8 Best Accounting Software for Freelancers of 2026

1. 1

   QuickBooks Solopreneur

   Intuit's QuickBooks plans for one-person businesses, from a free tier to a Lite plan with tax help powered by TurboTax.

   9.0overall

   Intuit's QuickBooks plans for one-person businesses, from a free tier to a Lite plan with tax help powered by TurboTax.

   Best forUS freelancers and sole proprietors who want automated expense sorting, unlimited invoices and a direct path to tax filing.

   Adoption data

   23%Intuit's fiscal 2026 annual report says QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue, the product line that includes the Solopreneur plans, grew 23 percent.

   Intuit (Form 10-K), Intuit Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2026 (2026): “QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue increased $931 million, or 23%, in fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025 due to the interrelated factors of higher effective prices, customer growth, and mix shift.”

   QuickBooks Solopreneur is Intuit's answer for people who work alone, and its 10-K places it in the same QuickBooks Online family whose accounting revenue rose $931 million, or 23 percent, in fiscal 2026. Intuit describes the Free, Lite and Solopreneur plans as built for early-stage solopreneurs and independent contractors. The free tier is genuinely usable for a side business: income and expense tracking, a monthly profit and loss report, two invoices a month (unlimited if you turn on QuickBooks Payments) and five tracked trips. Lite removes those caps, adds a mobile app, bill pay, sales tax automation and management of three 1099 contractors, and ties into Expert Assisted Tax powered by TurboTax with 20 percent off the federal base price. The limits are clear: one user and no accountant access until Simple Start at $38. When we fetched the page it showed Lite cards at both $20 and $10 a month with a 50 percent introductory discount, so confirm the price at checkout.

   Strengths

   • +A free tier with invoicing, mileage and the top 3 reports
   • +Lite links bookkeeping to TurboTax filing with expert review
   • +Backed by the accounting product line Intuit reports in SEC filings

   Limitations

   • −The free tier caps invoices at 2 and receipts at 2 a month
   • −Free and Lite have no accountant access
   • −The page showed two Lite price cards, $20 and $10, so check the price at checkout

   SummaryQuickBooks Solopreneur is the best accounting software for most US freelancers in 2026. It pairs the strongest adoption evidence here with a free tier and a low-cost plan tied to tax filing.

2. 2

   Zoho Books

   Zoho's double-entry accounting app with a free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses under $50K in yearly revenue.

   8.6overall

   Zoho's double-entry accounting app with a free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses under $50K in yearly revenue.

   Best forSole proprietors earning under $50K a year who want full books, bank reconciliation and 1099 tools without a monthly fee.

   Adoption data

   100 millionZoho says its app suite, which includes Zoho Books, has passed 100 million users; it does not break out a Books figure.

   Zoho, About Zoho (2026): “Marking the milestone of reaching 100 million+ users!”

   Zoho Books has the most complete free plan in this list for a freelancer who stays under $50K in yearly revenue, which is the threshold Zoho's pricing FAQ sets. On the free tier you get invoices, quotes, expenses and journals, receipt autoscan, mileage tracking, a customer portal, payment reminders, bank reconciliation, recurring invoices, W-9 management and 1099 preparation, plus the profit and loss statement, balance sheet and more than 50 other reports. One user and one accountant can log in. Standard, at $15 a month on annual billing or $20 monthly, adds progress invoicing, sales and use tax tracking, 1099 e-filing and connected bank feeds for three users. Zoho's adoption figure, more than 100 million users, covers its whole suite, so we scored adoption below QuickBooks and Xero. The main trade-off is that without bank feeds on the free plan, transactions must be added or imported by hand.

   Strengths

   • +The free plan includes bank reconciliation and 1099 preparation
   • +An accountant seat is included even on the free plan
   • +Standard costs $15 a month on annual billing

   Limitations

   • −The free plan ends once yearly revenue passes $50K
   • −Bank feeds start on the paid Standard plan
   • −Adoption is reported for all Zoho apps, not Books alone

   SummaryZoho Books is the best free accounting software for freelancers under $50K in revenue. Its $15 Standard plan is also among the cheapest routes to bank feeds and 1099 e-filing.

3. 3

   Wave

   Invoicing and bookkeeping software from Wave Financial with a free Starter plan and a $19 Pro plan.

   8.4overall

   Invoicing and bookkeeping software from Wave Financial with a free Starter plan and a $19 Pro plan.

   Best forFreelancers who want unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records at no monthly cost, paying only card fees.

   Adoption data

   350,000Wave says more than 350,000 small businesses use it to keep their books.

   Wave Financial, Wave home page (2026): “Over 350,000 small businesses trust Wave to easily button-up their books”

   Wave remains the simplest way for a freelancer to send unlimited invoices and keep books for free. Its Starter plan includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, invoicing from the mobile app and a cash flow dashboard, with online card payments at 2.9 percent plus $0.60. Pro, at $19 a month or $190 a year, removes the fixed $0.60 card fee, auto-imports and categorizes bank transactions, captures unlimited receipts and sends automatic late payment reminders. Wave says more than 350,000 small businesses keep their books with it, a smaller base than Xero or QuickBooks but large for a free product. The gaps for freelancers are on the tax side: Wave's pricing page does not list 1099 filing or a tax filing service, so you will still need separate tax software. Without Pro, bank transactions have to be entered or uploaded manually.

   Strengths

   • +The free Starter plan has no invoice or record caps
   • +Pro drops the per-transaction fixed card fee to $0
   • +Pro costs $190 a year, about $16 a month

   Limitations

   • −Bank transaction import needs the paid Pro plan
   • −Starter card payments carry a $0.60 fixed fee each
   • −Fewer tax-filing and 1099 tools than QuickBooks or Zoho Books

   SummaryWave is the cheapest full bookkeeping option for freelancers, with a free plan and a $19 upgrade. Pair it with separate tax software at filing time.

4. 4

   Xero

   Cloud accounting software from New Zealand's Xero, sold in the US on three plans from $27 a month.

   8.3overall

   Cloud accounting software from New Zealand's Xero, sold in the US on three plans from $27 a month.

   Best forFreelancers who work with an accountant and want full double-entry books that can grow with the business.

   Adoption data

   5 millionXero says it has 5 million customers in more than 180 countries, including the US.

   Xero, Investor information (2026): “Since 2006, we’ve grown from a handful of small businesses in New Zealand to 5 million customers in 180+ countries including Australia, the UK and the US.”

   Xero is a full accounting ledger rather than a freelancer app, and its customer base shows it: the company reports 5 million customers in more than 180 countries. For a sole proprietor, the $27 Early plan covers what most one-person businesses need: quotes and up to 20 invoices a month, online invoice payments, 5 bills, bank reconciliation, Smart Document Capture for receipts, real-time reports, W-9 and 1099 management, sales tax and a 30-day cash flow forecast. Free expert setup help is included, and domestic ACH bill payments are free. The 20-invoice cap matters for freelancers who bill many small jobs, because the next plan, Growing, is $59 a month. Xero has no free plan, and its entry price sits above Zoho Books Standard, Wave Pro and QuickBooks Lite. Freelancers whose accountant already works in Xero gain the most from it.

   Strengths

   • +5 million customers, the largest count published by any vendor here
   • +W-9 and 1099 management on the entry plan
   • +Free expert setup help on every plan

   Limitations

   • −Early caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills
   • −No free plan
   • −At $27 the entry plan costs more than Zoho Books, Wave Pro or QuickBooks Lite

   SummaryXero is the strongest pick for freelancers who want accountant-grade books from day one. The 20-invoice cap on Early is the main limit to check.

5. 5

   FreshBooks

   Invoicing-first accounting software from Toronto, priced by the number of clients you bill.

   8.2overall

   Invoicing-first accounting software from Toronto, priced by the number of clients you bill.

   Best forService freelancers who bill clients by project or hour and want polished invoices, estimates and retainers.

   Adoption data

   500K+FreshBooks says more than 500,000 small businesses have used its software.

   FreshBooks, About FreshBooks (2026): “500K+ small businesses have used FreshBooks”

   FreshBooks prices by client count, which suits freelancers better than per-user pricing but can surprise anyone with many small clients. Lite, at $23 a month, lets you invoice five clients, track expenses in real time, send estimates, take card, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later payments and run tax-time reports. Plus, at $43, raises the limit to 50 clients and adds proposals, retainers, financial and accounting reports, receipt scanning and accountant access. Premium, at $70, removes the client cap and adds project profitability and custom email templates. FreshBooks says more than 500,000 small businesses have used it, a figure that counts past users rather than current subscribers. A 30-day free trial and an 80 percent discount for four months lower the entry cost. The weak point for value is that most working freelancers outgrow five clients quickly, which pushes the real price to $43.

   Strengths

   • +Strong invoicing, estimates and retainers for client work
   • +30-day free trial
   • +Tax-time reports on every plan

   Limitations

   • −Lite is limited to 5 billable clients
   • −Accountant access and receipt scanning wait for the $43 Plus plan
   • −Extra team members cost $11 per user per month

   SummaryFreshBooks is the best fit for client-service freelancers who live in their invoices. Budget for the $43 Plus plan if you bill more than five clients.

6. 6

   Bonsai

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

   7.4overall

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

   Best forFreelancers who want proposals, contracts, time tracking and invoices in one app, with books kept lightly or exported.

   Adoption data

   10,000+Bonsai says more than 10,000 firms and freelancers use its software.

   Bonsai, Bonsai home page (2026): “Join 10,000+ firms and freelancers using Bonsai to streamline their business.”

   Bonsai is closer to a freelancer business suite than to accounting software, and it belongs here because many freelancers use it to run the money side of client work. Basic, at $9 per user a month on annual billing or $15 monthly, covers time tracking, tasks, a CRM and unlimited projects and clients, but not invoicing. Essentials, at $19 annually or $25 monthly, is the plan most freelancers need: invoices and payments, proposals and contracts, templates, forms, scheduling, a client portal and income and expense tracking. Premium, at $29, adds profit reports and integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier and Google. Bonsai says more than 10,000 firms and freelancers use it, the smallest published figure among the tools that publish one, so we scored adoption low. Because it is not a double-entry ledger, freelancers who need a balance sheet or reconciled books should plan to connect it to QuickBooks or Xero.

   Strengths

   • +Proposals, contracts and invoices live in one place
   • +Unlimited clients on every plan
   • +Syncs to QuickBooks or Xero on Premium for full books

   Limitations

   • −Invoicing and expense tracking start at Essentials, $19 annually or $25 monthly
   • −It tracks income and expenses but is not a double-entry ledger
   • −Free trial lasts only 7 days

   SummaryBonsai is the right choice for freelancers whose bigger problem is contracts and client paperwork, not ledgers. Pair Premium with QuickBooks or Xero if you need full accounting.

7. 7

   Lili

   A business banking app with built-in bookkeeping, invoicing and tax savings tools on its Smart and Premium plans.

   7.3overall

   A business banking app with built-in bookkeeping, invoicing and tax savings tools on its Smart and Premium plans.

   Best forFreelancers who want their business checking account and their books in the same app.

   Adoption data

   200,000+Lili says it has served more than 200,000 businesses.

   Lili, Lili home page (2026): “with over 200,000 businesses served.”

   Lili starts from banking rather than bookkeeping, and that is the reason to pick it. Lili Core is a business checking account with a Visa debit card and no monthly fee. Pro, at $15 a month, adds expense tax categories, receipt attachments, quarterly and annual expense reports and automatic set-asides for tax payments. The accounting software itself, with AI transaction categorization, receipt capture, profit and loss and cash flow statements, unlimited invoices with reminders and bill scanning, sits on Smart at $35 a month, and Premium at $55 adds priority service. Lili says it has served more than 200,000 businesses. For a freelancer who has not yet separated business and personal money, getting an account and books in one step is useful. The cost is that the accounting tier is pricier than Wave Pro, Zoho Books Standard or QuickBooks Lite, and the books only make sense if your business money runs through Lili.

   Strengths

   • +Banking, bookkeeping and tax savings in one app
   • +Core banking account has no monthly fee
   • +30-day free trial on paid plans

   Limitations

   • −Accounting software starts on the $35 Smart plan
   • −Requires opening a Lili bank account
   • −Fewer accounting features than dedicated ledgers such as Xero or Zoho Books

   SummaryLili suits freelancers who want to open a business account and keep books in the same place. If you already bank elsewhere, a dedicated ledger costs less.

8. 8

   Keeper

   An expense tracking and tax filing service for freelancers and the self-employed, with AI that finds deductions and tax pros who sign returns.

   7.0overall

   An expense tracking and tax filing service for freelancers and the self-employed, with AI that finds deductions and tax pros who sign returns.

   Best for1099 freelancers whose main goal is finding deductions and filing an accurate return, more than full accounting.

   Keeper is built around the tax return rather than the ledger. Every plan tracks expenses automatically across unlimited connected bank and card accounts, uses AI to find and categorize deductions and tracks income. Bookkeeping Only costs $20 a month and leaves filing out. The yearly plans are where Keeper differs from the rest of this list: Standard, at $199 a year, adds federal and state returns that a tax pro reviews and signs, plus audit protection; Premium, at $399, adds quarterly tax payments and consultations with a tax pro; Business, at $1,199, covers S-Corp and partnership returns. A 14-day free trial applies to every plan. Keeper does not invoice clients or keep double-entry books, so freelancers who bill through it will need a separate invoicing tool. We found no user or customer count on Keeper's own pages, so adoption is scored conservatively.

   Strengths

   • +Yearly plans bundle bookkeeping with a filed, pro-signed return
   • +Standard works out to $16.58 a month billed yearly
   • +14-day free trial on every plan

   Limitations

   • −No invoicing or double-entry ledger
   • −Bookkeeping Only excludes tax filing
   • −No citable user count on Keeper's own pages

   SummaryKeeper is the pick for 1099 freelancers who want deductions found and a return filed for one yearly price. It does not replace invoicing or full accounting software.

Questions or corrections: editorial@statlyst.com · Disclosure