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FreshBooks Review 2025 – Pros & Cons, price Ratings & more

Thinking about using FreshBooks in 2025? You’re in the right spot. This article breaks down everything you need to know about FreshBooks, from its features to pricing, and even the pros and cons. Whether you’re a small business owner or just curious, we’ve got the details that matter.

Overview of FreshBooks Features

Custom Invoicing Capabilities

FreshBooks shines when it comes to invoicing. It offers a range of options to customize invoices, making them look professional and aligned with your brand. You can upload your logo, select a template, and choose fonts and colors that match your company’s style. This customization extends to payment terms, notes to customers, and even setting up a payment schedule. FreshBooks also allows you to convert estimates and proposals into invoices with just a couple of clicks, saving you time and effort.

Time Tracking and Billing

Time tracking in FreshBooks is designed to be straightforward and efficient. You can easily track billable hours using the mobile app, which is particularly handy for contractors who need to bill clients on the go. This feature lets you add tracked time directly to invoices, making the billing process seamless. The app also allows you to capture billable expenses, ensuring nothing gets missed. This tool is especially useful for those who rely heavily on accurate time tracking for billing.

Project Management Tools

FreshBooks includes project management features that help you keep track of your projects and manage billing based on either an hourly rate or a flat fee. You can set time budgets, track unbilled hours, and monitor the time left until a project’s due date. The platform also enables team collaboration by allowing file sharing and project discussions. Unlike some competitors, FreshBooks offers these project management tools across all its plans, providing flexibility regardless of your subscription level.

FreshBooks’ robust feature set, including new and updated tools for accountants, makes it a versatile choice for businesses looking for comprehensive accounting solutions.

Pros and Cons of Using FreshBooks

Advantages of FreshBooks

FreshBooks is often praised for its intuitive design and ease of use, making it a go-to choice for many small business owners. One of the standout features is its custom invoicing capabilities, allowing businesses to create branded invoices that can be sent automatically at scheduled intervals. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency in communication with clients. Additionally, the platform’s robust project management tools are perfect for service-based businesses that need to track time and manage projects efficiently. Users can even track time and send invoices directly through the FreshBooks mobile app, which adds a layer of convenience for those on the go.

  • Customizable and branded invoicing.
  • Easy time tracking and billing.
  • Comprehensive project management features.

Limitations and Drawbacks

Despite its many strengths, FreshBooks does have some limitations. For instance, while the mobile app is handy for invoicing and time tracking, it lacks the capability to generate detailed reports on the go. Additionally, the software offers limited features for inventory management, which may be a drawback for businesses that need to keep track of physical stock. Another point to consider is the absence of batch-invoicing shortcuts, which could be a time-saver for businesses dealing with large volumes of invoices.

  • Mobile app lacks reporting features.
  • Limited inventory management.
  • No batch-invoicing shortcuts.

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Comparison with Competitors

When comparing FreshBooks with other accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, there are several points to consider. FreshBooks’ user interface is often highlighted as more user-friendly, which can be a significant advantage for those who aren’t tech-savvy. However, in terms of features, QuickBooks and Xero offer more comprehensive inventory management and reporting capabilities. FreshBooks shines in the invoicing department, but if your business requires extensive inventory tracking or complex financial reports, you might find its competitors more suitable.

FreshBooks is an excellent choice for businesses that prioritize ease of use and invoicing capabilities, but those needing advanced features might explore other options.

FreshBooks Pricing and Plans

Cost of Subscription Plans

FreshBooks offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different business needs. Their Lite plan is priced at $19 per month and is suitable for businesses with up to five clients. This plan includes basic invoicing, time tracking, and the ability to accept online payments. For businesses with a larger client base, the Plus plan is available at $33 monthly, supporting up to 50 clients. This is FreshBooks’ most popular plan and includes features like recurring invoices and late fee charges. For those needing more, the Premium plan is $60 per month and offers unlimited client billing along with advanced reporting features. Finally, the Select plan is a custom-priced option designed for large enterprises requiring personalized support and additional features.

Additional Fees and Charges

While FreshBooks provides a comprehensive suite of tools, there are some extra costs to consider. Each additional user beyond the primary account holder incurs an $11 monthly fee. If you opt for FreshBooks Payments, there’s a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 for credit card transactions. For those needing more robust payment processing, the Advanced Payments add-on costs an additional $20 per month, with a transaction fee of 3.5% plus $0.30.

Free Trial and Discounts

FreshBooks offers a generous 30-day free trial, allowing potential users to explore the platform without any financial commitment. Impressively, no credit card is required to start this trial. For those ready to commit, paying annually instead of monthly grants a 10% discount. This can be a smart choice for businesses looking to save on costs while enjoying the full suite of FreshBooks features.

FreshBooks’ pricing structure is designed to be flexible, catering to businesses of all sizes and needs. Whether you’re a freelancer or a large enterprise, there’s a plan that fits your requirements, ensuring you only pay for what you need.

User Experience and Interface

Ease of Use for Beginners

FreshBooks is renowned for its intuitive design, making it a breeze for newcomers. The software’s layout is straightforward, ensuring users can dive right into their tasks without a steep learning curve. Everything is clearly labeled, and the main dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of essential business metrics like unpaid invoices and expenses. This is great for those who aren’t accountants but need to handle their own bookkeeping.

Mobile App Functionality

The FreshBooks mobile app mirrors the simplicity of its desktop counterpart. Whether you’re on iOS or Android, the app delivers a seamless experience. Users can send invoices, track expenses, and even chat with clients on the go. The app is not just an add-on; it’s a fully functional tool that complements the web version, ensuring that business operations are smooth, no matter where you are.

Dashboard and Navigation

Navigating through FreshBooks is as simple as it gets. The left-hand menu categorizes all tools, making them easy to find. The dashboard’s clean design avoids clutter, focusing only on what’s necessary. Widgets are fixed in place but can display tailored information. This ensures that users always have a clear view of their business’s financial health without getting lost in unnecessary details.

FreshBooks is praised for its user-friendly interface and appealing design, making it easy to use without extensive training. Learn more about FreshBooks.

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Customer Support and Resources

Support Channels Available

FreshBooks stands out with its diverse support channels. You can get in touch with their support team via phone, email, or live chat. They even have a dedicated support number for Select subscribers. For those who prefer to find solutions on their own, FreshBooks offers a comprehensive online knowledge base. This includes webinars, blog posts, and free e-books that provide deeper insights into using the software.

Online Help and Tutorials

The platform is packed with online resources aimed at helping users get the most out of FreshBooks. From invoicing to new software features, and time tracking, the tutorials cover a wide range of topics. They even have an automated chatbot on their website that handles basic questions, although it might struggle with more nuanced inquiries.

User Reviews and Ratings

On Trustpilot, FreshBooks enjoys a solid reputation with a 4.3 out of 5 stars rating. About 64% of users have given their customer service a five-star review, praising the team’s professionalism and thoroughness. This feedback highlights the exceptional customer service that FreshBooks is known for, making it a preferred choice for many businesses.

FreshBooks Payment and Integration Options

Payment Processing Features

FreshBooks offers a variety of payment processing features that cater to diverse business needs. One standout feature is its integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, which allows businesses to accept online payments seamlessly. This integration ensures that users can track payments directly through FreshBooks, making financial management more straightforward. Additionally, FreshBooks Payments enables credit card transactions at a rate of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction, providing a competitive option for businesses looking to streamline their payment processes.

Third-Party Integrations

FreshBooks excels in its ability to integrate with a wide array of third-party applications, enhancing its functionality significantly. Whether it’s connecting with CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, or other financial tools, FreshBooks ensures that businesses can customize their accounting ecosystem to suit their specific needs. The flexibility of these integrations helps businesses maintain a cohesive workflow without the need to switch between multiple software solutions.

Recurring Payments and Invoices

For businesses that rely on recurring billing, FreshBooks offers robust solutions to automate this process. Users can set up recurring invoices to be sent at regular intervals, whether weekly, monthly, or annually, ensuring timely billing and reducing manual workload. Moreover, FreshBooks supports automatic payment reminders and can even apply interest or late fees to overdue invoices, helping businesses maintain a steady cash flow. This feature is particularly beneficial for service-based businesses that require ongoing billing cycles.

FreshBooks provides a comprehensive suite of payment and integration options that not only simplify financial transactions but also enhance overall business efficiency. Its ability to handle recurring payments effortlessly is a game-changer for many small businesses.

Accounting and Reporting Features

Financial Reports Available

FreshBooks has got you covered with a variety of financial reports. Generating reports like profit and loss statements, sales tax summaries, and accounts receivable aging is a breeze. Plus, you can whip up expense reports, invoice details, payments collected, and even time-entry details. The cool part? You can email, print, or export these reports to Excel. This means you can dive into your business data and get insights without breaking a sweat.

User Permissions and Security

When it comes to security, FreshBooks doesn’t mess around. You can set user permissions to control who sees what. Invite your business partners, employees, or accountants, and let them view only what you want them to. Employees get access to their projects and expenses, contractors see only the projects they work on, and accountants can check out your dashboard and reports. This way, you keep sensitive info under wraps.

Bookkeeping and Reconciliation

FreshBooks makes bookkeeping less of a headache. It connects to your business checking and credit card accounts, pulling in expenses daily. If you’re on the Premium or Select plans, you can use double-entry accounting, which is a fancy way of saying you can create a chart of accounts and run detailed reports like a general ledger report, balance sheet, and trial balance. With these tools, keeping your books in order is way easier.

FreshBooks recently rolled out new features for accountants, including an Audit Log Report and an enhanced General Ledger Report. These updates make it even better for managing your finances.

Implementation and Onboarding Process

Setting Up FreshBooks

Getting started with FreshBooks is a breeze. You can dive right in with their generous 30-day free trial, which doesn’t even require a credit card. Just pop in your email, set a password, and confirm through an email link. It’s that easy! Once you’re in, you’ll find FreshBooks is entirely cloud-based, meaning there’s no software to install. You can access it anywhere, whether you’re on a computer or using the mobile app.

Onboarding Assistance

FreshBooks offers a range of onboarding assistance, especially if you choose their Select plan. This plan comes with custom onboarding and a dedicated account manager to help you navigate the initial setup. They’ll guide you through the features and ensure you’re getting the most out of the software. This personalized assistance can be a lifesaver, especially if you’re new to accounting software.

Data Migration and Import

Transferring your existing data into FreshBooks is straightforward. The platform supports data migration from other accounting systems, so you won’t have to start from scratch. They provide clear instructions and support to help you import your data smoothly. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses switching from another service, ensuring a seamless transition without any loss of critical information.

FreshBooks makes the onboarding process as smooth as possible, allowing businesses to quickly adapt and start managing their finances efficiently.

Whether you’re a small business owner or part of a larger team, FreshBooks’ implementation process is designed to be simple and user-friendly. It’s all about making your life easier, so you can focus on what really matters: your business. For those looking to streamline their financial workflows, accounting automation software like FreshBooks is a top choice in 2025.

Wrapping It Up: FreshBooks in 2025

So, there you have it. FreshBooks in 2025 is still a solid choice for small businesses, especially if invoicing is your main gig. It’s got a bunch of features that make billing a breeze, like custom invoices and time tracking. Plus, the mobile app is pretty handy for those on-the-go moments. But, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. If you’re dealing with a lot of inventory or need detailed reports on your phone, you might hit a snag. Overall, if you’re a service-based business looking for a straightforward accounting tool, FreshBooks is worth a shot. Just weigh the pros and cons to see if it fits your needs.

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