Billo vs FreshBooks
Simple invoicing vs comprehensive accounting. Discover which solution fits your UK business needs.
Two Different Approaches to Business Finance
Billo Invoicing is a specialised invoicing platform designed for UK businesses that need to create, send, and track invoices efficiently. Starting at just £7/month with a free plan, Billo focuses exclusively on invoicing workflows, making it simple and affordable for freelancers and small businesses.
FreshBooks is a comprehensive accounting solution tailored for service-based businesses, offering invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and client management. Starting at approximately £17/month (converted from $21 USD), FreshBooks provides a full-featured accounting suite.
The key question is: Do you need full accounting software, or just invoicing? Many UK businesses, especially freelancers and small service providers, only need invoicing but end up paying for accounting features they never use.
Focused vs Comprehensive
Billo Invoicing: Do One Thing Exceptionally Well
Billo Invoicing's philosophy is simplicity and focus. By concentrating solely on invoicing, we've created a platform that's:
- More affordable: £7/month with a free plan vs £17/month starting price - save £12/month (£144/year)
- Faster to learn: Get started in minutes, not days
- Easier to use: No overwhelming menus or complex workflows
- UK-specific: Built-in CIS support for construction businesses
- Free plan: Try before you commit
Perfect for: Freelancers, consultants, small service businesses, and anyone who primarily needs to invoice clients and track payments.
FreshBooks: Complete Accounting Suite
FreshBooks is a powerful accounting platform that handles your entire financial workflow:
- Time tracking: Log billable hours directly in the platform
- Expense tracking: Automatic import from 14,000+ financial institutions
- Client portal: Dedicated portal for clients to view invoices and make payments
- Unlimited invoicing: Create unlimited invoices with recurring billing
Perfect for: Service-based businesses that need time tracking, expense management, and comprehensive accounting features.
Key Differences for UK Businesses
Pricing & Value
Billo Invoicing: Starting at £7/month with a free plan available. You only pay for invoicing features you'll actually use.
- • Free: 10 invoices/month
- • Starter: £7/month - Unlimited invoices
- • Professional: £15/month - Unlimited invoices
FreshBooks: Starting at approximately £17/month (converted from $21 USD) with no free plan. You pay for accounting features even if you only need invoicing.
- • Lite: ~£17/month - 5 clients
- • Plus: ~£30/month - 50 clients
- • Premium: ~£75/month - unlimited clients
Bottom line:If you only need invoicing, Billo saves you £12-50/month compared to FreshBooks. That's £144-600 per year!
UK-Specific Features
For UK businesses, especially in construction, Billo offers unique advantages:
Billo Advantages
- CIS Support: Built-in Construction Industry Scheme compliance with automatic deduction calculations (0%, 20%, 30%)
- UK-Based: Company and support team based in the UK, understanding local needs
- GDPR Compliant: Data stored in UK/EU servers
FreshBooks Limitations
- No CIS support for construction businesses
- US/Canada-based company (though UK support available)
- Good VAT support for UK businesses
Learning Curve & Setup Time
Billo Invoicing is designed for simplicity. Most users are creating invoices within 2-5 minutes of signing up.
- • Intuitive interface focused on invoicing
- • Minimal setup required
- • No accounting knowledge needed
- • Quick onboarding process
FreshBooks is comprehensive but requires time to learn and set up properly.
- • Steeper learning curve
- • More setup and configuration needed
- • May require accounting knowledge
- • Extensive training resources available
Which Solution Fits Your Business?
Choose Billo If...
- You're a freelancer or consultant
You primarily need to invoice clients and track payments. You don't need full accounting features.
- You work in UK construction
Billo is the only platform with built-in CIS support. FreshBooks doesn't offer this.
- You want simplicity and speed
Get started quickly without learning complex accounting software.
- You have an accountant
Your accountant handles the books. You just need to generate invoices and track payments.
- Budget is important
Save £12-50/month compared to FreshBooks while getting everything you need for invoicing.
Choose FreshBooks If...
- You need time tracking
You bill by the hour and need integrated time tracking features.
- You need expense tracking
You want automatic expense import from bank accounts and financial institutions.
- You need a client portal
You want clients to have their own portal to view invoices and make payments.
- You handle your own books
You're comfortable with accounting software and want everything in one place.
Quick Feature Comparison
| Feature | Billo Invoicing | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ||
| Starting Price | £7/mo | ~£17/mo |
| UK CIS Support | ||
| Invoice Creation | ||
| Quote Management | ||
| Client CRM | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Client Portal | ||
| Ease of Use | ||
| UK-Based Support |
Need Just Invoicing? Start with Billo
If you only need invoicing, why pay for accounting features you won't use? Try Billo free and see how simple invoicing can be.
14-day free trial • Cancel anytime