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For most small businesses, Invoice Ninja is the strongest starting point: it scores highest in this group, has a free plan, and starts at $11.67 for paid use. Invoice Home is a cheaper option for straightforward billing, while Joist and Invoice2go suit contractors who send estimates. The right choice depends on how you bill and which limits apply: Joist Basics caps documents at five a month, and Invoice2go Starter caps invoices at 30. We’ve ranked nine options by fit and value, not price alone.
Quick picksThe shortlist
Invoice NinjaInvoice NinjaBest overall · $11.67/mo
Invoice HomeInvoice HomeBest low-cost invoicing · $5/mo
HoneyBookHoneyBookBest client-service suite · $29/mo
JoistJoistBest for contractors · $8.34/mo
BonsaiBonsaiBest freelancer suite · $9/mo
Invoice2goInvoice2goBest for estimates · $5.99/mo
Invoice SimpleInvoice SimpleBest for three invoices · $5.83/mo
InvoiceASAPInvoiceASAPBest mobile field service · $3.99/mo
SkynovaSkynovaBest invoicing and books · $22/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice NinjaInvoice Ninja | 8.0 | $11.67/mo | Yes | — |
| Invoice HomeInvoice Home | 7.0 | $5/mo | Yes | — |
| HoneyBookHoneyBook | 6.5 | $29/mo | No | — |
| JoistJoist | 7.2 | $8.34/mo | No | 14 days |
| BonsaiBonsai | 7.0 | $9/mo | No | 7 days |
| Invoice2goInvoice2go | 6.5 | $5.99/mo | No | 1 month |
| Invoice SimpleInvoice Simple | 6.2 | $5.83/mo | No | 14 days |
| InvoiceASAPInvoiceASAP | 6.2 | $3.99/mo | No | 30 days |
| SkynovaSkynova | 6.4 | $22/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallInvoice NinjaInvoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja scores 8 and combines a free plan with paid pricing from $11.67. It fits freelancers with up to five clients and small businesses that need recurring invoices and online payments. The trade-off: the published summary finds it less convincing as a project-management system, so treat it as a billing choice rather than an all-in-one work hub.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited invoices
- Free plan supports up to 5 clients
- 11 customizable invoice templates
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at 5 clients
- Pro costs $14 monthly without annual billing
- Enterprise pricing rises to $300/month for 51–100 users
- Best low-cost invoicingInvoice HomeInvoice Home
Invoice Home starts at $5 and has a free plan, making it a low-cost pick for simple invoicing. The published summary also lists unlimited invoice volume as a fit, but flags a free-plan cap and a recurring-invoice restriction. Check which plan includes the volume you need and whether recurring billing is available before switching.
What works
- Free plan available
- More than 100 invoice templates
- Unlimited plan listed at $5 per month
What doesn't
- Free plan capped at $1,000 per rolling 30 days
- Recurring invoices restricted on the free plan
- Free invoice emails sent through the site
- Best client-service suiteHoneyBookHoneyBook
HoneyBook starts at $29 and combines invoicing with CRM tools, client bookings, contracts, lead forms, and scheduling. That wider scope may suit a small service business that wants client workflows alongside billing. The caveat is cost and complexity: the published summary says to check fees and workflow limits before committing.
What works
- Combines lead capture, CRM and project tracking
- Proposals, contracts, invoices and payments in one platform
- Starter includes unlimited clients and projects
What doesn't
- Starter costs $36 monthly or $29 with annual billing
- Starter is limited to two live lead forms
- Essentials caps teams at two members and forms at ten
- Best for contractorsJoistJoist
Joist starts at $8.34 and is built around contractor workflows, including estimates, invoices, online payments, jobs, and schedules. Its main limit is concrete: the Basics plan is capped at five documents a month. Contractors who send estimates and invoices regularly should check whether that cap fits their workload and what plan removes it.
What works
- Converts estimates to invoices in one click
- Accepts cards, bank transfers and PayPal
- Connects jobs, schedules, estimates and clients
What doesn't
- No free plan; the listed trial is 14 days
- Basics allows only five documents per month
- Unlimited documents start with Pro at $17 monthly
- Best freelancer suiteBonsaiBonsai
Bonsai starts at $9 and brings client, project, and finance tools together for freelancers and small teams. But the headline price does not tell the whole story for invoicing: the published summary says invoice users need Essentials and pay per seat. Check the required tier and seat count against the cost of a dedicated invoicing tool.
What works
- CRM, projects, time tracking, and billing share one platform.
- Basic includes unlimited projects and clients.
- Essentials adds invoices, payments, proposals, and contracts.
What doesn't
- Basic does not include invoicing or payments.
- Essentials costs $19 per user/month annually or $25 monthly.
- Per-user pricing adds cost as teams grow.
- Best for estimatesInvoice2goInvoice2go
Invoice2go starts at $5.99 and covers estimates, payment collection, hours, and expenses for small service businesses. The main warning is Starter’s 30-invoice limit; the published summary also flags fees as a value concern. If you send more than 30 invoices, confirm the next plan’s price and payment costs before choosing it.
What works
- Estimates and invoices in one app
- Unlimited team members on listed plans
- Free ACH transfers on listed plans
What doesn't
- Starter is capped at 30 invoices yearly
- Starter card payment fee is 3.5%
- Professional and Premium prices are not published
- Best for three invoicesInvoice SimpleInvoice Simple
Invoice Simple starts at $5.83 and is aimed at businesses sending about three invoices a month, with estimates and payment options included. That makes it a narrow fit for low-volume billing, not a safe default for growing invoice volume. The published summary flags invoice caps and reported account disputes, so check limits and account terms before paying.
What works
- Create estimates and convert approved ones into invoices
- Accept cards, ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and mobile wallets
- Set recurring invoices and autopay
What doesn't
- Essentials is capped at 3 invoices monthly
- Plus is capped at 10 invoices monthly
- No free plan is listed
- Best mobile field serviceInvoiceASAPInvoiceASAP
InvoiceASAP starts at $3.99 and targets field-service businesses and people who need basic invoicing on mobile. It is a low entry price, but the published summary says to check plan details and payment fees first. Confirm which features come with the plan at that price and what payment collection adds to the bill.
What works
- Base plan starts at $3.99 per month
- 30-day free trial listed
- Works on mobile and web
What doesn't
- No free plan listed
- Annual pricing and discounts are not published
- Unlimited invoice availability by tier is unclear
- Best invoicing and booksSkynovaSkynova
Skynova starts at $22 and combines invoicing with bookkeeping, with recurring invoices, estimates, and work orders among its stated use cases. That broader scope may suit a small business that wants billing and bookkeeping together. The published summary flags unanswered pricing questions, so confirm what the $22 plan includes before relying on it.
What works
- Custom invoices with logos, itemized lines and tax
- Recurring invoice schedules from weekly to annually
- Automated reminders for overdue balances
What doesn't
- $22 monthly starting price; no free plan listed
- Annual billing price is not published
- Free-trial availability is not published
03How we chose
We weigh published pricing, plan limits, product documentation and user sentiment reported on Reddit. We focus on whether a tool’s stated capabilities and caps fit common invoicing workflows, and whether the pricing page makes likely costs clear. Where a price, limit or feature is not published in the materials available to us, we leave it unconfirmed rather than estimate. We do not claim hands-on testing, benchmarks or trial results; this guide is a comparison framework for narrowing the options before you switch.
04Choose software around the invoice workflow you actually have
Start by listing the steps your team needs to handle: creating invoices, sending them, tracking payment status and collecting money. Then note any adjacent tasks that matter, such as estimates, recurring billing, reminders, tax handling or reconciliation. Treat these as requirements to verify in each product’s documentation, not features to assume from the category name.
Separate must-haves from conveniences. A solo operator may value a short path from work completed to invoice sent; a finance team may need clearer approval and reporting workflows. The right comparison depends on who creates invoices, who approves them and who follows up on overdue balances. Check whether each required feature is included in the plan you would buy, and record any limits the pricing page publishes. If a cap or capability is unclear, ask the vendor before making it a deciding factor.
05Compare the full cost and plan a careful switch
Don’t compare only the advertised starting price. Check which plan includes the workflows you need, whether the pricing page publishes usage caps, and whether any essential capability is described only in documentation. If a price or limit is not published, treat it as unknown—not as included. Ask vendors for the applicable total and confirmation in writing before you commit.
Before switching, map the records you need to preserve: customer details, invoice history, payment status and any supporting documents relevant to your process. Confirm in the docs or with the vendor what can be exported and imported; don’t assume data moves cleanly between systems. Choose a cutover date, decide how you will handle open invoices, and keep access to the old system until you have checked the records you rely on. A short pilot with a defined workflow can expose gaps before you move everything.
Questions people ask
How should I choose invoicing software?
Start with your invoicing workflow, then compare the required features against each product’s documentation and plan limits. Check who can create, approve and follow up on invoices, and confirm how payments are handled. If a capability or cap is unclear, ask the vendor rather than assuming it is included.
How much does invoicing software cost?
There is no single price across this category, and a starting price may not cover the plan or usage level you need. Compare current pricing pages for the relevant plan, billing terms and published limits. If the total or a fee is not listed, treat it as unpublished and request a quote.
What should I check before switching invoicing tools?
Confirm what customer and invoice records can be exported and imported, and whether open invoices or payment statuses need special handling. Check the vendor’s documentation or ask support about the process. Keep access to your previous system until you have verified that the records your team needs are available.
Do I need invoicing software with accounting integrations?
Only if your workflow depends on moving invoice or payment information into another system. Identify the exact accounting product and the records you need to sync, then verify the integration and any plan requirements in the vendor’s documentation. Don’t rely on a general claim of compatibility without checking your setup.