Home » Business Accounting Software » Brightbook
Brightbook is a free, cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers, contractors, and small businesses. It simplifies bookkeeping with an intuitive interface, offering unlimited invoicing, basic expense tracking, and financial reporting.
Users can create and send branded invoices, manage cash flow, and access the platform anywhere online. While lacking advanced features like double-entry accounting, its affordability and ease of use make it ideal for basic financial management.
| Plan / Tier / Offer | Price / Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core Plan | Free — US $0 | Brightbook promotes itself as a “free online accounting system” with no credit-card required. |
| Optional “Remove Branding” Add-on | Small fee (reported ~ €2.29/month / a few dollars/month) | This allows removing Brightbook’s branding from invoices. |
| Paid / Premium Plan (older / limited report) | Some external sources mention a single plan at US $16/month including “advanced features / autopay / bank feed” | This seems unofficial and may reflect outdated or third-party–described pricing rather than official Brightbook tiers. |
| Competitor | Pros of Brightbook |
|---|---|
| Wave Accounting | Brightbook offers a completely free plan with unlimited invoicing and multi-user support, ideal for freelancers and small businesses with basic needs. Unlike Wave, which charges for payment processing and payroll, Brightbook’s core features are free, including multi-currency invoicing and basic expense tracking. Its simple interface suits users with limited financial literacy, and MTD compliance for UK VAT returns adds value for small UK businesses. Brightbook’s bank-level security ensures data safety, comparable to Wave, but without transaction fees. |
| QuickBooks Online | Brightbook’s free plan contrasts with QuickBooks Online’s paid subscriptions, making it more accessible for startups and freelancers. It provides unlimited invoices and users, a feature QuickBooks restricts in lower tiers. Brightbook’s cloud-based access and quote-to-invoice conversion streamline basic bookkeeping, while its PayPal integration simplifies payments. For small businesses needing only core functions, Brightbook’s simplicity and zero cost outweigh QuickBooks’ advanced but pricier features. |
| Xero | Brightbook’s free, unlimited invoicing and multi-user access give it an edge for cost-conscious small businesses compared to Xero’s subscription-based model. Its intuitive interface and MTD compliance for UK VAT returns cater to users needing straightforward tools. Brightbook’s ability to import bank statements and generate basic reports suits freelancers, while Xero’s complex features may overwhelm users with simple needs. Brightbook’s affordability makes it a strong choice for basic bookkeeping. |
| Competitor | Cons of Brightbook |
|---|---|
| Wave Accounting | Brightbook lacks advanced features like double-entry accounting and robust expense tracking, which Wave offers in its free plan. Its reporting is limited to basic Excel-based reports, unlike Wave’s more comprehensive financial insights. Brightbook’s interface feels outdated, and customization options, like removing branding from invoices, require paid upgrades, whereas Wave provides more modern templates for free. Customer support is also less responsive compared to Wave’s email support channels. |
| QuickBooks Online | Brightbook’s limited reporting and lack of double-entry accounting make it less suitable for businesses needing detailed financial analysis, unlike QuickBooks’ robust reporting and scalability. It doesn’t support direct tax return submissions, a feature QuickBooks includes. Brightbook’s customization options are minimal without paid plans, and its interface is less polished than QuickBooks’ modern design. For growing businesses, Brightbook’s simplicity falls short of QuickBooks’ comprehensive tools. |
| Xero | Brightbook’s basic functionality can’t match Xero’s advanced features like inventory management, payroll, and extensive integrations. Its reporting is less detailed, lacking Xero’s customizable financial reports. Brightbook doesn’t offer a free trial for premium features, unlike Xero, and its customer support is less robust. For mid-sized teams needing scalability, Brightbook’s limited feature set and simplistic design are less competitive than Xero’s professional-grade tools. |
