FreshBooks vs Keeper (2026): which should you pick?

Pick FreshBooks if

• Fits if you're a freelancer billing up to 5 clients for your time
• Works for service businesses that send proposals and take retainers, which start on Plus at $43 a month

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you need accounting reports or bank reconciliation, as they start on Plus at $43 a month
• Tight if you bill more than 5 clients on Lite or 50 on Plus, and archived clients count toward both
• Watch out: the advertised prices are 80% off for 4 months only, then $23, $43 or $70 a month
• Pricey if you add people or payments: $11 a month per extra team member, $20 a month for Advanced Payments
• Skip it if you need payroll outside the US: it files US taxes only, costs $40 a month plus $6 an employee, and isn't in the trial

Pick Keeper if

• Fits if you are a US freelancer or contractor who wants someone else to file
• Works for people who would rather be told what they can deduct than learn it

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want it free, as there is no free plan and the trial needs a card
• Skip it if you track mileage, because that feature is marked coming soon
• Tight if you file in 3 or more states, since Standard covers federal plus 2 and more needs Premium
• Watch out: Bookkeeping Only is $20 a month, $240 a year, which costs more than the yearly Standard plan
• Watch out: S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan

FreshBooks

• The advertised prices are 80% off for 4 months; plans then renew at $23, $43 or $70 a month.
• Lite bills only 5 clients and Plus 50, counting archived clients; each extra team member costs $11 a month.
• Payroll costs $40 a month plus $6 per employee, files US federal and state taxes, and is not available during the free trial.
• Advanced Payments is a $20 a month add-on on every plan except Select.

Keeper

• Bookkeeping Only does not include tax filing; the yearly Standard plan at $199 costs less than 12 months of it at $240.
• Mileage tracking and an LLC formation service are marked coming soon.
• Standard covers federal plus 2 state returns; 3 or more states, audit protection and quarterly taxes need Premium.
• S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan.

FreshBooks

Invoices, estimates and proposals

Recurring invoices, late fees and automatic reminders on every plan. Proposals and client retainers start on Plus.

Online payments

Clients pay by card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Affirm and Afterpay. Card payments through FreshBooks Payments cost 2.9% plus $0.30.

Time tracking and projects

Unlimited time tracking on every plan, with project budgets and billing. Project profitability reports need Premium.

Expenses and receipts

Bank import, mileage tracking on mobile and unlimited expenses. Receipt scanning starts on Plus, and bill line-item capture on Premium.

Double-entry accounting

Accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access start on Plus. Lite has tax-time reports only.

FreshBooks Payroll

Payroll run with Gusto inside FreshBooks: unlimited pay runs, free direct deposit, and federal and state payroll tax filing.

Keeper

Automatic expense tracking

Connects unlimited bank and card accounts and tracks expenses and income, with AI that finds and categorizes deductions.

Receipt scanning

Snap a receipt to add an expense or match it to a transaction, and split mixed retail orders into business and personal items.

Rules for merchants

Tell Keeper once how to treat a merchant and it applies the rule to future expenses.

Tax filing with a pro

Federal and up to 2 state returns are included on yearly plans, and a tax pro checks and signs each return.

Quarterly taxes and consultations

Premium and Business schedule estimated payments and include one-on-one consultations with a tax pro.

Business filings

The Business plan files S-Corp (Form 1120-S) and partnership (Form 1065) returns and closes the books at year end.

FreshBooks

• Lite$23

  per month for 5 billable clients, billed monthly

  Advertised at $4.60 a month for the first 4 months. Invoices, estimates, expenses, online payments and tax-time reports.

• Plus$43

  per month for 50 billable clients, billed monthly

  Advertised at $8.60 a month for the first 4 months. Adds proposals, retainers, accounting reports, receipt scanning and accountant access.

• Premium$70

  per month for unlimited clients, billed monthly

  Advertised at $14 a month for the first 4 months. Adds project profitability, accounts payable, bill line-item capture and custom email templates.

• SelectCustom

  Unlimited clients, lower card fees, Advanced Payments included, 2 team members, unbranded emails and dedicated phone support.

Keeper

• Standard$199

  per year, billed yearly ($16.58 a month equivalent)

  Year-round bookkeeping plus federal and up to 2 state returns, reviewed and signed by a tax pro.

• Bookkeeping Only$20

  per month, billed monthly

  Expense tracking and deduction finding with unlimited connected accounts. Tax filing is not included.

• Premium$399

  per year, billed yearly ($33.25 a month equivalent)

  Adds audit protection, returns for 3 or more states, rentals and K-1s, quarterly taxes, tax pro consultations, amended and late returns.

• Business$1,199

  per year, billed yearly ($99.92 a month equivalent)

  Premium plus S-Corp and partnership tax filing and a year-end book review and close.

FreshBooks

• Other savings

  80% off the first 4 months

  New customers pay 20% of the Lite, Plus or Premium price for 4 months, then the full monthly price. The page calls it a limited-time offer.

• Annual discount

  10% off with yearly billing

  Yearly plans cost $248.40 for Lite, $464.40 for Plus and $756 for Premium, 10% less than paying monthly.

Keeper

No public discounts listed.