Top Zoho Invoice Alternatives for Small Business Billing and Invoicing

As a business owner, you have to wear too many hats at a time. And billing shouldn't be another one. Zoho Invoice is a popular tool because it is easy to use and free to begin with. But as your business grows, you may find its features limited. And that's when you look for alternatives that can provide better integrations, multi-currency billing and more such facilities.

In this article, we'll look at some of the best Zoho Invoice alternatives for small businesses to make your invoicing easier and faster.

Zoho Invoice is a great invoicing tool for small businesses, but as the business grows, the features this tool provides may not be enough for the operations. Some of the reasons why businesses look for Zoho Invoice alternatives are:

• Free plan limitations: It bounds invoice volume to around 1,000 per year and limits the number of users, projects, and customization options.

• A few free features: Advanced automation and reporting features are only available in paid tiers.

• Basic interface and app functionalities: Some find the user interface less intuitive for large-scale use, and the mobile app features are basic and lag behind competitors.

• Limited flexibility: Difficulty for businesses that involve complex billing or have multi-currency needs. The software solution may find the handling of exchange rates and advanced reporting less flexible compared to global, enterprise-grade platforms.

• Integration with Non-Zoho apps: Zoho's strength lies in its seamless integration within its own large ecosystem of business products like CRM, Books, Inventory and so on. Hence, limited support for integration with non-Zoho apps.

There is a certain set of factors that decides whether invoicing tools are good enough for your business or not.  An ideal case for any such software is that it should be easy to use, support automation, fit your business size and meet the industry requirements. Let's look at some factors in detail:

Ease of use

You want to automate the process of creating invoices without any extra training, so the software solution should be simple to navigate and should offer automation features.

Customization

Your invoices should speak like your brand. Some Zoho Invoice alternatives allow you to add your logo, colours, and business style.

Automation and recurring invoices

When dealing with multiple clients and vendors, you need software that sends recurring invoices and automatic payment reminders for you to get paid on time.

Integration capabilities

Your Zoho Invoice alternative should work smoothly with other tools for accounting, payment gateways, or CRM systems.

Tax and multi-currency support

Indian businesses that deal with foreign clients need an invoicing tool that supports multi-currency transactions and abides by international laws. The invoicing software must also follow the GST laws of the country.

Mobile accessibility and scalability

Invoicing tools that offer good mobile apps allow you to send invoices and track payments from anywhere and anytime. Your invoicing solution should be scalable. It should cater to your growing business by offering capabilities to handle more clients, invoices and necessary features as you scale across borders.

Pricing

The invoicing tool you select should be affordable and budget-friendly. Most of such tools offer free plans or trials for 30 days, but if you want specific advanced features, there are subscription tiers too.

Security and compliance

Basic security features like data encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA) protect your financial data. Always use an invoicing tool that implements such features and complies with legal guidelines.

Customer support

Whenever there's an issue with the invoicing platform, make sure that the customer support helps you solve the issue by either providing 24/7 support or access to the created tutorials or guides.

Now that you know what the key criteria are for finding the ideal platform, here is a quick outline of the 10 top Zoho invoice alternatives. You have their key features, pros and cons, pricing, and user ratings to help you choose the right one for your business.

1. FreshBooks

FreshBooks is an accounting and invoicing software that caters to freelancers and small businesses. It has a clean, clutter-free experience that many new business owners find welcoming, reducing the learning curve significantly.

Key features:

• Time-tracking.
• Expense management.
• Recurring billing and payment reminders.
• Supports mobile apps.

Pros:

• User-friendly.
• Great for freelancers.
• Reliable customer support.

Cons:

• Pricier plans.
• Limited features for inventory.

Pricing:

• Lite plan - 8.40 USD/monthly.
• Plus plan - 15.20 USD/monthly.
• Premium plan - 26 USD/monthly.
• Select plan - custom pricing.

G2 ratings: 4.5/5

2. Wave

Wave is a free invoicing platform that simplifies bookkeeping with no hidden costs. It is highly attractive for bootstrapped startups and integrates accounting and invoicing seamlessly in one free platform.

Key features:

• Free unlimited invoicing.
• Payment tracking.
• Receipt scanning.
• Supports multi-currency invoicing.

Pros:

• Completely free, easy to use.
• Good for startups

Cons:

• Limited advanced features.
• No dedicated support for free-users.

Pricing:

• Starter plan - free.
• Pro plan - 9.50 USD per month for the first three months. Then, 19 USD per month.

G2 ratings: 4.3/5

3. ZipBooks

ZipBooks is an invoicing tool that offers a built-in client review and feedback system to improve customer relationships directly within the software.

Key features:

• Unlimited invoicing.
• Client portals available.
• Automated reminders.

Pros:

• Scalable plans.
• Simple and free invoicing.

Cons:

• Limited integrations.

Pricing:

• Starter plan - free.
• Smarter plan - 15 USD per month.
• Sophisticated plan - 35 USD per month.

G2 ratings: 4.7/5

4. Invoice Ninja

Invoice Ninja has this open-source model that lets tech-savvy users self-host and customize the software beyond standard offerings. This Zoho Invoice alternative is perfect for businesses looking for full control and flexibility. 

Key features:

• Task and time tracking.
• Multiple payment gateways.
• Client portal.

Pros:

• Feature-rich free plan.
• Open-source option.

Cons:

• Slightly complex interface.

Pricing:

• Free plan.
• Ninja Pro plan - 10 USD per month with an annual plan.
• Enterprise plan - 160 USD per year.
• Premium Business+ plan - Starting from 240 USD. 

G2 ratings: 4.3/5

5. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is a hub of financial management solutions for businesses. It has a vast ecosystem of thousands of third-party app integrations that extend its functionality beyond invoicing.

Key features:

• Recurring billing.
• Payroll integration.
• Tax management.

Pros:

• Strong reporting and integrations.

Cons:

• Can be complex, expensive tiers.

Pricing:

• EasyStart plan - 200.88 USD for first year.
• Essential plan - 468.72 USD for first year.
• Plus plan - 712.80 USD for first year.
• Advanced plan - 1425.60 USD for first year.

G2 ratings: 4/5

6. Invoicera

Invoicera allows companies to rebrand the platform for client-facing invoicing. It offers tailored solutions with white-label options that are ideal for managed service providers and agencies.

Key features:

• Automated billing.
• Multi-currency support.
• Project invoicing.
• GST compliance.

Pros:

• Strong automation.
• Tax support.
• Scalable tool.

Cons:

• Higher learning curve.
• Custom pricing.

Pricing:

• Starter plan - ₹299/month.
• Business plan - ₹499/month.
• Enterprise plan - ₹999/month.
• Infinite plan - ₹1999/month.
• Also supports custom pricing.

G2 ratings: 4.6/5

7. Square Invoices

This Zoho Invoice alternative offers seamless hardware integration for brick-and-mortar retailers. It uses Square's POS systems to bridge online invoicing and physical store payments effortlessly.

Key features:

• Pay-per-use billing.
• Real-time tracking.
• Mobile-friendly.

Pros:

• No monthly fees.
• Instant payments.
• Great for retailers.

Cons:

• Processing fees can add up.

Pricing:

• Square Free plan - Free.
• Square Plus plan - 49 USD/ monthly, per location.
• Square Premium plan - 149 USD/ monthly, per location.
• Square Pro plan - Custom pricing.

Trustpilot ratings: 4.2/5

8. PayPal Invoicing

PayPal is a global brand, and this helps businesses develop trust and customer confidence in cross-border transactions and instant payments.

Key features:

• Easy invoice creation.
• Multi-currency support.
• Supports payment tracking.

Pros:

• Trusted brand.
• Simple setup.
• Supports global payments.

Cons:

• Fees on transactions.
• Limited accounting features.

Pricing:

• Personal and Business plans. A certain percentage of fee is charged, differing by country or region.

G2 ratings: 4.4/5

9. ProfitBooks

ProfitBooks helps Indian SMEs to transition to digital invoicing and meet GST compliance with simple workflows that are designed by chartered accountants for non-accountants.

Key features:

• GST compliant.
• Supports mobile apps and multi-currency transactions.
• Expense tracking.

Pros:

• Built for Indian SMEs.
• Unlimited free invoicing.

Cons:

• Limited offline mode.
• Free advanced tools.

Pricing:

• Startup version (Free plan).
• SMB version (yearly) - ₹4,999/year plus GST.
• SMB version (monthly) - ₹499/month plus GST.

G2 ratings: 4.7/5

10. Bookipi

Bookipi is a mobile-first invoicing app for self-employed professionals. It delivers real-time payment notifications and easy invoice sharing, for freelancers who are constantly on the move. 

Key features:

• Mobile-first invoicing.
• Expense tracking.
• Customizable templates.
• Supports multi-currency. 

Pros:

• Easy to use on mobile.
• Free plan available.

Cons:

• Very basic features suited mostly for freelancers.

Pricing:

• Free plan.
• Starter plan - 7 USD/ month.
• Professional plan - 39 USD/month.

G2 ratings: 4.5/5

You should ask the right queries to find the right invoicing tool for your business. Look for features that match your needs, are easily integrated with your existing tools, and are reliable. To help you decide, here is some help: 

1. Does it go well with my business size?

Make sure that the software is appropriate and matches your business scale. Whether you are a startup, freelancer or a growing enterprise, your business type and size decide which invoicing tool is the best fit.

2. What are its main features?

Is it automation? Multi-currency support? Look for the factor that sets the tool apart from other Zoho Invoice alternatives. GST compliance, time tracking, and customization options are also some of the features you can find in an invoicing tool.

3. How are its integration capabilities?

Your invoicing software must connect easily with your accounting software, payment gateways, CRM, and other systems you use.

4. Is it simple to learn?

Invoicing solutions that have a steep learning curve are a big no. A good tool is one that comes with a simple and intuitive interface.

5. What security options does it offer?

Your transaction and financial data require strong security measures. Understanding the various safety features, like multi-factor authentication, offered by the invoicing tool helps you make the right choice.

6. Is the pricing budget-friendly?

Check the pricing plans carefully and choose the one that suits your business.