Since both platforms provide complete invoicing solutions, it is essential to comprehend the main distinctions between Bloom and FreshBooks in order to make the best choice for your company.
Essential invoicing features like personalized templates, automated recurring billing, expense tracking and payment reminders are provided by Bloom and FreshBooks. FreshBooks has over 50 professional invoice templates, mileage tracking, automatic tax calculations and project-based billing.
With its affordable prices, flexible pricing options and free plan, Bloom appeals to growing teams and agencies. The less costly FreshBooks Lite plan lacks a free tier and strict client restrictions. The trial periods for both are seven days.
FreshBooks outperforms Bloom in financial management and payment gateway integration. It also offers superior accounting connectivity with QuickBooks and Xero, thanks to over 11,000 bank connections, pre-built reports and custom report creation capabilities.
While FreshBooks provides service-based businesses with comprehensive invoicing, time tracking, expense management and mileage tracking, Bloom’s mobile app offers project management, workflows, instant booking and client communication.
Both services offer robust security. However, FreshBooks provides automatic backup and comprehensive customer support while Bloom lacks these features.
For independent contractors and small agencies, Bloom is a straightforward, sophisticated solution. FreshBooks provides sophisticated financial features, integrations and comprehensive reporting for larger companies.
Bloom | FreshBooks | |
---|---|---|
Core Features | ||
Custom Templates | Multiple portfolio and invoice templates available | 50+ professional invoice templates |
Send Estimates/Quotations | Yes | Yes |
Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Time Tracking | Yes | Yes |
Mileage Tracking | No | Yes |
Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes |
Project-Based Billing | Yes | Yes |
Tax Handling | Yes | Yes, automatic tax calculations |
User Permissions/Role Management | Yes | Yes |
File Uploads | Yes | Yes |
Pricing and Plans | ||
Free Plan Availability | Yes | No |
Pricing Range | Starter: $9/month Standard: $22/month Plus: $39/month |
Lite: $8.40/month Plus: $15.20/month Premium: $26/month Select: Custom |
Trial Period | 7 days | 30 days |
User Limits | Starter: 1 user Standard: 1 user Plus: unlimited users |
Lite: 1 user Plus: 1 user (+$11 per additional) Premium: 1 user (+$11 per additional) Select: 2 users |
Client Limits | Not explicitly limited | Lite: 5 clients Plus: 50 clients Premium: 500 clients Select: 500 clients |
Storage Limits | Starter: 100 GB/month Standard: 1 TB/month Plus: 2 TB/month |
Unlimited |
Payment Processing Fees | Credit Card (Stripe): 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction American Express: 3.4% + $0.30 per transaction ACH: 0.8% per transaction |
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
Ease of Use | ||
User Interface | Simple and elegant design | Simple to Moderate |
Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
Mobile App Availability | Yes | Yes (iOS & Android) |
Mobile App Functionality | Project management, workflows, instant booking, client communication | Full invoicing, time tracking, expense management, mileage tracking |
Integration | ||
Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe, Square, alternative payment methods | Stripe, PayPal, WePay, Square |
Accounting Software Compatibility | QuickBooks, Xero | QuickBooks, Xero (via third-party integrations) |
CRM Integration | Zapier integration, direct integrations, calendar sync, website embeds | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive |
API Availability | Yes | Yes |
Reporting & Analytics | ||
Bank Connections | No | Yes (11,000+ bank connections) |
Pre-Built Financial Reports | No | Yes |
Custom Report Creation | No | Yes |
Security & Compliance | ||
Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
Data Encryption | Yes | Yes |
GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
Backup Options | No | Automatic |
Customer Support | ||
Support Channels | Chat, Email | Email, Phone, Live Chat |
Help Center/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
24/7 Support | No | No |
Adaptability | ||
Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
Localization | Yes (multiple languages) | Yes |
Industry-Specific Customization | Yes | Limited |
Scalability | Freelancers to Small-Medium Agencies | Freelancers to SMBs |
Read Bloom Review | Read FreshBooks Review |