FreshBooks vs Reckon (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 Reckon if

• Fits if you're an Australian small business that wants GST and BAS reporting and free data migration
• Works for businesses that want phone support

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you're outside Australia, as it's Australian GST and BAS
• Watch out: first-months prices are far below the renewal prices
• Watch out: payroll has its own plans: Payroll Essentials, up to 4 employees, is A$18 a month at renewal
• Watch out: the pages show a plain $ sign and don't say whether prices include GST
• Pricey if you want inventory with payroll: that's Ultimate at A$92 a month at renewal

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.

Reckon

• Prices are shown with a plain $ sign on the Australian site and are likely Australian dollars; the page does not say whether they include GST.
• Payroll is optional on Plus and Premium and has its own plan set priced by employee count.
• Offered prices for the first months are much lower than the renewal prices listed as the regular price.
• Reckon also sells separate desktop and hosted products that are not part of these plans.

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.

Reckon

Invoicing and online payments

Create and send invoices and take card payments online through Stripe, with matching invoice and payroll mobile apps.

Bank feeds and reconciliation

Connect bank accounts through Open Banking or direct feeds and reconcile imported transactions.

GST and BAS reporting

Tracks income, expenses and GST in one place, with real-time reports and a customizable dashboard for BAS time.

Payroll

Pays employees and manages leave and super, with Single Touch Payroll reporting and Payday Super stated as covered.

Free data migration

The vendor says it migrates data from other providers at no charge on the Plus and Premium accounting plans.

Phone support

Phone support in business hours, plus email, help resources and webinars, per the vendor's comparison page.

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.

Reckon

• Accounting PlusA$27

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$2.70

  For small businesses, with unlimited users; payroll is optional. Yearly billing is A$298, or A$134.10 for the first 12 months.

• Accounting PremiumA$50

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$5

  For growing businesses; yearly billing is A$552, or A$248.40 for the first 12 months.

• Ultimate PlanA$92

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$9.20

  Includes unlimited payroll and inventory; yearly billing is A$1,016, or A$457.20 for the first 12 months.

• Payroll EssentialsA$18

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$1.80

  Standalone payroll for up to 4 employees; yearly billing is A$199, or A$89.55 for the first 12 months.

• Payroll PlusA$35

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$3.50

  Standalone payroll for up to 10 employees; yearly billing is A$386, or A$173.70 for the first 12 months.

• Payroll PremiumA$65

  per month at renewal, after first 6 months at A$6.50

  Standalone payroll for unlimited employees; yearly billing is A$718, or A$323.10 for the first 12 months.

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.

Reckon

• Other savings

  90% off the first 6 months monthly

  Monthly plans are 90% off for the first 6 months, for example A$2.70 a month for Accounting Plus, then the regular price.

• Other savings

  55% off the first 12 months yearly

  Yearly plans are 55% off for the first 12 months, for example A$134.10 for Accounting Plus against A$298.