Clearmargin vs FreshBooks
FreshBooks is invoicing with added accounting. Clearmargin is project management with integrated billing. Here is how they compare for freelancers.
The fundamental difference
FreshBooks
Invoice-first with added accounting. Started as an invoicing tool, added time tracking, expenses, and double-entry bookkeeping on higher plans. Client limits on lower tiers. Bank feeds and balance sheets on Plus and above.
Clearmargin
Project-first with integrated billing. Proposals, time tracking, expenses, and invoicing are connected from the start. Unlimited clients on all plans. Per-client profitability, pipeline management, recipe costing, and an AI assistant built in.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Clearmargin | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Proposals | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Online payments | ||
| Expense tracking | ||
| Receipt capture | ||
| Mileage tracking | ||
| Home office deduction | ||
| Schedule C tax reports | ||
| Client profitability | ||
| Project tracking | FreshBooks has basic projects | |
| Rate cascading | ||
| Minimum billable hours | ||
| Pipeline & milestones | ||
| Recipe / BOM costing | ||
| AI assistant | ||
| Booking page | ||
| Calendar sync | ||
| Double-entry accounting | Plus plan and above | Plus plan and above |
| Bank feeds | Clearmargin has CSV/OFX import | Clearmargin has CSV/OFX import |
| Balance sheet & P&L | Plus plan and above | Plus plan and above |
| Zapier integration | ||
| Webhooks (HMAC-signed) | ||
| REST API | ||
| Starting price | $14.99/mo | $17/mo (5 clients) |
| Client limit | Unlimited | 5 / 50 / Unlimited by plan |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Clearmargin and FreshBooks?+
FreshBooks started as invoicing software and added accounting features (double-entry bookkeeping, bank feeds, balance sheets) on higher-tier plans. Clearmargin is project-first: proposals, time tracking, expense management, and invoicing are all connected, with per-client profitability as a built-in outcome. FreshBooks charges more for accounting; Clearmargin focuses on operational insight.
Does FreshBooks limit the number of clients?+
Yes. FreshBooks Lite is limited to 5 billable clients, and Plus allows 50 clients. Unlimited clients require the Premium plan at $33 per month. Clearmargin has unlimited clients on all plans starting at $14.99 per month.
Does Clearmargin have double-entry accounting like FreshBooks?+
No. Clearmargin does not include double-entry accounting, journal entries, or balance sheets. It is designed for freelancers who need to track time, manage expenses, send invoices, and export for taxes — without learning accounting. If you need a full general ledger, FreshBooks Premium or QuickBooks is a better fit.
Can Clearmargin replace FreshBooks for freelancers?+
For most freelancers, yes. Clearmargin covers time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, mileage, receipt capture, and tax exports — with the addition of proposals, project tracking, pipeline management, per-client profitability, and an AI assistant that FreshBooks does not offer.