You work with ideas, color, and tight deadlines. You don’t want to spend hours dealing with spreadsheets or balance sheets.
When you look for accounting software, you’ll see two common choices: FreshBooks and QuickBooks. Both tools support small business owners.
However, FreshBooks offers a smoother, simpler experience because it was built for service-based work. It also feels more natural for client projects.
Below, you’ll see how FreshBooks compares to QuickBooks. You’ll also learn why many creative professionals choose FreshBooks to run their businesses.
QuickBooks vs FreshBooks: How They Compare
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of QuickBooks vs. FreshBooks based on key criteria that matter most to graphic designers.
| Feature / Criteria | FreshBooks | QuickBooks |
| Key Focus | Focuses on freelancers, service pros, and creative businesses. | Supports many small businesses with broad accounting tools. |
| Main Considerations | May lack advanced tools for non-service industries. | Its complexity and cost can overwhelm freelancers and designers. |
| Type | Offers invoicing, time tracking, and light accounting. | Provides full accounting features for growing businesses. |
| Ease of Use | Feels simple and friendly for non-accountants. | Has a complex layout that requires more learning. |
| Client-Facing Tools | Gives you branded invoices, a client portal, and easy payments. | Offers basic tools with limited invoice design options. |
| Time Tracking | Includes project-based time tracking for your work. | Excludes time tracking unless you add separate apps. |
| Customer Support | Offers fast, helpful support from real people. | Receives mixed support reviews with slower responses. |
| Financial Features | Covers core bookkeeping, invoices, expenses, and simple reports. | Adds payroll, inventory, bill pay, banking, and advanced tools. |
| Reporting | Provides clean reports built for service businesses. | Delivers detailed reports that may overwhelm creatives. |
| Tax & Compliance Tools | Gives basic tax summaries and simple reporting. | Offers stronger tax tools and accountant access. |
| Banking & Payments | Accepts cards, ACH, and Apple Pay but lacks banking. | Includes banking, lending, and full payment services. |
| Scalability Beyond Creative Services | Suits creatives and small teams focused on service work. | Fits businesses needing payroll, inventory, or complex tax support. |
| Accountant Compatibility | Enables you to invite accountants with simple workflows. | Integrates well with traditional accounting systems. |
| Why Choose This Tool | Feels easier for creatives and offers great support. | Offers robust features and scales with growing needs. |
Why FreshBooks Is the Ideal Choice for Graphic Designers
FreshBooks was built for creatives. You get tools that help you manage the business side of your studio without dealing with complex financial tasks. Here’s what you can do with FreshBooks.
- Create Branded Invoices: Reflect your design style with custom colors, logos, and layouts.
- Track Time and Expenses: Log project hours and costs in real time.
- Accept Online Payments: Let clients pay you quickly and securely.
- Manage Clients and Projects: Keep work, clients, and contractors in one place.
- Get Human Support: Reach a real person when you need help.
FreshBooks speaks your language. You get an intuitive and clean layout that supports your workflow. You never feel like you need an accounting degree to use it.
Comparing Key Features: FreshBooks Delivers More Where It Counts
You want accounting software that supports your creative workflow. FreshBooks gives you simple tools that fit how you work. QuickBooks is better suited to complex business needs.
Invoicing That Reflects Your Brand
FreshBooks lets you customize invoices with your logo, colors, and notes that match your style. You can create recurring invoices for retainer clients and request deposits. You’ll also get alerts whenever someone opens your invoice.
QuickBooks works, but it could use a bit more creative polish. Its customization options feel limited unless you adjust templates or use additional tools.
You’ll likely prefer FreshBooks if you want invoices that feel clean and brand-friendly.
Time Tracking Built for Projects
FreshBooks gives you built-in time tracking. It lets you log hours by client or task with ease. You can turn those hours into an invoice with one step. It works well whether you bill by the hour or by project milestones.
QuickBooks doesn’t include time tracking in most plans. You’ll need outside apps like TSheets or Harvest.
FreshBooks saves you time because your tracking tools and project work live in the same place.
Faster, Flexible Payments
FreshBooks lets clients pay directly from your invoices with credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and other payment methods. You can set payment reminders and automate late fees to keep cash flow steady.
QuickBooks offers similar payment tools, but FreshBooks feels smoother. The setup is easier, and the client view is clearer.
FreshBooks helps you get paid faster with fewer headaches for you and your clients.
Reporting That’s Actually Useful
FreshBooks gives you clean, easy-to-read reports. You can check profit and loss, tax summaries, client profitability, and more without feeling lost.
QuickBooks offers more detailed reports. However, many of them require accounting knowledge to understand. The amount of data can feel overwhelming for creatives.
FreshBooks delivers insights you can use right away without a long learning curve.
Client Collaboration and Support
FreshBooks gives you client portals where clients can check project status, invoices, and messages in one place. You also get support that many users say feels faster and more helpful than what they get from QuickBooks.
QuickBooks is powerful, but support wait times can run long. The service also feels less personal, especially on lower plans.
FreshBooks gives you and your clients a smoother and friendlier experience.
Why Many Designers Are Leaving QuickBooks for FreshBooks
Many designers who start with QuickBooks feel frustrated by its complexity. The tool works well for accountants, but it doesn’t align with how most creatives work. If you don’t have an accountant on your team, the learning curve can slow you down.
FreshBooks takes a different path. It doesn’t try to copy QuickBooks. Instead, it shapes each feature for people who want to run a design business without studying accounting. You get tools that feel clear, practical, and made for creative work.
The Verdict: FreshBooks Is #1 for Graphic Designers
QuickBooks is powerful and works for many industries, but it isn’t built for creative professionals. Its features feel broad and complex, which can slow your workflow.
FreshBooks takes a more focused approach. It was built for service-based work, making it a good fit for design studios and freelancers. You get the tools you need without extra clutter or confusing steps.
- Easy, Branded Invoicing: Create clean invoices that match your style.
- Built-In Time and Project Tracking: Track hours and project work in one place.
- Seamless Payment Options: Let clients pay fast with simple options.
- Friendly, Human Support: Reach real people when you need help.
- Reports You Can Understand: View clear summaries that guide your decisions.
FreshBooks becomes the clear choice when you want a tool that supports your creative workflow.
Conclusion
Choosing the right accounting tool shapes how smoothly your design business runs. You want software that supports your workflow, saves you time, and feels easy to use. FreshBooks checks those boxes with tools built for service work and creative projects.
When you compare the two platforms, you can see that FreshBooks offers a simpler, more focused experience. You spend less time managing numbers and more time creating work you’re proud of.
If you want a system that aligns with how designers think and work, FreshBooks is the option that keeps your business moving forward with confidence.