The decision between FreshBooks and Invoice Ninja for your invoicing needs ultimately comes down to budget, technical expertise and business size. Despite having robust invoicing capabilities, both platforms have different user bases and requirements.
Invoice Ninja offers a free plan with monthly options ranging from $12 to $20 for independent contractors and startups. With a monthly starting price of $8.40 for the Lite plan and $26 for the Premium plan, FreshBooks offers a premium subscription without a free tier.
FreshBooks and Invoice Ninja are both invoicing programs with unique features like custom layouts, recurring billing, time, cost tracking and more. FreshBooks offers seamless connections with over 11,000 banks, direct integrations with CRM systems and accounting software compatibility with Xero and QuickBooks. Among the flexibility and customization options that Invoice Ninja offers are self-hosted, cloud-hosted solutions.
FreshBooks offers non-technical users a simple, user-friendly interface while Invoice Ninja caters to technically proficient users with dedicated support channels like Slack, Discord and community forums.
FreshBooks is the greatest choice for independent contractors and small to medium-sized businesses seeking an advanced user-friendly solution with robust integration capabilities because of its client limits (5–500 depending on package) and additional user fees ($11 per additional user). The platform is suitable for smaller teams that value usability.
Invoice Ninja is a better option for users on a budget, larger teams and businesses that require customization flexibility. It scales more affordably for growing businesses with support for up to 50 users on the Enterprise tier and unlimited customers on premium subscriptions.
Both platforms uphold strict security standards with GDPR compliance, data encryption, and automated backup systems. All of FreshBooks’ plans include unlimited storage but Invoice Ninja’s storage requirements are unclear.
FreshBooks offers user-friendly functionality at premium prices, making it the perfect choice for consultants, small agencies and service-based businesses. Invoice Ninja is affordable, appropriate for tech-savvy users, new businesses and expanding enterprises.
| FreshBooks | Invoice Ninja | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | 50+ professional invoice templates | Yes |
| Send Estimates/Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Mileage Tracking | Yes | Information not available |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Yes | Yes |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes |
| User Permissions/Role Management | Yes | Yes |
| File Uploads | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | No | Yes |
| Pricing Range | Lite: $8.40/month Plus: $15.20/month Premium: $26/month Select: Custom |
Free: $0/month Ninja Pro: $12/month Enterprise: $16/month Premium Business+: $20/month |
| Trial Period | 30 days | No trial (free plan available) |
| User Limits | Lite, Plus, Premium: 1 user (+$11/additional) Select: 2 users |
Free/Pro: 1 user Enterprise: up to 50 users Premium Business+: Custom |
| Client Limits | Lite: 5 clients Plus: 50 clients Premium/Select: 500 clients |
Free: 5 clients Pro/Enterprise/Premium Business+: Unlimited |
| Storage Limits | Unlimited | Not specified |
| Payment Processing Fees | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | Varies by payment gateway |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Simple to Moderate | Moderate to Complex |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App Availability | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Full invoicing, time tracking, expense & mileage tracking | Full invoicing, time tracking, project management |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe, PayPal, WePay, Square | Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.Net |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero (via third-party) | Limited direct integrations |
| CRM Integration | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive | Zapier, Make, Pabbly integrations |
| API Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes (11,000+ banks) | Yes |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | Yes |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic | Automatic (cloud), manual (self-hosted) |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Email, Phone, Live Chat | Email, Slack, Discord, Community forums |
| Help Center/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Multiple languages | Yes |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Limited | Yes |
| Scalability | Freelancers to SMBs | Freelancers to Medium Businesses |
| Read FreshBooks Review | Read Invoice Ninja Review |
