The 10 Best FreshBooks Alternatives for Invoicing in 2026

Quick answer: the best alternatives to FreshBooks for invoicing

The best FreshBooks alternatives for invoicing in 2026 depend on what you need: Rho and Mercury for banking plus invoicing, QuickBooks for a plan you can grow into, Zoho Invoice and Wave for free plans, Xero for accounting, and Square for payers who want choices. Rho is one of the best options for US-incorporated startups that want invoicing inside the Rho banking platform, with clients paying by ACH, domestic wire, check, or card.

How we ranked them. We compared each tool on four criteria, and we weighed them for a business that is leaving FreshBooks and wants to pay less to get paid:

1. Total cost: the plan price plus what processing takes from each invoice

2. How clients can pay, and whether they need an account

3. What the free plan really includes, and where it stops

4. How the tool scales when your client count grows

The order reflects fit for a US-incorporated startup leaving FreshBooks, weighted toward total cost and how clients can pay, not market share.

FreshBooks pricing: what you are replacing

FreshBooks is the baseline. As of October 16, 2026, its pricing page lists Lite at $23 a month for 5 billable clients, Plus at $43 for 50 billable clients, and Premium at $70 for unlimited clients. Select is custom-priced.

The pattern to notice is that FreshBooks tiers by billable client count. Add team members at $11 a month per user, or Advanced Payments at $20 a month, and the bill climbs past the plan price.

Its features page lists recurring invoices, built-in reminders, invoices that pull in tracked time and expenses, double-entry accounting, estimates, and iPhone and Android apps.

If you mostly send invoices and collect payment, you may be paying for more than you use. The alternatives below split that toolkit in different ways.

FreshBooks alternatives compared

List prices as of October 16, 2026. Card fees for the tools we verified are in the example below.

Pick by the Best for column, then run one real invoice through your top two. If you are a US-incorporated startup, start with Rho Invoicing.

QuickBooks and Xero list promotional discounts on their pricing pages (50% off for 3 months and 80% off for 3 months respectively). We show list prices, because promotions expire.

What a $5,000 card payment costs in processing fees, using the published rates above:

• Rho: $145.30 (2.9% + $0.30), absorbed by the business.

• Mercury: $145.30 at the typical rate.

• Wave: $145.60 (2.9% + $0.60).

• Stripe Invoicing: $165.30 ($20 for the 0.4% invoicing fee, plus $145.30 in card processing).

Paying by ACH changes the math. Stripe's ACH Direct Debit is 0.8% capped at $5, so the same $5,000 invoice costs $25 including the invoicing fee. Rho Invoicing has no per-invoice fee.

The 10 best FreshBooks alternatives for invoicing, reviewed

1. Rho: best for US-incorporated startups that invoice from their business platform

Rho fits US-incorporated startups that want invoicing inside the Rho banking platform. Your clients pay through a payment portal link by ACH, domestic wire, check, or card, including credit card, debit card, and Google Pay. They do not need a Rho account or any sign-up.

Rho Invoicing has no per-invoice or monthly fees for Rho customers. Card payments cost 2.9% + $0.30, absorbed by the business, so your client pays only the invoice amount and there is no surcharging. That is Stripe's published card rate, passed through.

Separately, the Rho business account has $0 monthly, per-user, and minimum-balance fees. You send invoices from your Rho account.

Pros

• No per-invoice or monthly fees for Rho customers; card payments cost 2.9% + $0.30 each, absorbed by the business

• Invoicing lives in the same Rho banking platform where your payments and cards already sit

• Clients pay without creating an account, by ACH, domestic wire, check, or card

Cons

• On a $5,000 card-paid invoice, the card fee is $145.30, absorbed by the business

• Pay by card is generally available for eligible Rho businesses, with eligibility based on Stripe underwriting, and Rho accounts are available to eligible US-incorporated businesses, subject to approval

Verdict: One of the best FreshBooks alternatives if you are a US-incorporated startup and want to send invoices from the same account where you manage business money. See Rho Invoicing.

You need a Rho account to send invoices; your clients do not need a Rho account to pay.

2. Mercury: best for startups that want banking plus invoicing

Mercury's free plan includes unlimited invoices. Clients can pay by credit card, Google Pay, wire, or ACH. Card payments run through Stripe, typically at 2.9% + $0.30. Mercury lists receiving ACH, wire, or check payments as free.

Recurring invoices are included on Plus and Pro, not the free plan. ACH debits on invoices cost $1 per transaction on Plus and $0 on Pro. (As of October 16, 2026, Mercury pricing page.)

Pros

• Unlimited invoices on the free plan

• Receiving ACH, wire, or check payments is listed as free

Cons

• Recurring invoices require a paid plan

• Card payments carry the typical 2.9% + $0.30 fee

Verdict: Mercury is a close peer to Rho for startups that want banking and invoicing together, and it is worth pricing both side by side.

3. QuickBooks: best for starting free and growing into a bigger plan

QuickBooks has a free plan at $0. It lets you send 2 invoices per month for one user, and unlimited invoices if you qualify for and enable QuickBooks Payments. As of October 16, 2026, its pricing page shows list prices of Simple Start $38, Essentials $85, Plus $140, and Advanced $340.

Pros

• A $0 starting point, then four paid tiers to move into

• Unlimited invoices if you qualify for and enable QuickBooks Payments

Cons

• The free plan is limited to 1 user and 2 invoices a month unless you enable QuickBooks Payments

Verdict: Pick QuickBooks if you expect your needs to grow and want one vendor with a long plan ladder.

4. Zoho Invoice: best free plan for very small teams

Zoho Invoice's forever-free plan covers up to 500 invoices a year, 2 users, 3 projects, and 2 organizations. Its page lists automated payment reminders, quotes, recurring invoices, time logging, and a customer portal.

Free invoices carry "Powered by Zoho Invoice" branding. The pricing page shows only the free plan and points to Zoho Billing for paid options. (As of October 16, 2026, Zoho pricing page.)

Pros

• $0 with a feature list that runs well past basic invoicing

• A customer portal, reminders, and recurring invoices are all listed on the plan

Cons

• Capped at 500 invoices a year

• Invoices show Zoho branding

Verdict: Zoho Invoice fits a small team that sends a few dozen invoices a month and wants a genuine free tier.

5. Wave: best for solo operators who want unlimited free invoices

Wave's Starter plan is $0 and includes unlimited estimates, invoices, and bills. Card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60, or 3.4% + $0.60 for American Express.

Pro is $19 a month or $190 a year. It adds automated late-payment reminders, custom logo and brand colors, removal of Wave branding, and auto-sending. Online payments need approval, through identity verification and a credit review. (As of October 16, 2026, Wave pricing page.)

Pros

• Unlimited invoices at $0

• Pro adds late-payment reminders and brand customization for $19 a month

Cons

• The card fee is 30 cents higher per payment than Rho, Mercury, or Stripe's standard rate

• You need approval before you can take online payments

Verdict: A good fit for a solo business that sends many small invoices and takes most payments outside of cards.

6. Xero: best for accounting software with invoices and bills on one plan

As of October 16, 2026, Xero's US pricing page lists Early at $27 a month, Growing at $59, and Established at $97. Early includes 20 invoices and 5 bills. Introductory pricing is 80% off for 3 months. Xero reserves the right to change pricing at any time.

Pros

• Bills and invoices sit together in one plan

• Three tiers, so a growing business has a clear next step

Cons

• Early includes 20 invoices, so compare that against your own invoice volume

• Starts at $27, above FreshBooks Lite's $23

Verdict: Xero suits a business that wants its invoicing and bookkeeping in one place and whose invoice volume fits what Early includes.

7. Invoice Ninja: best for freelancers with five or fewer clients

Invoice Ninja's free plan is "free forever for up to 5 clients," with unlimited invoicing. Pro is $14 a month or $140 a year, with unlimited clients and invoices. Enterprise starts at $18 a month for 1 to 2 users and runs up to $300 a month for 51 to 100 users. (As of October 16, 2026, Invoice Ninja pricing page.)

Pros

• Unlimited invoices on a free plan

• Pro costs $14 a month, cheaper than FreshBooks Lite

Cons

• The free plan stops at 5 clients, the same limit FreshBooks Lite sets on billable clients

• Enterprise pricing scales with seat count

Verdict: Choose Invoice Ninja if you have a handful of long-term clients and want to pay nothing or very little.

8. Bonsai: best for solo operators who want per-user pricing

Bonsai prices by user. Basic is $15 a month ($9 billed annually), Essentials $25 ($19), Premium $39 ($29), and Elite $59 ($49). Invoices and payments start at Essentials. Premium adds removal of Bonsai branding and integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly, and Google. (As of October 16, 2026, Bonsai pricing page.)

Pros

• Clear four-tier ladder with annual discounts

• Integrations arrive at Premium

Cons

• Invoices and payments start at Essentials ($25 monthly, $19 annually), above the $15 Basic entry price

• Per-user pricing adds up as a team grows

Verdict: Bonsai works for a one-person business that wants predictable per-seat pricing.

9. Square: best for clients who want consumer payment options like Cash App Pay and Afterpay

Square's free plan includes estimates, contracts, and invoices. Its pages list credit card, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, ACH bank transfer, and Afterpay as ways to pay. (As of October 16, 2026, Square pricing and invoices pages.)

Pros

• A free plan that includes invoices, estimates, and contracts

• Lists ACH, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, and Afterpay alongside cards

Cons

• This guide covers only the free plan; check Square's current fee schedule for processing and paid-plan costs

Verdict: Square suits a business whose clients want consumer payment options like Cash App Pay and Afterpay.

10. Stripe Invoicing: best for businesses already on Stripe Payments

Stripe Invoicing Starter charges 0.4% per paid invoice. Plus charges 0.5% and adds quotes. Stripe describes "no fixed fees or setup costs," and Stripe Payments pricing applies on top: 2.9% + $0.30 for a standard US card, and ACH Direct Debit at 0.8% capped at $5. (As of October 16, 2026, Stripe pricing pages.)

Pros

• No fixed fees or setup costs

• ACH Direct Debit is capped at $5 per payment

Cons

• No free tier: you pay the invoicing percentage plus payment processing

• On a $5,000 card payment, total fees reach $165.30

Verdict: Stripe Invoicing fits a business that already runs payments on Stripe and wants invoices on the same rails.

How to choose

What will each invoice really cost? Add the plan to the processing fee. A $0 plan is not the whole cost: a 2.9% + $0.60 card fee costs 30 cents more per payment than 2.9% + $0.30, and the gap grows with every card-paid invoice.

How do your clients like to pay? Check that your top clients can use the method they prefer. Rho lists ACH, domestic wire, check, and card (credit, debit, Google Pay); on Stripe, ACH is capped at $5 per payment.

Where does the free plan stop? Free plans cap invoices, clients, or users: 500 invoices a year at Zoho, 5 clients at Invoice Ninja, 2 invoices a month at QuickBooks. Pick the cap you will not hit.

Where does invoicing live? Ask whether invoicing sits in the same place you manage your business money, because that removes a separate login.

What happens when you grow? Look at the next tier before you commit. A cap that is fine at 5 clients can force a plan change at 6.

Which FreshBooks features do you actually use?

FreshBooks lists recurring invoices, reminders, estimates, tracked-time invoicing, and mobile apps. List the ones you use every month, then confirm each on the vendor's page before you switch.

Zoho Invoice, Wave Pro, and Mercury Plus list recurring invoices or reminders on their own pages. If you mostly send and collect, a leaner tool may be enough.

Which FreshBooks alternative fits your business?

Those five questions narrow the field fast. Here is where each answer tends to land:

• US-incorporated startup that wants invoicing next to its business money: Rho or Mercury. Rho, Mercury, and Novo are banking-plus-invoicing options to compare; Novo lists free unlimited invoices, payments by ACH, check, card, and PayPal, and no monthly fees.

• B2B clients who pay by wire or check: Rho (ACH, domestic wire, check, card) or Mercury (wire, ACH)

• Solo freelancer with a handful of clients: Invoice Ninja, Wave, or Zoho Invoice

• Small team that wants a free plan with real features: Zoho Invoice

• Invoicing only vs full accounting: Zoho Invoice, Wave, or Invoice Ninja for invoicing; QuickBooks or Xero for full accounting

• Business whose clients want consumer payment options like Cash App Pay and Afterpay: Square

• Business already on Stripe Payments: Stripe Invoicing

Still deciding between two? Run one real invoice through each. A $5,000 payment shows you the fee difference in about a minute.

Keep reading:

• Best invoicing tools for startups: the roundup built around startup needs

• Invoicing software with the lowest fees: fee-by-fee comparison

• Invoicing software for consultants and agencies: retainer and project billing

• How to get paid faster on invoices: the collection side

• Invoice processing software: tools for the invoices your vendors send you

Already on the Rho banking platform? Send your next invoice with Rho Invoicing.

Not on Rho yet? Open a Rho business account and invoice clients from the same place. Have your incorporation details ready. Rho accounts are available to eligible US-incorporated businesses, subject to approval.