The best invoicing apps for small business

An invoice is a document which is sent to customers/clients requesting payment for goods or services. As opposed to a receipt, an invoice is used in cases where the goods/services are being delivered up front with payment to follow based on agreed terms (i.e 30 days after the invoice is issued). The following information is usually included: 

• Company logo
• Cost breakdown of the goods/services
• Total cost to pay (inc or exc VAT)
• Bank account details
• Payment instructions (eg ‘Pay within 30 days’)

Invoices are mostly sent via email these days and may include the information within the email body or as a separate PDF attachment. 

Invoicing is fundamental to ensuring you get paid for the work you do. However, creating and sending out invoices manually can be a time-consuming and tedious task. That’s where invoicing apps and software come in. 

• Save time – cut down on invoicing admin and instead focus on generating income.
• Get paid quickly – automated invoicing and reminder emails are an effective way to reduce late payment and improve cash flow. 
• Look professional – use readymade templates so all you need to do is input your business information and branding. 
• Gather insights – through reporting and integration with accounting software you can get a better picture of your business’s health and best-paying customers. 

We’re going to focus on dedicated invoicing apps. Based on popularity and customer reviews, here are six of the best on the market (available to download on your computer or mobile):

• The best invoicing app for simplicity… Invoice Simple
• The best invoicing app for free invoice templates… Invoice Home
• The best app for start-ups… Invoicely
• The best invoicing app for trade businesses… Powered Now
• The best invoicing app for speed… Invoice2go
• The best all-round free invoice app… Square Invoices

Continue reading below for a more detailed summary of each invoicing app. 

Invoice Simple promises to let you “make invoicing your customers the simplest thing you do all day”. You can send professional-looking invoices from your phone or laptop thanks to “the simplest invoicing software you’ll ever use”.

Users can create estimates and invoices instantly. According to its Vancouver-based creators, with Invoice Simple you can: “Get your invoicing done in minutes, not hours. Create estimates and invoices on the road or at home. Quickly add details such as discounts, payment instructions, due dates, photos, signatures, shipping details and more. Turn estimates into invoices with one click.” More than half a million businesses now use it.  

Price:

Free for your first three invoices. Then you can gain access to a full Pro account for “$9.99[£8]/month or $29.99[£23.50]/year”.

Support:

Much technical support information is available via the website, but you can email the technical support team if necessary.

Key selling points:

• Quickly create professional invoices and estimates wherever you are—“with a customer, between jobs, or at home”.
• Convert estimates to invoices with one click.
• Choose an invoice template and customise it with your logo. Add a signature, photos, notes, etc.
• Email, text or print your invoices.
• Receive notifications when invoices are read and track late payments.
• Accept credit card payments as well as cash and cheque payments.
• Enables you to create receipts in seconds and send them to clients.

Customer review:

“Other invoicing apps didn’t offer the same fluidity and transparency.”

Jesse George – Co-founder and photographer at TO2Rio

Download:

From the App Store or GooglePlay (free).

Find out more about Invoice Simple.

Created by Las Vegas-based Wikilane, Invoice Home offers you more than 100 invoice template designs “created by professionals”, with brand new templates added every month. You can upload your business logo – or use one of the 500 pre-designed logos – and select colors that match your brand. You can then create and email invoices as PDF attachments.  

Price:

Free plan enables you to invoice up to $1,000 (£780) a month without any fees. You can upgrade to the unlimited plan where you can invoice as much as you like, whenever you like, for just $6.99 (£5.50) a month.

Support:

Email the company directly for support. The website features a comprehensive FAQs section.

Key selling points:

• Simple to use.
• Free templates and logos.
• Customisable invoice templates.
• Unlimited invoice storage.
• Customers can pay your invoice online via PayPal or Credit Card.
• Download all your invoices in one click to forward on to your accountant.
• Auto numbering.
• iOS (compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) or Android.
• Create matching receipts.

Customer review:

“This app is great! If you run a small business, Invoice Home is perfect. It’s really easy to understand and to record all your clients’ details. After you sent the first invoice to a client, the second one will take seconds to complete.”

Gianluca Gardin 

Download:

From the App Store or GooglePlay.

Find out more about Invoice Home.

Powered Now has been “designed and built for business owners to use on the go”. It was created for small businesses, sole traders, contractors and freelancers in general, but many tradespeople use it.

Award-winning invoice, quoting and scheduling app for small businesses Powered Now enables users to easily and quickly create invoices, estimates and quotes. You can also “manage your team’s job sheets, appointments and diary, all securely backed up to the cloud”.

Price:

Starter – £5 a month (or £50 a year); Business – £15 a month (or £150 a year); Professional – £25 a month (£250 a year). All prices exclude VAT.

Support:

The Powered Now website features “advice and answers from the Powered Now Team”. You can also call a UK freephone number for support.

Key selling points:

• Free 14-day trial.
• Create invoices, quotes, job sheets, certificates and credit notes quickly and easily.
• Createunlimited invoices, quotes and job sheets.
• Supports Making Tax Digital and the Construction Industry Scheme.
• Send your invoices easily by email or text message.
• Offline mode.
• Invoice from anywhere and any device – Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad and Android.
• Choose from a template library, upload your logo.
• Free demo or trial.

Customer review:

“I can’t run my business without it now. Honestly, the best app for our trade.”

Dave Kington

Download:

From the App Store or GooglePlay (free).

Find out more about Powered Now.

Created by Vienna-based technology company, Apilayer, Invoicely provides start-ups and small businesses with free online invoicing. It allows businesses to “create and send invoices and estimates, track time and expenses, and accept online payments”.

Some free invoice apps limit the number of invoices you can send, but Invoicely doesn’t. You can send unlimited invoices to unlimited customers – even on the free plan – but you can only accept PayPal payments and you cannot produce estimates if you choose the free option.

Price:

For greater flexibility, the basic plan is $9.99 [£8] a month (two users), but the most popular choice is the professional plan, which costs $19.99[£15.50] (up to 10 users). Both allow online payments.

Support:

The Invoicely website covers off many basic questions. Email support is also available.

Key selling points:

• Unlimited invoices – even with the free option.
• “Create professional and elegant looking estimates and invoices in any language or currency in a matter of seconds, and easily deliver them to your clients.”
• Real-time reports offer “valuable insights about how your business is doing”.
• Works on Mac, PC and mobile.
• Better track your time, expenses and mileage, so your invoices include all costs.
• Keep track of your invoicing “whether you’re at home, in the office or on the go”.

Customer review:

“I’m a big fan of Invoicely. Keeps it’s simple and easy, but does the job!”

Farhan Rehman – ‎Conscious Comms

Download:

Invoicely is a cloud-based app.

Find out more about Invoicely.

In 2002, business owner Chris Strode noticed that the only invoicing programmes available came as part of expensive accounting systems. He believed that there should be an easier and cheaper solution, so he coded a version on his commute home from work.

When the iPhone App Store launched in 2009, Invoice2go went mobile and businesses in some 160 countries now use it. They are able to: “Create great-looking, professional invoices and get paid faster using one simple app”.  

Price:

Various prices, determined by whether you go for the Lite, Standard, Advanced or Unlimited option.

Support:

The Invoice2Go website features a wealth of information and advice. You can also email or telephone the US-based support team.

Key selling points:

• Compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android.
• Gives you professional invoice templates. Add your logo and branding colours.
• Set up weekly, fortnightly or monthly invoices for repeat business.
• Easily create estimates for customers, which can later be turned into invoices.
• Easily add VAT, if required.
• Accept payments instantly. Clients can pay your invoices using credit card, Paypal and Apple Pay.
• Track overdue invoices and send automatic payment reminders.
• Free trial available.

Customer review:

“I like having the ability to invoice and send estimates while on site.”

Gary C – Rylix Electric

Download:

From the App Store or Google Play (free).

Find out more about Invoice2go.

Jack Dorsey is the CEO and Chairman of San Francisco-headquartered Square, which was formed in 2009. He is also CEO of Twitter and co-founded both businesses.

According to Square: “Square Invoices has everything you need to run your invoicing business on the go: online invoice and estimate maker, automatic reminders, real-time tracking and reporting and a secure, fast payments system. It’s all in one app, and there are no monthly fees. Bill customers with a simple invoice app that also makes sending estimates or requesting deposits easy.”

Price:

Free.

Support:

Square users can access an online information portal. Local telephone support teams are available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

Key selling points:

• Quick and easy to create, send and track invoices. “Just enter your customer’s email, enter the payment amount and hit send.”
• No monthly cost.
• You can accept card payments directly for 2.5% per transaction.
• Works for one-time billing, repeat clients and recurring charges.
• Professional-looking invoices. Upload your logo and use your own branding colours.
• Tracks invoices – so you know which ones are overdue and automatically sends payment reminders.
• Can request part payments of large invoices.
• Can generate estimates. 
• Android or iOS.

Customer review:

“Best thing I have ever done for my small business was signing up with Square and downloading this app. Everything is so easy. Estimates can be made instantly, in the field, from my phone.”

Shawn Logan

Download:

From the App Store or Google Play (free).

Find out more about the Square Invoices app.