Independent buyer's guide. Not affiliated with any accounting software vendor. Pricing verified April 2026 - always confirm directly with provider. We may earn referral fees.

April 2026

The Best Accounting Software for Freelancers and Sole Proprietors in 2026

Freelancers, sole-props, and Schedule C filers have different needs than LLCs with employees. No payroll, yes mileage and quarterly estimates, yes Schedule C export, often cash-basis. Here are the 6 best options, ranked by fit.

Quick Decision Tree

  • → Do you drive for work? Hurdlr (automatic mileage tracking)
  • → Do you need a business bank account + bookkeeping in one? Found (free)
  • → Do you invoice clients frequently and want a polished experience? FreshBooks Lite ($21)
  • → Do you plan to grow to an LLC with employees in under 2 years? QBO Solopreneur ($20)
  • → Under $100k revenue, no growth plans, rarely take card payments? Wave (free)
  • → Want auto Schedule C buckets without banking? Lili (free / $15)

Top 6 Picks for Freelancers

#1 Found

Free

Business banking + bookkeeping + 1099 + Schedule C in one. The best all-in-one for freelancers under $100k revenue. Found auto-categorises transactions into IRS business expense categories and calculates quarterly estimated taxes.

Pros

  • Free forever
  • Schedule C auto-categorisation
  • 1099-NEC generation included
  • Business banking built in
  • Quarterly tax estimates auto-calculated

Cons

  • Not suitable for businesses with W-2 employees
  • No inventory
  • US only

#2 FreshBooks Lite

$21/mo

The best invoicing experience in the category. Designed for service freelancers who invoice clients regularly. Lite plan handles up to 5 clients; upgrade to Plus ($33) for more.

Pros

  • Cleanest invoicing UX
  • Native time tracking
  • Professional-looking invoices
  • Stripe and PayPal integration
  • Mobile app excellent

Cons

  • 5 client cap on Lite
  • $11/extra user
  • No native inventory

#3 QBO Solopreneur

$20/mo

QuickBooks' replacement for the retired QB Self-Employed. Best for freelancers who expect to grow into a multi-employee business and want to stay in the QuickBooks ecosystem.

Pros

  • Best QBO upgrade path
  • Mileage tracking included
  • Schedule C export
  • TurboTax direct integration

Cons

  • Solo only - no employees or growth to LLC payroll
  • QBO March 2026 price hike makes ecosystem expensive long-term

#4 Lili

Free / $15/mo Pro

Similar to Found. Tailored for Schedule C auto-categorisation. Free tier covers most freelancers; Pro adds analytics and tax pockets.

Pros

  • Free tier available
  • Schedule C auto-categorisation
  • Tax withholding buckets
  • Business banking included

Cons

  • Smaller ecosystem than Found
  • Less mature product

#5 Hurdlr

Free / $10/mo Premium

Mileage-first accounting tool. Best for delivery drivers, rideshare operators, real estate agents, and any freelancer who drives extensively for work.

Pros

  • Automatic mileage tracking via GPS
  • Quarterly tax estimates
  • Income and expense tracking
  • IRS-compliant mileage log

Cons

  • Weak invoicing
  • Limited general accounting depth

#6 Wave

Free

Best for writers, consultants, designers, and freelancers who rarely take card payments. Strong bank reconciliation and invoicing with no monthly fee.

Pros

  • Free forever
  • Unlimited invoicing
  • Good bank reconciliation
  • No transaction limits

Cons

  • 2.9% + $0.60 processing fee is high
  • No quarterly tax estimates
  • No Schedule C direct export

Schedule C and Quarterly Tax Estimates

ToolAuto quarterly estimates?Schedule C export?TurboTax integration?1099-NEC generation?
FoundYes - auto-calculatedYesExport CSVYes - included free
LiliYes - tax pocket systemYesExport CSVYes
QBO SolopreneurYesYesDirect (Intuit-native)$4.99/form add-on
FreshBooksNo (P&L only)Export CSVExport CSV$4.99/form add-on
WaveNoExport CSVExport CSVNot included - use Track1099
HurdlrYes (mileage-focused)YesExport CSVNo

FAQ: Accounting Software for Freelancers

What is the best accounting software for freelancers in 2026?

Found is the best all-in-one for freelancers under $100k revenue - it combines business banking, bookkeeping, 1099 generation, and Schedule C auto-categorisation in one free product. For freelancers who invoice frequently and need a more polished client experience, FreshBooks Lite at $21/month is better. For freelancers who plan to grow into a multi-employee LLC within 2 years, QBO Solopreneur at $20/month gives the best upgrade path.

Do I need accounting software as a freelancer?

If your freelance revenue is over $1,000 per year and you file a Schedule C, yes - accounting software saves time at tax prep and reduces errors. Under $1,000/year, a spreadsheet is fine. At over $10,000/year in freelance revenue, dedicated software pays for itself in the time savings on quarterly estimated tax calculations alone.

How do freelancers track quarterly estimated taxes?

Found and Lili auto-calculate quarterly estimated taxes based on your transaction history - they apply the self-employment tax rate and income tax estimate to give you an IRS payment amount each quarter. QBO Solopreneur does the same. Wave and FreshBooks show a profit and loss statement you can use to calculate estimates yourself using IRS Form 1040-ES, but they do not auto-calculate the payment amount.

Can freelancers generate 1099s for contractors they hire?

Yes. Found and Lili include 1099-NEC generation for freelancers who pay sub-contractors. FreshBooks and QuickBooks support 1099 generation with an add-on fee of $4.99 per 1099 e-filed. Wave does not include 1099 - you need a separate service like Track1099 ($2.99 per form) or Tax1099. The January 31 deadline applies regardless of which tool you use.

Try Found - freeTry FreshBooks Lite ($21)Try QBO Solopreneur ($20)
Businesses that pay 1099 contractorsFree accounting software guideCheapest paid options

You will need a business checking account before you need accounting software. See our best business checking account guide.