Canada · FreshBooks alternative
The FreshBooks alternative for Canadian small businesses that outgrow invoicing
FreshBooks started as an invoicing tool; HelloBooks starts from the ledger. You get double-entry books, GST / HST / PST / QST by customer province and no client limits, with Pro at C$22.99/month for the whole team.
No credit card. All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD).
HelloBooks vs FreshBooks (Canada)
| Feature | HelloBooks | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (CAD) | Free Plan, no credit card; Pro C$22.99/mo, unlimited users | See FreshBooks' current Canadian pricing on its website |
| Free Plan | C$0, no card: 200 transactions a year, 2 users, email reminders, AP/AR aging and full statements; Free invoices show a small HelloBooks footer | See FreshBooks' website for current trial and plan options |
| Client limits | No client limits on any plan | Client limits vary by plan; see FreshBooks' website |
| Users | Owner plus one on Free; everyone on Pro for C$22.99/mo | Additional team members are billed per user; see FreshBooks' website |
| Double-entry accounting | Full double-entry accounting, journal entries, P&L, balance sheet and cash flow | Double-entry accounting reports available |
| GST / HST / PST / QST | Every Canadian sales tax, picked from the client's province | Canadian sales taxes supported |
| Payroll forms | T4 slips from your posted payroll today; other CRA slips are planned | See FreshBooks' website for current payroll options in Canada |
| AI categorisation | AI sorts bank lines on every plan; Free comes with free AI credits | Bank rules and automated categorisation; see FreshBooks for details |
| Multi-currency | Multi-currency with automatic FX on Pro | See FreshBooks' website for which plans include multi-currency |
| Bank coverage | Statement upload now; Plaid-backed live feeds by region (one on Free, no cap on Pro) | See FreshBooks for current bank-connection coverage |
Prices checked on: HelloBooks prices from our Canadian price list, checked 29 September 2026. No competitor prices are quoted on this page; check each vendor's site for current pricing. All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD).
Looking for free accounting software Canada businesses can start on today, or GST/HST accounting software built for multi-province sellers? Both start on the Free Plan.
Canada migration runbook (from FreshBooks)
- 1
Export from FreshBooks
Settings → Account Settings → Export Data → CSV bundle (clients, invoices, expenses, items, ledger).
- 2
Bring the CSVs into HelloBooks
There is no dedicated FreshBooks importer. On a paid plan, CSV import with our templates loads the chart of accounts, contacts, items, transactions and opening balances; check the mapping first.
- 3
Tie out balances
Run the HelloBooks trial balance and compare it with the FreshBooks balance sheet on your cutover date, then preview the next GST/HST return.
- 4
Bank activity
Upload recent statements as PDF or CSV; add a live feed where your region supports one.
- 5
First GST/HST period in HelloBooks
Invoices from the cutover date carry tax by client province, so the next return builds itself. You still file it with CRA.
- 6
Payroll, if you have staff
Post year-to-date payroll as an opening journal with your accountant so year-end T4s are complete.
FreshBooks data comes across through CSV import on a paid plan; see the migration guide for exactly what is imported. Keep your old system running until the trial balance matches.
Looking at FreshBooks alternatives in Canada? Check these first
Whichever tool you move to, a few FreshBooks-specific items are easy to miss on the way out.
- Download client statements and paid invoice PDFs for your records.
- List retainers and recurring invoices; recreate them on Pro or send manually.
- Note time-tracking or project data you rely on; export it separately.
- Confirm the last GST/HST period FreshBooks figures were filed for.
- Record open client balances as of your cutover date.
Canada FreshBooks switch — frequently asked
Try the FreshBooks alternative — free
Open a Free account next to FreshBooks and run a month in both. Pro at C$22.99/month removes the user cap and the invoice footer and adds USD invoicing.
Start freeNo credit card. See Canada pricing. All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD).