Best Accounting Software for Freelancers (2026): Free & Paid Options Compared

Most freelancers don’t need the same accounting software as a 20-person company. You need to track income and expenses, send invoices, separate business from personal spending, and know how much to set aside for taxes. The best accounting software for freelancers does those things well, without monthly fees that eat into your profit.

Quick pick: FreshBooks is the best all-round choice for service freelancers. QuickBooks Solopreneur is best for simple tax tracking at $20/month, Zoho Books is the best free option if you earn under $50,000 a year, and Wave is the best free option without a revenue cap.

How we chose: we compared plans, limits and prices published on each provider’s official website or recent pricing coverage (checked October 2026), with a focus on solo freelancers. No provider paid to be included. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.

Best accounting software for freelancers: comparison

Regular prices as listed in October 2026. Many providers run introductory discounts; payment processing fees are extra.

1. FreshBooks: best overall for freelancers

FreshBooks is built for people who sell their time and expertise. Every plan includes unlimited time tracking and expenses, automatic bank imports, mileage tracking and tax-time reports. Lite costs $23/month but only allows 5 billable clients. Plus ($43/month) raises that to 50 clients and adds proposals, retainers, receipt scanning, double-entry reports and accountant access.

• Pros: easiest invoicing-plus-accounting combo, excellent for hourly or retainer work.
• Cons: client limits on Lite; extra team members cost $11/month each.

2. QuickBooks Solopreneur: best for simple tax tracking

QuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly QuickBooks Self-Employed) is designed for one-person businesses. The Lite plan costs $20/month and includes unlimited invoicing and mileage tracking, plus tools to separate business and personal transactions. A free plan covers the basics with up to 2 invoices per month. It’s simpler than QuickBooks Online and focused on getting your Schedule C right.

• Pros: very simple, mileage tracking, familiar brand for tax preparers.
• Cons: not full accounting; QuickBooks prices have risen steadily in recent years.

3. Zoho Books: best free accounting software (under $50K)

Zoho Books offers a free plan for businesses with annual revenue up to $50,000, including 1,000 invoices a year, 1 user plus your accountant, and 50 receipt autoscans per month. Paid plans start at $15/month billed annually (Standard). It’s real double-entry accounting, so it can grow with you.

• Pros: genuinely capable free plan, accountant access, works with Zoho Invoice and CRM.
• Cons: you’ll need to upgrade once revenue passes $50K.

4. Wave: best free option with no revenue cap

Wave’s Starter plan is free, with unlimited invoices, estimates, bills and bookkeeping records. Card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction on the free plan. Wave Pro ($19/month) adds automatic bank imports, transaction auto-categorization, branding and late-payment reminders.

• Pros: free forever, simple, decent reports.
• Cons: automatic bank feeds require Pro; fewer integrations than paid tools.

5. Xero: best for growing freelancers with an accountant

Xero is popular with accountants for its bank reconciliation. The Early plan ($25/month) is limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills per month, so most active freelancers will need Growing ($55/month). All plans include quotes, online payments, 1099 management and sales tax handling.

6. QuickBooks Online: best for full accounting

If you plan to hire, carry inventory or work closely with a CPA, QuickBooks Online Simple Start ($38/month) offers full double-entry accounting and room to grow. It’s more than most solo freelancers need.

What freelancers actually need from accounting software

• Bank and card connections that import transactions automatically.
• Expense categories that match Schedule C lines.
• Invoicing and online payments, ideally in the same tool.
• Receipt capture so you have documentation for deductions.
• Mileage tracking if you drive for work. The IRS standard rate for business use was 72.5 cents per mile from January 1, 2026, and 76 cents per mile from July 1, 2026.
• Tax estimates or profit reports to plan quarterly payments.
• Accountant access if someone else files your taxes.

If invoicing is your main concern, our comparisons of the best invoicing software for consultants and best invoicing software for photographers go deeper on billing features.

Accounting habits that save freelancers money

1. Open a separate business bank account and run every business transaction through it.
2. Reconcile weekly, which takes about 15 minutes with bank feeds.
3. Snap receipts immediately instead of hunting for them in April.
4. Set aside a fixed percentage of every payment for taxes in a separate account.
5. Review your profit monthly to adjust your rates and quarterly tax payments.

Choosing a business structure affects your bookkeeping too. If you’re deciding, see LLC vs. sole proprietorship for freelancers.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• FreshBooks pricing
• NerdWallet: QuickBooks pricing (updated March 2026)
• Zoho Books pricing
• Wave pricing
• Xero US pricing
• QuickBooks Online pricing
• IRS: 2026 standard mileage rate
• Thomson Reuters: IRS midyear increase in standard mileage rates