Top 10 Accounting Software Tools for Freelancers to Simplify Bookkeeping and Boost Your Business in 2025

Freelancing gives you freedom, but it also means managing your own finances, which can quickly get messy without the right tools. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of accounting software for freelancers, what to look for when choosing the right software for you, the most common accounting mistakes freelancers make, and dissect eight of the best accounting tools to help you stay on top of your business.

Why freelancers need accounting software

Accounting software helps you track income, log expenses, send invoices, and get a clear picture of your financial health — all in one place. When you’re a freelancer, it can become a lifesaver. Dealing with multiple clients, fluctuating earnings, and DIY taxes means you need something more powerful (and reliable) than a spreadsheet.

What to look for in freelance accounting software

You may be wondering what exact features a good platform should have. 

Expense and income tracking

At the very least, your accounting software should track what’s coming in and what’s going out. That means logging income from clients, categorizing expenses, and keeping tabs on your profit and loss over time. Look for tools that connect to your bank account automatically, allow you to take and store photos of receipts digitally, and feature an income dashboard.

Invoicing and payment

Good accounting software lets you build branded e-invoices, send them directly to clients, and track when they’ve been viewed or paid. Even better? Connectivity to payment platforms like Stripe, PayPal, or direct deposit – more on integrations later. Look out for the following features: customizable invoice templates, the ability to accept payments online (credit cards or direct bank transfers), payment reminders for overdue invoices, and automatic invoice status updates.

Tax features for the self-employed

Taxes for the self-employed are no joke – unlike traditional employees, you’re responsible for tracking your own income, estimating quarterly taxes, and maximizing deductions. Good accounting software makes this a lot easier by categorizing expenses, calculating estimated quarterly payments and generating reports. Some platforms even integrate with tax filing services.

Integrations

Accounting software is most powerful when it plays well with others. If your platform doesn’t have built-in time tracking or receipt scanning, chances are it integrates with a tool that does. Connecting your payment processor, bank, and project tools can turn a messy process into a streamlined, semi-automated workflow. 

The game-changer integration is connecting your accounting software to your payment processor and time tracking tools — this creates an automated workflow that saves 3–4 hours monthly.

{{Wayne Lowry}}

If you’re looking for more advanced integrations, tools like RAMP offer deeper integrations with accounting platforms, unlocking additional benefits.

The best software integration I’ve seen is RAMP. RAMP syncs seamlessly to most Accounting ERPs [Enterprise Resource Planning] and is very easy to use. As an added benefit, you get cashback with RAMP, reporting insight into expenses, and cost savings solutions.

{{David Duffie}}

Ease of use and mobile access

As a freelancer, you’re busy enough as it is – you don’t have the time to fiddle around with clunky software. You want a tool that’s intuitive, easy to navigate, and doesn’t require an accounting degree to figure out. Bonus points if it comes with a mobile app. 

Another important feature, especially these days when everyone is constantly on the move, is cloud access. With cloud-based accounting software, your data isn’t tied to one device. You can log in from your laptop, phone, or tablet, wherever you are. 

The feature that matters most for solo business owners managing their own finances is simplicity of use and ability to understand the financial landscape of their business. As your business grows, and you get experienced accountants, they can utilize your groundwork to develop advanced reporting capabilities.

{{David Duffie}}

What about costs?

So, the bad news here is that most accounting tools aren’t free. However, the good news is that the subscription itself is a tax-deductible business expense. Many platforms also offer free trials, so you can test the waters and find a tool that actually fits your workflow before committing.

Most platforms offer free trials, so it’s worth testing a few to see which aligns best with your workflow and budget.

{{Erin Walls}}

Our top 8 picks 

So, without further ado, let’s examine each of our most-recommended tools.

QuickBooks Solopreneur 

QuickBooks Solopreneur is the new version of QuickBooks Self-Employed, which is no longer available to new users but still works for existing subscribers. As the name may suggest, this platform by Intuit was built specifically for freelancers and sole proprietors. 

It automatically separates your business and personal expenses and allows you to see your cash flow situation via real-time dashboards. Invoicing is built in, with support for online payments via PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and more. You can also set business goals and get insights to help you stay on track. The mobile app lets you snap receipts, send estimates, and manage finances on the go. 

When tax season rolls around, you’ll have access to TurboTax experts who can guide you through the process. For these reasons, we’re declaring it the best tool overall – it covers the full spectrum of solo business needs without overwhelming you. 

Bonus point: QuickBooks is practically the industry standard. This means that most accountants and bookkeepers already know their way around it, so when you’re ready to grow or outsource, you won’t have to explain anything.

Interested in trying out QuickBooks Solopreneur? There’s a 30-day free trial to help you decide if you’re interested. After that, it’s $20 a month (there’s a 90% discount for new users for the first three months).

Pros:

• Everything in one place
• Live expert tax support

Cons:

• Limited scalability
• Some users dislike the redesign

Wayne Lowry is a CEO who's built and scaled multiple businesses, as well as a business consultant who works with creative freelancers and digital agencies. He says QuickBooks is his go-to recommendation. In fact, he’s not the only one – every expert I reached out to mentioned this particular platform.

For accounting software, I swear by QuickBooks Self-Employed — it automatically categorizes expenses from bank feeds and makes quarterly tax estimates painless. The features that matter most are seamless expense tracking, mileage logging, and integration with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal. I handle most bookkeeping myself, but work with a CPA during tax season for optimization strategies. For new freelancers, I’d recommend starting with QuickBooks Self-Employed because it grows with your business and the mobile app makes expense tracking effortless when you’re constantly on the move.

{{Wayne Lowry}}

FreshBooks 

FreshBooks isn’t built exclusively for freelancers, but it offers dedicated features for self-employed professionals. If you work with clients, track your hours, and send regular invoices, FreshBooks might be the right tool for you. 

FreshBooks’ time tracking features link directly to projects and invoices, so you can accurately bill clients for every hour worked. You can create professional-looking estimates, proposals, and recurring invoices, then accept online payments. In addition to this, FreshBooks helps you stay organized with automated payment reminders, built-in financial reports, and client profiles that make relationship management easier.

Similar to QuickBooks Solopreneur, FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial. It also has several tiers of plans – the more you pay, the more features you can access. The cheapest plan will set you back $21 a month, with the first four months being 90% off.

Pros:

• Excellent time tracking and invoicing features
• Automated reminders and built-in reports

Cons:

• The tiered pricing model means you’ll need to upgrade to access more advanced features. The basic plan limits you to just 5 clients, which may be too restrictive for freelancers with a larger client base.
• Not built specifically for freelancers

For clients who need more robust project tracking, I recommend FreshBooks because it combines invoicing, time tracking, and expense management in one platform.

{{Wayne Lowry}}

Xero 

The next entry on our list, Xero, is a cloud-based accounting platform that’s especially useful for freelancers and small businesses looking to scale – it’s designed to grow with you.

Xero gives you a customisable dashboard to track cash flow and business metrics in real time. It streamlines invoicing with automation features like reminders, recurring billing, and group sends. The mobile app lets you manage invoices and payments on the go. You can accept payments via Stripe, GoCardless, and others, collaborate securely with your accountant, and connect with apps for e-commerce, payroll, CRM, and more.

Xero offers a 30-day free trial and three pricing plans – the cheapest is $29 (but as a US-based new user you only pay $2.90 over the first three months).

Pros: 

• Really extensive integrations ecosystem
• Great for collaboration 

Cons:

• A steeper learning curve
• Fewer tax prep features

Xero is great for those who are growing, but it has an expensive monthly cost and requires some learning. It allows you to connect your bank, bill clients, maintain accounts, and run reports. Tools like DEXT, which integrates with Xero, can save a lot of time by allowing you to snap photos of receipts and push them directly into the accounting system. Xero also offers repeating invoicing and automated reminders, helping ensure invoices go out on time and clients are nudged to pay without manual follow-ups.

{{Erin Walls}}

Wave 

If all the options above seem a little expensive for you, Wave could be the answer. It’s the only platform on our list that offers an unlimited free tier – there’s no income cap.

Designed with freelancers and small business owners in mind, the platform’s free plan includes invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. 

On the free plan, you can create unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records. You can track income and expenses, manage cash flow, and view customer histories in one dashboard. Invoices can be customized, sent via mobile, and paid online via credit card, ACH (automated clearing house), or Apple Pay. Optional Pro features include automated reminders, receipt scanning, and bank transaction syncing. We should also mention that on the free plan, online payments include higher transaction fees.

Pros:

• Generous free plan
• Intuitive, beginner-friendly interface

Cons:

• Some useful features behind a paywall
• Limited integrations compared to other platforms

Zoho Books 

Zoho Books is the accounting arm of Zoho — a massive suite of cloud-based business tools that includes everything from CRM and email to project management. If you already use other Zoho apps, this one fits right in. While it’s not primarily geared towards solopreneurs, and some may not need all of its features, those with more complex needs (like managing multiple currencies or projects) could find real value here.

Zoho Books lets you create professional invoices with multi-currency and multilingual support, track expenses and vendor bills, and manage purchase orders. It supports project-based work with time tracking and flexible billing, and includes detailed reports, budget tracking, and customizable automation to streamline your workflow. Another thing I want to mention here is the app – it’s very highly rated for both iOS and Android devices.

Now, in terms of pricing, Zoho does have a fully free plan, but only if your annual revenue is under $50,000 — and it’s limited to 1 user + 1 accountant. It includes basic invoicing, expenses, and reconciliation, and Zoho itself recommends this particular plan to solopreneurs. Paid plans unlock advanced features like inventory, time tracking, and automation, and there’s a 14-day free trial.

Pros:

• Free plan available for businesses with revenue of less than $50,000
• Multi-currency and multilingual tools

Cons:

• Works best if you’re already using Zoho tools
• Not freelancer-focused

Bonsai

Bonsai is part of a broader ecosystem of tools designed for freelancers, agencies, and solo business owners. It brings together invoicing, bookkeeping, contracts, project management, time tracking, and client CRM into one streamlined system. It’s less of an accounting tool and more of a full business dashboard for solo operators.

Now, onto accounting-related features: you can create branded invoices, track time and expenses, automate recurring billing, and get paid online via card or bank transfer. Bonsai also offers tax reminders, Schedule C exports, and basic budgeting tools. Bonsai integrates with several platforms, like Gmail, Zapier, Slack, and even QuickBooks, but these are only available on more expensive price plans.

As far as prices are concerned, Bonsai’s cheapest plan is $9 a month, but it doesn’t include many of the accounting features. If you want to use their bookkeeping tools, the $19 Essentials plan is the right choice for you. There’s also a 14-day free trial. 

Pros:

• All-in-one platform that covers invoicing, contracts, time tracking, budgeting, and basic accounting
• Designed specifically for service-based freelancers

Cons:

• Less advanced accounting features compared to full-fledged platforms
• Limited scalability

Moxie

Like Bonsai, Moxie isn’t just strictly an accounting tool – it combines proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, project management, and basic accounting into one streamlined platform, and was designed specifically for freelancers and solopreneurs, especially those working in creative fields. 

Moxie lets you send proposals, get contracts signed, invoice clients, and manage projects, all from a unified dashboard. You can track time, attach expenses, and generate simple profit and loss reports. The client portal makes onboarding and collaboration smooth, while automation features like recurring invoices, late fees, and nudges help keep cash flow moving. You can also connect your bank via Plaid and export to other accounting tools like QuickBooks.

Interested in giving Moxie a go? There’s a 14-day free trial, and their Starter plan, which costs $12 monthly if you’re paying annually, includes all of the accounting features.

Pros:

• Designed for solopreneurs
• Integrated time tracking, invoicing, and expense management

Cons:

• Accounting features are basic
• Less suited for those planning to scale

Harpoon

Designed with freelancers in mind, Harpoon helps you set financial goals, track your time, manage client billing, and forecast your income across the year. 

Harpoon combines task and time tracking with project billing, recurring invoices, and real-time financial forecasting. It also helps you define monthly or yearly revenue goals, see whether you’re on track, and adjust accordingly. Other perks include expense tracking, automatic late fees, and a client-friendly portal. It also integrates with popular tools like QuickBooks, Stripe, Trello, and Google Drive to fit into your existing workflow. I should, however, note that while Harpoon’s website is fully responsive on mobile, it doesn’t have a dedicated app.

As far as pricing goes, Harpoon’s tiers depend on how many team members you have. The cheapest plan includes all the features and costs $9 a month. If you’re unsure, you can give Harpoon a go with their 14-day free trial.

Pros:

• All features available on the cheapest plan
• Built-in financial planning and revenue forecasting

Cons:

• Lacks advanced accounting features
• No app

ZipBooks

ZipBooks is a cloud-based accounting software built for freelancers, small businesses, and growing teams. It offers a clean, intuitive interface with smart automation and machine learning to streamline bookkeeping, invoicing, and financial reporting.

In terms of features, ZipBooks has the following: accounting with automated bank feeds, reconciliation, and smart transaction categorization powered by machine learning. Users can create invoices, track time, and assign expenses to projects or clients. Built-in reports like income statements and balance sheets are easy to generate and understand. ZipBooks also provides smart insights. One downside? There’s no mobile app, but the website is said to be fully responsive for phones.

ZipBooks features a fully free plan, which includes unlimited invoicing, unlimited vendors and customers, digital payment acceptance, basic reports, and one connected bank account. There are also paid plans that include more features.

Pros: 

• Free plan with generous limits
• Helpful smart feedback

Cons:

• Advanced features included in paid plans only
• Designed primarily with US-based users in mind

Sage

Sage offers accounting software for small businesses, but the experience varies significantly by country. In the UK, Sage Accounting is a fully cloud-based tool with AI-powered features like smart bank reconciliation, automated invoice tracking, and real-time tax insights with the Starter plan (£18/month) aimed at VAT-registered sole traders. In the US, Sage 50 is a hybrid desktop-cloud product that’s more traditional, with prices starting at $625/year and features tailored to firms managing inventory, payroll, or complex reporting.

Pros:

• Trusted legacy brand with over 40 years’ experience
• AI-powered features (UK plans)

Cons:

• Not well-suited for non-VAT freelancers or side hustlers
• Confusing pricing structure across regions

Common accounting mistakes freelancers make

Even with the right tools, it’s easy to fall into bad habits, especially when you’re handling everything solo. From mixing up personal and business expenses to forgetting about taxes until it’s too late, these common accounting mistakes can cost you time, money, and peace of mind.

Treating accounting like an afterthought

When you’re deep in client work, accounting can easily slip to the bottom of your to-do list. But if you don’t have a consistent system in place, small things pile up fast, and before you know it, you’re missing expenses, forgetting deadlines, or guessing your income. It’s not about the tool you use; it’s about actually using it consistently.

The most common mistake is inconsistency. When there’s no regular system, things get lost or overlooked, leading to confusion and wasted time trying to piece things together later. The method—whether software-based, manual, cheap, or expensive—doesn’t really matter as much as having a process and sticking to it.

{{Erin Walls}}

Not separating business and personal finances

It might seem harmless to put the occasional business expense on your personal card — or vice versa — but over time, it can become increasingly confusing. Mixing finances makes it harder to track deductible expenses, turns tax season into a mess, increases the chance of missing something important, and can raise red flags if you’re ever audited. A dedicated business bank account and card are simple to set up and make bookkeeping way easier down the line.

Underestimating tax obligations

Freelancers don’t get taxes withheld from their payments, which means it’s up to you to plan ahead. If you don’t track income and expenses throughout the year, you risk underpaying — or scrambling to pull everything together at the last minute. Estimated quarterly taxes, deductible expenses, and proper categorization are all crucial parts of accounting as a freelancer.

The biggest mistake I see freelancers make is waiting until tax season to organize their finances—by then, they’ve lost receipts and forgotten business expense details. 

{{Wayne Lowry}}

Using the wrong tools (or none at all)

Spreadsheets are fine when you’re just getting started, but they won’t grow with your business. As things get more complex, manual tracking becomes a liability. It’s easier to make mistakes, lose track of expenses, or waste time fixing formatting issues. The right accounting software will scale with you and automate the parts you shouldn’t be doing manually in the first place.

Skipping professional advice

When you’re just starting out and don’t have employees, you might be able to handle tax season on your own. But as soon as you start asking “Can I deduct this?” or “What happens if I get audited?”, it’s a sign you could use some expert input. As your business grows, the financial decisions get more complex – meaning it could be time to reach out to a pro. 

To wrap it all up 

Choosing the right accounting software can save you time, stress, and even money – especially when it fits how you actually work. Think about what matters most to you (like price, automation, or mobile access), and go with the tool that makes running your business feel easier.

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