FreshBooks vs Paddle: Pricing Comparison (2026)
FreshBooks starts at $23/mo. Paddle starts at Free. Paddle is $23/mo cheaper on the entry tier than FreshBooks.
See price history: FreshBooks · Paddle
SMB accounting positioned as the alternative to QuickBooks for service-based businesses and freelancers. Distinctive for its focus on invoicing UX and time-tracking-to-invoice workflow (unusual in accounting software). Priced $21-$65/mo. Owned by JMI Equity (private equity) since 2015 — expect steady annual price increases. Popular with consultants, agencies, and service businesses that need to invoice clients more than manage inventory.
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | FreshBooks monthly | FreshBooks annual | Paddle monthly | Paddle annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lite / Standard | 23 | 20.70 | 5% + 50¢ per transaction | — |
| 2 | Plus / Enterprise | 43 | 38.70 | custom | — |
| 3 | Premium | 70 | 63 | — | — |
| 4 | Select | custom | custom | — | — |
What each is best for
SMB accounting positioned as the alternative to QuickBooks for service-based businesses and freelancers. Distinctive for its focus on invoicing UX and time-tracking-to-invoice workflow (unusual in accounting software). Priced $21-$65/mo. Owned by JMI Equity (private equity) since 2015 — expect steady annual price increases. Popular with consultants, agencies, and service businesses that need to invoice clients more than manage inventory.
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
At a glance
| FreshBooks | Paddle | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Entry price | $23/mo | Free |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Usage |
| Last verified | July 25, 2026 | July 25, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 25, 2026. Tracked daily.