FreshBooks alternative
Looking for a FreshBooks alternative?
FreshBooks is capable UK invoicing and accounting software that files your VAT to HMRC. If you want ready-made UK contract templates and a simpler setup for your first years freelancing — with no cap on how many clients you add — here's how TrustSolo compares, honestly, including where FreshBooks is the better fit.
Who FreshBooks is built for
- Freelancers and small businesses that want invoicing plus real accounting — expenses, time tracking, projects — in one place.
- Freelancers who want their VAT returns actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- People who send proposals and want built-in proposal e-signature.
- Anyone with more than a handful of clients (higher plans lift the client cap).
At a glance
| Dimension | FreshBooks | TrustSolo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Lite £16/mo (50% off for the first 3 months); Plus £30, Premium £42/mo; 30-day free trial | £14/mo (Solo), everything included; 30 days free, no card |
| Built for the UK | Yes — UK site; files VAT returns to HMRC | Yes — built for UK freelancers |
| Contracts included | No ready-made contract templates — proposals and invoicing focus | Yes — discipline-specific UK templates you send and e-sign |
| Tax help | Files VAT returns to HMRC | Plain-English estimate (Income Tax + Class 4 NI) — not a filing tool |
| Client limits | Entry Lite plan caps you at 5 billable clients (upgrade for more) | No limit on how many clients you add |
| Accounting & bookkeeping | Full accounting — expenses, time tracking, projects, double-entry (Plus and up) | Tracks income from paid invoices and estimates the tax to set aside — not full bookkeeping (no bank feeds, expenses or VAT) |
FreshBooks is fuller accounting and invoicing software that files your VAT to HMRC, so it does more overall than TrustSolo. The comparison above focuses on what matters most when you're starting out.
Prices and features verified as of July 2026 — check FreshBooks's site for the latest.
Sources: FreshBooks UK pricing; FreshBooks proposals (e-signature); FreshBooks VAT / HMRC (tax-ready books); FreshBooks MTD hub (sole traders)
Where TrustSolo differs
- Ready-made UK contract templates, organised by discipline — send and sign online — where FreshBooks offers proposals but no ready-made contract templates.
- No client limits: FreshBooks' entry Lite plan caps you at 5 billable clients, where TrustSolo doesn't cap how many clients you add.
- Pared back to your first years: contracts, invoicing, payment links and a tax estimate, without a full accounting suite you may not need yet.
Everything you get with TrustSolo
- Customisable UK contract templates — you can send and sign online
- A lightweight client CRM — contacts, notes, contracts and invoices linked in one place
- Invoices with automatic payment reminders
- Stripe-powered card payment links — with your bank details included as a backup
- Income tracking and a plain-English tax estimate — (Income Tax + Class 4 NI)
Stay with FreshBooks if…
- You want your VAT returns actually filed to HMRC, not just estimated.
- You want full accounting — expenses, time tracking, projects, double-entry bookkeeping.
- You send proposals and want built-in proposal e-signature.
- You have plenty of clients and want them all in one accounting system.
Who TrustSolo suits
- UK freelancers in their first years who want to set up properly — a contract, an invoice with a payment link, and an idea of the tax to set aside — without an accounting degree.
- People who value ready-made contracts and simplicity over a full bookkeeping suite, and who don't want a cap on their client list.
Frequently asked questions
- Is TrustSolo cheaper than FreshBooks?
- They're close. FreshBooks' entry Lite plan is £16/month and caps you at 5 billable clients; TrustSolo is £14/month flat, with no client limit — though FreshBooks runs a 50%-off introductory offer for the first three months. The bigger difference isn't price — it's ready-made UK contract templates and a tool pared back to what you need in your first years.
- Does FreshBooks include contracts?
- It has proposals you can send for e-signature, but not ready-made contract templates. TrustSolo includes discipline-specific UK contract templates you can send and sign online. (Templates are starting points, not solicitor-reviewed.)
- Does FreshBooks limit how many clients I can have?
- On its entry Lite plan, yes — up to 5 billable clients, and you upgrade to add more. TrustSolo doesn't cap how many clients you add.
- Can TrustSolo file my VAT like FreshBooks?
- No. FreshBooks files your VAT returns to HMRC. TrustSolo gives you a plain-English estimate of your Income Tax and Class 4 NI so you know what to set aside — it doesn't file returns, and it isn't a tax-filing tool.
- Can I try TrustSolo alongside FreshBooks?
- Yes. TrustSolo has 30 days free and no card required, so you can see whether it fits before moving anything.
Explore more
Set up properly, from day one
Contracts, invoices and payment links built for UK freelancers in their first years.