Express Accounts vs FreshBooks
Express Accounts
nchsoftware.com
FreshBooks
freshbooks.comSide by side
| Figure | Express Accounts | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $49.14/mo | $4.60/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 7 |
| Spec score · Salon Accounting Software | 9.1 (#5) | 9.1 (#6) |
| Invoicing | Creates quotes, sales orders, invoices, recurring invoices and customer statements. | The product creates branded invoices, recurring invoices, reminders and online payment requests. |
| Notable news | NCH’s release archive records the Inventoria integration with Express Accounts, Express Invoice and Copper on July 30, 2013. | FreshBooks announced an integration with Anthropic MCP for optional AI capabilities on September 25, 2026. |
| Purpose | Express Accounts tracks business cash flow, including sales, receipts, payments and purchases. | FreshBooks describes itself as accounting software for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | No rating overview because the app has not received enough ratings or reviews | 4.7 out of 5 from 11K ratings |
| Rating on Capterra | 3.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 4,529 reviews |
| Rating on G2 | 4.0 out of 5 from 1 review | 4.5 out of 5 from 981 reviews |
| Rating on GetApp | 3.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 4,529 reviews |
| Rating on Software Advice | 3.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews | 4.5 out of 5 from 4,525 verified reviews |
| Rating on Trustpilot | 4.3 out of 5 from 1,597 reviews for NCH Software overall | 3.7 out of 5 from 1,047 reviews |
| Security | The desktop version does not require a password, while Web Access requires a username and password. | FreshBooks states that browser traffic uses 256-bit SSL, data is firewalled and servers undergo regular vulnerability scans. |
| Support | NCH publishes tutorials, how-to articles, a forum, bug reporting, feature suggestions and technical-contact links. | The Help Center organizes guidance for invoices, payments, expenses, projects, reports, payroll, integrations and mobile use, with FreshBot routing support options. |
| System requirements | Current requirements list Windows 7–11 and macOS 10.5 or later. | Supported browsers are the latest two Chrome, Firefox and Safari major versions and the latest Edge and Opera versions; current macOS or Windows is recommended. |
| What it does | Desktop accounting software for small businesses that records sales, receipts, payments, purchases and cash flow. | FreshBooks is cloud accounting software for small businesses that combines invoicing, payments, expenses, time tracking, projects and reports. |
Plans
Express Accounts
- Free (non-commercial use)Free
- Free versionFree
- Free version for small businessesFree
- Express Accounts Plus Quarterly Plan$49.14 a month
- Express Accounts Basic$159, paid once
- Express Accounts Plus$249, paid once
FreshBooks
- Lite$23 a month
- Plus$43 a month
- Premium$70 a month
- Lite$4.60 a month
- Plus$8.60 a month
- Premium$14 a month
- SelectPriced on request
In their own words
Express Accounts
Express Accounts is accounting software for tracking business cash flow across sales, receipts, payments and purchases. It creates quotes, sales orders and invoices, including recurring orders and invoices, and handles accounts payable with purchase orders and checks. More than 20 financial reports are available, including income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements; sales tax tools are included. One installation can manage multiple businesses and currencies. The software imports transactions and business records from CSV files and can reconcile OFX bank statements. It integrates with Inventoria for inventory data, though both programs must be installed on the same machine for synchronization; Express Invoice can also connect when recording customer payments. Downloadable desktop use supports offline accounting. Express Accounts runs on Windows, macOS and the web, with a free non-commercial plan and a separate free version for businesses with fewer than five employees. The desktop version does not require a password; Web Access does.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is accounting software for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small businesses. It creates invoices with tracked time and expenses, calculates taxes, and offers configurable payment options. Users can track time against clients and projects, then generate invoices from those records. Projects organize client work, team members, time, invoices, and expenses, and include profitability views. Listed payment options include card and ACH payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and buy now, pay later options. FreshBooks also offers recurring invoices, expense tracking, and a client portal. Its API uses OAuth2 for integrations and account automation. The service runs on the web and has iOS and Android apps, but some features, including reporting, are desktop-only. Mobile apps require iOS 15 or later or Android 7.0 or later. Lite costs $23 a month and includes five billable clients; Plus costs $43 a month and includes 50. Premium costs $70 a month and includes unlimited clients. Double-entry accounting is available on Plus, Premium, and Select. There is no free plan, and the listed trial lasts 30 days.