Solo Biz Soft Editorial Team Choosing accounting software as a freelancer comes down to three things: how you invoice clients, how much you want to spend, and how much of the bookkeeping you want the software to do for you. This guide compares five popular options using the plans and prices on each company’s own US pricing page.
Prices are in US dollars and were checked on 19 September 2026. Introductory discounts change often, so always confirm the current price on the company’s website before you sign up.
Quick comparison
| Software | Regular price (per month) | Free plan or trial | A good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Lite $23 (intro offer: $1/month for the first year) | 30-day free trial | Sending invoices to clients |
| QuickBooks Online | Simple Start $38 (50% off for 3 months) | 30-day free trial | Invoicing, expenses and reports in one platform |
| Wave | Starter free; Pro $19 | Free Starter plan | Keeping costs at zero |
| Xero | Early $25 (intro offer: $2.50/month for 6 months) | Check Xero’s site for trial terms | Bank reconciliation and cash flow forecasts |
| Zoho Books | Free plan; Standard $20 (or $15 billed annually) | Free plan; 14-day trial on paid plans | A free plan with more accounting features |
Our top picks for US freelancers
Five options compared
-
FreshBooks Invoice-focused
Best for: Freelancers who bill clients regularly
Lite covers up to 5 billable clients with unlimited invoices, estimates and expense tracking.
From $23/mo (intro offers) Try FreshBooks -
Zoho Books Free plan
Best for: A free plan with bookkeeping features
The free plan allows up to 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses a year, with bank reconciliation and 1099 tracking.
Free; paid from $20/mo Try Zoho Books -
Wave Free to start
Best for: Freelancers on a tight budget
Starter includes unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records. Automatic bank imports come with Pro.
Starter free; Pro $19/mo Try Wave -
QuickBooks Online Full accounting
Best for: Invoicing, expenses and reports in one place
Simple Start includes invoicing, expense tracking and general business reports for one user plus two accountants.
From $38/mo (50% off for 3 months) Try QuickBooks Online -
Xero Bank reconciliation
Best for: Reconciliation and cash flow forecasting
The Early plan allows 20 invoices and 5 bills a month. Growing removes those limits.
From $25/mo (intro offers) Try Xero
FreshBooks: built around client invoicing
FreshBooks lists four plans on its US pricing page. Lite is $23 per month at the regular price (a promotional $1 per month for the first year was showing when we checked) and supports up to 5 billable clients. Plus is $43 per month for up to 50 billable clients, and Premium is $70 per month for unlimited clients. A custom Select plan is also offered.
Lite includes unlimited invoices, estimates, expense tracking and tax-time reports. Plus adds proposals, client retainers, e-signatures, double-entry accounting and bank reconciliation. Extra team members cost $11 per month each.
Pros
- 30-day free trial with no credit card required
- Unlimited invoices and estimates on Lite
- Plus adds double-entry accounting and bank reconciliation
Cons
- Lite is limited to 5 billable clients
- Regular prices are higher than Wave or Zoho Books
- Team members, advanced payments and payroll are paid add-ons
Visit FreshBooks30-day free trial
QuickBooks Online: a fuller accounting platform
QuickBooks Online has four US plans: Simple Start ($38 per month regular price), Essentials ($85), Plus ($140) and Advanced ($340). Each was advertised at 50% off for the first three months when we checked. Simple Start covers one user plus access for two accountants and includes invoicing, expense tracking and general business reports.
Most freelancers will only need to compare Simple Start with the cheaper options here. The higher plans add features such as employee time tracking (Essentials) and inventory and project profitability tracking (Plus).
Pros
- 30-day free trial
- Simple Start includes access for two accountants
- Higher plans add reporting and project profitability tracking
Cons
- The regular price is higher than most options in this list
- The 50% discount lasts three months
- Plans with more features cost significantly more
Visit QuickBooks Online30-day free trial
Wave: free to start
Wave’s Starter plan is free and lets you create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records. It does not import bank transactions automatically, invoices keep Wave branding, and there is no live support.
The Pro plan is $19 per month (or $190 per year); an offer of $9.50 per month for the first three months was showing when we checked. Pro adds automatic bank imports and categorization, custom invoice branding, late payment reminders, multiple users and live chat and email support. Card payments are available with per-transaction fees (2.9% + $0.60 per credit card on Starter).
Pros
- Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records
- Pro adds automatic bank imports and custom branding
- Card payments available with per-transaction fees
Cons
- Starter has no automatic bank import
- Invoices carry Wave branding on Starter
- No live support on Starter
Visit WaveFree Starter plan
Xero: bank reconciliation and forecasting
Xero has three US plans. Early is $25 per month at the regular price and allows 20 invoices and quotes and 5 bills each month. Growing is $55 per month with unlimited invoices and bills. Established is $90 per month and adds multiple currencies, project tracking and expense claims.
When we checked, Xero was advertising an introductory discount (for example $2.50 per month for the first six months on Early) that its site said runs until 30 September 2026 for new US customers. Check whether it is still available.
Pros
- Bank reconciliation and a 30-day cash flow forecast on Early
- Unlimited invoices and bills on Growing
- Includes W-9 and 1099 management
Cons
- Early is capped at 20 invoices and 5 bills per month
- The regular price is higher than Wave or Zoho Books
- Payroll is a paid add-on
Zoho Books: a free plan with more features
Zoho Books has a free plan for one user plus an accountant, covering up to 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses a year, with bank reconciliation and 1099 tracking. Support on the free plan is by email only.
Paid plans start with Standard at $20 per month, or $15 per month billed annually, with three users, bank feeds and sales tax tracking. Professional is $50 per month ($40 billed annually). Paid plans include a 14-day free trial.
Pros
- Free plan with up to 1,000 invoices a year
- Paid plans start at $15 per month billed annually
- 14-day free trial on paid plans
Cons
- The free plan has email-only support
- Bank feeds and sales tax tracking need a paid plan
- Annual invoice and expense limits apply
Visit Zoho BooksFree plan available
How to choose
If you want to spend nothing: start with Wave Starter or the Zoho Books free plan. Both have limits, so check they cover how you work.
If you invoice clients often: FreshBooks is the most invoice-focused option here. Check how many billable clients your plan allows.
If you want a fuller accounting platform, or expect to work with an accountant: compare QuickBooks Online and Xero.
If you send only a handful of invoices a month: Xero’s Early plan (20 invoices and 5 bills a month) may be enough.
Frequently asked questions
Do freelancers need accounting software?
You can use a spreadsheet, but accounting software makes invoicing, tracking expenses and preparing for tax time easier. It does not replace advice from a tax professional.
Which options are free?
Wave has a free Starter plan and Zoho Books has a free plan. Both have limits, described above.
Are these prices final?
No. Prices and promotions change. The figures here come from each company’s US pricing page on 19 September 2026.
This article is general information, not tax or financial advice. Prices were checked on 19 September 2026.