Accounting Software for Freelancers
Accounting tools for freelancers and small businesses: compare features, integrations and free trials side-by-side.
- GoBD-compliant with DATEV export & EU tax filing
- From simple receipt scanning to full accounting suites
- Lexware, sevDesk, Xero, Wave & more side-by-side
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Scope What the tool covers Invoicing only sends and tracks invoices. Accounting adds ledgers, expenses and reports. All-in-one bundles those with adjacent jobs such as banking or tax filing. | Accounting | Accounting | All-in-one | Accounting | Accounting | Accounting | Accounting | All-in-one |
| Price range | Mid-range | Mid-range | Budget | Mid-range | Free | Mid-range | Free | Mid-range |
| Multi-currency Invoicing in other currencies Verified on every vendor site on 8 Sep 2026. Mind the plan: Xero includes it only on Established, QuickBooks from Essentials upward (not Simple Start), Sage only on Plus. Wave, FreshBooks, Zoho Books and Accountable list it without a tier restriction on their pages. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days | 14 days | 30 days | — | 14 days | — | 30 days |
| Best for | Solo & Team | All | Solo | Solo & Team | Solo | Solo & Team | Solo & Team | All |
| Visit site | View offer* | View offer* | Visit site | Visit site | View offer* | Visit site | Visit site |
All 9 accounting tools at a glance
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To the newsletterFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best accounting software for freelancers?
FreshBooks is our 2026 top pick for freelancers: invoicing, expense tracking and time tracking in one clean interface. Xero is the stronger choice for growing businesses with heavier bookkeeping needs. The comparison table above shows all criteria side by side.
Do I really need accounting software as a freelancer?
Not on day one, but sooner than most expect. Once you invoice regularly, software pays for itself: it keeps business finances separate, tracks outstanding invoices, and turns tax season from a shoebox of receipts into a report. A spreadsheet works at the very start; it stops scaling around client number five.
What does accounting software cost for freelancers?
Most freelancer-tier plans run $10–30 per month, with discounts for annual billing and frequent intro offers for the first months. Free trials (typically 30 days) are standard: test with your real invoices before committing, and check the free-tier column in our table.
FreshBooks or Xero: which one should I pick?
FreshBooks if you're a solo freelancer who mainly invoices clients and tracks expenses; it's simpler and faster to learn. Xero if you're growing toward a small business: stronger reporting, inventory and accountant collaboration. Both integrate with the usual payment providers.
Accounting software handles receipts, expenses and tax-ready records. The table compares the best 2026 tools — FreshBooks as our freelancer top pick, Xero for growing businesses.