Freshbooks vs Sage Intacct

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Our analysts compared Freshbooks vs Sage Intacct based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Freshbooks is a cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers and small businesses. Its core features include invoicing, expense tracking, online payments, project management, and basic reporting. It's user-friendly and integrates with popular tools like Stripe and PayPal. Freshbooks shines for solopreneurs and small teams seeking a simple, affordable solution to manage basic accounting tasks. Its intuitive interface and mobile app make it accessible even for non-accountants. Users appreciate its automated features like recurring invoices and expense categorization, saving them time and effort. Compared to some competitors, Freshbooks may lack advanced accounting functionalities like inventory management or double-entry bookkeeping. However, its focus on simplicity and ease of use makes it a popular choice for those starting out or needing a lightweight accounting solution. Pricing starts at a reasonable monthly fee and scales based on the number of clients and features needed. This pay-as-you-go model ensures users pay only for what they use, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Mobile app access
  • Automated invoicing
  • Online payments
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Limited features
  • No double-entry
  • Price increases with clients
  • Basic reporting
  • Not for large businesses
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Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting software designed for growing businesses with complex needs. It centralizes financial data, automates tasks, and offers real-time insights, streamlining financial operations. Ideal for mid-sized organizations with multi-entity structures and diverse accounting requirements, Intacct scales with your growth and seamlessly integrates with other business systems. Users praise its intuitive interface, customizable dashboards, and robust reporting capabilities. Automation features like purchase order approvals and multi-currency transactions save time and reduce errors. Additionally, Intacct's strong security and compliance features provide peace of mind. While pricing varies based on individual needs and usage, Intacct typically falls within the mid-range for enterprise-level accounting software. Costs are subscription-based, with monthly or annual payment options. Compared to similar products, Intacct users highlight its scalability, flexibility, and user-friendliness as key differentiators.

To learn more about Sage, visit our Sage company page.

Pros
  • Cloud-based & scalable
  • Automates tasks & saves time
  • Real-time insights & reporting
  • Flexible & customizable
  • Strong security & compliance
Cons
  • Higher cost than basic software
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Limited mobile functionality
  • Customization can be complex
  • Fewer integrations than some competitors
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$4.50 Monthly
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$10,000 Annually
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ACD
Meals on Wheels
MemberCilcks
Nextmune

Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Improve Efficiency: Automate every routine task such as sending invoice reminders and collecting payments from patrons so users can redirect their attention to cultivating their organization.  
  • Elaborate Reports: Produce in-depth reports that provide critical KPIs, giving users a live snapshot of their business' health and enabling them to make wiser decisions. 
  • Quicker Payments: Initiate simple online payment methods so patrons can quickly make payments and users are compensated faster. 
  • Establish Due Dates: Swiftly inaugurate due dates for invoices with the invoicing module, ensuring patrons are always aware of their payment deadlines. 
  • E-Sign Estimates and Proposals: Permit customers to e-sign estimates and proposals so users may rapidly return to their important tasks.  
  • Increase Accuracy: Prompt bank reconciliations allow users to instantly scan bank accounts and correspond account activity with financial records. 
  • Mobile Availability: Scan receipts, develop sophisticated invoices, respond to customer feedback and more with FreshBooks' mobile app available on iOS and Android devices. 
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  • Data Analysis: Offers robust reporting tools. It enables users to track metrics across various locations and provides easy-to-view custom reports and dashboards. 
  • Visibility: The program’s visualization tools are customizable so that users can adjust what they see based on individualized needs. Visualization methods include graphs, charts and tables. This feature can alleviate the amount of time that employees spend combing through data to gain actionable insights. 
  • Process Control: Gives users control over a wide variety of tasks associated with financial management. It provides visualization of cash flow, automates processes based on user-inputted requirements and lets users develop their own configurable dashboards. 
  • Integration: Offers integration with platforms such as Salesforce and Avalara to increase the usability of the program. Pre-built connections are available through the Sage Intacct Marketplace, and custom connections can also be deployed to further personalize the solution. 
  • Accessibility: Available for deployment both in-cloud and on-premise. These diverse installation methods make the program accessible to a variety of users and companies that have different needs. 
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  • Invoicing: Personalize invoices and thank-you emails with company logos via the invoicing apparatus. Users may request deposits on invoices at the start of a project so they'll have the right amount of funds to financially sponsor a project in its preliminary stages. 
  • Expense Management: Link bank accounts and credit cards to FreshBooks instead of manually inputting data with the expense module. It displays data in real time so users will instantly know where their money is going. 
  • Time Tracking: Manage project and task durations through the time tracking feature. It's equipped with a timer that accurately records a time log of tasks that easily appears on invoices. Users may also see how their employees spend their time from completed responsibilities to arising issues to address before they become major problems. 
  • Project Management: Store files and vital attachments in the centralized project management accessory, enabling teams to efficiently find what they need so they can get right back to high-caliber tasks. Users may also allocate project deadlines, share images and files through FreshBooks and even designate rates or hours to particular projects.  
  • Estimates: Produce adjustable proposals in addition to outlining a project's extent, timeline and necessary deliverables. Users may quickly transform estimates into invoices and permit their clientele to validate estimates online. This tool also allows users to send invoices in different currencies and add discounts. 
  • Accounting: Receive precise profit and loss calculations and effortlessly share valuable financial data and reporting information with accountants. This module streamlines bank reconciliations by importing and arranging financial transactions, validating or revising automated matching recommendations and drafting and exporting Excel-friendly summary reports.  
  • Reports: Color-code spending breakdowns and obtain profit and loss reports with the reporting attribute. Users may save, export and even print financial reports for their accountants. This tool also enables users to have a headache-free tax season because it stores valuable data such as money earned to taxes that have already been paid off.  
  • Payments: Initiate various payment options such as VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Apple Pay with the payment feature. This tool also instantly creates payments, collects reports, activates quick and painless bank deposits, requests deposits and provides payment schedules and partial payments for client flexibility. It also automatically sends receipts to patrons. 
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  • General Ledger: Contains pre-built dimensions such as customer, location, department, warehouse and class. It also allows users to add their own dimensions. Required dimension values can be inputted so that certain values are mandatory for entries to post to designated accounts. 
  • Accounts Payable: This feature lets users set spending limits and define workflows and approvals. Users can easily view AP liabilities as well as check and bill register reports in real time. Users can automate ACH, check and credit card payments through the Vendor Payment Services function, which is built on the American Express Global Commercial Services infrastructure. 
  • Accounts Receivable: The program enables customers to generate recurring invoices and to attach customer information to transactions. It integrates with other business processes to centralize sales orders, quotes and invoices. Configurable dashboards and other visualizations are included in this function and allow users to look at data points such as deferred revenue and customer aging. 
  • Purchasing: Allows users to analyze costs and monitor budget vs. actual information through dashboards and reporting tools. These dashboards are role-based for security and ease of access and also contain budget performance information, price break monitoring and purchase quote functionality. The feature gives users more control over the entirety of the procure-to-pay process. 
  • Order Management: Users can leverage point-and-click functionality to set up individualized workflows and pricing requirements in the order management system. The program can be easily connected to Salesforce CRM, which allows users to share order status and pricing data across a business and reduce duplicate data entry. The solution includes sales tax and regulatory compliance through integration with Avalara. Order fulfillment rates, inventory quantities and sales data can be viewed in real time through this feature. 
  • Cash Management: Includes a live view of funds and cash flows through all associated credit cards, savings accounts and checking accounts. The management of cash across multiple locations is also supported. The system enables the application of payments to accounts that aren’t associated with an invoice and the recording of POS payments that aren’t connected to a specific customer. 
  • Reporting and Dashboards: This program can track both financial and operational data such as SaaS metrics, machine availability, etc. The system also has the ability to discover trends, drill down to source transactions and look at roll-up figures for multiple locations or entities. The solution includes more than 150 financial reports along with the ability to develop customized reports based on business needs. 
  • Digital Board Book: Produces metrics such as Annual or Monthly Recurring Revenue (ARR or MRR), churn, Committed Monthly Recurring Revenue (CMRR), Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV). This analysis is conducted in real time using transactional data obtained from Sage Intacct and Salesforce. 
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Product Ranking

#2

among all
Accounting Software

#9

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

87
89
94
96
94
77
73
91
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Platform Security
Project Accounting
Tax Management
Financial Statements and Revenue Management
Journal Entries
Financial Statements and Revenue Management
General Ledger and Chart of Accounts
Inventory Management
Journal Entries
Project Accounting

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Freshbooks
Sage Intacct
+ Add Product + Add Product
Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 94 94 73 86 98 75 88 81 97 97 49 89 100 92 100 96 77 91 92 100 100 96 100 100 30 96 79 100 96 100 0 25 50 75 100
89%
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11%
89%
11%
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94%
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6%
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28%
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80%
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85%
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15%
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100%
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77%
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23%
92%
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57%
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43%
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80%
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50%
90%
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89%
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11%
67%
11%
22%
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100%
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89%
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89%
5%
6%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

67%
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33%
33%
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67%
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83%
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17%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 4096 reviews
Great User Sentiment 2342 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

Freshbooks has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 4096 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

Sage Intacct has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 2342 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (28)
5.0 (20)
4.6 (586)
4.3 (1018)
4.5 (3332)
4.2 (288)
n/a
4.5 (79)
4.0 (150)
4.3 (937)

Awards

Freshbooks stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Sage Intacct and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Inventory Management and Reporting and Analytics.

Inventory Management Award
Reporting and Analytics Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Customer Support: Approximately 89% of users that mentioned it in their review said customer support is supportive, helpful and quick to respond to issues.
Appliances: Precisely 58% of users that discussed the system functionalities enjoyed this program's appliances because they can create clean reports, set up repeating invoices, and add and manage credit cards.
Simple and intuitive interface: Freshbooks' clean layout and straightforward navigation make it easy for even non-accountants to manage their finances.
Time-saving features: Automated invoicing, expense categorization, and online payments let users save time and effort on routine accounting tasks.
Mobile app for on-the-go management: Access invoices, track expenses, and manage clients from smartphones or tablets, ensuring flexibility and productivity.
Affordable plans for growing businesses: Choose a plan that scales with your needs and budget, with options starting at an accessible price point.
Seamless integrations with popular tools: Streamline workflows by connecting Freshbooks with tools like Stripe, PayPal, and Google Workspace, centralizing financial data.
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Intuitive User Interface: Precisely 65% of users stated it has an intuitive and user-friendly interface with a manageable learning curve.
Configurable: Approximately 90% of users conveyed that the product is customizable to fit their organization's needs.
Competent Performance: The quality, scalability and overall performance are favorable to 94% of users.
An Assortment of Features: According to 54% of users, the product has a wide range of features including accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliation, time tracking, 1099 forms and more.
Ideal Integrations: Merges with various third-party systems such as Salesforce, Nexonia, Expensify, Bill.com and more, as stated by 94% of users.
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Limited features for complex accounting: Freshbooks may not handle advanced accounting needs like inventory management, double-entry bookkeeping, or fixed assets.
Not ideal for large businesses: As businesses grow, Freshbooks' scalability and feature set might become insufficient for complex financial operations.
Price increases with client base: The cost of Freshbooks can rise significantly as you add more clients, potentially exceeding initial budget expectations.
Basic reporting and analytics: Freshbooks' reporting capabilities may be insufficient for businesses requiring in-depth financial analysis and data insights.
Limited customer support for free plans: Free trial and Lite plan users might have limited access to customer support, potentially hindering troubleshooting and issue resolution.
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Dawdling Customer Support: Of the users who discussed customer support, roughly 64% said it was lagging in resources and took a long time to get in touch with them.
Lagging Search Tool: Approximately 45% of users said the search and reporting tools aren't as effective as some of the software's other idiosyncrasies.
High Cost: Subscription-based pricing, often exceeding the budgets of smaller businesses or those with simpler accounting needs.
Steep Learning Curve: Feature-rich interface can feel overwhelming for beginners, requiring initial training and time investment.
Limited Mobile Functionality: Mobile app lacks access to many core features, hindering on-the-go workflow for some users.
Customization Complexity: Advanced customization options often require technical expertise or paid consultations.
Integration Gaps: While offering major integrations, it may lack connections to specific niche software used by some businesses.
No Built-in Payroll: Requires integrating a separate payroll solution, adding complexity and additional costs.
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Freshbooks emerges from user reviews as a reliable and user-friendly accounting solution for solopreneurs and small businesses. Its intuitive interface, mobile app access, and automated features like invoicing and online payments are consistently praised for saving time and streamlining workflows. Compared to competitors like QuickBooks, users appreciate Freshbooks' ease of use for non-accountants, while acknowledging its limitations in advanced functionalities like double-entry bookkeeping or inventory management. This makes it ideal for those starting out or needing a lightweight accounting solution, but potentially less suitable for complex financial needs as businesses grow. Another key differentiator for Freshbooks is its affordability, with tiered plans starting at an attractive price point. However, user reviews also highlight a potential drawback: as client bases expand, so does the cost, which can become a concern for some users. Additionally, while basic reporting and analytics are included, users seeking in-depth data analysis may find Freshbooks' capabilities limited compared to more robust competitors. Overall, user reviews paint a picture of Freshbooks as a user-friendly and affordable accounting solution for solopreneurs and small businesses seeking to simplify their financial management. Its strengths lie in ease of use, automation, and mobile access, while its limitations emerge in advanced features and scalability for larger businesses. Ultimately, the decision to choose Freshbooks hinges on individual needs and priorities, with users emphasizing the importance of weighing its strengths against its limitations to ensure a perfect fit.

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Sage Intacct user reviews paint a picture of a powerful, customizable accounting software ideal for mid-sized, growing businesses. Users praise its real-time reporting, cloud-based accessibility, and ability to handle complex financial structures. Compared to competitors, Intacct shines in scalability and customization, effortlessly adapting to multi-entity operations and unique accounting needs. This agility is crucial for dynamic businesses operating in diverse markets. However, its strengths come with caveats. Intacct's feature-rich nature can be daunting for beginners, requiring dedicated training and technical know-how. Additionally, its subscription-based pricing can be prohibitive for smaller companies or those with simpler accounting requirements. The limited mobile functionality and lack of built-in payroll are also shortcomings some users find frustrating. Overall, Sage Intacct earns its positive reviews by empowering businesses with robust functionalities and seamless scalability. However, its complexity and premium cost may leave smaller players or those needing basic accounting solutions searching for a more accessible, budget-friendly alternative.

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