The verdict for welders: FreshBooks is solid software, but at $33/month it costs $1,329 over 3 years. Nexa does most of what FreshBooks does for $279 once. For solo welders and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.
Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $1,050. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | FreshBooks | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $33/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $1,329 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
FreshBooks plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Welders deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Quoting fabrication jobs without knowing exact material costs upfront. Tracking consumables — wire, gas, rods — across multiple jobs. Getting paid on custom fab work before material costs eat your cash flow. No software understands shop + mobile welding workflows. FreshBooks charges $33/month on top of these daily realities. The median welder earns $47,000/year — $396/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Nexa is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for welders. You own it like you own your MIG, TIG, and stick welders.
You're in the shop fabricating a custom gate when a rancher calls about a broken cattle guard. That's a mobile job 45 minutes away. You need to quote it sight-unseen, load the truck with the right rods and gas, and figure out how to invoice both jobs today. The gate client wants progress photos and an itemized bill. You're juggling fabrication time, material costs, and drive time, and none of it is being tracked anywhere except your head.
Real welders near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a welder? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every welder on Nexa →
For solo welders and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. FreshBooks may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
FreshBooks has features like Very user-friendly for non-accountants and Built-in time tracking that some businesses rely on. For most solo welders, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $33/month, Nexa pays for itself in 8.5 months. After that: $396 saved every year.
Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Nexa — $279 Once