Best Accounting Software for Freelancers 2026
Freelancers need simple accounting—invoicing, expenses, and tax prep. Here are the best options.
Top 5 for Freelancers
| Software | Free Plan | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | ✅ Free | $0 | Completely free |
| FreshBooks | ❌ | $17/mo | Invoicing |
| QuickBooks Self-Employed | ❌ | $15/mo | Tax prep |
| Zoho Invoice | ✅ Free | $0 | Zoho users |
| Bonsai | ❌ | $21/mo | All-in-one |
1. Wave — Best Free Option
Price: 100% Free
Wave offers full accounting for free.
Features
- ✅ Unlimited invoicing
- ✅ Expense tracking
- ✅ Bank connections
- ✅ Financial reports
- ✅ Receipt scanning
Trade-off: Paid payments & payroll add-ons.
2. FreshBooks — Best Invoicing
Price: $17-55/month
FreshBooks makes invoicing beautiful and easy.
Why Freelancers Love It
- Professional invoices
- Time tracking
- Client portal
- Expense tracking
- Mobile app
3. QuickBooks Self-Employed — Best for Taxes
Price: $15/month
QBSE focuses on self-employment tax prep.
Features
- Mileage tracking
- Quarterly tax estimates
- Receipt capture
- TurboTax integration
- Schedule C categories
What Freelancers Need
Must Have
- ✅ Easy invoicing
- ✅ Expense tracking
- ✅ Tax-ready reports
- ✅ Mobile access
- ✅ Bank sync
Nice to Have
- Time tracking
- Proposals/contracts
- Client portal
- Recurring invoices
Our Recommendation
Wave if you want free and simple.
FreshBooks if invoicing is your priority.
QuickBooks Self-Employed if taxes stress you out.
Related Articles
Last updated: January 2026