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The best accounting software for freelancers

By Web Tool Ratings editors · Updated · How we rate

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Freelancers mainly need to invoice, get paid, track expenses and be ready for taxes. You may not need to pay anything.

The full list

1

Best overall for freelancers

FreshBooks

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for freelancers and service businesses that bill clients for time

Beautiful invoices, time tracking and proposals; Lite $23/mo.

Category
Accounting & invoicing
Free plan
No
Paid from
$23/mo
From $23 /moVisit FreshBooks Full review
2

Best free option

Wave

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 · Best for freelancers and micro-businesses on the tightest budget

Free invoicing and bookkeeping; Pro $19/mo adds automation.

Category
Accounting & invoicing
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
$19/mo
Billed yearly
$15.83/mo
From $19 /moVisit Wave Full review
3

Best if you’ll grow into a business

QuickBooks Online

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 · Best for uS small businesses that want the accounting software their accountant already uses

Simple Start $38/mo; accountants know it.

Category
Accounting & invoicing
Free plan
No
Paid from
$38/mo
From $38 /moVisit QuickBooks Online Full review
4

Best for working with a bookkeeper

Xero

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 · Best for small businesses that want unlimited users and clean, modern accounting

Unlimited users from $27/mo.

Category
Accounting & invoicing
Free plan
No
Paid from
$27/mo
From $27 /moVisit Xero Full review

Compared at a glance

ToolOur ratingCategoryFree planPaid fromYear 1 (cheapest paid)
FreshBooks 4.3/5Accounting & invoicingNo$23/mo$276
Wave 4.3/5Accounting & invoicingYes$19/mo$190
QuickBooks Online 4.4/5Accounting & invoicingNo$38/mo$456
Xero 4.4/5Accounting & invoicingNo$27/mo$324

Checked Oct 10, 2026. Details change: confirm on the provider’s site.

Check is Wave free? and FreshBooks vs Wave.

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