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FreshBooks vs Zenoti

FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Software

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zenoti logo

Zenoti

Software

Enterprise spa and salon software

From
$200/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; Zenoti zenoti publishes no prices: the pricing page names plans by business type but gives no rate, no per location fee and no minimum, and routes every enquiry to a quote or demo
  • They diverge on capability: FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Zenoti covers Appointment booking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreshBooks and Zenoti actually diverge.

Attributes where FreshBooks and Zenoti differ
AttributeFreshBooksZenoti
Starting priceFree$200/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20032010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Zenoti

  • Appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Marketing automation
  • Employee management
  • Membership management
  • Gift cards
  • Business intelligence

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Mailchimp

What people use each for

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

FreshBooks

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

Zenoti

  • Running multi location spa, salon and medspa chains on one platformnot FreshBooks
  • Centralising appointment booking, point of sale and inventory across sitesnot FreshBooks
  • Managing memberships, packages and customer marketing for large operatorsnot 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

Zenoti

  • Zenoti publishes no prices: the pricing page names plans by business type but gives no rate, no per location fee and no minimum, and routes every enquiry to a quote or demo
  • Multi location pricing is described as customised to the customer's footprint, so two buyers of the same size are not guaranteed the same rate
  • Communication costs such as messaging are billed on consumption on top of the plan
  • Functionality is extended through paid add ons rather than being included in a single plan

Pricing, plan by plan

FreshBooks

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FreshBooks review.

Zenoti

$200/month
  • Essential$200/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • POS
  • Professional$350/month
    • Everything in Essential
    • Marketing automation
    • Inventory management
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Multi-location
    • Custom integrations

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 Zenoti if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want point of sale.
Zenoti review

Questions people ask

Is FreshBooks or Zenoti better?
Neither clearly leads. FreshBooks starts at Free and Zenoti at $200/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Zenoti?
FreshBooks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreshBooks and $200/month for Zenoti.
Does FreshBooks or Zenoti run on more platforms?
FreshBooks runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zenoti runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use FreshBooks for free?
Yes. FreshBooks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zenoti starts at $200/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 Zenoti is typically brought in for.
What can FreshBooks do that Zenoti cannot?
FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management. Zenoti covers Appointment booking, Point of sale, Inventory management, Marketing automation. Both handle Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp.
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