QuickBooks vs FreshBooks vs InvoiceKit: Which is Best?

Choosing the Right Invoicing Software

QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and InvoiceKit are three of the most popular invoicing solutions, but they serve different needs. This comprehensive comparison will help you choose the right one for your business.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	InvoiceKit	FreshBooks	QuickBooks
Best For	Freelancers, Small Businesses	Service Businesses	Growing Businesses
Starting Price	Free (3 invoices/month)	$19/month	$30/month
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Invoicing	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accounting	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Support	Email, Chat	Email, Phone, Chat	Email, Phone, Chat

InvoiceKit: Best for Simplicity

Overview

InvoiceKit is a modern, user-friendly invoicing platform designed for freelancers and small businesses who want professional invoicing without complexity.

Pricing

• Free: 3 invoices per month
• Starter: $9/month - Unlimited invoices
• Professional: $19/month - All features

Key Features

• ✅ Beautiful, customizable invoice templates
• ✅ Recurring invoices
• ✅ Payment tracking
• ✅ Client management
• ✅ Custom payment instructions
• ✅ PDF export
• ✅ Email invoices
• ✅ Payment reminders
• ✅ Multi-currency support
• ✅ Mobile-friendly

Pros

• Extremely easy to use: No learning curve
• Affordable: Free plan available, paid plans cheaper than competitors
• Modern design: Beautiful, professional invoices
• Fast setup: Create first invoice in 5 minutes
• No bloat: Focused on invoicing, not overwhelming
• Great for beginners: Perfect first invoicing tool

Cons

• Limited accounting: Not a full accounting solution
• Fewer integrations: Newer platform
• No built-in time tracking: Need separate tool
• Basic reporting: Simple reports only

Best For

• Freelancers just starting out
• Small businesses with simple invoicing needs
• Anyone who values simplicity
• Budget-conscious businesses
• Users who don't need full accounting

FreshBooks: Best for Service Businesses

Overview

FreshBooks is a popular cloud accounting software designed specifically for service-based small businesses and freelancers.

Pricing

• Lite: $19/month - 5 clients
• Plus: $33/month - 50 clients
• Premium: $60/month - Unlimited clients
• Select: Custom pricing - Advanced features

Key Features

• ✅ Professional invoicing
• ✅ Time tracking
• ✅ Expense tracking
• ✅ Project management
• ✅ Client portal
• ✅ Proposals and estimates
• ✅ Payment processing
• ✅ Accounting reports
• ✅ Mobile apps (iOS/Android)
• ✅ Team collaboration

Pros

• Time tracking included: Bill for hours worked
• Project management: Track project profitability
• Client portal: Clients can view invoices and pay online
• Excellent mobile app: Full-featured iOS/Android apps
• Good reporting: Understand your business finances
• Proposals: Create and send professional proposals
• Established platform: Been around since 2003

Cons

• More expensive: $19/month minimum
• Client limits: Lower tiers restrict number of clients
• Learning curve: More complex than simple invoicing tools
• Frequent price increases: Costs have risen over time
• Limited inventory: Not great for product-based businesses

Best For

• Service-based businesses (consultants, agencies)
• Freelancers who bill by the hour
• Teams who need collaboration features
• Businesses that need project tracking
• Users who want time tracking built-in

QuickBooks Online: Best for Full Accounting

Overview

QuickBooks Online is the industry-standard accounting software for small businesses, offering comprehensive financial management beyond just invoicing.

Pricing

• Simple Start: $30/month - 1 user
• Essentials: $60/month - 3 users
• Plus: $90/month - 5 users
• Advanced: $200/month - 25 users

Key Features

• ✅ Professional invoicing
• ✅ Expense tracking
• ✅ Bank reconciliation
• ✅ Financial reporting
• ✅ Inventory management
• ✅ Payroll (add-on)
• ✅ Tax preparation
• ✅ Multi-currency
• ✅ 1099 contractor management
• ✅ Budgeting

Pros

• Comprehensive accounting: Full double-entry bookkeeping
• Industry standard: Accountants know it well
• Powerful reporting: Detailed financial insights
• Inventory management: Track products and COGS
• Payroll integration: Manage employees
• Bank connections: Auto-import transactions
• Tax features: Easier tax preparation
• Scalable: Grows with your business

Cons

• Expensive: $30/month minimum, costs add up
• Steep learning curve: Complex for beginners
• Overwhelming: Too many features for simple needs
• Frequent price increases: Costs rise regularly
• Add-on costs: Payroll, advanced features cost extra
• Slower updates: Interface feels dated

Best For

• Growing businesses needing full accounting
• Product-based businesses with inventory
• Businesses with employees (payroll)
• Companies working with accountants
• Users who need detailed financial reports
• Businesses planning to scale

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Invoicing

Winner: InvoiceKit & FreshBooks (tie)

• InvoiceKit: Modern, beautiful templates, easiest to use
• FreshBooks: Professional, customizable, client portal
• QuickBooks: Functional but less intuitive

Ease of Use

Winner: InvoiceKit

• InvoiceKit: Simplest, fastest to learn
• FreshBooks: User-friendly, moderate learning curve
• QuickBooks: Complex, requires training

Pricing

Winner: InvoiceKit

• InvoiceKit: Free plan, $9-19/month paid
• FreshBooks: $19-60/month
• QuickBooks: $30-200/month

Accounting Features

Winner: QuickBooks

• QuickBooks: Full accounting suite
• FreshBooks: Basic accounting
• InvoiceKit: Invoicing only

Time Tracking

Winner: FreshBooks

• FreshBooks: Built-in, converts to invoices
• QuickBooks: Available (add-on)
• InvoiceKit: Not included

Mobile Apps

Winner: FreshBooks

• FreshBooks: Excellent iOS/Android apps
• QuickBooks: Good apps, full-featured
• InvoiceKit: Mobile-responsive web (no native app yet)

Customer Support

Winner: FreshBooks

• FreshBooks: Phone, email, chat, excellent response
• QuickBooks: Phone, email, chat, hit or miss
• InvoiceKit: Email, chat, responsive

Use Case Scenarios

Scenario 1: New Freelancer

Best Choice: InvoiceKit

You're just starting out, need to send a few invoices per month, and want something simple and affordable. InvoiceKit's free plan is perfect, and you can upgrade as you grow.

Scenario 2: Consultant Billing by the Hour

Best Choice: FreshBooks

You track time for multiple clients and need to convert hours into invoices. FreshBooks' built-in time tracking is essential for your workflow.

Scenario 3: Growing E-commerce Business

Best Choice: QuickBooks

You sell products, manage inventory, have employees, and need comprehensive financial reports. QuickBooks is the only option with all these features.

Scenario 4: Small Agency (5-10 People)

Best Choice: FreshBooks or QuickBooks

FreshBooks if you're service-based and need project management. QuickBooks if you need full accounting and payroll.

Scenario 5: Side Hustle

Best Choice: InvoiceKit

You invoice occasionally, don't need accounting features, and want to keep costs low. InvoiceKit's free plan covers your needs.

Migration Considerations

Switching to InvoiceKit

• Easy to import clients
• Start fresh with new invoice numbering
• Export old invoices as PDFs for records

Switching to FreshBooks

• Import clients and products
• Migration support available
• 30-day free trial to test

Switching to QuickBooks

• Complex migration (consider hiring accountant)
• Import historical data
• Training recommended

Final Recommendation

Choose InvoiceKit if you:

• Want the simplest, easiest solution
• Need professional invoicing without complexity
• Are budget-conscious
• Don't need full accounting
• Value modern design

Choose FreshBooks if you:

• Bill by the hour
• Need time tracking
• Want project management
• Run a service business
• Need moderate accounting features

Choose QuickBooks if you:

• Need comprehensive accounting
• Have inventory to manage
• Have employees (payroll)
• Work with an accountant
• Plan to scale significantly

Conclusion

There's no universally "best" invoicing software—it depends on your specific needs. For most freelancers and small businesses, InvoiceKit offers the best balance of simplicity, features, and affordability. Service businesses benefit from FreshBooks' time tracking, while growing companies need QuickBooks' comprehensive accounting.

Try InvoiceKit free today and see if it's the right fit for your business!