Simple vs FreshBooks
Last reviewed: September 2026
FreshBooks pricing is $23, $43 or $70 a month at list, but Lite bills only 5 clients and Plus only 50, and each extra seat is $11. Cards cost 2.9% + 30¢ and Amex 3.5% + 30¢. Simple has no client limits and charges 2.79% on every card, but it is not accounting software.
Competitor pricing last reviewed September 2026. Published rates change; check the vendor's current pricing page: FreshBooks pricing pricing, FreshBooks payment fees pricing.
Key facts: Simple vs FreshBooks
- FreshBooks list prices: Lite $23 (5 billable clients), Plus $43 (50 clients), Premium $70 (unlimited). Published by FreshBooks.
- Promos: Lite $1/mo for the first year; Plus and Premium 80% off for 3 months. List prices are used in all math below.
- Extra seat $11/mo. Advanced Payments add-on $20/mo.
- FreshBooks is full accounting software. Simple is not.
What do FreshBooks client limits mean in practice?
| Plan | List price | Billable clients | Proposals, e-sign estimates, retainers |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks Lite | $23/mo (promo $1/mo first year) | 5 | No |
| FreshBooks Plus | $43/mo (promo 80% off for 3 months) | 50 | Yes |
| FreshBooks Premium | $70/mo (promo 80% off for 3 months) | Unlimited | Yes |
| FreshBooks Select | Custom | Unlimited | Yes |
| Simple | $99 / $199 / $399 | Unlimited on every plan | Yes, on every plan |
Published by FreshBooks at freshbooks.com/pricing, reviewed September 2026. Extra seats $11/mo each. 30-day trial.
A sixth client pushes a Lite customer to Plus, and a 51st pushes Plus to Premium. Proposals, estimates with e-sign and retainers also start on Plus. On Simple none of those are gated, and there is no client count.
What does FreshBooks charge on card and Amex payments?
| Payment | FreshBooks | Simple |
|---|---|---|
| Card | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.79% |
| Amex and business cards | 3.5% + 30¢ | 2.79% |
| Card AutoPay and AutoCollect | 3.5% + 30¢ | 2.79% |
| ACH | 1%, uncapped (outside Select) | Accepted |
| Instant payout | +1.5% | Next-day and same-day funding available |
Published by FreshBooks in its payments fee article.
Business cards and saved-card AutoPay both cost 3.5% + 30¢ on FreshBooks. For firms that keep clients on autopay, that is the rate most payments land on.
What does a 5-person firm pay on FreshBooks?
Our standard firm: $25,000 a month by card, 20 invoices, 40% Amex or corporate. FreshBooks Plus covers proposals and retainers; four extra seats cover the team. Simple Medium covers time tracking for up to 10 users.
FreshBooks Plus + 4 seats: $15,000 x 2.9% + 12 x $0.30 + $10,000 x 3.5% + 8 x $0.30 = $791/mo + $43 + 4 x $11 = $10,536/yr
Simple Medium: $697.50/mo + $199 = $10,758/yr
FreshBooks is about $222 a year cheaper here, and it includes accounting. Simple spends less on card fees ($8,370 a year against $9,492) but more on the plan. Without time tracking, Simple Small is $9,558/yr, about $978 under FreshBooks. Either way, the difference is modest. Choose on what the tool does, not the price alone.
Is FreshBooks or QuickBooks better?
Both are accounting tools. FreshBooks leans toward service invoicing and a simpler interface; QuickBooks goes deeper on bookkeeping, inventory and accountant workflows. Simple fits a different spot: teams that want invoicing, projects, a client CRM and POS in one place, and keep accounting elsewhere. Read the wider invoicing software buyer's guide for QuickBooks Payments fees.
Who is each tool best for?
- FreshBooks is best for solo service providers with a few clients who want invoicing and bookkeeping in one place.
- Simple is best for teams with many clients, heavy business-card billing, or in-person sales at 2.19%.
Related: consulting software guide and HoneyBook alternatives.
Who should choose FreshBooks instead?
- Anyone who needs full accounting: a general ledger, reconciliation and tax-ready books.
- Solo operators with 5 clients or fewer on Lite.
Frequently asked questions
FreshBooks lists Lite at $23, Plus at $43 and Premium at $70 a month, with Select priced on request. Promos cut Lite to $1 a month for the first year and Plus and Premium by 80% for 3 months. Extra seats are $11 a month.
FreshBooks Lite lets you bill up to 5 clients. Plus raises that to 50, and Premium is unlimited.
FreshBooks charges 3.5% + 30¢ on Amex and business cards, and the same rate on card AutoPay and AutoCollect. Standard cards are 2.9% + 30¢.
Both are accounting tools. FreshBooks leans toward service invoicing and a simpler interface; QuickBooks goes deeper on bookkeeping, inventory and accountant workflows.
No. Simple has expense tracking and a live P&L but no general ledger, reconciliation or tax filing. Teams that need accounting should keep FreshBooks, QuickBooks or an accountant alongside Simple.
Bill every client, no caps
No client limits and 2.79% on every card, Amex and business cards included.