FreshBooks vs Pearl
Choosing between FreshBooks and Pearl for your tutoring business? This 2026 comparison breaks down features, pricing, and real user experiences to help you decide.
FreshBooks
Pearl
Independent comparison based on features, pricing, and user reviews
Quick Answer
FreshBooks vs Pearl in 2026
FreshBooks and Pearl are both tutoring management platforms with different strengths. FreshBooks excels at best-in-class invoicing — professional, customizable, with automatic reminders and view tracking, while Pearl is stronger for strong data analytics and reporting for district compliance. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize scheduling flexibility, billing integration, or specific features for your tutoring business.
Based on feature comparison, pricing data, and verified user reviews
Overview of FreshBooks and Pearl
What is FreshBooks?
Cloud-based accounting software designed for freelancers and small businesses. Handles invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, and payments. Founded in 2003, raised $464M, serves millions of users. Excellent at accounting — but lacks scheduling, attendance, student management, and every other tutoring-specific feature.
What is Pearl?
Pearl (formerly Trilogy Mentors) is a tutor management platform focused on K-12 school districts, state education agencies, and large tutoring providers. Founded in 2016 and rebranded in 2021, Pearl emphasizes data reporting and compliance for institutional tutoring programs rather than independent tutoring businesses.
TLDR (summary)
FreshBooks and Pearl are both tutoring management platforms. FreshBooks is known for best-in-class invoicing — professional, customizable, with automatic reminders and view tracking, while Pearl excels at strong data analytics and reporting for district compliance.
FreshBooks vs Pearl: Feature comparison
Compare features across key categories. Toggle 'Compare with Tutorbase' to see how a third option stacks up.
Comparison based on publicly available information and verified product documentation. Last updated January 2026.
Strengths & Weaknesses
An honest look at what each platform does well.
Where FreshBooks excels
FreshBooks has built its reputation on these core strengths.
Where Each Falls Short
Common challenges users report with each platform.
FreshBooks limitations
Areas where FreshBooks users report challenges.
Pearl limitations
Areas where Pearl users report challenges.
Pricing Comparison
Compare FreshBooks and Pearl pricing plans.
FreshBooks
- Up to 5 billable clients
- Unlimited invoices
- Expense tracking
- Time tracking
- Only 5 clients
- No scheduling
- Up to 50 billable clients
- All Lite features
- Proposals
- Recurring invoices
- Same feature gaps for tutoring
- Unlimited billable clients
- All Plus features
- Accounts payable
- Project profitability
- Same feature gaps for tutoring
Pearl
- Enterprise pricing for districts
- Based on student volume
- Implementation support included
- Data hub access
Pricing information verified 2026-02-25. Always confirm current pricing directly with each provider.
What to consider when choosing between FreshBooks and Pearl
Both platforms have strengths, but there are some common challenges tutoring businesses face when choosing between these two options.
Drag & Drop Calendar is limited or unavailable in both
Common feedback from users evaluating both platforms
Recurring Lessons is limited or unavailable in both
Common feedback from users evaluating both platforms
Room Management is limited or unavailable in both
Common feedback from users evaluating both platforms
Neither offers package billing
Common feedback from users evaluating both platforms
Neither offers cancellation fees
Common feedback from users evaluating both platforms
The question to ask: If you need capabilities that span both FreshBooks's strengths and Pearl's strengths, is there an option that bridges both?
Some businesses have found another approach
When comparing FreshBooks and Pearl, some tutoring businesses have also explored Tutorbase as an alternative that takes a different approach.
Why some businesses chose Tutorbase instead
Neither FreshBooks nor Pearl fully addresses the challenge of drag & drop calendar is limited or unavailable in both. Many tutoring businesses find themselves needing capabilities that sit between what these two solutions offer.
Tutorbase was built specifically for tutoring businesses that need both powerful scheduling and integrated billing in one platform. Instead of choosing between feature sets, Tutorbase combines the strengths of traditional tutoring software with modern CRM and communication tools.
How Tutorbase approaches things differently:
- Built-in CRM with visual lead pipeline
- Native WhatsApp integration for client communication
- Modern drag-and-drop scheduling interface
- Automatic lesson-to-invoice billing flow
Simple, transparent pricing
Free to use. 1% fee only when you invoice through Tutorbase.
No monthly subscription. No per-student fees. No hidden charges. If you invoice nothing, you pay nothing.
No pressure — just another option to evaluate in your research.
Explore all Tutorbase featuresMany tutoring businesses explore all their options before deciding — there's no rush
The Verdict
Pearl wins in more feature categories, but FreshBooks may be better for specific use cases.
Choose FreshBooks if
- You prioritize best-in-class invoicing — professional, customizable, with automatic reminders and view tracking
- You need strong expense tracking with receipt scanning and automatic bank import
- You prioritize time tracking that converts directly to invoices — useful for hourly tutoring
Choose Pearl if
- You need strong data analytics and reporting for district compliance
- You prioritize built for k-12 institutional use cases
- You prioritize mobile app for tutors (ios and android)
Tutorbase
A third option to explore
Consider Tutorbase if:
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about choosing between FreshBooks and Pearl for your tutoring business.
Pearl wins more feature categories in our comparison. FreshBooks excels at best-in-class invoicing — professional, customizable, with automatic reminders and view tracking, while Pearl is stronger for strong data analytics and reporting for district compliance. Choose based on your priorities.
More comparisons
Explore other head-to-head comparisons for tutoring software.
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Data Sources & Verification
Transparency matters. Here's where our data comes from:
Last Updated
February 25, 2026
Pricing
Pearl(verified February 25, 2026)
Migration Data
Based on actual customer migrations from FreshBooks & Pearl to Tutorbase
Found outdated info? We strive to keep our competitor data current. Email us at contact@tutorbase.com and we'll verify and update within 48 hours.