QuickBooks Self-Employed is the strongest pick for solo freelancers who mainly need mileage, tax estimates, and expense sorting, while FreshBooks is better for client billing and Wave is hard to beat for free invoicing. For tax prep, mileage matters: the IRS standard business mileage rate was 67 cents per mile in 2024 [source: IRS]. That can add up fast for a photographer, delivery worker, consultant, or mobile notary.
TLDR: QuickBooks Self-Employed works best for a freelancer who wants simple tax categories, quarterly tax estimates, and mileage tracking. FreshBooks is better when invoices, retainers, time tracking, and client payments matter more. Wave is the budget choice because its invoicing and accounting tools are free, though payroll and payments cost extra. For example, a designer billing 12 clients a month may save more time with FreshBooks, while a rideshare driver logging 900 business miles may care more about QuickBooks mileage and tax tools.
1. QuickBooks Self-Employed: best for simple tax prep
QuickBooks Self-Employed is built for one-person businesses. It helps sort income and expenses, track mileage, and estimate quarterly taxes. That makes it useful for freelancers who hate tax season and want fewer surprises.
The best part is the tax focus. Transactions can be marked as business or personal, and common deductions are easier to spot. The catch is that it can feel too light for growing businesses. Inventory, full bookkeeping, and deeper reporting are limited.
- Best for: gig workers, consultants, drivers, solo service providers
- Weak spot: not ideal for teams or complex books
- Standout use: quarterly estimated tax planning
2. FreshBooks: best for invoices and client work
FreshBooks is often the better option for freelancers who bill clients often. It handles invoices, estimates, time tracking, expenses, and online payments in a clean interface. It feels made for designers, writers, marketers, agencies, coaches, and consultants.
Its invoice tools are smoother than many rivals. A freelancer can track billable hours, turn them into invoices, and see who has not paid. That sounds basic, but it saves real time. Honestly, it feels like payment reminders should be this easy everywhere.
- Best for: client-based freelancers
- Weak spot: costs rise as client counts grow
- Standout use: polished invoices and time tracking
3. Wave: best free accounting tool
Wave is the go-to choice for freelancers who want free accounting and invoicing. It includes income and expense tracking, invoice creation, and basic reports. For a new freelancer, that is plenty.
The paid extras are where costs appear. Payment processing, payroll, and some support options are not free. Still, for a side business or a lean solo shop, Wave keeps things simple without another monthly bill.
- Best for: new freelancers and side hustlers
- Weak spot: fewer advanced features
- Standout use: free invoices and basic accounting
4. Xero: best for freelancers planning to grow
Xero is stronger than basic freelancer tools. It supports bank feeds, reconciliation, reports, projects, bills, and add-ons. It suits freelancers who expect to hire contractors, add products, or work with an accountant.
It may feel like too much for a simple side gig. Expect to waste time on setup if the business only needs five invoices a month. But for a serious small business, Xero has room to grow.
5. Zoho Books: best value for organized freelancers
Zoho Books offers invoices, expenses, time tracking, projects, bank rules, and reports. It also connects well with other Zoho apps. That helps freelancers who already use Zoho CRM, Zoho Invoice, or Zoho’s email tools.
Its feature list is strong for the price. The downside is that the interface can feel busy. Some settings are tucked away, which is annoying when a freelancer just wants to send an invoice and get paid.
6. Hurdlr: best for mileage and real-time profit tracking
Hurdlr is popular with gig workers and mobile freelancers. It tracks mileage, income, expenses, and estimated taxes. It is not as broad as FreshBooks or Xero, but it is handy for people who drive for work.
It works well for real estate agents, delivery drivers, couriers, and mobile service pros. The main value is speed. A freelancer can see rough profit and tax estimates without building a full accounting system.
Quick comparison
- Best tax helper: QuickBooks Self-Employed
- Best invoices: FreshBooks
- Best free option: Wave
- Best for growth: Xero
- Best value suite: Zoho Books
- Best mileage focus: Hurdlr
The simple rule: a freelancer who lives in spreadsheets should pick the tool that removes the most repeat work. If taxes are painful, QuickBooks Self-Employed or Hurdlr makes sense. If getting paid is the main headache, FreshBooks is the safer bet. If cost is the issue, Wave is the first tool to try.
FAQ
Is QuickBooks Self-Employed better than FreshBooks?
It depends on the work. QuickBooks Self-Employed is better for tax estimates and mileage. FreshBooks is better for invoices, client work, and time tracking.
Is Wave really free?
Wave offers free accounting and invoicing tools. Paid costs can apply for payment processing, payroll, and certain support features.
Which tool is best for tax preparation?
QuickBooks Self-Employed is usually the best of these for basic freelancer tax prep. Hurdlr is also strong for mileage-heavy work.
Which accounting software is best for a new freelancer?
Wave is a smart starting point because it has no monthly accounting fee. FreshBooks is better if the freelancer needs professional invoices from day one.
Can freelancers use more than one tool?
Yes, but it can get messy. A freelancer should avoid duplicate records and pick one main system for income, expenses, and reports.
