10 Best Accounting Software for Freelancers of 2026

This list is for freelancers, contractors and one-person businesses that need to send invoices, log expenses and hand clean numbers to a tax preparer without paying for a team suite. We compared documented features and published prices, and each price below was copied from the vendor's own US pricing page in November 2026. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%, so a free or low-cost plan that still covers invoicing, receipts and tax reports beats a pricier package with features a solo worker will not use.

1. 01Top value

   

   Zoho Books

   8.9/10

   Cloud accounting from Zoho with a free plan for solopreneurs that includes invoicing, receipt scans, mileage and 1099 filing.

   Price

   $15per organization per month

   Free plan for revenue up to $50K a year; Standard from $15 per organization per month billed annually ($20 monthly)

   “STANDARD Efficiently organize your transactions, accounts, reports, and books $ 20 $ 15 Price/Org/Month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.5

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forFreelancers earning under $50K a year who want full bookkeeping and tax-ready reports for $0.

   Zoho Books takes first place because its free plan reads like a paid plan elsewhere. A solo worker gets invoices, quotes, recurring invoices, automatic payment reminders, receipt autoscans, mileage tracking, bank reconciliation, a self-service customer portal and more than 50 reports, plus 1099 contractor tracking and filing. Zoho also allows one accountant login on the free tier, so your tax preparer can look at the books directly. The catch is the revenue ceiling: Zoho says the free plan stays available as long as yearly revenue does not exceed $50K, and it caps you at 1,000 invoices a year. Bank feeds, sales tax tracking and 1099 e-filing sit on Standard, which costs $15 a month billed annually or $20 billed monthly. For most new freelancers that means a year or more at $0 and then a modest upgrade, which is the best price to feature ratio in this list.

   • ✓The free plan includes bank reconciliation, a customer portal and online payments
   • ✓One accountant seat is included even on the free plan
   • ✓Standard adds bank feeds and sales tax tracking for $15 a month billed annually

   • ✕Free plan ends once yearly revenue passes $50K
   • ✕Bank feeds need the Standard plan
   • ✕Free plan support is by email only

   Free plan:

   Yes, while yearly revenue stays under $50K

   Users:

   1 user plus 1 accountant on Free, 3 on Standard

   Invoice limit:

   1,000 a year on Free, 5,000 on Standard

   Cheapest paid plan:

   Standard, $15 per month billed annually

   Bottom line: The strongest free accounting plan for a one-person business, with tax features most rivals charge for. Plan to move to Standard once revenue nears $50K or you want automatic bank feeds.

   Visit zoho.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Wave

   8.6/10

   Accounting and invoicing software with a free Starter plan for unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records.

   Price

   $19per month

   Free Starter plan; Pro $19 per month, or $190 per year billed annually

   “It’s Pro time. $19 USD/month Billed monthly” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.3

   Features (35%)

   7.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forFreelancers who send many invoices and want to pay nothing until they need bank imports.

   Wave is the simplest way for a freelancer to get unlimited invoicing and a real ledger without paying a subscription. The Starter plan includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, online card payments and a mobile app for invoicing on the go. What it leaves out is automation: bank transactions do not import automatically, receipts are not captured and late payment reminders are not sent until you move to Pro at $19 a month or $190 a year. Pro also cuts the card fee from 2.9% plus $0.60 to 2.9% with no fixed charge, so a freelancer who collects many small card payments can recover part of the fee. Wave runs a promotion of $9.50 a month for the first three months of Pro. Tax tooling is thinner than at Zoho Books or QuickBooks, and Wave points people who want hands-off books toward Wave Advisors, which starts at $149 a month. For low volume freelancers who enter transactions by hand, Starter is hard to beat.

   • ✓No cap on invoices or clients on the free plan
   • ✓Pro lowers the card fee to 2.9% with no fixed per-transaction charge
   • ✓Optional Wave Advisors service for done-for-you bookkeeping

   • ✕Bank imports and receipt capture need Pro
   • ✕Free plan card fee adds $0.60 to every transaction
   • ✕Fewer tax-specific tools than QuickBooks Solopreneur or Zoho Books

   Free plan:

   Yes, Starter

   Pro price:

   $19 a month or $190 a year

   Card fee on Starter:

   2.9% + $0.60 per transaction

   Card fee on Pro:

   2.9% + $0 per transaction

   Bottom line: Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping for $0, with a fair $19 upgrade when you want bank imports. Pick Zoho Books instead if mileage and 1099 tools matter.

   Visit waveapps.com ↗

3. 03

   

   QuickBooks Solopreneur

   8.3/10

   Intuit's QuickBooks plans for one-person businesses, with mileage, receipts, invoicing and TurboTax-powered tax help.

   Price

   $20per month

   Free plan; Lite $20 per month ($10 per month for the first 3 months)

   “Lite Automate solopreneur finances and save on taxes with expert help. $20 $10 / mo 50% off for 3 months*” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   8.0

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forSelf-employed people who file with TurboTax and want help maximizing deductions.

   QuickBooks Solopreneur is the most tax-focused pick for a business of one. Intuit says it is built for single-owner, self-employed businesses and focuses on automated transaction sorting and tax readiness rather than team and inventory features. The free plan is a sampler: one bank account, two invoices a month unless you switch on QuickBooks Payments, two receipt uploads and five tracked trips a month. Lite, at $20 a month after a three-month half-price offer, removes those caps with unlimited invoices, receipts and mileage, adds automated bill pay and sales tax, and includes Expert Assisted Tax powered by TurboTax, where you pay only when you file and get 20% off the federal base price. The trade-off is that neither Free nor Lite gives your accountant a login; that starts at Simple Start for $38 a month. If you already file with TurboTax, Lite connects the books and the return better than anything else here.

   • ✓Built specifically for single-owner businesses
   • ✓Lite includes TurboTax expert review, paid only when you file
   • ✓Free plan sends unlimited invoices if you enable QuickBooks Payments

   • ✕No accountant access on Free or Lite
   • ✕Free plan caps receipts at 2 and mileage at 5 trips a month
   • ✕Exporting general reports needs Simple Start at $38 a month

   Free plan:

   Yes, 2 invoices a month without QuickBooks Payments

   Lite price:

   $20 a month, 50% off for 3 months

   Contractors:

   1 on Free, 3 on Lite

   Annual billing:

   10% off the annual price

   Bottom line: The best fit for freelancers who want tax filing help built in, at $20 a month for Lite. Skip it if your accountant needs direct access, which costs $38 a month.

   Visit quickbooks.intuit.com ↗

4. 04

   

   FreshBooks

   8.1/10

   Invoicing-led accounting software for freelancers and service businesses, with estimates, expenses and tax-time reports.

   Price

   $23per month

   Lite from $23 per month ($4.60 per month for the first 4 months); no free plan

   “Lite $ 4 .60 USD/mo 80% Off for 4 Months Was $23.00” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   7.2

   Features (35%)

   8.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forFreelancers with a handful of regular clients who want polished invoices and simple expense tracking.

   FreshBooks is built around the invoice, which is why so many freelancers like it. Lite covers invoices and estimates, real-time expense tracking, tax-time reports and a wide set of payment methods, including cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later. The limit that matters is clients: Lite lets you invoice only 5, so anyone with a rotating roster will need Plus at $43 a month, which raises the cap to 50 and adds receipt scanning, accounting reports and accountant access. The current offer of 80% off for four months makes the first stretch cheap at $4.60 a month, but the regular $23 price is what you budget for. There is a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money back guarantee. Compared with Zoho Books or Wave, FreshBooks charges more for less bookkeeping depth; you are paying for an easy, client-friendly invoicing experience rather than for tax tooling.

   • ✓Clean invoicing flow designed around client work
   • ✓Many payment methods on the cheapest plan
   • ✓30-day free trial and a 30-day money back guarantee

   • ✕Lite bills only 5 clients
   • ✕Receipt scanning and accountant access need Plus at $43 a month
   • ✕Extra team members cost $11 a month each

   Lite:

   $23 a month, 5 clients

   Plus:

   $43 a month, 50 clients

   Intro offer:

   80% off for 4 months

   Free trial:

   30 days

   Bottom line: The friendliest invoicing experience for freelancers with up to 5 clients. Count your clients first, because the 50-client Plus plan costs $43 a month.

   Visit freshbooks.com ↗

5. 05

   

   FreeAgent

   8.0/10

   Cloud accounting for freelancers and small businesses with invoicing, expenses, projects, time tracking and sales tax in one plan.

   Price

   $27per month

   One plan at $27 per month or $270 per year, 50% off for the first six months on monthly billing

   “Regular price: $27/month Introductory price $13.50 /month 50% off for your first six months” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   8.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forFreelancers who bill by project and time and want everything in one plan with no tiers.

   FreeAgent was made for freelancers and it shows in how much fits into one plan. Recurring invoices send themselves and chase late payers with automated reminders, receipts are added by photo, bank feeds import transactions daily, and projects pull invoices, estimates, expenses, tasks and time into one view with profitability tracking. Sales tax reporting and multi-currency invoicing are included, which helps anyone billing overseas clients. There is one plan, priced at $27 a month or $270 a year, and new customers get 50% off for six months on monthly billing or for the first year on annual billing. Two caveats: unlimited Smart Capture receipt scanning is an extra $6 a month, and the support accountants FreeAgent advertises are UK-based, which matters if you want US tax answers. FreeAgent says it is trusted by over 250,000 businesses. For a freelancer who tracks hours and projects, it replaces a separate time tracker and invoicing app.

   • ✓Single plan, so no feature gating between tiers
   • ✓Time tracking and project profitability included
   • ✓Annual billing works out to $22.50 a month

   • ✕No free plan
   • ✕Unlimited Smart Capture receipt scanning is a $6 a month add-on
   • ✕Support accountants are based in the UK

   Price:

   $27 a month or $270 a year

   Intro offer:

   50% off for 6 months

   Free trial:

   30 days, no credit card

   Businesses using it:

   Over 250,000, per FreeAgent

   Bottom line: A complete freelancer toolkit, including time and project tracking, for one $27 price. Choose it over FreshBooks if you bill by the hour across many clients.

   Visit freeagent.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Xero

   7.8/10

   Full double-entry accounting with bank reconciliation, sales tax, 1099 management and cash flow forecasts.

   Price

   $27per month

   Early from $27 per month ($5.40 per month for the first 3 months); no free plan

   “Early $ 5 . 40 per month for the first 3 months Then $27 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.8

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forFreelancers who send few invoices now but expect to hire or grow into a small firm.

   Xero is a proper accounting system rather than an invoicing app with a ledger attached, and that is both its strength and its cost for freelancers. The Early plan includes quotes, online invoice payments, bank reconciliation, Smart Document Capture, W-9 and 1099 management, sales tax, real-time reports and a 30-day cash flow forecast, plus free expert setup help. Its limits are tight for a busy freelancer: 20 invoices and 5 bills. Unlimited invoices start on Growing at $59 a month, and auto-reconciliation on Early is a $5 monthly add-on. The current offer is 80% off for the first three months, so Early costs $5.40 a month before rising to $27. Xero suits a freelancer who invoices a few large clients a month and expects to add staff, payroll or an accountant later, because the same file grows into bigger plans. For a pure one-person business focused on low monthly cost, Zoho Books and Wave deliver more for less.

   • ✓Accounting depth that scales to larger plans
   • ✓Early includes 1099 management and sales tax
   • ✓Free expert setup help

   • ✕Early caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills
   • ✕Unlimited invoices need Growing at $59 a month
   • ✕More accounting vocabulary than freelancer-first tools

   Early:

   $27 a month, 20 invoices, 5 bills

   Growing:

   $59 a month

   Intro offer:

   80% off for 3 months

   Auto-reconcile:

   $5 a month add-on on Early

   Bottom line: Strong accounting that grows with you, but Early's 20-invoice cap and $27 price weigh against it for solo workers. Best for freelancers with few, large invoices.

   Visit xero.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Lili

   7.7/10

   A business banking app for small businesses with built-in expense categorization, tax savings and, on higher plans, accounting and invoicing.

   Price

   $15per month

   Lili Core $0; Pro $15 per month; accounting and invoicing need Smart at $35 per month

   “Lili Pro $15 /mo $9 /mo for 3 months” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forFreelancers opening a first business bank account who want tax set-asides built in.

   Lili approaches freelancer finances from the bank account outward. Lili is a financial technology company, and its banking services are provided by Sunrise Banks. The free Core plan is a business checking account with a Visa debit card. Pro, at $15 a month, adds the tax pieces a freelancer cares about: expenses sorted into tax categories, receipts and notes attached to transactions, quarterly and annual expense reports, and automatic allocation of money toward tax payments. Real accounting software arrives on Smart at $35 a month, which adds AI-assisted categorization, profit and loss and cash flow statements, unlimited invoices with reminders and payments, bill management and syncing of external bank and card accounts. Lili states that accounting, tax preparation and invoicing software is limited to Smart and Premium. That makes it pricier than Zoho Books or Wave for invoicing, but simpler if you want one app for the account and the books.

   • ✓Banking and bookkeeping in one app
   • ✓Automatic tax savings set-asides
   • ✓30-day free trial on paid plans

   • ✕Invoicing and accounting software require Smart at $35 a month
   • ✕Works best if Lili is your business bank
   • ✕Free Core plan is banking only

   Core:

   $0 a month

   Pro:

   $15 a month, $9 for 3 months

   Smart:

   $35 a month, $21 for 3 months

   Bank partner:

   Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC

   Bottom line: A good fit for freelancers who want their bank to handle tax set-asides, at $15 a month for Pro. Invoicing needs the $35 Smart plan, so pure bookkeeping is cheaper elsewhere.

   Visit lili.co ↗

8. 08

   

   Akaunting

   7.5/10

   Cloud accounting software with a low-cost Standard plan for one-person businesses and an app store for extra features.

   Price

   $12per month

   Standard from $12 per month for one company, one user and one accountant

   “Best for one-person businesses $12 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.2

   Features (35%)

   6.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.2

   Best forBudget-focused freelancers who are comfortable entering transactions by hand.

   Akaunting has the cheapest regular paid plan in this comparison. Standard costs $12 a month and Akaunting labels it best for one-person businesses: one company, one user plus one accountant, 1,000 invoices, unlimited customers, vendors, reports and products, multiple currencies and four apps from its app store. The gaps show up when you compare it with Zoho Books Free, which costs nothing and includes bank reconciliation and 1099 tools. On Akaunting, bank feeds, double-entry, expense claims and a client portal are reserved for Premium at $36 a month, and estimates appear only on Elite. That means a freelancer on Standard will be entering transactions by hand and sending invoices without quotes. Akaunting is a reasonable option for someone outside the US tax system or who wants a cheap ledger with an accountant seat, but for US freelancers after the lowest monthly price, Zoho Books Free and Wave Starter do more for $0.

   • ✓Lowest regular paid price among the tools we compared
   • ✓Accountant seat included
   • ✓Unlimited reports and customers

   • ✕Bank feeds and double-entry need Premium at $36 a month
   • ✕Estimates need the Elite plan
   • ✕Fewer US tax features such as 1099 tools

   Standard:

   $12 a month

   Premium:

   $36 a month

   Invoice limit:

   1,000 on Standard

   Companies:

   1 on Standard

   Bottom line: A cheap $12 ledger with an accountant seat, held back by missing bank feeds and estimates on Standard. Free plans from Zoho Books and Wave cover more.

   Visit akaunting.com ↗

9. 09

   

   Bonsai

   7.5/10

   Client and project management software for freelancers and agencies, with proposals, contracts, invoicing and expense tracking.

   Price

   $9per user per month

   Basic from $9 per user per month billed annually ($15 monthly); invoicing starts on Essentials at $19 billed annually

   “Basic $15 / month $9 / month (if paid annually)” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.8

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forFreelancers who want proposals, contracts and invoices in one client workflow.

   Bonsai earns a place for freelancers whose real pain is the paperwork around clients, not the ledger. Basic, at $9 per user a month billed annually, covers time tracking, task management, a CRM and unlimited projects and clients, but it does not include invoicing. Essentials, at $19 billed annually or $25 monthly, is the plan most freelancers would need: it adds invoices and payments, proposals and contracts, templates, forms, scheduling, a client portal and expense and income tracking. Premium adds profit reports, branding removal and integrations with QuickBooks and Xero, which is a hint that Bonsai expects you to keep formal books elsewhere. It is not a double-entry accounting system and offers no 1099 or sales tax tools on its pricing page. For a freelancer who wants to win work, sign a contract and get paid in one place, Bonsai is a tidy choice; for tax preparation, pair it with Zoho Books or Wave.

   • ✓Covers the client side of freelancing from proposal to payment
   • ✓Unlimited clients and projects on every plan
   • ✓QuickBooks and Xero integrations on Premium

   • ✕Basic does not include invoicing
   • ✕Not a full double-entry accounting system
   • ✕Removing Bonsai branding needs Premium at $29 a month billed annually

   Basic:

   $9 a month billed annually, $15 monthly

   Essentials:

   $19 a month billed annually, $25 monthly

   Premium:

   $29 a month billed annually, $39 monthly

   Clients:

   Unlimited on all plans

   Bottom line: The best client workflow here, from proposal to invoice, but not a replacement for accounting software. Budget for Essentials at $19 a month billed annually if you need invoices.

   Visit hellobonsai.com ↗

10. 10

    

    Kashoo

    7.5/10

    Double-entry accounting with a single all-inclusive plan covering invoices, expenses, sales tax and bank feeds.

    Price

    $30per month

    One plan at $30 per month; 50% off the first 6 months; no free plan

    “Monthly Annual Was $324/yr $ 30.00/Mo” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.

    Free plan

    No

    Free trial

    14 days

    Value (40%)

    7.4

    Features (35%)

    7.2

    Ease of use (25%)

    8.0

    Best forFreelancers who want full accounting with no plan tiers and room to add a bookkeeper as a user.

    Kashoo keeps pricing simple with one plan that includes everything: unlimited invoices, online payments, expense and bill tracking, sales tax tracking, bank feed sync, project and item tracking, multi-currency, unlimited attachments and a double-entry ledger. It also allows unlimited users at no extra charge, so a freelancer can invite a bookkeeper or partner without paying more. The list price is $30 a month, with 50% off the first six months, and a 14-day free trial that needs no credit card. Kashoo keeps a lapsed trial account active for 90 days if you are not ready to subscribe. The downsides for a cost-conscious freelancer are clear: there is no free plan, the regular price is above Zoho Books Standard and Wave Pro, and each additional business needs a separate subscription. It suits someone who wants full double-entry books without comparing tiers, but it does not win on price.

    • ✓Every feature in one plan
    • ✓Unlimited users at no extra charge
    • ✓14-day free trial with no credit card

    • ✕Highest regular monthly price among the single-plan tools here
    • ✕No free plan
    • ✕Each additional business needs its own subscription

    Price:

    $30 a month

    Intro offer:

    50% off the first 6 months

    Users:

    Unlimited

    Free trial:

    14 days, no credit card

    Bottom line: Full accounting with every feature unlocked at $30 a month. Choose it for simplicity, not for the lowest monthly cost.

    Visit kashoo.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.