Small Business Software
Best Accounting Software for Freelancers
Orbit & Metric Editorial Team · Published Nov 14, 2026 · Last updated Nov 15, 2026
Freelancers need accounting software that makes invoicing painless, keeps expenses tidy and gives an accountant clean books at tax time. Here are three established options, with list prices from each official pricing page.
Research note: Based on desk research of official websites (checked 2026-11-15). Not hands-on tested. Prices and terms change — confirm on the official site before deciding.
What freelancers actually need
Professional invoices and online payments, expense capture, bank feeds, simple reports and easy accountant access. Payroll and inventory are rarely needed at first.
Pricing snapshot (official pages)
| Software | Entry plan | Next plans |
|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Lite $23/month | Plus $43, Premium $70/month |
| QuickBooks Online (US) | Simple Start $38/month (1 user) | Essentials $85 (3 users), Plus $140 (5 users) |
| Xero (US) | Early $27/month | Growing $59, Established $97/month |
List prices shown; vendors frequently run time-limited introductory discounts.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is invoicing- and time-tracking-first, which fits freelancers who bill clients for hours or projects.
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is broad bookkeeping software widely used by accountants — useful if you expect to grow or want your accountant inside the same system.
Xero
Xero offers cloud bookkeeping with US plans starting at $27/month. Pricing differs by country.
Use cases
Consultant billing by the hour: FreshBooks.
Freelancer planning to hire or add a bookkeeper: QuickBooks Online.
Freelancer wanting a lower-cost full ledger: Xero.
Conclusion
Pick the tool that matches how you get paid, then confirm your accountant supports it. Compare two of them directly in FreshBooks vs QuickBooks.
Related on Orbit & Metric
FreshBooks · QuickBooks Online · Xero · Comparison
Frequently asked questions
Do freelancers need accounting software?
Not legally, but it saves time at tax time and reduces errors.
Are prices the same outside the US?
No — Xero and QuickBooks publish different prices by country.
Sources
- https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing (accessed 2026-11-15)
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/ (accessed 2026-11-15)
- https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ (accessed 2026-11-15)
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