FreshBooks at a Glance
What it is: FreshBooks is user-friendly accounting software known for professional invoicing, time tracking, and expense management.
Price: Starting at $19/month (as of February 2026)
Best for: Solo Agents, Teams, New Agents
Top alternative: Wave
Our rating:
FreshBooks Review for Real Estate Agents (2026)
Try FreshBooks - 30 Day Free Trial →Quick Stats
| Starting Price | $19/month | $17.1/(annual) |
|---|---|
| Free Plan | No |
| Free Trial | 30 days |
| Best For | Agents who need professional invoicing for consulting, referrals, or ancillary services with an easy-to-use interface |
| Key Features | Professional Invoicing, Automatic Payment Reminders, Expense Tracking, User-Friendly Interface, Kick Automated Bookkeeping |
| Integrations | Stripe, PayPal, Gusto, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Affirm + more |
| Mobile Apps | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2003 (Toronto, Canada) |
| Pricing Verified | February 13, 2026 |
Overview
FreshBooks is an accounting platform built for service-based professionals who need polished invoicing and straightforward expense tracking. For real estate agents, the appeal is creating professional invoices for consulting fees, referral payments, or ancillary services, with automated payment reminders and online payment options.
The interface is notably intuitive compared to traditional accounting software. Agents who aren't comfortable with accounting terminology often find FreshBooks easier to navigate than QuickBooks. Expense tracking, receipt capture, and basic reporting are all designed for non-accountants. In 2026, FreshBooks added a Kick integration for automated bookkeeping that auto-categorizes and reconciles transactions, plus Affirm integration so clients can pay invoices in installments.
FreshBooks includes mileage tracking in the Premium tier, though it's not as robust as dedicated mileage apps. If invoicing and client billing are your primary needs, FreshBooks excels. For pure expense tracking and tax prep, other tools may be more focused. FreshBooks frequently runs 50% off promotions for the first 6 months, making it more accessible for new agents testing the platform.
Key Features
Professional Invoicing
Create polished, branded invoices with online payment options via Stripe, PayPal, and ACH.
Automatic Payment Reminders
Reduce chasing clients with automated reminder emails.
Expense Tracking
Capture expenses and receipts with automatic bank connections.
User-Friendly Interface
Designed for non-accountants with intuitive navigation.
Kick Automated Bookkeeping
New 2026 integration auto-categorizes and reconciles transactions, receipts, and documents.
Affirm Pay-Later Invoicing
Clients can pay invoices via Affirm installment plans, added October 2025.
Mileage Tracking
Track business miles in Premium tier (manual entry, not GPS-based).
Time Tracking
Log billable hours for consulting or coaching services.
Online Payments
Accept credit cards, ACH, and PayPal directly on invoices.
Recurring Invoices
Automate regular billing for retainer clients.
Financial Reports
Profit/loss, expense reports, tax summaries, and financial lock with audit logs.
Client Portal
Clients can view invoices and make payments online.
Pricing Details
FreshBooks uses tiered pricing. Here are the tiers (prices as of February 13, 2026):
- 5 billable clients
- Unlimited invoices and estimates
- Expense tracking
- Accept credit cards and bank transfers
- iOS and Android apps
- 50 billable clients
- Automatic payment reminders
- Recurring invoices
- Double-entry accounting reports
- Business health reports
- Unlimited billable clients
- Mileage tracking
- Project profitability tracking
- Email signature customization
- Automatic expense categorization
- Custom enterprise pricing
- Dedicated account manager
- Custom onboarding
- Lower credit card transaction rates
- Team member add-ons included
Integrations
Direct Integrations
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Gusto
- Mailchimp
- HubSpot
- Affirm
- Kick
Automation Platforms
FreshBooks connects via Zapier and Make for hundreds of additional integrations.
API Available: Yes — FreshBooks offers an API for custom integrations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class invoicing with professional templates
- Extremely intuitive for non-accountants
- Automatic payment reminders reduce collection headaches
- Multiple online payment options including Affirm installments
- Strong mobile apps for on-the-go invoicing
- Kick integration automates bookkeeping and transaction categorization
Cons
- Lite tier limited to 5 clients (restrictive for many agents)
- Mileage tracking less robust than dedicated apps like Hurdlr
- More expensive than alternatives for basic needs ($19-60/month)
- No TurboTax integration for seamless tax filing
Our Verdict
FreshBooks is the best choice for agents who prioritize professional invoicing and ease of use. The 2026 Kick integration adds automated bookkeeping that closes the gap with more complex platforms, while the intuitive interface and automatic reminders make it worth the subscription cost for agents who invoice regularly.
Featured In
FreshBooks is mentioned in the following guides, kits, and comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does FreshBooks cost in 2026?
FreshBooks costs $19/month for Lite (5 clients), $33/month for Plus (50 clients), and $60/month for Premium (unlimited clients). Annual billing saves 10%. FreshBooks frequently offers 50% off the first 6 months for new subscribers.
Is FreshBooks good for real estate agents?
Yes, especially for agents who invoice for consulting, referrals, or coaching. The professional invoicing and payment reminders help get paid faster. For pure expense tracking without invoicing, RealtyZam or Wave may be more cost-effective.
How does FreshBooks compare to QuickBooks?
FreshBooks is generally easier to use with better invoicing features. QuickBooks offers more robust accounting, payroll, and TurboTax integration. For solo agents focused on invoicing, FreshBooks wins on usability. For tax prep, QuickBooks Solopreneur is stronger.
Does FreshBooks have mileage tracking?
Yes, but only in the Premium tier ($60/month). It uses manual entry rather than GPS-based tracking, so it's not as automatic as Hurdlr or QuickBooks Solopreneur.
Can I accept online payments with FreshBooks?
Yes. FreshBooks integrates with Stripe, PayPal, and ACH for direct invoice payments. As of October 2025, clients can also pay via Affirm installment plans.
Does FreshBooks help with taxes?
FreshBooks provides profit/loss reports, expense summaries, and financial lock features for tax prep, but it doesn't have TurboTax integration or quarterly tax estimates like QuickBooks Solopreneur.
Related Accounting & Finances Tools
Hurdlr is a real-time tax tracking app with automatic GPS mileage tracking, AI expense categorization, and continuous tax estimates for self-employed professionals.
Read Full ReviewQuickBooks Solopreneur (formerly Self-Employed) is Intuit's accounting app for independent workers with mileage tracking and TurboTax integration.
Read Full ReviewRealtyZam is accounting software built specifically for real estate agents with commission tracking, bank feeds, and Schedule C reports.
Read Full ReviewWave offers free accounting with unlimited invoicing and expense tracking, plus a $16/month Pro plan for automatic bank imports and OCR receipts.
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