FreshBooks vs Harvest (2024 Comparison)
FreshBooks offers a comprehensive suite of accounting features, including invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. Its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support make it a top choice for small businesses.
- Comprehensive invoicing features
- User-friendly interface
- Excellent customer support
- Limited project management
- Higher cost for advanced features
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$9.50 per month
Harvest excels in time tracking and project management, offering advanced features and affordable pricing. Its robust capabilities make it an ideal choice for businesses that need to track billable hours accurately.
- Advanced time tracking
- Robust project management
- Affordable pricing
- Basic invoicing features
- Limited financial reporting
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$11 per seat/monthWhat is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and freelancers. It simplifies invoicing, expense tracking, and time management, making it easier for users to manage their finances. With its intuitive interface, FreshBooks allows you to create professional invoices, track billable hours, and generate financial reports effortlessly. It also integrates with various payment gateways, ensuring seamless transactions. Whether you're a freelancer or a small business owner, FreshBooks helps you stay organized and focused on growing your business.
What is Harvest?
Harvest is a time tracking and invoicing software that helps businesses manage their projects efficiently. It allows users to track time spent on tasks, generate invoices, and monitor project budgets. With its user-friendly interface, Harvest makes it easy to keep track of billable hours and ensure accurate client billing. The software also offers integrations with popular project management tools, enhancing productivity and collaboration. Whether you're a freelancer or part of a team, Harvest streamlines your workflow and helps you stay on top of your projects.
Pros and Cons of FreshBooks vs Harvest
Pros & Cons of FreshBooks
- FreshBooks offers a wide range of invoicing features, allowing you to create professional invoices, set up recurring billing, and accept online payments. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that rely heavily on invoicing.
- FreshBooks is known for its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels. This ensures a smooth user experience and reduces the learning curve.
- FreshBooks provides top-notch customer support, with responsive assistance and helpful resources. This ensures that users can quickly resolve any issues and get the most out of the software.
- While FreshBooks offers basic project management features, it may not be sufficient for businesses with complex project management needs. Users may need to rely on additional tools for advanced project management.
- FreshBooks' advanced features come at a higher cost, which may not be ideal for businesses with limited budgets. Users should carefully consider their needs and budget before committing to a plan.
Pros & Cons of Harvest
- Harvest excels in time tracking, offering features like timesheets, timers, and detailed reports. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses that need to track billable hours accurately.
- Harvest provides excellent project management features, including budget tracking and team collaboration tools. This makes it a great option for businesses that require advanced project management capabilities.
- Harvest offers competitive pricing, making it an attractive option for businesses with limited budgets. Its affordable plans provide excellent value for money, especially for time tracking and project management.
- Harvest's invoicing features are basic compared to other tools, which may not be sufficient for businesses with complex invoicing needs. Users may need to rely on additional tools for advanced invoicing.
- Harvest offers limited financial reporting features, which may not be ideal for businesses that require detailed financial analysis. Users may need to use additional tools for comprehensive financial reporting.
FreshBooks vs Harvest: At A Glance
Value to Price
FreshBooks offers a comprehensive suite of features at a competitive price, making it a great value for small businesses. Its robust invoicing and expense tracking capabilities justify the cost. Harvest, while slightly more affordable, offers excellent time tracking and project management features. If you prioritize invoicing and financial management, FreshBooks is the better choice.
Ease of Use
FreshBooks is known for its intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage their finances. Harvest also offers a user-friendly experience, particularly for time tracking and project management. If you value simplicity and ease of use, FreshBooks is the more straightforward option.
Functionality
FreshBooks excels in providing a wide range of accounting features, including invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. Harvest focuses on time tracking and project management, offering features like timesheets and budget tracking. If you need comprehensive accounting functionality, FreshBooks is the superior choice.
Scalability
FreshBooks is designed to grow with your business, offering scalable features and integrations. Harvest also supports scalability, particularly for project management and team collaboration. If you anticipate business growth and need scalable accounting solutions, FreshBooks is the better option.
Integrations
FreshBooks integrates with a wide range of third-party applications, enhancing its functionality. Harvest also offers integrations with popular project management tools. If you rely on multiple software solutions and need seamless integrations, FreshBooks provides more options.
Customer Support
FreshBooks offers excellent customer support, with responsive assistance and helpful resources. Harvest also provides reliable support, though it may not be as extensive. If you prioritize customer support and need quick assistance, FreshBooks is the more reliable choice.
Security
FreshBooks prioritizes security, offering robust data protection measures to safeguard your financial information. Harvest also ensures data security, though FreshBooks provides more comprehensive security features. If data security is a top concern, FreshBooks is the more secure option.
Overall Rating
FreshBooks receives a higher overall rating due to its comprehensive features, ease of use, and excellent customer support. Harvest is also highly rated, particularly for time tracking and project management. If you need a well-rounded accounting solution, FreshBooks is the better choice.
FreshBooks vs Harvest: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Invoicing
FreshBooks offers a robust invoicing system that allows you to create professional invoices with ease. You can customize templates, set up recurring invoices, and accept online payments. Harvest also provides invoicing capabilities, but its primary focus is on time tracking. If invoicing is a critical aspect of your business, FreshBooks is the better choice.
Expense Tracking
FreshBooks excels in expense tracking, allowing you to categorize expenses, attach receipts, and generate expense reports. Harvest offers basic expense tracking features, but it may not be as comprehensive. If you need detailed expense management, FreshBooks is the superior option.
Time Tracking
Harvest is renowned for its time tracking capabilities, making it easy to track billable hours and manage timesheets. FreshBooks also offers time tracking, but Harvest's features are more advanced. If time tracking is a priority, Harvest is the better choice.
Project Management
Harvest provides excellent project management features, including budget tracking and team collaboration tools. FreshBooks offers basic project management capabilities, but it may not be as robust. If you need advanced project management features, Harvest is the superior option.
Financial Reporting
FreshBooks offers comprehensive financial reporting, allowing you to generate profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and more. Harvest provides basic reporting features, but it may not be as detailed. If financial reporting is essential, FreshBooks is the better choice.
Mobile App
FreshBooks offers a user-friendly mobile app that allows you to manage your finances on the go. Harvest also provides a mobile app, but FreshBooks' app is more feature-rich. If you need a powerful mobile app, FreshBooks is the superior option.
Pricing Comparison of FreshBooks and Harvest
We’ve compiled the pricing tables and highlighted the key features of both FreshBooks and Harvest to aid in your decision-making process. Let’s explore what each platform has to offer.
FreshBooks Pricing Plans
- Track unlimited expenses to manage your finances effectively.
- Send unlimited estimates to set clear client expectations.
- Get paid with credit cards and bank transfers (ACH) seamlessly.
- Run reports for an easy tax time and financial overview.
- Set up recurring invoices and client retainers for consistent billing.
- Automatically capture receipt data for accurate record-keeping.
- Invite your accountant for seamless collaboration and support.
- Run financial and accounting reports for detailed insights.
- Track project profitability to optimize business performance.
- Customize email templates with dynamic fields for personalization.
- Automatically capture bills and receipt data for efficiency.
- Access advanced financial reports for strategic planning.
- Access to lower credit card transaction fees for cost savings.
- Remove FreshBooks branding from client emails for professionalism.
- 2 team member accounts included for collaborative work.
- A dedicated number for exclusive Select support for priority service.
Harvest Pricing Plans
- Allows tracking time for up to 2 projects.
- Basic reporting features for time and expenses.
- Invoicing capabilities for tracked time and expenses.
- Access to web, desktop, and mobile apps.
- Unlimited projects for comprehensive tracking.
- Advanced team reporting and capacity tracking.
- Integration with Quickbooks Online, Xero, and Deel.
- Scheduled phone support for assistance.
- Timesheet approvals for accurate time tracking.
- Activity log to review all time entries and changes.
- Custom reports and exports for detailed analysis.
- SAML-based SSO for secure login.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly test each accounting software, evaluating key features like invoicing, expense tracking, and time management. We also analyze user reviews to ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each of the seven evaluation factors is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you avoid poor-quality tools and make informed decisions.
FreshBooks or Harvest: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose FreshBooks If You Need ...
- Comprehensive accounting features
If you need a comprehensive accounting solution with robust invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting features, FreshBooks is the better choice. Its user-friendly interface and excellent customer support make it ideal for small businesses.
- User-friendly interface
If you value a user-friendly interface and ease of use, FreshBooks is the superior option. Its intuitive design ensures a smooth user experience, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
Choose Harvest If You Need ...
- Advanced time tracking
If you need advanced time tracking capabilities, Harvest is the better choice. Its robust features, including timesheets and detailed reports, make it ideal for businesses that need to track billable hours accurately.
- Robust project management
If you require advanced project management features, Harvest is the superior option. Its budget tracking and team collaboration tools make it a great choice for businesses with complex project management needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for invoicing, FreshBooks or Harvest?
Is FreshBooks or Harvest more affordable?
Which tool offers better time tracking features?
Can FreshBooks and Harvest integrate with other tools?
Which tool is better for project management?
Is FreshBooks or Harvest more secure?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
