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Professional Services · head to head

FreshBooks vs Hiveage

FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Professional Services

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Hiveage logo

Hiveage

Professional Services

Simple, all-in-one invoicing and billing software

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FreshBooks lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum; Hiveage free plan limited to 5 clients
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreshBooks and Hiveage actually diverge.

Attributes where FreshBooks and Hiveage differ
AttributeFreshBooksHiveage
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Professional Services).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in FreshBooks

  • Invoicing
  • Expense tracking
  • Time tracking
  • Project management
  • Payments
  • Financial reporting
  • Proposals
  • Mileage tracking

Only in Hiveage

Nothing recorded that FreshBooks does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FreshBooks

  • Invoicing and payment processingnot Hiveage
  • Time tracking and expense managementnot Hiveage
  • Multi-client project accountingnot Hiveage

Hiveage

  • Tracking when clients view and pay invoices remotelynot FreshBooks
  • Managing unlimited recurring billing for subscription retainer servicesnot FreshBooks
  • Creating and sending invoices immediately from job sitesnot FreshBooks
  • Generating financial reports without spreadsheetsnot FreshBooks
  • Coordinating team expenses and billable hours for agenciesnot FreshBooks

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

FreshBooks

  • Lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum
  • E-signatures, proposals, and client retainers unavailable on Lite and Plus tiers
  • Advanced payment processing fee of £20/month on Plus tier (extra cost)
  • Email customization and project profitability tracking restricted to Premium tier and above
  • Offline mode not available; web-based only

Hiveage

  • Free plan limited to 5 clients
  • Client limits increase with plan tier
  • Custom plans for 1,000+ clients require direct contact

Pricing, plan by plan

FreshBooks

Free
  • Lite$23/month
    • Up to 5 clients
    • Core invoicing and expense tracking
  • Plus$43/month
    • Up to 50 clients
    • Client portal and estimates
  • Premium$70/month
    • Unlimited clients
    • Advanced features
  • Select$null/mo
    • Custom pricing
    • Unlimited clients
    • Dedicated support

Hiveage

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 clients
    • Unlimited invoices/estimates/time tracking/expenses
  • Basic$16/month
    • 50 clients
    • Financial reports
  • Pro$25/month
    • 250 clients
    • 5 team members
    • Custom domain
  • Plus$42/month
    • 1,000 clients
    • 10 team members
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose FreshBooks if

  • You need invoicing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense tracking.

Choose Hiveage if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is FreshBooks or Hiveage better?
Neither clearly leads. FreshBooks starts at Free and Hiveage at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Hiveage?
FreshBooks starts at Free and Hiveage at Free.
Does FreshBooks or Hiveage run on more platforms?
FreshBooks runs on Web, iOS, Android. Hiveage runs on Web.
Can I use FreshBooks for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FreshBooks best used for?
FreshBooks is most often used for invoicing and payment processing, time tracking and expense management, multi-client project accounting. Of those, invoicing and payment processing and time tracking and expense management are not what Hiveage is typically brought in for.
What can FreshBooks do that Hiveage cannot?
FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FreshBooks: How much does FreshBooks cost?

FreshBooks offers plans starting at $23 per month for Lite (up to 5 clients), $43 for Plus (up to 50 clients), $70 for Premium (unlimited clients), and custom pricing for the Select plan. Currently offering 90% off for 3 months on all plans.

Source
Hiveage: Does Hiveage offer annual billing discounts?

Hiveage annual plans provide 17% savings compared to monthly billing. Yearly plan prices are lower than monthly equivalents across all tiers.

Source
FreshBooks: Does FreshBooks offer a free trial?

Yes, FreshBooks offers a free 30-day trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Source
Hiveage: Can I cancel Hiveage anytime?

Yes, Hiveage users can switch between plans or cancel anytime without long-term contracts required.

Source
FreshBooks: What are the add-on costs for FreshBooks?

Team members cost $11 per month per user, Advanced Payments add-on costs $20 per month, and FreshBooks Payroll costs $40 per month base plus $6 per month per user.

Source
Hiveage: Is there a trial for Hiveage?

Hiveage offers a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan with no credit card required.

Source
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