FreshBooks vs Sage
FreshBooks and Sage are level on what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
It's a dead heat.
Neither pulls ahead on the published figures and review sites, so the decision is in the details this comparison cannot see. Check the current figures on both pages.
Choose FreshBooks if…
- • You want FreshBooks's edge on what it costs to start and tracking billable time
Choose Sage if…
- • You want Sage's edge on who runs your payroll and what customers say on trustpilot
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startFreshBooks winsFreshBooks8/10
$23
Lite plan, per month at list price (billing limited to 5 clients)
Source: freshbooks.com ↗
FreshBooks wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Who runs your payrollSage winsFreshBooks5/10
Built in, powered by Gusto
embedded payroll run by a partner
- Built in, powered by Gusto, against Own payroll module
Source: freshbooks.com ↗
Sage wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3What customers say on TrustpilotSage winsFreshBooks5/10
3.7 out of 5
TrustScore from 1,045 reviews on Trustpilot
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.0 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
Sage wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Trying it before you payTieSage7/10
No trial available
Product trial
- 30 days on Sage 50 Cloud, no trial of the desktop edition
Source: sage.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5Who picks up when you are stuckTieFreshBooks7/10
Phone and email support
free phone and email support, 8am to 8pm Eastern
Source: support.freshbooks.com ↗
Sage7/10Unlimited phone and chat
every plan includes unlimited phone and online chat support
Source: sage.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6Tracking billable timeFreshBooks winsSage5/10
Time billing is Premium-only
Sage 50 Pro Accounting
- Time billing is Premium-only, against Unlimited time tracking
Source: help-sage50.na.sage.com ↗
FreshBooks wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- 30 days on Sage 50 Cloud, no trial of the desktop edition
- Built in, powered by Gusto, against Own payroll product
- Receipt scanning is Plus+, against Receipt capture included
- Just you; team members $11 each, against Unlimited users
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
- $124.42, against $38
- $124.42, against $27
- 1 user, against Unlimited users
- $124.42, against $23