Tidybill offers simpler pricing, no client caps on paid plans, team members included, and a one-click import for your FreshBooks data.
Start free, no credit card neededFree plan available. Paid plans from $7/month.
These are the issues people most frequently cite when they start looking for a FreshBooks alternative.
5-client cap forces expensive upgrades
The Lite plan ($21/month after the intro period) restricts you to 5 active clients. Once you pass that threshold, you are pushed to Plus at $38/month, even if you have no need for the additional features that plan unlocks.
Price shock after the introductory discount
FreshBooks advertises heavily discounted rates for new accounts. The full rates range from $21/month (Lite) to $65/month (Premium). Team members are an $11/user add-on on top of those figures, regardless of your plan.
Recurring invoices and time tracking locked to Plus
Two features that freelancers use from day one, recurring invoices and time tracking, are not available on the Lite plan. You need at minimum the Plus plan at $38/month to access them.
Built-in FreshBooks import, no manual re-entry
Switching does not mean re-entering all your clients and invoice history manually. Tidybill includes a FreshBooks data import tool. Connect your account, select what to bring over, and you are done.
Prices shown are standard (non-promotional) rates billed annually where applicable.
| Feature | Tidybill | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 (Free plan) | $21/mo (Lite, after promo) |
| Client limit on free/entry plan | 5 clients (Free) | 5 active clients (Lite, $21/mo) |
| Unlimited clients | Pro ($15/mo) | Premium ($65/mo) |
| Recurring invoices | Starter ($7/mo) | Plus ($38/mo) |
| Time tracking | Starter ($7/mo) | Plus ($38/mo) |
| Client portal | Starter ($7/mo) | Plus ($38/mo) |
| Team members included | Up to 25 on Pro | $11/user add-on (all plans) |
| Quotes and estimates | Starter ($7/mo) | All plans |
| FreshBooks data import | Built-in | Not applicable |
| Promotional pricing tricks | None. Same price from day one. | Heavy intro discounts, then 2-3x increase |
The built-in import tool pulls your clients, invoices, and payments directly from FreshBooks. No CSV wrangling, no manual re-entry.
No credit card required. Import is available on all plans.