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FreshBooks costs $6 to $250 per month as of March 2026, with 4 plans available. Plans: Lite at $21/month, Plus at $38/month, and Premium at $65/month. Enterprise pricing is available on request. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: No free tier available

FreshBooks offers 4 pricing tiers: Lite, Plus, Premium, Select. Paid plans include Lite at $21/month, Plus at $38/month, Premium at $65/month. The Plus plan is growing businesses with more clients and bank integration needs.

Compared to other accounting software, FreshBooks is positioned at the budget-friendly price point.

  • Median contract: $456/yr from 0 purchases
  • Average negotiated discount: 92%
  • 4 documented hidden costs beyond list price
  • Contracts auto-renew

How much does FreshBooks cost?

FreshBooks pricing starts at $6/month across 4 plans, with enterprise pricing available on request. Plans include Lite at $21/month, Plus at $38/month, Premium at $65/month, Select (custom pricing).

FreshBooks Pricing Overview

FreshBooks has 4 pricing plans ranging from $6 to $250/month. The Lite plan costs $21/month, best for freelancers and solo professionals with a small client base. The Plus plan costs $38/month, best for growing businesses with more clients and bank integration needs. The Premium plan costs $65/month, best for established businesses with larger teams and advanced needs. The Select plan requires contacting sales for a custom quote and is designed for larger businesses needing white-glove service and customization.

FreshBooks contracts auto-renew, with a Monthly or annual subscription minimum commitment.

The median FreshBooks customer pays $456/year, with an average 92% discount available through negotiation.

There are at least 4 documented hidden costs beyond FreshBooks's list price, including implementation, training, and add-on fees.

This pricing was last verified in February 4, 2026 from 1 independent sources.

FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting solution designed primarily for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and small service businesses. It excels at invoicing, time tracking, and expense management with an intuitive interface.

FreshBooks offers four pricing tiers based primarily on the number of billable clients, with higher tiers unlocking double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, and team collaboration features.

How FreshBooks Pricing Compares

Compare FreshBooks pricing against top alternatives in Accounting.

All FreshBooks Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Lite clients: 5 $21 /month $21 /year Freelancers and solo professionals with a small client base
Plus clients: 50 $38 /month $38 /year Growing businesses with more clients and bank integration needs
Premium teamMembers: 2 $65 /month $65 /year Established businesses with larger teams and advanced needs
Select Contact Sales Contact Sales Larger businesses needing white-glove service and customization
View all features by plan

Lite

  • Unlimited invoices
  • Expense tracking
  • Time tracking
  • Up to 5 billable clients
  • Accept credit card payments
  • Mobile app access
  • Tax time reports

Plus

  • Everything in Lite
  • Up to 50 billable clients
  • Automatic bank reconciliation
  • Double-entry accounting
  • Recurring billing
  • Client retainers
  • Business health reports

Premium

  • Everything in Plus
  • Unlimited billable clients
  • 2 team member accounts included
  • Custom email templates
  • Project profitability tracking
  • Accounts payable
  • Customized proposals

Select

  • Everything in Premium
  • Unlimited team members
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Assisted data migration
  • Remove FreshBooks branding
  • Priority support
  • Custom training

Compare FreshBooks vs Alternatives

Before committing to FreshBooks, compare pricing with these 3 alternatives in the same category.

All FreshBooks alternatives & migration guides

What Companies Actually Pay for FreshBooks

The median FreshBooks buyer pays $456/year based on 0 verified purchase transactions, with an average 92% savings through negotiation.

What companies actually pay $456/yr Median across 0 purchases
92% avg. savings
with negotiation
Review scores
TrustRadius 8.9/10 (212)
Trustpilot 4.5/5 (25)
Top pricing complaints
Per-client pricing model limits flexibilityPayment processing fees add upNo built-in payroll (requires Gusto integration)Client limit restrictions force upgrades
Source: Vendr buyer database — median calculated from 0 real purchase transactions. Savings figure reflects negotiated discounts reported by buyers.

FreshBooks Year 1 Total Cost by Company Size

Real deployment costs including licenses, implementation, training, and admin — not just the sticker price.

Freelance designer $21 Year 1 total

A solo designer with 3-4 regular clients tracking time and sending invoices

Growing consulting firm $38 Year 1 total

A consultant with 20 clients needing bank reconciliation and recurring billing

Small agency with team $65 Year 1 total

A 4-person agency with unlimited clients and project tracking

Established service business Select (custom pricing) + Payroll ($40 + $60) = varies Year 1 total
custom pricing
Total Select (custom pricing) + Payroll ($40 + $60) = varies

A 10-person firm needing payroll and full features

Freelancer with 5-10 Clients $252 Year 1 total
10% discount
Total $252

Solo consultant or freelancer using FreshBooks for invoicing and basic expense tracking with Lite plan

Small Business with Payment Processing $456 Year 1 total
2.9%
$0.30 per transaction
Total $456

Service business using Plus plan with online payment processing for 20-30 invoices per month averaging $500 each

Growing Business with Payroll Needs $780 Year 1 total
Premium
Total $780

Small business with 5 employees requiring Premium plan plus Gusto payroll integration

How FreshBooks Pricing Compares

Software Starting Price Top Price
FreshBooks $6/month $250/month
QuickBooks Online $20/month $275/month
Sage Accounting $10/month $62/month
Xero $25/month $90/month
Zoho Books Free $70/month

4 FreshBooks Hidden Costs Beyond the List Price

Beyond the listed price, FreshBooks has at least 4 documented hidden costs that can significantly increase total cost of ownership.

Watch for 4 hidden costs
  • Credit Card Payment Processing Fees 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "PayPal charges 2.7% per swipe for mobile and in-store payments, 3.5% plus 15 cents for keyed sales, and 2.9% plus 30 cents for online payments and invoicing transactions."
  • Per-Client Tier Limitations $17-$27/month upgrade cost
    medium 2 sources
    Reddit "Used Freshbooks for years but their per customer pricing model was a turn-off."
    TrustRadius "50 client limit is annoying."
  • Payroll Service Add-On $40/month + $6/employee/month
    high 1 source
    Reddit "FreshBooks Premium ($60/month) + Gusto payroll ($40/month) totals $1,272/year"
  • Bookkeeper User Access Not Included in Lite Plan $17/month to upgrade from Lite to Plus
    medium 1 source
    Reddit "Freshbooks: Lite $22 (doesn't include bookkeeper user), Plus $35, Premium $60"
Tip

Ask your FreshBooks sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Intelligence sourced from 4 independent sources
Reddit User discussions TrustRadius Enterprise reviews Vendr Verified buyer transactions Trustpilot Consumer reviews
Key claims include inline source attribution. Data verified against multiple independent sources. 7 source citations total.

FreshBooks Contract Terms

FreshBooks contracts auto-renew. Changes require advance notice. These terms are sourced from verified buyer experiences.

Contract Terms
Auto-Renewal Yes
Minimum Commitment Monthly or annual subscription
Mid-Term Downgrade Allowed
Payment Terms Monthly or annual billing
Price Escalation No published schedule of automatic increases mentioned in sources
Note

Can switch between plans but subject to client limit restrictions

Based on 1 verified source

FreshBooks Pricing FAQ

01 How much does FreshBooks cost per month?

FreshBooks costs $21/month for Lite, $38/month for Plus, and $65/month for Premium when billed monthly. Annual billing saves 10%.

02 Is there a free version of FreshBooks?

FreshBooks does not have a free tier, but offers a 30-day free trial. Promotional pricing often offers 70-90% off for the first 4 months.

03 How many clients can I have on FreshBooks Lite?

The Lite plan allows up to 5 billable clients. Plus allows 50 clients, and Premium allows unlimited clients.

04 Does FreshBooks include payroll?

Payroll is a separate add-on starting at $40/month base plus $6 per employee. It is not included in any FreshBooks plan.

05 What is double-entry accounting in FreshBooks?

Double-entry accounting (in Plus, Premium, and Select plans) ensures every transaction is recorded in two accounts, providing more accurate financial statements and audit trails.

06 Does FreshBooks charge per user or per client?

FreshBooks uses a per-client pricing model, not per-user. The Lite plan supports up to 5 clients for $21/month, Plus supports up to 50 clients for $38/month, and Premium supports up to 500 clients for $65/month. This means you pay based on how many active clients you manage, not how many team members need access.

07 Are there additional fees for accepting online payments?

Yes. While FreshBooks integrates with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, standard credit card processing fees apply (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). These fees are separate from your monthly subscription cost.

08 Can I get a discount on FreshBooks?

FreshBooks offers a 10% discount when you pay annually instead of monthly. They also provide a free 30-day trial for new users.

09 What happens if I exceed my client limit?

FreshBooks enforces strict client limits per tier. If you exceed your tier's client limit (5 for Lite, 50 for Plus), you must upgrade to the next tier to continue adding clients, even if you don't need the additional features.

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