FreshBooks Reviews

“time tracking is great”

Pros

This software has been a huge time-saver for me and it even helps me make more money. The time tracking feature alone feels like it pays for itself and the invoicing plus the rest of the built in tools are genuinely useful and well thought out.

Cons

Honestly it covers so many needs that it's hard to point out anything I dislike. I'd recommend it without hesitation.

“Best one”

Pros

Really enjoy using it to send invoices for retainers for my company. It's been a great fit for keeping everything organized and moving invoices along without hassle.

Cons

I've hardly run into any problems with it that would make me hesitate to recommend or keep using it. The platform is very user-friendly and I'm able to work alongside my team without any friction.

“simple and full of features”

Pros

So simple to use and you can test it during the trial period with all features turned on.

Cons

Currency change option is a bit hidden so it takes a little hunting to find.

“excellent time tracking”

Pros

Being able to track both time and expenses is a big win for me. Creating invoices directly from those entries is quick and effortless. I also appreciate that there are tiered plans based on how many clients I'm managing. Also, the variety of reports makes it much easier to stay organized and keep an eye on everything.

Cons

Honestly there isn't anything I dislike about it. I've used it for years and it fits my business perfectly, with customer support that's been outstanding the whole time.

“great for client growth”

Pros

My favorite part is how well it supports both current work and new projects. I was able to pitch fresh project ideas to bring in prospective clients and partners. It also helps me stay organized with my clients alongside my team so communication stays strong and we can consistently improve our reputation and revenue.

Cons

Nothing felt lacking for what I needed. Everything matched my expectations so I'd recommend checking FreshBooks out if you want to grow your business the way I did.

“limited permissions”

Pros

Feels simple and pretty easy to use. Getting started with timesheets and expenses doesn't take much time and the interface stays clean throughout, with a pleasant color scheme. Everything loads fast too, no noticeable lag when I'm working on entries.

Cons

Permissions are handled in a very limited way. You basically have either full admin access or the role of a timesheet/expense entry user so there's no flexible option to grant specific feature access. Also, it doesn't support restricting what someone can view based on roles or credentials.

“invoicing saves time”

Pros

I use it mainly for its invoicing features. It turned out that invoicing was eating up more of my time than I expected and it has helped me get that time back for other things. It's also reduced how long my money sits in accounts receivable.

Cons

For me, nothing really stands out as a problem so far since I'm still fairly new. Customer service has been solid for onboarding and getting me set up.

“my favorite”

Pros

Very happy with it... this tool has gotten rid of the need for a full-time payroll manager and lets me handle everything through my CPA each quarter.

Cons

The platform is well thought out overall. I can't point to any real downsides..

“flexible billing”

Pros

So I've been using it for a few years now and it fits my workflow really well. After a while, I got comfortable with the interface. Running a small business, I especially appreciate the client portal, It's genuinely impressive. I also like the flexible billing options and monthly accounting has become much simpler and faster. Also, customer support hasn't been an issue for me at all.

Cons

Every now and then I'll log in and the bank account link won't be working properly which can be annoying. I also think it could do more to better support the South African market.

“budget-friendly”

Pros

For my business, it's a lot more affordable than QuickBooks while still delivering similar functionality.

Cons

A few of the interfaces don't feel as polished as what you get in QuickBooks.

“user-friendly bookkeeping”

Pros

It has been one of the easiest bookkeeping tools I've tried. It really helps a small company look more professional and the workflow is simple, there's no need to constantly reference manuals or re-learn steps. The platform also lets you customize things to fit your business better.

Cons

Invoices still have to be created manually for each customer, one at a time. Also, while the pricing starts off reasonable, the costs can add up as you grow which can feel pricey for a smaller business.

“clear navigation”

Pros

Navigation feels simple and the whole setup is easy to understand. Adding line items to invoices and quotes also goes quickly which makes drafting documents a lot less tiring.

Cons

Customization options feel pretty limited. Because every organization works differently, I really prefer platforms that let you design fields, layouts and workflows to match your specific needs.

“simple startup”

Pros

Biggest thing I enjoyed about this software is how simple it is to get started. The interface is really easy to read and since it's cloud-based, it removes a lot of the uncertainty that can come with accounting tools. Pricing also felt fair... especially when you're first getting up and running and trying to keep costs under control. Overall, it has required little to no effort and I'd gladly recommend it to others.

Cons

Nothing really comes to mind that I disliked. The layout looks great, responses are quick, the tips are easy to locate and the pricing is solid.

“so good”

Pros

It's incredibly simple, even if you don't have any bookkeeping background. Self-employed folks will especially find it useful and the time tracking is simple to manage day to day. Also, it's pretty cost efficient.

Cons

The accounting side isn't very deep or well-rounded especially if you're looking for more advanced bookkeeping features.

“great for small business invoicing”

Pros

Feels like an adaptive invoicing toolkit that includes the key features I need to manage clients end-to-end. It lets me create, produce and send invoices and it also supports online payments so customers can settle without hassle. Overall, it's earned a spot as one of the best options for small-business invoicing.

Cons

This software aims to take the stress out of invoicing and does help with that but it's not a complete accounting/business suite. Digging a bit deeper, it turns out this is cloud-based invoicing and accounting software built mainly for small businesses and freelancers. It covers finance management, client invoices, tracking expenses and activity and communication with team members. The catch is that it doesn't include payroll services and the pricing can feel steep for solo operators with only a handful of clients (around five or so).

“I loved it”

Pros

Time tracking feels genuinely solid and invoicing is really simple once everything's set up the right way. I also appreciate the flexibility for billing-hourly billing, retainer billing or mixing both on a per-client basis. Being able to drop tracked time straight into an invoice and generate a polished, professional bill is way faster and less painful than building everything manually.

Cons

There's a learning curve and you'll want to spend a bit of time upfront getting clients and projects configured correctly. That initial effort is worth it later for the time you save but it's not the best fit for every situation... especially if you're just getting started. If you don't already invoice regularly, it may make more sense to wait until you have at least several (around half a dozen) clients you bill consistently before paying for something like this.

“strong reporting”

Pros

Using it is simple and I was able to get up and running without much time or effort. The reporting options are genuinely solid and there are a lot of ways to pull the data I need.

Cons

Pricing model is based on the number of clients you have which is exactly why I eventually moved to another program. That setup is pretty rough for freelancers, it's easy to end up with a long list of clients you only work with once or twice and then you're forced to watch the active client count. Asking people to "make sure I don't go over 50 active clients" feels unrealistic. Another big gap for me was the lack of integrated e-sign contracts, other competing tools already include e-signing at a similar or even lower price.

“solid mobile app”

Pros

Like many other accounting tools, it helps me run my business without turning everything into a learning project. The usability matters a lot for someone like me and it really fits that need. There's also a decent mobile app included which makes handling things on the go much more convenient.

Cons

Cost is kind of high for the functionality you get. The one thing that helps is that it supports billing either monthly or annually. Still, I wish there were more features... especially more options comparable to QuickBooks.

“user-friendly”

Pros

Super adaptive and packed with a really solid set of core features that cover the basics well.

Cons

Reporting felt a bit lacking and I think it could use some improvements.

“your best choice”

Pros

It has one of the best invoice views I've come across and it also cuts down a lot of the paperwork that usually comes with invoicing. It basically creates a "global village" for you and your clients. Once you're set up, everything is right there at your fingertips. The cloud setup really pays off, with just a click you're connected and since it's cloud-based, it's accessible from anywhere (including on smartphones). Also, the regular updates keep it aligned with how the business world is changing which makes the product feel current and reliable.

Cons

Only downside I can think of is that it's internet-based. If someone is in an area with weak or no connectivity... especially less networked locations, it may not be as usable, even though the system works smoothly when you have access to the internet.