FreshBooks vs QuickBooks Online: the Canadian view
Both are good. They're built for different businesses. Here's how to tell which one is yours, with Canadian prices checked Nov 2, 2026.
Heads-upRun by the same person behind Trim & Tally, a bookkeeping service; we may earn commissions from some links. Commissions never decide what we recommend. How we make money.
What payroll software has to do in Canada
Whatever you pick, it should:
- Calculate income tax, CPP and EI deductions from the CRA tables, and the employer's share.
- Remit source deductions to the CRA on your remitter schedule, or at least tell you exactly what to remit and when.
- Produce T4 slips (due to employees and the CRA by the last day of February, moved to the next business day if it falls on a weekend) and T4As for contractors where needed.
- Produce and submit Records of Employment (ROEs) when someone leaves or has an interruption of earnings. Seasonal crews and kitchens do this a lot.
- Track workers' compensation premiums (WCB Alberta here).
The options
| Option | Best for | Price (CAD, checked Nov 2, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Wagepoint | Any business that wants payroll separate from its ledger; Xero, FreshBooks or Wave users | Lite $20/mo + $4/employee (1 run/month); Core $40 + $6 (unlimited runs); Plus $80 + $10 (time clock, geofencing, PTO) |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Businesses already on QuickBooks Online | Paid add-on (Core / Premium / Elite); check the current price on Intuit's page |
| FreshBooks + PaymentEvolution | FreshBooks users | Arranged through FreshBooks (Canadian partner PaymentEvolution); price on request |
| Wave payroll | Wave users | Paid add-on; see Wave's page for current Canadian availability and price |
Allison has worked in QuickBooks for years, mostly the desktop version. QuickBooks Online Payroll, Wagepoint, PaymentEvolution and Wave payroll are researched from their own pages.
Wagepoint cost examples (our arithmetic, before tax)
- 3 employees on Core: $40 + 3 × $6 = $58/month
- 12 employees on Core: $40 + 12 × $6 = $112/month
- 12 employees on Plus (with clock-in): $80 + 12 × $10 = $200/month
Industry notes
- Alberta and WCB: Intuit says QuickBooks Payroll's automatic workers' comp tracking covers only QC, ON and BC. In Alberta, plan on reconciling WCB yourself. Wagepoint says it calculates WCB/WSIB.
- Restaurants and bars: decide how tips are handled before setup. Per the CRA, controlled tips (the employer collects, pools or pays them out) need income tax, CPP and EI withheld and go on the T4; direct tips (customer to employee) don't need employer withholding, but the employee must report them. Confirm your setup with your accountant.
- Oilfield and trades crews: field hours usually start on a timesheet or field ticket. Export them to payroll rather than re-typing. Wagepoint Plus has its own clock-in with geofencing.
Wagepoint
- Lite: C$20/month + C$4 per employee/contractor (one payroll run a month)
- Core: C$40/month + C$6 per employee/contractor (unlimited runs and pay groups)
- Plus: C$80/month + C$10 per employee/contractor (clock in/out, geofencing, PTO, priority support)
Estimates before tax. 14-day free trial; year-end forms included.
Sources (checked Nov 2, 2026)
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