Freshbooks vs Bench

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Our analysts compared Freshbooks vs Bench based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Bench Software Tool

Product Basics

Freshbooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers and small businesses. Its core features include invoicing, expense tracking, online payments, project management, and basic reporting. It's user-friendly and integrates with popular tools like Stripe and PayPal. Freshbooks shines for solopreneurs and small teams seeking a simple, affordable solution to manage basic accounting tasks. Its intuitive interface and mobile app make it accessible even for non-accountants. Users appreciate its automated features like recurring invoices and expense categorization, saving them time and effort. Compared to some competitors, Freshbooks may lack advanced accounting functionalities like inventory management or double-entry bookkeeping. However, its focus on simplicity and ease of use makes it a popular choice for those starting out or needing a lightweight accounting solution. Pricing starts at a reasonable monthly fee and scales based on the number of clients and features needed. This pay-as-you-go model ensures users pay only for what they use, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Mobile app access
  • Automated invoicing
  • Online payments
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Limited features
  • No double-entry
  • Price increases with clients
  • Basic reporting
  • Not for large businesses
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Bench automates bookkeeping and provides financial assistance to small business owners. It automatically connects all transaction data from the business accounts each month. Users can take advantage of the subscription to cloud-based modules and or in-house professional consultants. Access it through the iPhone app to track cash flow and financial health with income statements, intuitive expense reports and more.
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$4.50 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$249 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Insights

  • Improve Efficiency: Automate every routine task such as sending invoice reminders and collecting payments from patrons so users can redirect their attention to cultivating their organization.  
  • Elaborate Reports: Produce in-depth reports that provide critical KPIs, giving users a live snapshot of their business' health and enabling them to make wiser decisions. 
  • Quicker Payments: Initiate simple online payment methods so patrons can quickly make payments and users are compensated faster. 
  • Establish Due Dates: Swiftly inaugurate due dates for invoices with the invoicing module, ensuring patrons are always aware of their payment deadlines. 
  • E-Sign Estimates and Proposals: Permit customers to e-sign estimates and proposals so users may rapidly return to their important tasks.  
  • Increase Accuracy: Prompt bank reconciliations allow users to instantly scan bank accounts and correspond account activity with financial records. 
  • Mobile Availability: Scan receipts, develop sophisticated invoices, respond to customer feedback and more with FreshBooks' mobile app available on iOS and Android devices. 
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  • More Dedicated Bookkeepers: Leverage the expertise of a team of dedicated bookkeepers who work in-house every month to import bank statements and prepare financial statements. Communicate with a client research team for answers to all economic questions. 
  • Tax-Ready Finances: Track business performance and get insights into monthly financial reporting. Bundle with the tax module to help with preparation, year-end taxes and other assistance. Work with an existing CPA firm to ensure all accounts are ready for the IRS. 
  • Rich Insights: Get monthly statements and expense overviews to stay clued in and keep everything in control. Take control of finances with visual reports. 
  • Better Mobile Capabilities: Access it on a desktop or an iPhone and take a look at crucial financial information on the go. 
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  • Invoicing: Personalize invoices and thank-you emails with company logos via the invoicing apparatus. Users may request deposits on invoices at the start of a project so they'll have the right amount of funds to financially sponsor a project in its preliminary stages. 
  • Expense Management: Link bank accounts and credit cards to FreshBooks instead of manually inputting data with the expense module. It displays data in real time so users will instantly know where their money is going. 
  • Time Tracking: Manage project and task durations through the time tracking feature. It's equipped with a timer that accurately records a time log of tasks that easily appears on invoices. Users may also see how their employees spend their time from completed responsibilities to arising issues to address before they become major problems. 
  • Project Management: Store files and vital attachments in the centralized project management accessory, enabling teams to efficiently find what they need so they can get right back to high-caliber tasks. Users may also allocate project deadlines, share images and files through FreshBooks and even designate rates or hours to particular projects.  
  • Estimates: Produce adjustable proposals in addition to outlining a project's extent, timeline and necessary deliverables. Users may quickly transform estimates into invoices and permit their clientele to validate estimates online. This tool also allows users to send invoices in different currencies and add discounts. 
  • Accounting: Receive precise profit and loss calculations and effortlessly share valuable financial data and reporting information with accountants. This module streamlines bank reconciliations by importing and arranging financial transactions, validating or revising automated matching recommendations and drafting and exporting Excel-friendly summary reports.  
  • Reports: Color-code spending breakdowns and obtain profit and loss reports with the reporting attribute. Users may save, export and even print financial reports for their accountants. This tool also enables users to have a headache-free tax season because it stores valuable data such as money earned to taxes that have already been paid off.  
  • Payments: Initiate various payment options such as VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Apple Pay with the payment feature. This tool also instantly creates payments, collects reports, activates quick and painless bank deposits, requests deposits and provides payment schedules and partial payments for client flexibility. It also automatically sends receipts to patrons. 
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  • Monthly Bookkeeping: Get dedicated bookkeepers who take time to understand the business by gathering the information they need. Ensure taxes get filed at the right time by importing transactions every month. 
  • Reports: Check financial statements and expense overviews, along with visual reports to identify loopholes and get actionable insights into how the organization should move forward. 
  • Bench Tax: Ensure that financials are filed on time, and the business never misses any deadlines with an all-in-one tax and bookkeeping solution backed by a professional team. Timely and accurate returns ensure that companies get the deduction they deserve. 
  • Catch-Up Bookkeeping: Get quick and accurately managed overdue finances for companies less than two years behind on bookkeeping. Offer extensive experience managing historical bookkeeping. 
  • Bench Retro: Tackle years of missing records, back taxes if the business is several years behind on record keeping. Ensure quick turnaround with a customizable and affordable bookkeeping plan. 
  • Free Trial: Get a month-long free trial to ensure the system works well for the company. 
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Product Ranking

#2

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Accounting Software

#140

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 94 94 73 86 98 75 88 81 97 97 49 89 100 92 100 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 4096 reviews
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90%
of users recommend this product

Freshbooks has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 4096 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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4.8 (28)
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Awards

Freshbooks stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Customer Support: Approximately 89% of users that mentioned it in their review said customer support is supportive, helpful and quick to respond to issues.
Appliances: Precisely 58% of users that discussed the system functionalities enjoyed this program's appliances because they can create clean reports, set up repeating invoices, and add and manage credit cards.
Simple and intuitive interface: Freshbooks' clean layout and straightforward navigation make it easy for even non-accountants to manage their finances.
Time-saving features: Automated invoicing, expense categorization, and online payments let users save time and effort on routine accounting tasks.
Mobile app for on-the-go management: Access invoices, track expenses, and manage clients from smartphones or tablets, ensuring flexibility and productivity.
Affordable plans for growing businesses: Choose a plan that scales with your needs and budget, with options starting at an accessible price point.
Seamless integrations with popular tools: Streamline workflows by connecting Freshbooks with tools like Stripe, PayPal, and Google Workspace, centralizing financial data.
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Intuitive Interface: Many users find Bench's platform easy to navigate, simplifying tasks like categorizing transactions and generating financial reports.
Automated Bookkeeping: Bench automates many bookkeeping tasks, such as importing bank statements and categorizing transactions, saving users time and effort.
Dedicated Bookkeeper Support: Users appreciate having access to a dedicated bookkeeper who can answer questions and provide personalized support.
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Limited features for complex accounting: Freshbooks may not handle advanced accounting needs like inventory management, double-entry bookkeeping, or fixed assets.
Not ideal for large businesses: As businesses grow, Freshbooks' scalability and feature set might become insufficient for complex financial operations.
Price increases with client base: The cost of Freshbooks can rise significantly as you add more clients, potentially exceeding initial budget expectations.
Basic reporting and analytics: Freshbooks' reporting capabilities may be insufficient for businesses requiring in-depth financial analysis and data insights.
Limited customer support for free plans: Free trial and Lite plan users might have limited access to customer support, potentially hindering troubleshooting and issue resolution.
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Limited Features for Accountants: Some users have expressed that Bench lacks robust features specifically designed for accounting professionals, such as advanced reporting capabilities or complex inventory management.
Customer Support Concerns: A few users have reported experiencing delays or difficulties in getting timely support from Bench's customer service team.
Pricing Structure: While Bench offers transparent pricing, some users have found it to be relatively expensive compared to alternative bookkeeping solutions, especially for businesses with higher transaction volumes.
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Freshbooks emerges from user reviews as a reliable and user-friendly accounting solution for solopreneurs and small businesses. Its intuitive interface, mobile app access, and automated features like invoicing and online payments are consistently praised for saving time and streamlining workflows. Compared to competitors like QuickBooks, users appreciate Freshbooks' ease of use for non-accountants, while acknowledging its limitations in advanced functionalities like double-entry bookkeeping or inventory management. This makes it ideal for those starting out or needing a lightweight accounting solution, but potentially less suitable for complex financial needs as businesses grow. Another key differentiator for Freshbooks is its affordability, with tiered plans starting at an attractive price point. However, user reviews also highlight a potential drawback: as client bases expand, so does the cost, which can become a concern for some users. Additionally, while basic reporting and analytics are included, users seeking in-depth data analysis may find Freshbooks' capabilities limited compared to more robust competitors. Overall, user reviews paint a picture of Freshbooks as a user-friendly and affordable accounting solution for solopreneurs and small businesses seeking to simplify their financial management. Its strengths lie in ease of use, automation, and mobile access, while its limitations emerge in advanced features and scalability for larger businesses. Ultimately, the decision to choose Freshbooks hinges on individual needs and priorities, with users emphasizing the importance of weighing its strengths against its limitations to ensure a perfect fit.

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Is Bench the right software to help your business come out on top? Bench is a cloud-based accounting software that aims to simplify financial management for small businesses. User reviews highlight its user-friendliness as a major strength, making it ideal for those without extensive accounting experience. Features like invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll streamline financial tasks, saving users time and effort. However, pricing emerges as a significant drawback, potentially deterring budget-conscious businesses. Bench differentiates itself through its dedicated team of bookkeepers who provide personalized support and ensure tax readiness. This hands-on approach sets it apart from competitors like Xero and QuickBooks Online, which primarily offer software tools without the same level of human assistance. This is particularly valuable for businesses seeking expert guidance and peace of mind regarding their financial records. Overall, Bench is best suited for small business owners who prioritize ease of use and personalized bookkeeping support, even if it comes at a higher cost. Those comfortable handling their own accounting or seeking more budget-friendly options might find other software more suitable.

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