Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed
Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
QuickBooks Online Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Scalability | $35/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235. | 50% off for first three months or free 30-day trial. | Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website |
Xero Learn more on Xero's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Client management for freelancers | $20/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80. | 95% off for 6 months. | Learn more on Xero's secure website |
FreshBooks Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website | 4.8/5 Best for Overall freelance accounting software | $21/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom. | 70% off for 4 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. | Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website |
Zoho Books Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website | 4.7/5 Best for Mobile accounting app | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website |
Wave Accounting Learn more on Wave Accounting's secure website | 3.8/5 Best for Free self-employed accounting software | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16 | N/A | Learn more on Wave Accounting's secure website |
Brightbook | Best for Unlimited invoicing | $0 | N/A | |
TrulySmall Accounting | 3.3/5 Best for Sole proprietorship accounting software | $20/month | 14-day free trial |
Our pick for
Scalability
Although QuickBooks is one of the highest priced solutions on our list, it’s also one of the most tried and true products. Plus, it can grow with your business. If you're running a one-person business that's going to stay very small for the foreseeable future, however, consider looking into the company's simpler, less expensive accounting solution, QuickBooks Solopreneur.
QuickBooks Online
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Our pick for
Client management for freelancers
Xero is a rising star in the accounting software space. With the exception of a couple of inventory-related features, it carries all the same primary accounting functions as QuickBooks Online but at a lower cost. If you’re a freelancer with multiple clients, Xero’s contact management tool can help you keep on top of communications; monitor the status of all your estimates, invoices and payments; and attach relevant documents to your contact listings.
Xero
on Xero's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
for 6 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Our pick for
Overall freelance accounting software
FreshBooks has reasonable pricing and its invoicing and client management tools are especially sharp. It also has one of the longer trial periods among others on this list, so take advantage of that if you’re interested in exploring all that FreshBooks has to offer freelancers and self-employed professionals.
FreshBooks
on FreshBooks' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
for 4 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
Our pick for
Mobile accounting app
Zoho Books packs its mobile app with useful features and even includes some unique ones like business card scanning to easily update your contacts, mileage tracking through your phone’s GPS and accounting-related Siri voice commands. It’s available for iOS, Android and Windows devices.