⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: AutoEntry starts at $12 per month. FreshBooks starts at $21 per month.
- Best for: AutoEntry for data extraction from receipts and bank statements. FreshBooks for invoicing and full accounting.
- Key difference: AutoEntry captures data for other accounting software. FreshBooks is the accounting software itself.
- Our pick: FreshBooks for most small business owners. It handles invoicing, payments, and reports in one place.
These two tools solve different problems.
AutoEntry pulls data from your paperwork.
FreshBooks runs your invoicing and accounting.
Both cut down manual data entry for a business.
This guide shows which one fits your workflow.
Overview
This AutoEntry vs FreshBooks comparison covers pricing, features, and ease of use.
We also break down who each tool works best for.
Our sources include published specs, documentation, and user reviews.
By the end, you will know which tool matches your needs.
What is AutoEntry?
AutoEntry is a data extraction tool for accounting.
It captures receipts, invoices, and bank statements automatically.
Then it sends that data to your accounting software.
Sage owns AutoEntry, having acquired it in September 2019.
The tool uses AI to cut manual data entry and effort.
Here is a short walkthrough of how the tool works.
AutoEntry
AutoEntry captures data from receipts and bank statements. It uploads clean line items to your accounting software.
AutoEntry Pricing
AutoEntry uses a credit-based model with flexible pricing. Each plan comes with a monthly credit allowance. Let’s break down AutoEntry pricing.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $12/month | Sole traders with light paperwork |
| Silver | $23/month | Small firms scanning receipts |
| Gold | $44/month | Busy bookkeepers |
| Platinum | $98/month | Growing practices |
| Diamond | $285/month | High-volume accountants |
| Sapphire | $450/month | Large firms and custom needs |
Pricing verified July 2026.
Free trial: AutoEntry offers a free trial with credits so you can test the process first.
Billing: Plans roll monthly. You can cancel, pause, or downgrade at any time.
📌 Note: Credits are the currency for each upload. Different document types use different amounts. Unused credits roll over for up to 90 days.
⚠️ Warning: Heavy paperwork can burn credits fast. Track your monthly upload volume before you pick a plan.
Key Benefits of AutoEntry
Here is what makes AutoEntry worth a look:
- High Accuracy: AutoEntry is up to 99% accurate. Its optical character recognition and machine learning read documents in detail.
- Line Item Detail: It pulls line items from each purchase invoice, not just totals.
- Bank Statement Conversion: It turns scanned bank statements into CSV or accounting-ready formats.
- Auto Publish: It can auto publish extracted data straight to Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks.
- Mobile Capture: Snap receipts with your mobile phone on the go.
- Time Savings: Users report time spent on data entry drops by up to 90%.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer signed up for AutoEntry and ran a batch of receipts and statements through it. Here is what stood out:
AutoEntry Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Extracts detailed line items, not just totals
- Converts PDF bank statements to CSV files
- Flexible credit-based pricing with rollover credits
- Easy-to-use mobile app for capturing receipts
❌ Cons
- Processing lags during peak periods on large batches
- Learning curve when setting up extraction rules
- Not a full accounting tool on its own
What is FreshBooks?
FreshBooks is accounting software for service businesses.
It helps freelancers and small business owners send invoices.
The FreshBooks dashboard is clean and easy to read.
You can accept payments, track expenses, and manage projects.
It works on any device with an internet connection.
Here is a quick look at the FreshBooks platform in action.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks handles invoicing, payments, and reports in one place. It suits freelancers and service-based businesses.
FreshBooks Pricing
FreshBooks offers three plans plus a custom tier. Prices are per month and billed by client count. Here are the FreshBooks pricing plans.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | $21/month | Up to 5 billable clients |
| Plus | $38/month | Up to 50 billable clients |
| Premium | $65/month | Unlimited billable clients |
| Select | Custom | Teams needing exclusive access |
Pricing verified July 2026.
Free trial: FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial. No credit card is required to sign up.
Extras: Each additional user costs $11 per month. Advanced Payments adds $20 per month.
📌 Note: The Lite and Plus plans cap your billable clients. Pick Premium for an unlimited number of clients.
⚠️ Warning: Adding team members raises your cost. Some 2026 reviews flag charges of $11 to $13 per extra user.
Key Benefits of FreshBooks
Here is what makes FreshBooks stand apart:
- Strong Invoicing Features: Create professional invoices and send them with one click. You can also set up recurring invoices.
- Time Tracking: Track billable time and add it straight to a client invoice.
- Online Payments: Accept payments by card, ACH transfers, and bank transfers. FreshBooks Payments handles the flow.
- Project Management: Manage projects and track project profitability on every plan.
- Bank Reconciliation: Match unreconciled transactions in real time to keep books clean.
- App Integrations: Connect over 100 apps, from POS systems to other accounting software.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer spent hands-on time inside FreshBooks, sending invoices and tracking time. Here is what stood out:
FreshBooks Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- User-friendly dashboard for non-accountants
- Strong invoicing with recurring billing and late fees
- Tracks billable time and expenses on all plans
- 30-day free trial with no credit card needed
❌ Cons
- Billable client caps on lower plans frustrate users
- Extra team members raise the monthly cost
- Light on inventory management for product sellers
Feature Comparison
Ready to see how AutoEntry vs FreshBooks stack up? We’ll walk through eight key features so you can match each tool to your workflow. Remember, one captures data while the other runs your books.
| Feature | AutoEntry | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $12/month | $21/month |
| Free Trial | ✅ | ✅ (30 days) |
| Data Extraction | ✅ | ❌ |
| Invoicing | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bank Statement Capture | ✅ | ❌ |
| Online Payments | ❌ | ✅ |
| Time Tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Accounting Integrations | Sage, Xero, QuickBooks | 100+ apps |
| Best For | Data capture | Invoicing & accounting |
1. Data Capture & Entry
AutoEntry: This is where AutoEntry shines. It grabs data from receipts, invoices, and other financial documents. The AI reads each purchase invoice and pulls the line items automatically.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks does not do bulk document extraction the same way. You can snap a receipt photo to log an expense, but its focus is invoicing and payments, not paperwork scanning.
2. Dashboard & Ease of Use
AutoEntry: The AutoEntry dashboard keeps a tight focus on uploads and review. You can batch process files and check extracted data fast. There is a short learning curve for extraction rules.
FreshBooks: The FreshBooks dashboard needs almost no accounting knowledge. Business owners without a finance background find it easy to navigate on the web and on any mobile device.
3. Accounting Integrations
AutoEntry: AutoEntry connects with major accounting software, including Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks. It sits on top of your books and feeds them clean data.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks integrates with over 100 apps. You can link POS systems, payment tools, and other accounting software to extend the FreshBooks platform.
4. Bills & Payment Handling
AutoEntry: AutoEntry handles bills management by matching invoices to monthly supplier statements. It captures bills and vendor statements, then hands them to your accounts payable workflow.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks lets clients accept payments online. It supports card payments, ACH payments, and bank transfers. You can also add late fees to overdue invoices.
5. Automation & Advanced Payments
AutoEntry: AutoEntry can auto publish extracted data to your books. It remembers nominal codes and tax rules for each supplier, so repeat paperwork needs less manual review.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks Advanced Payments adds a virtual terminal and recurring billing. You can charge saved cards, set client retainers, and take ACH transfers on a flat fee basis.
6. Bank Statements & Time Tracking
AutoEntry: AutoEntry converts scanned bank statements into a CSV file or accounting-ready format. It automates bank statement reconciliation and processes about 80% of statement data in around four hours.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks tracks billable time and turns it into invoices. Tracking time is built in, which many competitors leave out, so freelancers bill every hour they work.
7. Smart Analysis & Expenses
AutoEntry: AutoEntry categorizes data using VAT codes from your accounting software. Its smart analysis learns rules over time, which lowers the effort on repeat expenses and receipts.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks links your bank accounts and auto-categorizes transactions. You can review expenses in seconds and pull accounting reports without other software.
8. Reporting & Projects
AutoEntry: AutoEntry lets you output a trial balance for an unlimited number of clients. It focuses on feeding reports rather than building them, which is ideal for going fully digital at tax time.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks helps you manage projects and track project profitability. You can add team members and business partners as users, though each seat adds to the monthly cost.
9. Pricing & Cost
Let’s compare the pricing plans side by side.
| Plan Level | AutoEntry | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Bronze $12/month | Lite $21/month |
| Mid | Silver $23/month | Plus $38/month |
| Higher | Gold $44/month | Premium $65/month |
| Top | Sapphire $450/month | Select (Custom) |
AutoEntry: The credit-based model gives flexible pricing. Light users pay little, but heavy paperwork pushes you up the tiers as credits run down.
FreshBooks: FreshBooks has three plans plus Select, so four plans in total. The cost is tied to billable clients, not credits. FreshBooks also tracks mileage automatically for tax time.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Data extraction | AutoEntry | Captures receipts and statements |
| Invoicing | FreshBooks | One-click professional invoices |
| Lowest entry price | AutoEntry | Starts at $12 per month |
| Online payments | FreshBooks | Card and ACH payments built in |
| Full accounting | FreshBooks | Reports, projects, and payments |
💰 Your Budget
AutoEntry starts cheaper at $12 per month. FreshBooks costs more but replaces several tools at once.
🔌 Your Tech Stack
Already run Sage, Xero, or QuickBooks Online? AutoEntry feeds them data. Starting fresh? FreshBooks can be your whole setup.
📝 Your Work Type
Bookkeepers drowning in paperwork love AutoEntry. Self employed professionals who bill clients lean toward FreshBooks and its invoicing features.
🎓 Your Experience Level
FreshBooks needs no accounting background. AutoEntry has a short learning curve while you set up extraction rules.
🆓 Free Trials and Demos
Both let you test first. FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial. AutoEntry gives trial credits to try the process.
🛟 Team and Users
If you need unlimited users, check each plan’s seat limits. FreshBooks charges per additional user, so team members add cost.
Switching Guide
Already using one of these tools? Here’s what to expect if you switch. Note that these tools often work together, not just as swaps.
🔄 Switching from AutoEntry to FreshBooks?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Full invoicing and online payments
- Time tracking and project management
- Accounting reports without a separate tool
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Bulk data extraction from documents
- Line item capture from every purchase invoice
- PDF bank statement to CSV conversion
📋 How to switch:
- Export your published data from AutoEntry
- Start a FreshBooks 30-day free trial
- Import clients and set up your first invoices
🔄 Switching from FreshBooks to AutoEntry?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Automated capture of receipts and invoices
- Detailed data extraction with line items
- Lower entry price at $12 per month
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Client invoicing and online payments
- Time tracking and accounting reports
- An all-in-one FreshBooks platform
📋 How to switch:
- Keep your main accounting software running
- Create an AutoEntry account and pick a credit plan
- Connect it and start uploading paperwork
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on small businesses and freelancers. We did not test large enterprise workflows or high-volume custom packages in depth. Our notes reflect the July 2026 versions, so features may shift. If you process thousands of documents each month, your results may differ from what we describe here.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Entry Pricing | AutoEntry |
| 🧾 Invoicing | FreshBooks |
| 📄 Data Extraction | AutoEntry |
| 💳 Payments | FreshBooks |
| 👶 Ease of Use | FreshBooks |
| 📊 All-in-One Value | FreshBooks |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | FreshBooks |
🏆 WINNER: FRESHBOOKS
FreshBooks wins four of six categories.
Best for: freelancers, consultants, and service-based small businesses.
AutoEntry and FreshBooks are two very different products.
AutoEntry is a data extraction tool that feeds your books.
FreshBooks is accounting software that runs your whole billing cycle.
AutoEntry is excellent if paperwork and manual data entry eat your week.
But for most small business owners who invoice clients, we recommend FreshBooks.
Many teams even run both. FreshBooks handles the front end, and AutoEntry captures the paperwork behind it.
More of AutoEntry Compared
Here’s how AutoEntry stacks up against other data capture competitors:
AutoEntry wins on: rollover credits for 90 days, lower entry price, detailed line item capture from each purchase invoice
Dext wins on: larger supplier database, faster support tiers, broader receipt sourcing options
AutoEntry vs Hubdoc
AutoEntry wins on: flexible credit pricing, line item extraction, standalone use across many accounting tools
Hubdoc wins on: free with Xero plans, simpler setup, tight document fetching inside Xero
AutoEntry vs Expensify
AutoEntry wins on: bank statement to CSV conversion, supplier statement matching, accountant-focused publishing
Expensify wins on: employee expense reports, corporate card feeds, travel reimbursement flow
More of FreshBooks Compared
Here’s how FreshBooks stacks up against other accounting software:
FreshBooks wins on: simpler invoicing, friendlier for non-accountants, project time tracking on all plans
QuickBooks wins on: deeper inventory management, richer accounting reports, wider accountant adoption
FreshBooks wins on: friendlier invoicing, client-facing online payments, a simpler dashboard
Xero wins on: unlimited users on every plan, deeper bank reconciliation, a larger app marketplace
FreshBooks vs Wave
FreshBooks wins on: time tracking, project profitability tracking, more app integrations
Wave wins on: a free core plan, no client caps, simplicity for very small businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
These FreshBooks FAQs and AutoEntry questions cover what buyers ask most.
How does AutoEntry work?
AutoEntry uses optical character recognition to capture receipts, invoices, and bank statements. It extracts the line items, then lets you auto publish that data to Sage, Xero, or QuickBooks.
Is AutoEntry owned by Sage?
Yes. Sage acquired AutoEntry in September 2019. It still works with many accounting software tools, including Xero and QuickBooks, not just Sage products.
Who is FreshBooks best for?
FreshBooks best suits freelancers, consultants, and service-based small businesses. Its invoicing features and time tracking fit self employed professionals who bill clients by project or hour.
Can you use FreshBooks for free?
There is no free version, but FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial. No credit card is needed to test invoicing, payments, and reports.
Which is better, FreshBooks or QuickBooks?
FreshBooks wins on invoicing simplicity for service businesses. QuickBooks Online offers deeper inventory management and double entry accounting. Your choice depends on whether you sell services or products.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
German 
French 
Arabic 
Russian 
Portuguese 
Japanese 
Korean 
Italian 
Turkish 
Dutch 
Polish 
Indonesian 
Thai 
Vietnamese 