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Professional Services · head to head

FreshBooks vs Maxio

FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Professional Services

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Maxio logo

Maxio

Accounting

Billing and financial reporting platform for B2B SaaS companies

From
$599/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreshBooks has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FreshBooks lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum; Maxio entry-level Grow plan starts at $599/month, making it costly for very early-stage startups.
  • They diverge on capability: FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Maxio covers Usage-based billing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreshBooks and Maxio actually diverge.

Attributes where FreshBooks and Maxio differ
AttributeFreshBooksMaxio
Starting priceFree$599/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidweb, api
CategoryProfessional ServicesAccounting
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Maxio

  • Usage-based billing
  • Subscription management
  • Revenue recognition
  • SaaS metrics dashboards
  • Dunning and collections
  • Accounting and CRM integrations

What people use each for

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

FreshBooks

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

Maxio

  • Billing for B2B SaaS companies with complex contractsnot FreshBooks
  • Usage-based and hybrid pricing meteringnot FreshBooks
  • GAAP/IFRS revenue recognition for finance teamsnot FreshBooks
  • SaaS metrics reporting for investors and boardsnot 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

Maxio

  • Entry-level Grow plan starts at $599/month, making it costly for very early-stage startups.
  • Pricing above the Grow tier requires a custom quote rather than transparent self-serve pricing.
  • Focused specifically on B2B SaaS billing, so it lacks general e-commerce checkout or consumer payment features found in platforms like FastSpring.
  • Advanced features like multi-entity support and expense amortization are gated behind paid add-ons.

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

Maxio

$599/month
  • Grow$599/month
    • For businesses up to $100k in monthly billings
    • Usage-based and recurring billing
    • Automated invoicing and dunning
  • Scale$undefined/month
    • For businesses over $100k in monthly billings
    • Advanced revenue management add-ons
    • Multi-entity support

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.
FreshBooks review

Choose Maxio if

  • You need usage-based billing.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want subscription management.
Maxio review

Questions people ask

Is FreshBooks or Maxio better?
Neither clearly leads. FreshBooks starts at Free and Maxio at $599/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Maxio?
FreshBooks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreshBooks and $599/month for Maxio.
Does FreshBooks or Maxio run on more platforms?
FreshBooks runs on Web, iOS, Android. Maxio runs on web, api.
Can I use FreshBooks for free?
Yes. FreshBooks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Maxio starts at $599/month.
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 Maxio is typically brought in for.
What can FreshBooks do that Maxio cannot?
FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management. Maxio covers Usage-based billing, Subscription management, Revenue recognition, SaaS metrics dashboards.

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
Maxio: What does Maxio cost?

Maxio's Grow plan costs $599/month for businesses with up to $100k in monthly billings. Businesses above that threshold need the Scale plan, which requires a custom quote from Maxio's sales team.

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
Maxio: Is there a free plan?

No, Maxio does not offer a free plan. The Grow plan at $599/month is the entry point, with unlimited users included at no extra cost.

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
Maxio: What does Maxio integrate with?

Maxio integrates with accounting systems like QuickBooks, Xero, and NetSuite, CRMs including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive, and 20+ payment gateways alongside its own Maxio Payments.

Source
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