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Professional Services · head to head

FreshBooks vs Plutio

FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Professional Services

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Plutio logo

Plutio

Professional Services

Run your entire business in one place

From
$19/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; Plutio core plan limited to 9 active clients and no team contributors
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreshBooks and Plutio actually diverge.

Attributes where FreshBooks and Plutio differ
AttributeFreshBooksPlutio
Starting priceFree$19/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Plutio

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 Plutio
  • Time tracking and expense managementnot Plutio
  • Multi-client project accountingnot Plutio

Plutio

  • Managing projects with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendarsnot FreshBooks
  • Creating invoices, proposals, and contracts with e-signaturesnot FreshBooks
  • Tracking billable hours and scheduling client appointmentsnot FreshBooks
  • Building client intake forms and sharing project progress portalsnot 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

Plutio

  • Core plan limited to 9 active clients and no team contributors
  • Core plan AI credits at 800/month is significantly lower than Pro at 2,500
  • Max plan at $199/month is a high entry point for larger teams

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

Plutio

$19/month
  • Core$19/month
    • Up to 9 active clients
    • No team contributors
    • 800 AI credits/month
  • Pro$49/month
    • Unlimited active clients
    • 30 contributors included
    • 2,500 AI credits/month
  • Max$199/month
    • Unlimited everything
    • 10,000 AI credits/month
    • 2 TB storage

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 Plutio if

Nothing in the data separates Plutio from FreshBooks on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Plutio review

Questions people ask

Is FreshBooks or Plutio better?
Neither clearly leads. FreshBooks starts at Free and Plutio at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Plutio?
FreshBooks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreshBooks and $19/month for Plutio.
Does FreshBooks or Plutio run on more platforms?
FreshBooks runs on Web, iOS, Android. Plutio runs on Web.
Can I use FreshBooks for free?
Yes. FreshBooks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Plutio starts at $19/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 Plutio is typically brought in for.
What can FreshBooks do that Plutio 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
Plutio: How much does Plutio cost?

Plutio offers three pricing tiers: Core at $19/month, Pro at $49/month, and Max at $199/month. Annual billing is also available with approximately 2 months in savings compared to monthly payments.

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
Plutio: Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes, Plutio offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card is required to start the trial.

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
Plutio: What are the limits on Plutio's Core plan?

The Core plan supports up to 9 active clients with no team contributors, includes 800 AI credits per month, and provides 100 GB of storage. For unlimited clients or more contributors, the Pro plan ($49/month) is required.

Source
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