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FreshBooks vs Zoho Books: time billing on Lite against three users and bookkeeping on Standard
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Zoho Books Standard costs $20 a month, or $15 a month billed annually, for 3 users, with bank feeds, 200 receipt autoscans a month, reconciliation, a balance sheet and up to 5,000 invoices a year. FreshBooks Lite costs $23 a month for the owner only and 5 billable clients, with time tracking, projects and mileage, but no reconciliation. Zoho's timesheets and projects start at Professional ($50).
At a glance, by our score
- Lowest price
#2 Zoho Books
Small businesses that want three users and receipt scanning on a $15 plan
8.7/10Very goodOur scoreVisit Zoho BooksOn zoho.com #10 FreshBooks
Freelancers who bill by time and by project and track mileage
5.7/10PoorOur scoreVisit FreshBooksOn freshbooks.com
Zoho Books's lowest monthly price is lower than FreshBooks's, checked Sep 25, 2026 and Sep 25, 2026.
Side by side
| Criterion | FreshBooks | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 5.7/10PoorOur score #10 of 10 | 8.7/10Very goodOur score #2 of 10 |
| Included on the entry plan (30%) | 4.0 / 10 | 8.0 / 10 |
| Regular price (30%) | 6.5 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| Leaving (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Free plan or trial (10%) | 6.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Price after the introductory offer (10%) | 5.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Users (10%) | 4.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $23 / month | $0 / month |
| Best for | Freelancers who bill by time and by project and track mileage | Small businesses that want three users and receipt scanning on a $15 plan |
| Visit | Visit FreshBooksOn freshbooks.com | Visit Zoho BooksOn zoho.com |
Who should pick which
- FreshBooks: Freelancers who bill by time and by project and track mileage
- Zoho Books: Small businesses that want three users and receipt scanning on a $15 plan
At a glance
| FreshBooks | Zoho Books | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Lite | Standard |
| Regular price | $23 a month, or $248.40 a year | $20 a month, or $15 a month billed annually |
| Billing | Monthly or yearly (10% off) | Monthly or annually, per organization |
| Introductory offer | $1 a month for the first year (new customers) | None |
| Unlimited invoices | Yes, but to 5 billable clients | No: up to 5,000 a year |
| Bank feeds | Yes (automated bank import) | Yes |
| Receipt capture | No (Plus and up) | Yes (200 autoscans a month) |
| Bank reconciliation | No (Plus and up) | Yes |
| Reports | Profit and loss; balance sheet is Plus and up | Profit and loss, balance sheet and 50+ reports |
| Users | Owner only; team members $11 a month each | 3 (more at $3 a user a month) |
| Leaving | Cancel any time; access to the end of the cycle | Cancel any time; data turns read-only |
| Free plan or trial | 30-day trial, no card | Free plan (revenue under $50K) and a 14-day trial |
Prices from FreshBooks's pricing page and Zoho Books's pricing page, read Sep 25, 2026.
Price
FreshBooks Lite is $23 a month, or $248.40 a year. Zoho Books Standard is $20 a month, or $15 a month billed annually ($180 a year), per organization. Billed yearly, Zoho is $68.40 a year cheaper. FreshBooks offers new customers Lite at $1 a month for the first year; Zoho shows no introductory offer.
Users decide most of the difference. Zoho Standard includes 3 users and adds more at $3 a user a month. FreshBooks Lite is the owner only, with team members at $11 a month each. Three people cost $45 a month on FreshBooks Lite and $20 on Zoho Standard; five cost $67 and $26.
Where they differ
- Bookkeeping on the entry plan. Zoho's pricing page lists bank feeds, bank reconciliation, 200 receipt autoscans a month, and profit and loss, balance sheet and 50+ reports on Standard. FreshBooks Lite has bank import, but reconciliation, receipt scanning and the balance sheet start at Plus ($43).
- Time and projects. FreshBooks includes unlimited time tracking and project management on Lite, per its comparison page. On Zoho, billing timesheets and project profitability start at Professional ($50, or $40 billed annually).
- Invoice limits. Zoho Standard caps you at 5,000 invoices a year. FreshBooks Lite's invoices are unlimited but only to 5 billable clients.
- Contractors. Zoho Standard lists e-filing 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC, and progress invoicing. FreshBooks issues 1099-NEC forms only through its payroll add-on, which needs at least one W-2 employee.
- Free options and leaving. Zoho has a free plan while revenue stays under $50K a year, and a 14-day trial of paid plans; FreshBooks has a 30-day trial with no card. After cancelling, Zoho keeps your data read-only, and deletes accounts inactive more than 120 days. FreshBooks keeps access to the end of the cycle, though inactive accounts may be deleted after 30 days.
Who should pick which
Pick FreshBooks if you work alone, bill a few clients by the hour or by project, and track mileage on your phone.
Pick Zoho Books if two or three people keep the books, you want reconciliation and receipt scanning from the start, or you pay contractors and need 1099 e-filing. Mileage tracking is on Zoho Standard too.
FreshBooks' own comparison page lists Lite at $17 a month; its pricing page says $23. We use the pricing page.
Both appear in our accounting software ranking, our list for freelancers and our list for construction and trades. How we score is on the methodology page.