FreshBooks is a Toronto-based accounting software company that has been serving Canadian small businesses and freelancers since 2003. It's particularly strong for service-based businesses that invoice clients, track time, and manage project costs. In 2025, FreshBooks competes directly with QuickBooks Online and Wave for the Canadian small business market.
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Get KOHO Free — Use Code 45ET55JSYA| Plan | Monthly Cost | Clients | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | ~$19/mo | 5 active | Solo freelancers |
| Plus | ~$33/mo | 50 active | Growing freelancers |
| Premium | ~$60/mo | Unlimited | Small teams |
| Select | Custom | Unlimited | Larger businesses |
FreshBooks bills in CAD for Canadian customers, which is a notable advantage over US-based competitors. Pricing above is approximate — FreshBooks regularly offers promotional discounts for new accounts.
| Feature | FreshBooks | QuickBooks Online |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good |
| Invoicing | Excellent | Good |
| Time tracking | Built-in | Add-on |
| Inventory | Basic | Excellent |
| Payroll | Via integration | Built-in add-on |
| Billing currency | CAD | CAD |
| Best for | Service businesses | Product businesses |
FreshBooks built its reputation among Canadian freelancers and consultants. If your business primarily invoices clients for time or services, FreshBooks is arguably the best-designed tool for your workflow. The time-tracking integration with invoicing is seamless — log hours to a project, click a button, and a professional invoice is generated automatically.
Canadian support is also a genuine advantage. FreshBooks has local support staff familiar with Canadian tax rules, GST/HST requirements, and the Canadian banking system.
FreshBooks is an excellent choice for Canadian freelancers and service-based small businesses. Its Canadian roots mean it's built with local tax requirements in mind, billed in CAD, and supported by a team that understands Canadian business. For product-based businesses or those needing complex inventory management, QuickBooks Online is the stronger choice. For invoicing-focused businesses, FreshBooks is hard to beat.