickBooks is one of the best software to sort your business finances.

#2 Zoho Books

If you are looking for a good alternative with a wider range of features, Zoho Books is just the thing for you! With this, you will be able to manage plenty of users and clients while also making the automated workflow smooth and effortless.

And the best part is that you can get this even by purchasing their $15 (annually) basic plan! However, you can opt for a $20 plan which will be charged on a monthly basis.

In addition to management features, Zoho Books also brings you other features like custom invoices, bank reconciliation, recurring transactions, tracking expenses, multi-currency options, and more!

#3 Xero

Next up, we have Xero, which provides almost 800 accounting app integrations online!

And just like FreshBooks, Xero also offers interesting features like unlimited users for all plans. In addition to this, you will be able to use the mobile app for simple activities like paying your bills, keeping track of your inventory, creating invoices, etc.

Moreover, this user-friendly software comes with an Early Plan ($12 every month) in which you will send up to 20 quotes and invoices.

And if you want to upgrade to their Growing Plan ($34 every month), you will get a limitless number of quotes and invoices while also reconciling every bank transaction.

The most expensive plan at Xero is their Established Plan ($65 every month) which consists of the benefits from the other two plans. Additionally, you will get project tracking features, expense tracking features, multi-currency options, and so much more!

This is especially beneficial for those who do their business on an international level.

#4 Wave

If you are specifically looking for a free online accounting interface, Wave will be your best choice.

Even though this software is fully free, it still comes with amazing features like expense and income tracking, an informative dashboard, limitless band connections, invoice and billing reminders, and more!

In addition to this, Wave provides you with tools that will help you with your online business real taxes. However, if you want to upgrade to more features and functionality, Wave always has paid subscription offers which you can sign up for.

Another bonus that you can get with Wave is their payment methods, as you can accept all client transactions made by ACH and other business credit cards.

#5 CloudBooks

If you do a quick check between FreshBooks and CloudBooks, you will see that the latter rates compare current budget-friendly options. The reason is that their business accounting and student loan refinance services come with a convenient free online package.

Keep in mind that if you use this basic, free package, you will only be given one client along with five invoices per month. This is one of the major reasons why the free package is better-suited for a start-up business, freelancer, or calculator student loan.

However, you can still upgrade your package to the “Team Plan,” and this is priced at $10 for every month. This package comes with five users, limitless invoices, and more.

Additionally, you have the “Agency Plan,” priced at $20 for every month, and this plan comes with endless staff users and invoices!

#6 ZipBooks

Last but not least, we present you with ZipBooks. Using FreshBooks’s Lite version definitely comes with several benefits. However, with this version, you will only be able to reach five clients at the most for online accounting.

On the other hand, ZipBooks gives you the freedom to create an endless number of invoices, customers, and vendors! This, in turn, will help you manage how rates and personal loans compare to the current standings.

Moreover, with ZipBooks, you can always upgrade to a better plan if your business starts to grow. This is why ZipBooks offers a special “Smarter” plan starting at $15 for every month and more exclusive ($35 for every month) plans.

The paid plans usually come with features including unlimited users, time-tracking, locking all the completed books, debt, savings, and so on. With these, you will be able to easily match the accounting needs and requirements of your growing business!

The Final Verdict

As is evident when we compare these reviews, FreshBooks is an extremely useful software accounting application that offers smart solutions for online accounting and financial troubles for small businesses. However, what makes this software a leading name in the industry are its features like bank reconciliation, double-entry accounting, reporting, and more.

However, because of the expensive plans, FreshBooks might not be a viable option for all owners. This is where alternatives like QuickBooks, Wave, and Xero step in to save your day!

As per reviews, not only do these software programs come with similar features, but they also come for budget-friendly prices to help you out.

That said, nothing can top the ease of use, accessibility, and fantastic customer services offered by FreshBooks. And this makes it a worthy investment for your business.

Want to see how FreshBooks can help you in online accounting? Try the free trial today to test out its wonders for yourself!