Every service-based business has to send out bills and invoices to get paid. It’s one of those tasks that every business owner dreads spending their time on. It can eat into time you would rather spend on making money or finding new clients to increase revenues. However, invoicing must be done to maintain cash flow to pay your own bills and to pay any employees. You can pay freelancers, as well on reinvest in marketing efforts.
The process can be made more efficient by using certain tools. Paperwork and labor can be reduced. There is a wide range of invoice tools and invoicing platforms that can be used. They are either free or low cost. They can provide your freelance or small business with an affordable solution for billing.
This list of 25 invoice tools and platforms includes some of the most widely recognized invoicing, billing, and payments companies. It includes solutions that offer a wide range of tools that tackle other tasks within your small business:
1. Due
Due has evolved from an online invoicing platform to a payments solution company. The company offers a wide range of payment-related services. It also includes time tracking, project management and integration with Basecamp. It offers custom estimates and invoices. It also offers domestic and international credit card processing. Great features include free invoice templates, over 100 currency and language options. It also offers document attachment, email, and website embedded invoices. There is an option to pay directly. It offers integration with PayPal as well as several other companies. Additionally, due has a free digital wallet feature and ACH payments. Unlimited professional invoices can be sent each month. Take advantage of a low flat-rate transaction fee of 2.75% for credit card processing. It includes international payments.
2. ReliaBills
This is a completely free cloud-based solution for small business owners. It includes the ability to have unlimited customers, invoices, and emails. The service includes customizable invoices, options for subscription, recurring, and project billing. There is an upgrade called ReliBills Plus. It provides extra features like credit card and ACH processing. A customizable customer portal and tools like automated past due reminders.
3. MoneyPenny
Founded in 2013, MoneyPenny is a low-cost online invoicing company. It charges $15 per month per user. It has been touted as an excellent solution for freelancers or work-from-home small business owners. It offers an automated work timer, customizable online invoices, online and mobile payments. It also offers payment processing, many currency options, and settings. It has automated reminders and recurring invoices.
4. BillQuick
At $14.95, BillQuick is a low-cost option. It comes with a free trial. You can try out the integrated time and expense, project management, billing and invoicing. you can also try accounting and payment processing features. It was designed and built by CPAs and engineers to address the specific needs of professional services firms. The powerful features and tools included are automated work time and multi-currency tools. It also has the customer database and notifications. It has hourly billing, recurring and retainer billing. It also offers online customizable invoices, online payments, and payment processing.
5. Bill4Time
Starting at $15 per month, this online and billing system offers customizable invoices that you can send via email, as a PDF, or online. If you still prefer to print your invoices, you have that option as well. It offers the web and mobile platforms for greater convenience. Features include service ticket billing and online customizable invoicing. It also has many currency tools, notifications, and payment processing. The customer features like a portal and database are also present.
6. Zoho Invoicing
Zoho is a comprehensive platform for invoicing and payments. Options include branded and customizable invoices, a time tracker, and shareable data. It is integrated with payment gateways. There are PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and 2Checkout. They offer a range of payment processing options.
7. AccountSight
It starts at just $10 per month per user. AccountSight provides a way to invoice unlimited clients and projects. The scalable, cloud-based software includes time tracking and resource planning. It also has expense tracking, estimates and invoicing, reports, and a dashboard. Other features include notifications, many currency tools, subscription and recurring invoicing and payment processing.
8. Paymo
Paymo provides some comprehensive project management features. It offers free online invoicing system. Features include time tracking, desktop, and mobile access. Also offers customizable invoices, an estimate, and invoice template library, and recurring invoices. Payment methods include payment gateways like PayPal and Authorize.net.
9. Online Invoices
The free plan allows for 15 clients, 15 invoices, 7 subscriptions, and 30 estimates per month. It also includes two invoice layouts while other plans increase the number of each. Features include estimates, recurring invoices, time tracking, expense, and income tracking. Other features are many tax settings, document attachments, security features and invoice templates. Many payment portals can be integrated, such as eWay, Paymate, Authorize.net or PayPal.
10. InvoiceOcean
InvoiceOcean has tools for invoices, buy orders, receipts, disbursements, and receipts. It also has tools for reports on cash flow and fiscal health. Many currencies and languages are available to better service international clients. Its primary payment system is PayPal, providing a way to accept bank and card payments.
11. Invoicera
Freelancers love Invoicera because of the number of free features it offers. It includes tools like online estimates and invoices, time tracking and invoice templates. it also has tools for subscription billing and many currencies. The dashboard offers an overview of revenue, expenses, and finances. it also gives the overview of projects, staff, tasks and clients, and outstanding invoices. it gives all the overviews in one location. Payments can be accepted through Authorize.net and PayPal.
12. Hiveage
Hiveage is a free online estimate, invoice, and payments platform. It offers a standard account for free as well as other fee-based accounts for larger businesses. Hiveage features include unlimited invoices and customers, many currencies, and PayPal Standard integration. A low-cost premium account includes other tools for mileage, expense, and time tracking. It also has tools for subscription and automated billing and financial reports. Besides PayPal, other processing systems can be integrated within the premium account. Other systems include Stripe and 2Checkout.
13. FusionInvoice
Although it’s not free, there is a low one-time fee of $60 that makes it worth consideration. That’s it. No costs will pop up later. Hosting it on your own server, this invoice tool comes customized with estimates and invoices. Also has many currencies, the ability to import data from anywhere. There are recurring invoices and a dashboard as well. It provides real-time updates on your billing and payments process. To accept and process payments, Fusion Invoice integrates with PayPal, Stripe, and Mollie.
14. Invoice Machine
Invoice Machine offers a free account for one user with up to three estimates and three invoices per month. Other accounts are low cost and increase the number of users. It also increases estimates, and invoices allowed each month. The invoice company has many features. It has customizable estimates and invoices, many languages and currencies. It also has recurring invoices and automated notifications and acknowledgments. Options include email invoices or PDF invoices. It integrates with Basecamp for project management. It also integrates PayPal and Authorize.net for payment processing.
15. Simple Invoices
Simple Invoices is a basic, open source invoicing system. It allows you to use and even contribute to improving this tool without charging you. Features include an invoice template library and export capability to Word or Excel. PayPal integration lets you receive payments to your PayPal account. Also allows you to receive a bank account, or credit or debit card.
16. FreshBooks
FreshBooks comes with a 30-day free trial and then has a low-cost plan. It is perfect for small business owners and freelancers. Its features include customized quotes, estimates, and invoices. It also has the ability to print, download a PDF, or email invoices to clients. Other features are time tracking, expense management, and receipt inclusion on an invoice. Payment processing capability includes PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net.
17. Harvest
Harvest offers a 30-day free trial as well as offers a free account for one user and up to four clients. Other low-cost account options upgrade you to unlimited invoices and clients. The features include basic time tracking, many currencies and online invoicing. Also offers mobile functionality, reporting, and data import and export. It integrates with a diverse amount of third-party apps. It brings your business tasks altogether in one platform. Payment processing for invoices includes Stripe integration.
18. Ronin
Ronin is a scalable invoice solution built for every company type and size. Their free plan includes one user, two clients, and SSL security while other tiers offer up to 30 clients. Payment processing integration with PayPal or Authorize.net is available. itcomes with their $29 per month plan. The free invoicing plan includes a dashboard, estimate and invoice capability. It also includes client and project management, and user profiles.
19. Invoice Journal
Invoice Journal has a free account that includes one user, unlimited customers, and 30 invoices per month. Other plans increase user access and the number of invoices per month. All plans come with customized estimates and invoices. The invoice templates, many currencies, and languages are also included. There is invoice and payment tracking, reminders and acknowledgments as well. It includes reports, data export to Excel, and contact import from Gmail. You can integrate PayPal and Amazon payment gateways.
20. Box Billing
Box Billing is a free tool. For just $5 per month, most of these features can be upgraded to unlimited status. Other tools include automated invoicing, invoice tracking, customization, and many languages. Payment integration includes PayPal, Payza, AlertPay, PaySera, 2Checkout, and WebMoney.
21. Apptivo
The free plan offers you access to 50 of Apptivo’s standard apps. It offers functions like billing, supply chain, CRM, project management and more. The invoice tool offers customization, automation, and notification features. Payment integration is available in the $10 per month plan and offers PayPal, Zipmark, or Authorize.net. By upgrading to this fee-based plan, you will also get all Apptivo’s mobile apps. You will also get unlimited customization, Google apps integration, and email integration.
22. Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting is a large suite of programs and tools designed to cover all the financial tasks in your business. You can build the solution that fits your business and budget. Among the available tools is online and mobile invoicing and payments, which is offered for free. Payment processing involves a small transaction fee. Features include customizable invoices, payment, and overdue invoice tracking. It also has invoice templates and custom messaging to personalize your invoice communications.
23. Quickbooks Online
Quickbooks Online is an affordable solution that averages $12.95 per month. It is the cheapest plan although there are regular promotional discounts and discount options for paying in advance. Its online invoice solution offers customizable estimates and invoices. It also offers the ability to synch your bank account. Other features include a variety of payment processing integration options and mobile capability.
24. MakeSometime
This is a free online invoicing system and business management platform. It allows you to create customized quotes, estimates, and invoices. You are alerted when the invoice has been viewed and paid. You will be able to accept online payments through the web and mobile channels. Features also include an automated time tracker, multiple currencies, notifications, recurring and subscription billing. It also has customer features like a database and portal.
25. BillBooks
This online invoice company offers a free plan. It includes three invoices and free estimates as well as unlimited staff and client. While a $10 per month plan offers all that, but increases invoices to 20 per month. Available in 120 countries, it is a favorite among freelancers and small business owners. Features include many currencies, notifications and complete customization on invoices. It offers other things like recurring billing and online payment processing, and mobile payments.
Take Control of Your Cash Flow
While there are many more invoicing products and platforms available. These 25 options stand out for their value with free or low-cost plans. They are packed with practical features for your small business. By using one or more of these payment choices, you will be able to focus on your core business. You can rely on an efficient, professional, and fast invoicing and payment solution.
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