FreshBooks vs Sage Accounting:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, FreshBooks had more branded searches than Sage Accounting among small business accounting software in the United States. FreshBooks had about 33,100 branded searches, while Sage Accounting had 1,900. FreshBooks made up 2.8% of all small business accounting software searches we track, and Sage Accounting accounted for 0.16%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about small business accounting software, FreshBooks appeared in all five answers and Sage Accounting in one. FreshBooks was mentioned before Sage Accounting in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
FreshBooks, about 17 searches for every 1 for Sage Accounting
Who does AI mention more?
FreshBooks, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
FreshBooks, named ahead of Sage Accounting in every answer
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Top small business accounting software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FreshBooks appeared in all five answers. Sage Accounting was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. FreshBooks was listed before Sage Accounting in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
QuickBooks Online1st
Wave2nd
Xero3rd
FreshBooks4th
Zoho Books5th
Sage Accounting6th
ZipBooks–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
FreshBooks5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wave5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
QuickBooks Online4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Xero4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Zoho Books4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sage Accounting1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
ZipBooks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about small business accounting software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best accounting software for a small business?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bookkeeping software should I use for my small business?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the easiest accounting software for a freelancer?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“accounting software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“small business accounting software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 27, 2026.
Is FreshBooks or Sage Accounting more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for FreshBooks and Sage Accounting by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven small business accounting software we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for FreshBooks, Sage Accounting. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | QuickBooks Online | Xero | FreshBooks | Zoho Books | Wave | Sage Accounting | ZipBooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 82.9% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 0.2% | 0.36% |
| Nov 2025 | 81.2% | 8.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.19% | 0.36% |
| Dec 2025 | 80.7% | 8.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 0.19% | 0.35% |
| Jan 2026 | 80.1% | 8.8% | 4% | 2.7% | 4% | 0.19% | 0.35% |
| Feb 2026 | 83.6% | 7.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 83.6% | 7.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 83.7% | 7.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 0.16% | 0.3% |
| May 2026 | 82.7% | 9.1% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.19% | 0.29% |
| Jun 2026 | 82.6% | 7.4% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.24% | 0.19% |
| Jul 2026 | 84.9% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.2% | 0.16% |
| Aug 2026 | 85.4% | 7.7% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.16% | 0.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 85% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.16% | 0.16% |
How has the FreshBooks and Sage Accounting comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- FreshBooks was ahead of Sage Accounting in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, FreshBooks’ share of searches among small business accounting software in the United States moved from 4.1% to 2.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sage Accounting’s share of searches among small business accounting software in the United States moved from 0.2% to 0.16%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 1.9K.
How did search popularity change for United States small business accounting software in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Sage Accounting rose from 7th to 6th among small business accounting software in the United States.

Estimated monthly branded searches for FreshBooks in the United States fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 33.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using FreshBooks’ and Sage Accounting’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
FreshBooks
1 branded search term
- freshbooks
Sage Accounting
1 branded search term
- sage accounting
Other head-to-heads among small business accounting software

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