The best accounting software for freelancers and self-employed professionals is affordable, has strong invoicing features, can easily track expenses and may automatically track mileage. At a minimum, these products should help keep business and personal finances separate, while facilitating communication with clients to ensure you’re paid on time.
Some products are made specifically for freelancers, the self-employed and other microbusinesses, but more robust, multiplan small-business accounting software can work, too. Though higher-tier plans may be more suitable to small businesses with employees, the more basic plans are often adequate for freelancers and the self-employed.
Here are our picks for the top accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed.
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Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed
Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Self-Employed
Sort By
Starting at
$35/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.
Promotion
50% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
Learn more
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
QuickBooks Online
Best for Scalability
Starting at
$35/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.
Promotion
50% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
Learn more
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
Learn more
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Xero
Best for Client management for freelancers
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
Learn more
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
- Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
- No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
70% off
for 4 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Learn more
on FreshBooks' website
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
FreshBooks
Best for Overall freelance accounting software
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
70% off
for 4 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
Learn more
on FreshBooks' website
Pros
- Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
- Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.
- Weekday phone support in all plans.
Cons
- Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
- Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Learn more
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books
Best for Mobile accounting app
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Learn more
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
Promotion
N/A
Learn more
on Wave's website
Pros
- Free plan available.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave Accounting
Best for Free self-employed accounting software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
Promotion
N/A
Learn more
on Wave's website
Pros
- Free plan available.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
- No mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Brightbook
Best for Unlimited invoicing
Starting at
$0
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Send unlimited invoices.
- Add unlimited users.
- Run basic reports, like a profit and loss statement and tax report.
Cons
- Does not use double-entry accounting.
- Must manually import bank statements.
Brightbook
Best for Unlimited invoicing
Starting at
$0
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Send unlimited invoices.
- Add unlimited users.
- Run basic reports, like a profit and loss statement and tax report.
Cons
- Does not use double-entry accounting.
- Must manually import bank statements.
TrulySmall Accounting
3.3
Best for Sole proprietorship accounting software
Starting at
$20/month
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Features include basic reporting, mobile app, invoicing and reconciliation tools.
- No cap on the number of users or invoices.
- Phone, chat and email support.
Cons
- No third-party integrations.
- Can’t tag transactions to enable more granular reporting.
- No inventory management or mileage tracking features.
TrulySmall Accounting
Best for Sole proprietorship accounting software
3.3
Starting at
$20/month
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Features include basic reporting, mobile app, invoicing and reconciliation tools.
- No cap on the number of users or invoices.
- Phone, chat and email support.
Cons
- No third-party integrations.
- Can’t tag transactions to enable more granular reporting.
- No inventory management or mileage tracking features.
Our picks for the best self-employed accounting software
FreshBooks
Best for: Overall freelance accounting software
Why we like it: Freelancers often need to keep in touch with their clients from anywhere. FreshBooks, which was initially created as an invoicing solution, addresses this by letting you view invoices, respond to clients’ questions and send payment reminders all from its mobile app. You can also start a timer from within the mobile app to log hours spent on a particular project, or sync data from tools like Asana or Trello. It’s especially cost-effective for freelancers who can work within the confines of lower-tier plans’ billable client limits. Read our full FreshBooks review.
- $21 per month for the Lite plan.
- $38 per month for the Plus plan.
- $65 per month for the Premium plan.
- Custom pricing for the Select plan.
Wave Accounting
Best for: Free self-employed accounting software
Why we like it: Wave Accounting is a good solution for freelancers and self-employed professionals on a tight budget who need a simple way to invoice clients and separate business and personal expenses. You can create and send invoices through the app, as well as set up recurring invoices and track client communication and payment history. However, if you need mileage tracking, time tracking or a billable expense feature, it’s probably not the right choice. Read our complete Wave Accounting review.
- $0 for the Starter plan.
- $16 per month for the Pro plan.
» MORE: Best free accounting software
Zoho Books
Best for: Mobile accounting app
Why we like it: Zoho Books is an affordable solution for freelancers and the self-employed, and an even better deal if you can work within its free plan’s limit of 1,000 invoices per year. Do note that the free plan doesn’t include timesheets or project expense tracking. Its mobile app features are what really set the software apart for freelancers and the self-employed, though. Take, for example, the ability to send invoices via iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen so that you can easily access timers and overdue invoices. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices. Read our full Zoho Books review.
- $0 per month for the Free plan.
- $20 per month for the Standard plan.
- $50 per month for the Professional plan.
- $70 per month for the Premium plan.
- $150 per month for the Elite plan.
- $275 per month for the Ultimate plan.
» MORE: Best accounting apps
QuickBooks Online
Best for: Scalability
Why we like it: Freelancers and self-employed entrepreneurs who plan on potentially opening a storefront, hiring employees or expanding their business might consider QuickBooks Online because of its scalability and popularity among accountants. The software can be a good fit for a wide variety of small businesses and growth stages. Reporting capabilities scale up with each plan tier and the Plus plan includes additional useful features, like inventory and project tracking. QuickBooks Self-Employed is a pared-down version of QuickBooks Online and while it has convenient features, such as quarterly tax estimates, it doesn’t include basic capabilities, like double-entry accounting. Read our full QuickBooks Online review.
- $35 per month for the Simple Start plan.
- $65 per month for the Essentials plan.
- $99 per month for the Plus plan.
- $235 per month for the Advanced plan.
Xero
Best for: Client management
Why we like it: Managing relationships and communication with clients is a primary part of freelance work, and Xero’s affordable accounting software can help with that. Even the lowest-tier plan that Xero offers includes the software’s contact management tool, which helps you centralize all of your clients’ contact information, communications, invoices and other related documents. At a glance, you can view the total amount in invoices owed to you, the number of outstanding quotes still awaiting reply, and even bills you have due (the tool helps you manage suppliers as well). The feature is accessible through the Xero app on any device. Read our full Xero Accounting review.
- $20 per month for the Early plan.
- $47 per month for the Growing plan.
- $80 per month for the Established plan.
» MORE: Explore Xero alternatives
Brightbook
Best for: Unlimited invoicing
Why we like it: Brightbook is free accounting software designed for freelancers, self-employed professionals and very small businesses. To that end, don’t expect a fancy interface, 24/7 customer support or some of the advanced features (like a mobile app) you’ll find with several of the more recognizable names. What you will get, however, is a decent list of features that includes invoicing, accounting, reporting and the ability to accept online payments. Invoicing is typically one of the most-needed features of accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed. With Brightbook, you’ll get to send an unlimited number of invoices. You can customize them with your business logo, convert a quote to an invoice, link your PayPal account to collect payment, invoice in multiple currencies and more.
$0.
TrulySmall Accounting
Best for: Sole proprietorship accounting software
Why we like it: Some freelance businesses end up establishing an LLC and hiring employees, while others remain small-scale operations or side gigs. TrulySmall Accounting is meant for the latter. It’s a simple, inexpensive solution for sole proprietorships that need to send invoices, keep track of income and expenses and automate part of the bookkeeping process. It supports unlimited invoicing, can send automatic payment reminders to clients and includes basic reports, like a profit and loss statement and balance sheet. The software imports transactions from your business checking and/or credit accounts, and you can use its mobile app to snap photos of receipts to generate new cash transactions.
- $20 per month for the Accounting plan.
- TrulySmall also offers standalone Invoices and Expenses plans for businesses that opt out of the Accounting plan. They cost $8.99 per month each.
What do freelancers and the self-employed need from their accounting software?
The best accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed should at least offer the following capabilities:
Invoicing
Freelancers and the self-employed should make sure their accounting software supports customer invoicing, as well as an easy way for clients to submit payment. The best accounting software lets you set up recurring invoices, automates late-payment reminders and may also have a mobile app so you can message with clients from anywhere. Freelancers and self-employed people who don’t need accounting software might consider free invoice software instead.
Billable expenses
Although freelancers and self-employed people do have some overhead costs, many of their expenses may also be billable to their clients. This means your freelance bookkeeping software must be able to not only record expenses but also easily pull them into invoices you can send to your clients. It should also let you easily markup those expenses to ensure profitability.
Mileage and time tracking
All small businesses can benefit from keeping a mileage log if the owner uses a personal vehicle for business. But, like with billable expenses, freelancers and the self-employed might need to track their mileage for billing. Your accounting software should have a built-in mileage tracker, or be able to easily integrate with one. The same goes for time tracking. Built-in timers, or integrated time tracking apps, make it easy to record hours and add them to invoices.
Tools for separating personal and business finances
It’s best practice to separate your business and personal finances. But if your business is very small, a side hustle or brand new, you might not want to open separate business banking and business credit card accounts right away. Regardless of its size, though, you’re still responsible for your freelance business’s taxes — so you need a way to clearly delineate between your business and personal expenses. The right accounting software for your business will help you do this with ease.
Last updated on January 2, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews accounting software products before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Information is gathered on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy.
NerdWallet’s accounting software ratings favor products that are easy to use, reasonably priced, have a robust feature set and can grow with your business. The best accounting software received top marks when evaluated across 10 categories and more than 30 subcategories. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.