FreshBooks
Invoicing and accounting for service businesses, priced by number of billable clients
Checked Oct 8, 2026
3 tools listed · Pricing checked October 2026
Small business tools, compared
Accounting and invoicing software for small businesses and freelancers, compared on pricing, free plans and what each tier unlocks.
How to choose: Pick based on how your business works: invoice-heavy freelancers may prefer client-based pricing or a free starting point, while businesses that need deeper accounting and accountant access often look at QuickBooks Online. Budget for payroll and payment-processing fees, which are usually extra.
Showing all 3 tools
QuickBooks Online
Full small-business accounting, priced per company file rather than per user
Checked Oct 8, 2026
Wave
Free invoicing and accounting for freelancers and micro-businesses
Checked Oct 8, 2026
No tools match this filter.
Pricing checked October 2026. Plans change often — confirm current pricing on each vendor's site. Some links are affiliate links; see our disclosure.
Common questions about small business tools
Is Wave still free?
Wave's Starter plan is still free, but as of mid-2026 automatic bank feeds and extra user access sit behind the paid Pro plan. Check Wave's pricing page for the current split before you rely on the free tier.
How do QuickBooks and FreshBooks price their plans?
QuickBooks Online is priced per company file rather than per user, with higher tiers allowing more users. FreshBooks plans are tiered by number of billable clients and include one user, with extra team members costing more. Payroll and payment processing are usually extra on both.
How do you score each tool?
Every tool on this page is evaluated on the same four criteria: setup time, feature depth, support quality, and price-to-value. Numeric ratings are published only after hands-on testing. See our full methodology.