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At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (86.8% of reviews)
Small-Business (61.1% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $6.30 Per Month
$13.00 Per Month
FreshBooks
Star Rating
(944)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (86.8% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $6.30 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 4 pricing plansXero
Star Rating
(1,237)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (61.1% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
$13.00 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- Users report that FreshBooks excels in ease of use, scoring 9.2 compared to Xero's 8.7. Reviewers mention that FreshBooks' intuitive interface makes navigation seamless, especially for small business owners who may not have extensive accounting experience.
- Reviewers mention that FreshBooks offers superior customer support, with a score of 9.2 versus Xero's 7.8. Users appreciate the responsiveness and helpfulness of FreshBooks' support team, often highlighting the availability of live chat as a significant advantage.
- Users on G2 say that FreshBooks shines in invoice management, scoring 8.8 compared to Xero's 8.3. Reviewers highlight FreshBooks' customizable invoice templates and automated reminders as key features that enhance their billing processes.
- Reviewers mention that Xero has a slight edge in bank integration, scoring 8.5 against FreshBooks' 8.0. Users appreciate Xero's ability to connect with a wider range of banks, making reconciliation easier and more efficient.
- Users report that FreshBooks is more affordable at entry-level pricing, starting at $6.30 compared to Xero's $13.00. Reviewers note that this lower cost makes FreshBooks an attractive option for startups and freelancers looking to manage their finances without breaking the bank.
- G2 users mention that both products perform well in financial reporting, with Xero scoring 8.3 and FreshBooks 8.3. However, users say that FreshBooks' dashboards are more visually appealing and easier to interpret, which helps them make informed business decisions quickly.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
FreshBooks
Lite
Starting at $6.30
Per Month
For professionals with basic needs
- Send unlimited invoices to up to 5 clients
- Track unlimited expenses
- Send unlimited estimates
Xero
Starter / Early
$13.00
Per Month
Good for sole traders, new businesses, and the self-employed.
- Send quotes and 20 invoices
- Enter 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions
Free Trial
FreshBooks
Free Trial is available
Xero
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.8
760
8.7
1,025
Ease of Use
9.2
848
9.0
1,079
Ease of Setup
9.2
461
8.8
774
Ease of Admin
9.2
335
8.6
311
Quality of Support
9.2
709
8.3
957
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.2
330
8.4
307
Product Direction (% positive)
8.7
757
8.8
1,014
Features by Category
Expense Reports
8.6
106
8.6
212
8.0
100
8.8
211
7.6
99
8.4
202
8.1
98
8.4
205
7.1
80
8.3
198
7.2
87
8.2
195
7.9
89
8.6
199
Agentic AI - Expense Management
Not enough data
8.8
103
Not enough data
8.9
104
Travel Management
6.8
79
7.8
184
6.5
76
7.4
179
6.1
71
7.2
177
6.5
72
7.6
182
Client Invoicing
9.0
134
8.8
204
8.5
118
8.6
196
8.2
124
8.4
196
Mobile
8.2
84
8.2
196
6.9
81
7.7
178
5.6
73
7.4
175
Platform
6.2
63
8.0
168
6.3
66
8.1
171
Administration
7.0
63
8.3
163
Administration
7.2
105
8.4
200
7.8
106
8.3
196
7.6
113
8.2
194
7.2
103
8.1
186
7.9
111
8.5
201
Platform
8.3
126
8.8
205
7.2
97
8.4
190
7.0
94
8.2
182
9.0
126
8.9
201
8.3
115
8.2
184
7.0
99
6.5
164
General Ledger
8.1
233
|
Verified
8.7
689
|
Verified
7.8
228
|
Verified
8.4
654
|
Verified
8.1
224
|
Verified
8.6
666
|
Verified
Accounts Receivable
8.7
398
|
Verified
8.7
707
|
Verified
8.5
307
|
Verified
8.5
618
8.2
274
|
Verified
8.4
638
|
Verified
Accounts Payable
8.2
271
|
Verified
8.6
616
8.7
326
|
Verified
8.8
669
|
Verified
7.6
142
8.6
642
|
Verified
Other Functionality
7.1
125
8.2
583
Feature Not Available
8.2
587
7.5
156
|
Verified
8.3
575
|
Verified
7.0
128
8.1
606
|
Verified
7.2
132
8.5
637
|
Verified
7.5
143
9.0
690
|
Verified
7.6
154
8.4
617
|
Verified
8.6
313
|
Verified
8.5
620
Reporting & Analytics
8.7
361
|
Verified
8.9
705
|
Verified
8.1
200
8.7
686
|
Verified
7.6
191
|
Verified
8.5
607
|
Verified
8.8
385
|
Verified
8.8
702
|
Verified
Platform
7.9
164
8.4
649
|
Verified
7.6
150
8.4
633
8.4
287
|
Verified
8.7
678
|
Verified
7.4
137
8.5
594
|
Verified
9.1
379
|
Verified
8.9
686
|
Verified
8.3
153
8.7
646
|
Verified
Integration
8.2
270
|
Verified
8.7
665
|
Verified
8.0
194
|
Verified
8.7
586
7.6
216
8.6
618
|
Verified
Cash Flow
8.3
201
|
Verified
8.8
552
|
Verified
8.8
288
|
Verified
9.1
572
|
Verified
8.4
244
|
Verified
8.8
548
|
Verified
Budgeting & Forecasting
7.6
191
|
Verified
8.5
607
|
Verified
8.1
165
|
Verified
8.8
552
|
Verified
7.6
136
|
Verified
8.6
518
|
Verified
8.2
203
|
Verified
8.7
546
|
Verified
Revenue
8.4
227
|
Verified
8.8
564
|
Verified
7.8
169
|
Verified
8.7
555
|
Verified
8.0
163
8.5
526
|
Verified
Payroll
7.8
112
|
Verified
8.5
508
|
Verified
7.4
105
|
Verified
8.3
496
|
Verified
7.7
114
|
Verified
8.6
534
|
Verified
8.2
124
|
Verified
8.8
546
|
Verified
AI
7.6
38
8.5
377
7.5
35
8.9
379
7.8
35
8.9
378
7.5
36
8.7
377
7.4
35
8.8
376
7.0
38
8.5
373
7.3
45
9.1
382
7.6
39
9.0
378
7.0
42
8.8
374
7.4
37
8.7
374
Mobile Applications - Accounting
9.1
11
9.0
361
8.9
11
8.9
360
8.7
10
8.9
358
7.8
10
8.2
341
8.5
12
9.1
359
8.3
12
9.1
358
Agentic AI - Accounting
Not enough data
8.9
331
General Ledger
8.1
233
|
Verified
8.7
689
|
Verified
7.8
228
|
Verified
8.4
654
|
Verified
8.1
224
|
Verified
8.6
666
|
Verified
Accounts Receivable
8.7
398
|
Verified
8.7
707
|
Verified
8.5
307
|
Verified
8.5
618
8.2
274
|
Verified
8.4
638
|
Verified
Accounts Payable
8.2
271
|
Verified
8.6
616
8.7
326
|
Verified
8.8
669
|
Verified
7.6
142
8.6
642
|
Verified
Employee Self Service
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Administration
8.6
15
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
9.3
16
Not enough data
8.3
11
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.6
14
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Taxes
8.0
17
Not enough data
7.7
14
Not enough data
7.9
14
Not enough data
Integration
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.9
13
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Platform
8.1
14
Not enough data
8.7
15
Not enough data
8.7
13
Not enough data
8.6
14
Not enough data
Invoice Generation
Not enough data
8.5
202
Not enough data
8.9
203
Not enough data
8.9
199
Invoice Processing
Not enough data
8.5
196
Not enough data
8.5
198
Not enough data
8.3
196
Not enough data
8.8
203
Analytics
Not enough data
8.8
197
Not enough data
8.5
197
Not enough data
8.2
186
Not enough data
8.6
200
Integration
Not enough data
8.9
204
Not enough data
8.8
199
Not enough data
8.1
190
Not enough data
8.5
201
Agentic AI - Invoice Management
Not enough data
8.5
108
Not enough data
8.4
108
Not enough data
8.4
108
Payment Processing
8.3
80
Not enough data
8.5
87
Not enough data
8.2
79
Not enough data
7.3
67
Not enough data
Administration
8.3
84
Not enough data
6.8
68
Not enough data
6.6
84
Not enough data
7.0
64
Not enough data
7.1
66
Not enough data
6.8
67
Not enough data
7.0
67
Not enough data
Payment Options
7.3
64
Not enough data
8.4
75
Not enough data
Security
7.4
62
Not enough data
Platform
7.6
67
Not enough data
7.1
64
Not enough data
Multichannel inventory management
Not enough data
8.8
79
Not enough data
8.8
79
Not enough data
8.6
79
3PL inventory management
Not enough data
8.9
78
Not enough data
8.7
78
Not enough data
8.7
77
Inventory Management
Not enough data
8.9
78
Not enough data
8.8
78
Not enough data
8.7
76
Not enough data
8.7
77
Not enough data
9.1
78
Inventory Management Platform Features
Not enough data
8.9
82
Not enough data
9.1
83
Not enough data
8.8
82
Not enough data
8.8
80
Not enough data
8.6
80
Not enough data
9.0
84
Not enough data
8.8
82
Not enough data
9.1
81
Not enough data
9.2
83
Not enough data
9.2
83
Bill Generation
8.4
143
8.4
195
8.6
146
8.7
198
8.3
134
8.7
199
Bill Processing
7.6
128
8.2
194
7.8
124
8.4
193
8.3
127
8.5
195
Integration
7.9
131
8.8
205
8.4
133
8.7
198
7.1
102
8.0
187
Agentic AI - Billing
Not enough data
8.4
105
Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance
Not enough data
Not enough data
Time Tracking
8.8
71
Not enough data
8.9
76
Not enough data
8.9
77
Not enough data
Client Invoicing
9.0
134
8.8
204
8.5
118
8.6
196
8.2
124
8.4
196
Mobile Time Tracking
8.6
76
Not enough data
Administration
7.2
105
8.4
200
7.8
106
8.3
196
7.6
113
8.2
194
7.2
103
8.1
186
7.9
111
8.5
201
Platform
8.3
126
8.8
205
7.2
97
8.4
190
7.0
94
8.2
182
9.0
126
8.9
201
8.3
115
8.2
184
7.0
99
6.5
164
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
FreshBooks and Xero are categorized as Expense Management, Billing, and Accounting
Unique Categories
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
FreshBooks
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Xero
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Marketing and Advertising
17.2%
Information Technology and Services
6.4%
Graphic Design
4.6%
Accounting
4.6%
Consulting
4.0%
Other
63.3%
Accounting
18.2%
Information Technology and Services
8.4%
Apparel & Fashion
6.5%
Computer Software
6.4%
Marketing and Advertising
5.2%
Other
55.4%
Most Helpful Reviews
FreshBooks
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Jackson R.
Verified User in Computer Software
An affordable time tracking and invoicing tool. Allows for tracking subcontractors time easily. A huge upgrade from Excel, or any other manual invoicing process that quickly gets out of hand as you add customers. Excellent customer support.
Most Helpful Critical Review
Steve S.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
My reasons for leaving Freshbooks? Integration with banking or credit card accounts is not good at all - compared to the other services they compete with. In order to use Freshbooks, you have to have some other software or service for managing the...
Xero
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Dave O.
Verified User in Telecommunications
I switched from Quickbooks because Xero is online. Since then I've grown to love many other things compared to Quickbooks. Bank feeds make data entry minimal and bank recs easy. Xero is rapidly growing and improving. Some features were limited a few years...
Most Helpful Critical Review
Dimitri S.
Verified User in Broadcast Media
As business grew I noticed most features felt unpolished and were lacking functionality that would make them feel complete. To add the functionality that you expect would have been built in required several apps each with their own monthly fee. Some...
Jackson R.
Verified User in Computer Software
An affordable time tracking and invoicing tool. Allows for tracking subcontractors time easily. A huge upgrade from Excel, or any other manual invoicing process that quickly gets out of hand as you add customers. Excellent customer support.
Dave O.
Verified User in Telecommunications
I switched from Quickbooks because Xero is online. Since then I've grown to love many other things compared to Quickbooks. Bank feeds make data entry minimal and bank recs easy. Xero is rapidly growing and improving. Some features were limited a few years...
Steve S.
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
My reasons for leaving Freshbooks? Integration with banking or credit card accounts is not good at all - compared to the other services they compete with. In order to use Freshbooks, you have to have some other software or service for managing the...
Dimitri S.
Verified User in Broadcast Media
As business grew I noticed most features felt unpolished and were lacking functionality that would make them feel complete. To add the functionality that you expect would have been built in required several apps each with their own monthly fee. Some...
Discussions
Does FreshBooks support recurring billing?
3 Comments
PM
I'm a long-time user, and yes. Freshbooks does recurring billing flawlessly. Your client can also have their credit card information stored so they don't...Read more
How do you like using Freshbooks
2 Comments
ZB
Hi Rodney,
We have used Freshbooks since 2013, and are in no way affiliated with them.
For the most part, our experience overall has been positive,...Read more
What is the best way to manage deposits against future work as a consultant?
2 Comments
DL
Hi Mark,
You most likely would benefit from the retainer feature in FB which allows you to track time against a retainer payment....Read more
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