FreshBooks vs. The Competition: 10 Invoicing Apps Worth Your Attention

Getting paid is a bliss but invoicing on a daily basis can be backbreaking. How do you simplify the invoicing task?

Doing it manually or hiring a professional, both seem like an inconvenient choice for many. Hence, most of you might be in favour of the ready invoicing software, right? It automates, simplifies and streamlines the inescapable billing process.

Well, when it comes to choosing the best invoicing software, FreshBooks is certainly a wider choice. Not just because it’s hassle free, the clean interface and responsive customer support make the software such a popular choice.

But, alas, every rose has its thorn. No matter how convenient Freshbooks is, it isn’t a perfect invoicing partner for all. It too has some downsides. Whether it is pricing, feature, integration or any factor, not every business under the sun finds Freshbooks compatible.

If Freshbooks does not fit your small business needs then here are some best alternatives to it. We have lined up 10 best alternatives to Freshbooks that will get you going with invoicing the way you want.

1. Billbooks

Voted as best cloud-based invoicing software in the ‘List of Top Tens’, Billbooks simply works great for small businesses and freelancers. With easy-to-use interface and smart features, the tedious accounting tasks are all managed seamlessly.

This invoicing app is used by 296 varied types of businesses from over 140 countries as it offers some really apt features for every business. Whether it is managing inventory, keeping track of invoices, setting payment reminders, recovering past dues or creating recurring invoices, everything is done in just a few clicks.

Beautiful invoices can be created and sent in less than 60 seconds. So, in short you don’t have to spend much time in accounting. The software will get most of the work done while you can spend ample time on other tasks related to business growth.

Why use Billbooks instead of Freshbooks?

Billbooks is a SaaS product which means you don’t have to struggle with software set up and installation. Just an internet connection and sign up is enough to get things rolling.
Multiple organizations can manage multiple companies and clients via a single login and dashboard.
Intuitive dashboard gives you a quick snapshot of your business growth and latest activities like expenses, sales and receipt.
What makes Billbooks unique and better than the rest is its auto-complete feature. With just a few keystrokes, the software auto-completes client, or an item name and even description, quantity and amount. So it’s more simplified and more time-saving
You can get paid faster as Billbooks is integrated with many leading and secured payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, 2CheckOut, Amex, credit, debit and visa card.
Billbooks provides enhanced client and stock management.
Instantly get notification alert when the client opens invoice sent in their inbox. This way you can track invoices much better.
Bilbooks supports multiple currencies. No matter where your client is located and what their local currency is, you can turn on multiple currency feature and keep a proper track of transactions.
Send invoice on the go. Not just on desktop, you can use Bilbooks on any digital devices as the app is Andriod and iOS compatible.

You can get started with the 30-day free trial. Billbooks offers affordable pricing plans keeping small businesses in mind, so you can continue using Billbooks if it rightly fits your business.

2. Zoho Invoice

Just like Freshbooks, Zoho is also a popular and known invoicing software. It is predominantly designed for small businesses to help them manage their cash flow effortlessly. If you are looking for the most cost-effective invoicing software then Zoho Invoice is definitely the best bet as compared to Freshbooks.

Robust reporting is one of the best features of Zoho. Total performance and quality-wise if Freshbooks stands 100% then Zoho stands 99% which is not at all a bad score. Apart from invoicing, some add-on features offered by Zoho software are time tracking, contact management, inventory management, and automated banking feeds. Zoho Invoice also offers a better bargain.

Why use Zoho Books instead of Freshbooks?

No more tedious data entry task. Automatic bank feeds ease your work.
The overall UI is great which makes it easy to add items to bills and send invoices quickly to the client.
You can collaborate with your customers online and no matter in which part of the world they live, you can easily take payments from them.
Zoho also comes across as a mini version of the CRM tool as it allows you to add. clients and maintain a centralized place to follow up.
Zoho Invoice requires very little time to set up.
Along with invoicing, you can also manage your stock and inventory, efficiently.
Zoho is integrated with Stripe which makes bank reconciliation very easy.
With this software, it is possible to send and track retainer invoices.
You never have to chase customer payment again as Zoho automates follow-ups.
Do business globally, charge customers in the local currency, and manage records in your currency without efforts.
Verify invoices before you send it to your client and eliminate the risk of incorrect transaction processing.

Zoho Invoice offers pricing plans to suit every pocket. However, you can start using for free with its 14-day trial and then switch to a suitable plan if it rightly fits your invoicing needs.

3. Hiveage

Another Freshbooks alternative that helps running your small business smoothly is Hiveage. When it comes to expertise, of course, Freshbooks scores higher but when it comes to user satisfaction, Hiveage is unbeatable.

One interface for multiple tasks like creating estimates, invoices, generating expense reports, payment receipts, it’s all-in-all small business finance companion. Hiveage also allows you to manage multiple businesses and varied teams with different access level using one single account. Just like Freshbooks, even Hiveage’s user interface is clean and easy to use.

Why use Hiveage instead of Freshbooks?

You can bill the clients by the hour and at the same time also track expenses.
Along with creating professional-looking invoices, you can integrate tax computation using Hiveage software.
Auto-generated payment reminders, automated billing, automated scheduling and auto backup, most of the tasks which are tedious or you tend to forget, Hiveage takes care of it.
You can send free quotes to your potential customers with an estimate builder.
With Hiveage, you can save up to 80 hours per month which you can eventually spend in other crucial business growth activities.
Hivegae offers more than a dozen payment gateways and also built-in payment options to get paid faster.
Get real-time reports on your income, expenses account aging and much more that will help in understanding your business’s performance.
It’s a cloud-based invoicing software so there is no hassle of download or installing Hiveage. Access it from anywhere, anytime.
Hiveage is web-enabled and is also available as native mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Data is easily portable. You can use their API to import and export all data and reports as CSV files.
Not everybody is good with numbers. No need to remember those extra taxes and fees as Hiveage will do all the math for you. It will save all the entries.

Not just a 14-day free trial, Hiveage also offers a free account. With the free plan, you can send unlimited invoices to up to 5 clients.

4. Invoiceberry

Invoicing on autopilot, setting reminders for late payment, converting estimate to invoice in one click and many such features make Invoiceberry one of the best invoicing tools for small businesses and freelancers. It helps the user save dozens of hours spent in creating invoices and reports per month.

The best part of Invoiceberry is its extremely pocket-friendly pricing plans that best suit the freelancers. The contemporary user interface is easy to use and helps you send in seconds. The software is flexible depending on your business needs.

Why use Invoiceberry instead of Freshbooks?

Without installation and sign-up, you can download free invoice templates (15 different types) and send them quickly and effortlessly.
The templates also offer customization, hence, you can tune it per your brand requirements by adding a logo, colors, etc.
Be assured of quick online payments with online payment integrations like PayPal and Stripe.
Invoices, payment records, and balance sheets can be synced in real-time.
Invoiceberry allows you to post, email, or download invoices from your account itself.
You can send an invoice in any language of your choice or the language that the customer prefers.
Professionals from all walks of life can use Invoiceberry.

You can start creating professional invoices with a 14-day free trial. There are no limitations to features or clients.

5. Harvest

If you are looking for the best invoicing software with the number one time-tracking solution then nothing can beat Harvest. This tool can be a great help to boost your cash flow. Harvest can generate reports about billable and non-billable hours for particular tasks.

The software assures you to give birds-eye-view of all the invoices while the invoice graph shows you your revenue for the year. Time management, billable tasks, and team management, everything is the forte of Harvest invoicing software. Many freelancers and small businesses prefer using this invoicing solution.

Why use Harvest instead of Freshbooks?

The powerful reporting feature helps businesses to get most of the reports that are essential for their growth.
Manage your team more efficiently with a visual summary of timesheet data.
With intuitive visual reports know your project status and business health.
Harvest is integrated with apps like PayPal, Trello, Slack, Google applications, and more.
The software is available for iOS, Android, and Mac.
Harvest allows you to import billable hours into your invoice and effortlessly email it to your client.
You can easily schedule payments with this app.

You can check yourself if Harvest best suits your business needs with its free and fully-functional 30 days trial. You can upgrade anytime.

6. Quickbooks Online

Just like Freshbooks, even Quickbooks Online is a widely used invoicing software. Along with invoicing the software also helps you to manage various bank-related tasks and automates every process.

Though both Freshbooks and Quickbooks are designed for small business, Quickbooks Online is much better for growing business.

Most of the features of Quickbooks Online are similar to those of Freshbooks. The customer and vendor management capability is excellent in Quickbooks Online while Freshbooks lacks in it. Quickbooks Online setup is quite easy and also you can access all its system functions. When it comes to pricing factors, Freshbooks and Quickbooks Online are quite similar.

Why use Quickbooks Online instead of Freshbooks?

You can easily access the features and use most of the functionality offline.
The software offers a unique bill tracking feature that helps you to track outstanding bills and overdue items in real-time in a single location.
Customize reports as per your choice and schedule it whenever you want in an organized calendar.
Another unique feature of Quickbooks Online is the mileage tracking which helps you to clock business trips.

Never worry about missing any payment as you can keep a track with due date reminders.

In just a few clicks, Quickbooks generates profit and loss statements.
In the case of large firms, Quickbooks Online aids in batch invoicing.

You can start creating professional invoices with a 30-day free trial. The pricing starts with as affordable as $12 per month.

7. Xero

A simple cloud-based finance software solution, ideally for small businesses and sole accountants, Xero is the next big alternative to Freshbooks. It is termed as the handiest asset for invoicing, bank reconciliation, inventory updation, purchase orders, tax-saving suggestions.

Just like Freshbooks, even with Xero, you can get paid faster by sending an online invoice to your client and getting an update when they open it. This invoicing software is backed by powerful and time-saving features. If you are looking for a whole business financial management then Xero is a better alternative to Freshbooks.

Why use Xero instead of Freshbooks?

It is easy to set up and with user-friendly iOS and Android app, you can effortlessly invoice on the go.
Xero offers a Smart List feature for creating highly targeted lists.
Most of the system’s features can be viewed in the Dashboard itself.
You can instantly match your bank transactions to the entries made in the software.
You can manage your payments by scheduling payments and batch pay suppliers.
Import and categorize your current bank transactions. You just need to click on OK to reconcile.
You can accurately convert currency with Multiple currency features and carry out global transactions.
Xero manages payrolls and follows the automated process to modify taxes for over 20 states.
Simply add the ‘Pay Now’ button on the invoice and allow your customers to pay you instantly.
Xero can be integrated with more than 800 business apps for enhancing functionalities like invoicing, time-tracking, inventory management, and more.

Just like most of the invoicing software, even Xero offers a free trial. You can sign up and try Xero free for 30 days.

8. Wave

Wave is one compact software package that includes invoicing, accounting, payroll, and payment functionalities. This integrated business platform is predominantly built to help small businesses, freelancers, and also entrepreneurs with a streamlined invoicing process. In short, anybody dealing with transactions can use the Wave Invoicing as it is customized to fit every business need.

You can create professional invoices for free for unlimited clients and several times. Along with invoice tracking, reporting is also super easy with Wave invoicing software. Even the mobile app is great for on-the-go invoicing. However, this software’s migration and data integration aren’t as smooth as Freshbooks.

Why use Wave Invoicing instead of Freshbooks?

The dashboard is clean and user-friendly. You don’t need to be technically sound to use Wave Invoicing software.
Users will get instant notification of the invoice delivery, invoice viewed by the client, and payment paid.
Only 1% processing fees are charged for accepting bank payments through Wave.
The ‘Pay Now’ button on the invoice enables clients to pay instantly via Credit Card or secure bank payment (ACH/EFT).
Wave helps in wise decision making by comparing month-on-month, year-on-year reports.
Expense tracking is simplified and also the software provides bank connections and receipt scanning tools.
Wave invoicing is completely free, which is quite noteworthy.
With the simple drag and drop line items, you can organize the invoice content.
Wave is 100% web-based. Only the mobile app for Android and iOS needs to be downloaded and installed.

No set-up fees, no monthly fees, no hidden-charges, Wave Invoicing is genuinely available for free which makes it a great software for small businesses and freelancers.

9. AND.CO

Is it possible to invoice in less than 20 seconds? Well, it is, this is what online invoicing software, And.Co claims to the users. It also ensures to be a better alternative to Freshbooks. Since, And.Co has partnered with the Freelancers Union, from artist to zoologist, this invoicing software best serves every freelancer and independent contractors.

Work on as many projects as you wish or even few and Invoice like a pro. With And.Co, you can also set up recurring expenses, automatically for every month and file them without lifting a finger. This invoicing software encrypts all transactions and never stores credit card details which ensure total security.

Why use And.Co instead of Freshbooks?

Unlike Freshbooks, with And.Co, you can manage unlimited contracts and customize contract in just a few clicks.
Set recurring payments and automatically invoice will be sent to the same client at the same time each month.
And.Co has a Personal Chief Operator, who will help you understand the software more clearly, answer all your freelancing queries and help you to run your business as efficiently as possible.
You can create attractive and inviting proposals by adding a brand logo, images, adding custom slides and embedding contract.
Easily track your time and tasks with just a couple of clicks.
You can log in on the go and keep an eye on your cash flow.
The pricing plan is as affordable as $18 per month.

You can feel free to test the software for free. Even the PRO subscription comes with an advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel your membership within 30 days and get a full refund

10. ZipBooks

If Freshbooks scores high in quality and performance then ZipBooks scores 100% when it comes to user satisfaction. With its extremely easy to use interface, ZipBooks makes invoicing simple and quick. It is really a robust all-in-one accounting software for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Although ZipBooks is new as compared to FreshBooks, it is on the right track and has attracted a lot of businesses. With this invoicing software, you can receive the payment within 5 days or even sooner. It will keep your accounting records clean and cash flow stable.

Why use ZipBooks instead of Freshbooks?

ZipBooks is great for branding as it offers tailor-made invoice making. This means you can create and send clean and beautiful invoices incorporating your brand identity.
Invoice on the go. You can create and send invoices from wherever you go and whenever you want.
Get paid seamlessly with PayPal and all major credit cards.
Customer support is phenomenal as the team responds very quickly and are ready to go the extra mile to help.
ZipBooks offers an easy way to track all the transactions and identify how much the business is actually making and also who owes you.
The ideal time tracking tool notes when you’ve started a project and also keeps a track of rates and expenses that helps in transparent billing.
You can bill your repeated customers on weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually basis without fail with automated recurring invoicing.
The complicated adding and calculation of taxes like VAT, sales tax will also be taken care of, by ZipBooks.

Like most of the invoicing software, even ZipBooks offers a starter plan with which you can send unlimited invoices and manage unlimited customers for free. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial and start experiencing ZipBooks invoicing process.

Takeaway

Freshbooks is by far one of the most popular invoicing software but you can always try any of the alternatives that exactly matches your business needs. Whether it is the affordability factor, ease of use, impeccable tracking or any unique feature of other invoicing apps, they can surprise you and compel you to make the switch. Remember, ‘Change is the only constant’, so don’t hesitate at all to embrace the change.