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Professional Services · head to head

FreshBooks vs Setmore

FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Professional Services

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Setmore logo

Setmore

Scheduling & Booking

Free appointment scheduling and customer management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FreshBooks lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum; Setmore free plan limited to 4 users maximum
  • They diverge on capability: FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Setmore covers Unlimited appointments.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreshBooks and Setmore actually diverge.

Attributes where FreshBooks and Setmore differ
AttributeFreshBooksSetmore
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
CategoryProfessional ServicesScheduling & Booking
Founded20032008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Setmore

  • Unlimited appointments
  • Online booking
  • Calendar synchronization
  • Customer database
  • Email reminders
  • SMS reminders
  • Mobile app
  • Custom branding

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • Zapier
  • SSL encryption

What people use each for

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

FreshBooks

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

Setmore

  • Online appointment and booking managementnot FreshBooks
  • Service provider scheduling platformnot FreshBooks
  • Customer communication via email and SMS remindersnot 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

Setmore

  • Free plan limited to 4 users maximum
  • Free plan limited to 200 appointments per month
  • Live receptionist add-on limited to US only
  • Custom enterprise pricing not published

Pricing, plan by plan

FreshBooks

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FreshBooks review.

Setmore

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Setmore review.

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 Setmore if

  • You need unlimited appointments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online booking.
Setmore review

Questions people ask

Is FreshBooks or Setmore better?
Neither clearly leads. FreshBooks starts at Free and Setmore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Setmore?
FreshBooks starts at Free and Setmore at Free.
Does FreshBooks or Setmore run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Setmore is typically brought in for.
What can FreshBooks do that Setmore cannot?
FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management. Setmore covers Unlimited appointments, Online booking, Calendar synchronization, Customer database. Both handle Stripe, Zapier, SSL encryption.
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Related pages

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