The best FreshBooks alternatives for freelancers in 2026
FreshBooks is excellent accounting software. But if you're a freelancer who also needs proposals, contracts, a client portal, and project management — it's the wrong tool.
TL;DR
You need proper accounting —…
→ FreshBooks
You just need invoicing and…
→ Wave
You need proposals, contracts, invoicing,…
→ kinako.
You need strong proposals and…
→ Bonsai
About FreshBooks
FreshBooks is accounting software that happens to have good invoicing. It's genuinely strong at what it does: double-entry bookkeeping, expense tracking, time tracking, and tax reporting. But it has no proposals, no contracts, no client portal, and no project management. If you're a freelancer who only needs invoicing and accounting, it's a legitimate option. If you need to run your whole client operation from one tool, you'll end up with FreshBooks plus Dubsado or HoneyBook — which defeats the purpose.
Where FreshBooks shines
- Best-in-class accounting for freelancers who need proper books
- Strong time tracking tied to client billing
- Recurring invoices and automated payment reminders
- Good expense tracking with receipt scanning
- Well-integrated with accountants and bookkeepers
Why people look for alternatives
- No proposals, contracts, or e-signatures — you'll need another tool
- No client portal or project management
- Lite plan limited to 5 clients — quickly becomes limiting
- Expensive for what most freelancers actually need
- Overkill if you don't need full accounting features
Feature comparison
FreshBooks vs. the top alternatives — side by side.
| Feature | kinako.us | freshbooks | Wave | Bonsai | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free / $29/mo | $19/mo | Free | $21/mo | $16/mo |
| Free plan | |||||
| Proposals + contracts | |||||
| Online payments (Stripe) | Pay-per-use fees | Pro+ only | |||
| Client portal | Basic | ||||
| Expense tracking | |||||
| Double-entry accounting | |||||
| Time tracking |
The best FreshBooks alternatives
Detailed breakdown of each option.
kinako.
This is usOne tool to run your entire freelance business
Free · Pro from $29/mo
Free plan available
Best for: Solo freelancers who want everything in one place — invoicing, contracts, proposals, client portal, expenses, and project tracking — without paying for five tools
Pros
- All-in-one workflow at $29/mo — replaces a $60–90/mo stack
- Online Stripe payments out of the box
- Contracts with e-signatures included at all paid tiers
- Expense tracking + revenue dashboard
- Free plan available (3 clients/projects/invoices)
- Clean, modern UI — no setup overwhelm
- Recurring invoices + automated payment reminders
- Time tracking and public booking pages built in
Cons
- Newer product — smaller community and fewer tutorials than HoneyBook or Dubsado
- Booking pages don't sync with Google/Outlook calendars yet
- No team/multi-user accounts yet
Wave
Free invoicing and accounting for freelancers
Free (payments are paid)
Free plan available
Best for: Freelancers who need basic invoicing and accounting for free, and don't need proposals, contracts, or a client portal
Pros
- Genuinely free for invoicing and accounting
- Double-entry accounting for tax purposes
- Decent invoice customization
- Receipt scanning
- No monthly fee
Cons
- No proposals, contracts, or e-signatures
- No client portal or project management
- No CRM features
- Payment processing fees are high (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
- Limited customer support on free plan
- Wave Pro ($16/mo) adds features but still no CRM/contracts
- Can feel incomplete for running a real freelance business
Bonsai
All-in-one freelance management platform
From $21/mo
Best for: Freelancers focused primarily on proposals, contracts, and time tracking — especially those in tech, design, and consulting who want a clean, modern UI
Pros
- Excellent proposal and contract templates
- Time tracking built in
- Clean, modern UI
- Good task/project management features
- Available internationally
Cons
- Online payments (Stripe integration) requires higher-tier plan
- No free plan
- Starter plan is notably limited for the price
- Client portal is more basic than competitors
- Expense tracking limited on lower tiers
- More expensive than alternatives for equivalent features
HoneyBook
Client management platform for creative professionals
From $16/mo
Best for: Wedding photographers, event planners, and creative agencies who need polished proposals, automation workflows, and a recognizable brand in the industry
Pros
- Large, established community with extensive tutorials and templates
- Powerful automation workflows (e.g., auto-send contract when inquiry form is filled)
- Polished proposal and contract builder
- Built-in scheduling (Calendly alternative)
- Strong mobile app
Cons
- Expensive: full features require $32/mo plan
- No free plan — 7-day trial only
- No expense tracking
- Limited project management depth
- US and Canada only
- Can feel overkill for solo freelancers with simple needs
Dubsado
Client management for creative entrepreneurs
From $20/mo
Best for: Photographers, videographers, and designers who want deep customization, complex automation workflows, and full control over every client touchpoint
Pros
- Highly customizable forms, proposals, and workflows
- Unlimited clients and projects on all plans
- Strong automation builder for complex multi-step client journeys
- Good value at $20/mo given feature depth
- Active user community with shared templates
Cons
- Complex setup — user reviews commonly cite 40–60 hours to fully configure
- UI feels dated in places, per user reviews
- No expense tracking on its published plans
- Significant learning curve before users describe seeing full value
- No free plan — 21-day trial
- Mobile app described as more limited than competitors in user reviews
Which one should you pick?
The honest answer: it depends on how you work.
It's genuinely the best invoicing + accounting tool for freelancers who care about their books.
Free, decent accounting, no monthly fee. Limited but capable for simple needs.
FreshBooks can't do any of this. kinako covers it all for $29/mo with a free tier.
Better than FreshBooks for the full freelance workflow, though more expensive than kinako.
FreshBooks for invoicing + something else for everything else. Or just kinako.
kinako handles proposals, contracts, invoicing, client portal, and expense tracking in one tool. Not accounting software — but everything else you need to run a freelance business.
Free plan · No credit card required