You’re running your freelance business or small team, and it’s time to pick the best tool to manage your invoicing, expenses, and client relationships. You’ve narrowed it down to AND.CO and FreshBooks, but you’re stuck deciding which one fits your needs better.
I’ve been in the same situation, needing an efficient way to manage contracts, payments, and projects without getting overwhelmed. Let’s dive into the core differences between AND.CO and FreshBooks to see which one can streamline your work and help you run your business like a pro.
AND.CO vs FreshBooks: The Ultimate Comparison
1. Core Focus: Who Are These Tools For?
AND.CO: Freelancers and Solopreneurs’ Best Friend
AND.CO (now part of Fiverr) was built with freelancers and solo business owners in mind. Its key features are centered around:
- Invoicing & Payments
Send invoices, set up recurring billing, and accept online payments. - Contracts & Proposals
Easily send contracts and proposals to clients and get them signed electronically. - Task Management & Time Tracking
Manage your projects and track billable hours for each task and client. - Expense Tracking
Monitor your expenses and link them directly to client projects, all while keeping receipts and tax reports in order.
AND.CO is ideal for solo entrepreneurs looking for a simplified workflow from project start to payment.
FreshBooks: The Accounting Powerhouse for Small Businesses
FreshBooks started out as an invoicing tool but has grown into a full-fledged cloud accounting solution. It excels in:
- Invoicing & Payments
Professional invoicing, multiple payment gateways, and automatic reminders for overdue payments. - Expense Tracking
Detailed expense categorization, receipt uploading, and automatic expense tracking. - Time Tracking
Built-in timers to track billable hours and link them directly to invoices. - Accounting & Reports
FreshBooks offers comprehensive accounting tools, including profit-and-loss reports, tax summaries, and other financial insights.
Verdict:
- AND.CO is perfect if you’re a freelancer or solopreneur looking for a streamlined, contract-focused tool with invoicing and time tracking.
- FreshBooks is ideal if you need a robust accounting platform with advanced invoicing, expense tracking, and detailed reporting.
2. User Interface & Ease of Use
AND.CO
AND.CO is designed to be super simple and intuitive. It offers a clean dashboard where you can see your tasks, invoices, and expenses in one place. Since it’s focused on freelancers, the interface avoids clutter, making it easy to use even if you’re not tech-savvy.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks also offers an intuitive interface, but since it has more features, there’s a bit more to navigate. The dashboard is feature-rich but remains user-friendly, making it accessible for freelancers and small business owners who might not be familiar with accounting.
Verdict:
- AND.CO is the better choice if you want a minimalistic, easy-to-navigate interface with a focus on simplicity.
- FreshBooks offers a more feature-dense dashboard, which may be slightly more complex but still user-friendly for freelancers and small businesses.
3. Invoicing & Payments
AND.CO
AND.CO offers simple, straightforward invoicing:
- Recurring Invoices
Set up automatic recurring invoices for long-term clients. - Payments Integration
You can accept payments through PayPal, Stripe, and credit cards. - Automated Reminders
Automatically remind clients about unpaid invoices, helping you stay on top of overdue payments.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers more advanced invoicing features:
- Customizable Invoices
You can fully customize your invoices with your branding, choose different templates, and even include personalized messages for clients. - Multiple Payment Gateways
FreshBooks supports a variety of payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, bank transfers, and Stripe. - Late Payment Fees & Automated Reminders
You can set late payment fees and FreshBooks will automatically send reminders for overdue payments.
Verdict:
- AND.CO offers simpler invoicing that’s perfect for freelancers.
- FreshBooks provides more customizable and advanced invoicing features, making it the better choice for those who need more flexibility with payment terms.
4. Contracts & Proposals: AND.CO’s Unique Strength
AND.CO
Contracts are one of AND.CO’s standout features. It comes with built-in, legally vetted contract templates designed for freelancers. You can:
- Create Contracts Easily
Use pre-made templates tailored to freelance work, customize them, and send them for e-signature. - Proposals
Send detailed proposals that can quickly be converted into contracts.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks does not include contract creation or proposal features natively. While you can manage clients and projects, you would need to use an external tool for contract creation and signatures.
Verdict:
- AND.CO wins here with its built-in contract and proposal features, which are crucial for freelancers and consultants.
- FreshBooks lacks contract capabilities, so you’ll need to use third-party tools for that functionality.
5. Expense Tracking & Financial Insights
AND.CO
AND.CO offers basic expense tracking:
- Track Expenses Easily
Link expenses to client projects, monitor spending, and generate simple tax reports. - Receipt Uploading
You can upload and track receipts, but it lacks advanced categorization.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks excels at expense tracking:
- Automated Expense Tracking
It can automatically import and categorize expenses from your bank account or credit card. - Receipt Organization
Upload receipts directly to the platform, and FreshBooks will categorize them for easier tax preparation. - Financial Reports
FreshBooks provides detailed financial insights, including profit-and-loss statements, tax summaries, and expense reports, giving you a deeper understanding of your business’s health.
Verdict:
- AND.CO offers basic expense tracking, which is sufficient for most freelancers.
- FreshBooks provides advanced expense tracking and financial reporting, making it ideal if you need a more detailed view of your business’s finances.
6. Time Tracking & Project Management
AND.CO
AND.CO’s time tracking is simple and integrated with project management:
- Track Billable Hours
Easily track time worked on specific tasks and link it to projects and invoices. - Basic Task Management
Manage simple task lists and deadlines to keep your projects on track.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks also offers time tracking, but its project management is more limited:
- Time Tracking
Track time spent on projects and bill clients for hours worked. - Project Management
While you can manage client projects and time, FreshBooks does not offer full project management features like task lists or detailed deadlines.
Verdict:
- AND.CO is better if you want an integrated time tracker with basic project management features.
- FreshBooks is great for time tracking, but its project management features are more limited.
7. Pricing: Which One Is More Affordable?
AND.CO
AND.CO offers two pricing tiers:
- Free Plan: Includes invoicing, contracts, time tracking, and task management, but limited to 1 active client.
- Pro Plan: $18/month (billed annually), includes unlimited clients and access to all features.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers tiered pricing based on the number of clients you manage:
- Lite: $17/month (up to 5 clients)
- Plus: $30/month (up to 50 clients)
- Premium: $55/month (unlimited clients)
- Select: Custom pricing for larger businesses
Verdict:
- AND.CO offers an affordable Pro Plan with all features included and is more budget-friendly for freelancers with basic needs.
- FreshBooks is more expensive but offers advanced features and more scalability for businesses with many clients.
8. Customer Support: Who’s Got Your Back?
AND.CO
AND.CO provides email and chat support, but support options can be more limited compared to larger platforms like FreshBooks.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers excellent customer support with email, live chat, and phone support. They’re known for having helpful, knowledgeable support agents, which is a big plus if you ever run into issues.
Verdict:
- AND.CO has basic support, which might be enough for simple setups.
- FreshBooks offers better, more extensive support options, making it ideal for users who might need hands-on help.
Final Verdict: Which Tool Is Right for You?
- Choose AND.CO if you’re a freelancer or solopreneur who needs a simple, all-in-one solution for contracts, proposals, time tracking, and invoicing. It’s especially great if contracts and task management are key parts of your workflow.
- Choose FreshBooks if you need a comprehensive accounting solution that offers advanced invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. It’s the best choice for small businesses or freelancers who need detailed financial insights and scalability as their client base grows.
In short, AND.CO is perfect for freelancers who want a streamlined, affordable option, while FreshBooks is ideal for those needing a more powerful, accounting-focused tool to manage multiple aspects of their business.