FreshBooks Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users value the ease of use of FreshBooks, appreciating its simplicity and user-friendly design for small businesses. (208 mentions)

Users highlight the exceptional customer support of FreshBooks, noting quick responses and helpful assistance for any issues. (113 mentions)

Users love the simplicity of FreshBooks, streamlining invoicing and making accounting hassle-free for small business owners. (87 mentions)

Users praise FreshBooks for its efficient client and project management, making invoicing and time tracking effortless. (64 mentions)

Users appreciate the ease of time tracking and reporting in FreshBooks, enhancing productivity and efficiency. (51 mentions)

Users face significant invoicing issues with FreshBooks, including incorrect dates and limited attachment options, complicating their experience. (40 mentions)

Users are frustrated by limited features in FreshBooks, as updates often remove functionality and add restrictions. (34 mentions)

Users find the high fees of FreshBooks burdensome, particularly for freelancers and small businesses on a budget. (32 mentions)

Users are frustrated by missing features in FreshBooks, including inadequate invoice options and limited customization. (29 mentions)

Users find limited customization options in FreshBooks frustrating, particularly with templates and reporting features. (24 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of FreshBooks

1. Ease of Use

Users value the ease of use of FreshBooks, appreciating its simplicity and user-friendly design for small businesses.

See 208 mentions

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Ashish S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"A Great Fit for Freelancers and Small Businesses – Smooth Invoicing & Expense Tracking"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is incredibly user-friendly — perfect for those without an accounting background. The invoicing system is clean and customizable, with opti

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy, Simple Accounting App for Non-Accountants"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Easy and simple app for non accountants.

2. Customer Support

Users highlight the exceptional customer support of FreshBooks, noting quick responses and helpful assistance for any issues.

See 113 mentions

See Related User Reviews

5.0/5

"The bookkeeping resource you've been searching for"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Easy of use and outstanding customer service.

Verified User

0.0/5

"Freshbooks is no longer keeping up with software improvments. PDF attachments are needed automatic"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

That I can get a hold of customer service

3. Simple

Users love the simplicity of FreshBooks, streamlining invoicing and making accounting hassle-free for small business owners.

See 87 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy, Simple Accounting App for Non-Accountants"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Easy and simple app for non accountants.

Christine D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy Invoicing, Payment Tracking, and Simple Document Uploads"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Easy to use, create invoices, track payments, track projects, and ease of uploading documents to invoices

4. Helpful

Users praise FreshBooks for its efficient client and project management, making invoicing and time tracking effortless.

See 64 mentions

See Related User Reviews

4.0/5

"Fantastic option that is easy to use and learn."

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Access to support, every issue has been handled well and I love access to a human!

Bhoomika N.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"User-Friendly and Accurate with Quick Invoicing"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

I like FreshBooks for its easy invoicing and how it saves me time while maintaining accuracy. Its non-accountant friendly design is great, allowing pe

5. Time Tracking

Users appreciate the ease of time tracking and reporting in FreshBooks, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

See 51 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Christine D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy Invoicing, Payment Tracking, and Simple Document Uploads"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Easy to use, create invoices, track payments, track projects, and ease of uploading documents to invoices

Jules W.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"FreshBooks making tracking time and invoicing easy for small businesses"

What do you like about FreshBooks?

Freshbooks simplifies getting paid and managing time, projects, clients, invoices, and expenses. Plus, their customer support is excellent.

5 Cons or Disadvantages of FreshBooks

1. Invoicing Issues

Users face significant invoicing issues with FreshBooks, including incorrect dates and limited attachment options, complicating their experience.

See 40 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Christine D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy Invoicing, Payment Tracking, and Simple Document Uploads"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

When there are single purchases for a project, it's hard to integrate an expense report for that project. The invoice covers the overall project, and

Verified User

3.5/5

"Good"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

When typing an invoice any time I put an item on an invoice it gives it $0. Sometimes I just want to put the room name that I'm invoicing but it show

2. Limited Features

Users are frustrated by limited features in FreshBooks, as updates often remove functionality and add restrictions.

See 34 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"Easy Invoicing for Small Teams, but Reporting and Customization Feel Limited"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

I dislike that FreshBooks has limited reporting and customization compared to more advanced accounting platforms.

Verified User

4.0/5

"generally really good"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

As a small business I would like the option of having more than 5 clients without having to upgrade my plan for more features than I need to use

3. High Fees

Users find the high fees of FreshBooks burdensome, particularly for freelancers and small businesses on a budget.

See 32 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy, Simple Accounting App for Non-Accountants"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

Freshbooks can be expensive as client increases.

Christian E.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"FreshBooks Makes Setup and Recurring Invoices Effortless"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

Using their payment link is expensive, at over 3% of the transaction plus the fee. If you’re a current customer, I believe a 2% fee would be more reas

4. Missing Features

Users are frustrated by missing features in FreshBooks, including inadequate invoice options and limited customization.

See 29 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Ashish S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"A Great Fit for Freelancers and Small Businesses – Smooth Invoicing & Expense Tracking"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

While it covers the basics well, FreshBooks lacks depth in accounting reports and isn't ideal for inventory-heavy businesses. Also, pricing can add up

Verified User

4.0/5

"generally really good"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

As a small business I would like the option of having more than 5 clients without having to upgrade my plan for more features than I need to use

5. Limited Customization

Users find limited customization options in FreshBooks frustrating, particularly with templates and reporting features.

See 24 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"Easy Invoicing for Small Teams, but Reporting and Customization Feel Limited"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

I dislike that FreshBooks has limited reporting and customization compared to more advanced accounting platforms.

Ronald R.

2.5/5

"Great for Small Businesses, But Customer Data Loss Upon Cancellation"

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

I wish the invoice creation feature in FreshBooks was more versatile, akin to how Excel works, allowing more flexibility and functionality. Additional

Phil J.

Product and Growth Lead

Computer Software

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

7/1/2026

"A great balance between invoicing, project tracking, and profitability"

5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

I don't need to spend days figuring out how FreshBooks works. Within the first afternoon, I'm already creating estimates, turning them into invoices, and setting up recurring billing. Even people on our team who usually stay away from finance software get comfortable with it pretty quickly, and I think that says a lot about the user experience. Everything feels well organized, and I rarely waste time looking for a feature. One thing I end up appreciating more than I expected is the support team. We run into a situation where we aren't sure how to organize a few recurring projects, so I open a ticket expecting the usual link to a help article. Instead, the person who replies understands exactly what we're trying to do and suggests a much cleaner way to structure our clients, projects, and invoices. That kind of support makes a real difference. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks isn't trying to be an advanced financial analytics platform, and honestly, I don't think that's the goal. It focuses on helping me keep the business organized, stay on top of invoicing, and understand where my time and money are going without making everything more complicated than it needs to be. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

One thing that really sticks with me happens during a planning meeting. Everyone is convinced that one of our services is the biggest driver of the business. It brings in good revenue, clients ask for it all the time, and the sales team is always pushing it. Before deciding to invest even more time into it, I start looking through FreshBooks and compare revenue, tracked hours, expenses, and how quickly clients actually pay. The numbers tell a completely different story. It's one of the highest-grossing services, but it's also the one taking the most time and generating the most work that never makes it into the invoice. Meanwhile, another service that gets far less attention is bringing in better margins while taking a fraction of the effort. That changes the whole conversation. Instead of making decisions based on what we think is working, we're looking at numbers everyone can understand. That's probably the moment when FreshBooks proves the most value to me. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Ashish S.

Associate

Accounting

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

6/18/2025

"A Great Fit for Freelancers and Small Businesses – Smooth Invoicing & Expense Tracking"

5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is incredibly user-friendly — perfect for those without an accounting background. The invoicing system is clean and customizable, with options to automate recurring invoices and send reminders for overdue payments. The mobile app is powerful, making it easy to upload receipts, track time, or check reports on the go. The integration with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal helps me get paid faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

While it covers the basics well, FreshBooks lacks depth in accounting reports and isn't ideal for inventory-heavy businesses. Also, pricing can add up quickly if you need more users or advanced features. I wish the reporting section had more customization or detailed breakdowns. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

FreshBooks helps solve several key problems for small businesses and freelancers:

Manual Invoicing & Payment Delays: FreshBooks automates the invoicing process and sends reminders, helping me get paid faster.

Unorganized Expense Tracking: It keeps all expenses organized in one place with receipts and categories, making tax time easier.

Lack of Time Tracking: The built-in time tracking ensures accurate billing for hourly work.

Financial Visibility: Real-time reporting gives a clear view of income, expenses, and profit. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Urvish M.

CRM Marketer

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4/22/2026

"Straightforward Invoicing and Tracking with a Clean, Easy-to-Navigate Interface"

4.5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is straightforward and I mostly use it for invoicing, expense tracking and project tracking. The interface feels clean and easy to navigate and I haven’t run into anything confusing. I’ve connected it with Zapier and google Drive to mange my files and automate small updates, which keeps things moving without much effort. The mobile app is also really helpful when I’m away from my desk or outside of work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

Freshbooks seach works really well for me and I havn’t had any issues with it. The payment fees feel a bit high and payment integrations like strip and PayPal make it simple for clienta to pay in the way that works best for them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jason W.

Accountant

Accounting

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4/15/2026

"Slick Invoicing and Time Tracking That Makes Billing Effortless"

4/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is a winner because it doesn't feel like a chore. The invoicing is slick, and the built-in time tracking is a lifesaver if you're billing by the hour—it just pulls everything together without the usual manual headache. It’s perfect for keeping things clean and professional without needing a degree in finance to navigate the dashboard. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

The biggest headache is the pricing model; it’s based on how many clients you have, which feels like a penalty for growing. Also, while it’s great for services, the inventory tools are weak. If you need complex reporting or high-volume product tracking, it quickly feels outmatched by more robust systems that handle scale and detailed reconciliations better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

FreshBooks solves the "accounting fatigue" of manual bookkeeping. By automating professional invoicing, time tracking, and expense categorization, it eliminates administrative dread. For me, this means getting paid faster and staying tax-ready without the manual headache—leaving more energy for actual work instead of spreadsheets. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Randal W.

Professional Speaker | Mastermind Facilitator | Business Coach | Podcast Host | Journalist

Computer & Network Security

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5/14/2026

"Easy Billing and Client Portal, but the New Interface Feels Slow"

3/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

Freshbooks is a great platform if you are starting a business, for a solopreuneur or if you want basic billing.

The interface is easy to use, easy to setup recurring billing and easy to get paid.

It does something that some competitors do not do: It has a client portal so clients can find all pending invoices or previous invoices.

It will also auto-charge credit cards for recurring payments.

The costs are reasonable and it's easy to get started. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

When Freshbooks upgraded their interface, it became slow to use. So much so, that it caused us to make mistakes, waiting for the interface to catch up. It went from recommended solution, to something we needed to migrate away from. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

Getting paid is essential to any business, so any solution that allows us to capture our time and make sure clients are billed on time is key.

The recurring billing is big in the services space, so having a platform to automate that portion of billing saved a considerable amount of time.

The reporting feature was great and the search function also worked well when needed. This allowed us to answer customer queries faster. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from FreshBooks Support of FreshBooks

edit

Hi Randal, thank you for taking the time to share your review of FreshBooks.

I'm glad to hear of all the ways FreshBooks has worked well for your business. I will ensure your feedback regarding slowness experienced in the interface is noted for our team on your behalf.

If our Support Team can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out via https://support.freshbooks.com/hc/en-us ^DM

Ignacio C.

Finance manager

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4/8/2026

"Easy-to-Use FreshBooks That Simplifies Invoicing and Gets You Paid Faster"

4.5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is easy to use and makes invoicing, expense tracking, and time tracking simple. I like that it helps me stay organized and get paid faster Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

I dislike that FreshBooks can become expensive and has limitations on users, clients, and advanced accounting features. It works well for basic invoicing, but it can feel restrictive as a business gets bigger. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

It automates invoicing, reminders, and online payments so you spend less time chasing money. It keeps income and expenses organized in one place instead of scattered across spreadsheets. It tracks billable time and links it to invoices, which helps service-based businesses bill accurately. It helps prepare for tax season by keeping financial records and reports ready throughout the year.

You can create and send invoices faster, which saves admin time.You get better cash flow because automated reminders and online payments help clients pay sooner. You reduce bookkeeping mistakes by relying on a centralized system instead of manual entry. You have clearer visibility into your finances, which makes planning and decision-making easier. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Katie F.

Vice President Operations

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4/21/2026

"Amazing UX and Handy Mobile App for Invoices on the Go"

4.5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

The UX is amazing - super simple but sensible layout, mobile app is handy for pulling invoices on the fly! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

The search functionality isn't always the best - I often have to type close to the exact name of the business/contact to get it to display. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services

7/14/2026

"Why isn't everyone using Freshbooks?"

4.5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

User friendly. I'm not an accountant, administrator, or other person responsible for the "math" to keep a set of books. Freshbooks does all this for me. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

Sometimes have a bit of difficultly reconciling payments against invoices. That's probably my non-bookkeeper brain more than Freshbooks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Harsh D.

Chief Executive Officer

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4/28/2026

"FreshBooks Makes Bank Entries and Clear Reports Effortless"

5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

I can easily add bank entries directly into the system, which saves a lot of manual time. I also have quick access to all the reports, and they’re clear and easy to understand. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

I like everything about FreshBooks. It’s very easy to use, and I don’t have any dislikes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Mendel R.

CEO/Founder/Developer

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

9/16/2025

"Easy to Use with All the Features I Need"

5/5

What do you like best about FreshBooks?

FreshBooks is extremely easy to use, even for someone without an accounting background. The interface is clean, intuitive, and saves me time when creating invoices, tracking expenses, or managing projects. Despite being user-friendly, it still offers a strong set of features like time tracking, recurring invoices, and payment reminders. It strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality, which makes it a great tool for small businesses. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about FreshBooks?

Although FreshBooks does a great job with ease of use, the reporting features could be more advanced for those who want deeper insights into financial trends. I’d also like a bit more flexibility when customizing invoices and dashboards. Additionally, the cost may feel high for freelancers or very small businesses on a tight budget. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is FreshBooks solving and how is that benefiting you?

FreshBooks helps me save time by simplifying invoicing, expense tracking, and payment collection all in one place. Instead of juggling spreadsheets or multiple tools, I can manage client billing, track time, and stay on top of cash flow quickly and accurately. It reduces errors, keeps everything organized, and ensures I get paid faster. This efficiency lets me focus more on growing my business instead of being stuck in administrative tasks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.