16 of the Best Zoho Alternatives for Small Business Owners

Are you looking for a powerful, easy to use Zoho alternative for invoicing? We have you covered. Read on to learn everything about 16 of the best Zoho alternatives available to date.

Before we continue, let’s address this question so many small business owners ask: ‘Do I really need to spend money on an invoicing management system?’ After all, there’s a tool out there for just about everything these days. And as a small business owner, you can’t afford to waste money on extra tools when you could just do the job yourself for free.

But an invoice management system is more than just another nice-to-have tool. Why?

It helps you get paid.

If you’re not getting paid or not getting paid on time, it will have severe consequences for your bottom line. Instead of spending precious hours chasing down customers to pay the bill, you should have a system that manages the process for you. This will only get more important as your business grows.

What is an invoice management system for?

 Simply put, to make things easier. For example, invoice management automates the process of invoicing so that you don’t have to manually create, send, track, or organize hundreds or thousands of invoices.

Invoice management systems can help you:

• Save time
• Save money
• Improve cash flow
• Get rid of human errors
• Help you grow your business

What should you look for in an invoicing management system?

 There are lots of options out there, and each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, the best options should have the following characteristics:

• Appropriate cost for your business size
• User-friendliness
• Cloud support
• Customizable templates
• Files and attachments
• Security
• Offline access
• Customer support
• Multiple currency support
• Multiple payment methods
• Customer communication
• Taxes and discounts
• Team cooperation

If you’d like to dive deeper into the features of a good invoicing system, then check out this guide.

What is Zoho?

Zoho is one of the most popular platforms out there. It offers an extensive suite of productivity products for freelancers or small to medium-sized businesses. One of these products is Zoho Invoice. It’s a well-designed platform with a range of features that make invoicing quick and easy.

Source: zoho.com

Best features

• Highly customizable templates
• Wide range of features
• Integrates with the full suite of other Zoho products
• Multilingual and multicurrency supported
• Time tracking and simple project management
• Client portal allows customers access to their records
• Manage online payments, recurring payments, and run payment reports
• Lots of automation options

Pricing

• Offers a limited free plan
• Subscriptions start at $9/month
• Premium plan is $29/month

Do you already use Zoho’s platform for things like e-mail, accounting, or CRM? In that case, Zoho Invoice is a sensible choice for handling your invoicing needs. It offers extensive depth, flexibility, and the automation options allow you to customize the platform to suit your needs. In addition, it has a great user experience and reliable customer support. However, it offers so many different features that some users, especially freelancers or small businesses, may be overwhelmed by its functionality.

If you’re interested in exploring other invoice management systems that might be a better fit for your small business, then keep reading!

Best Zoho Alternatives

There are a lot of invoice management systems to choose from. However, since it can be time-consuming to compare each platform on your own, we’ve compiled this shortlist of some of the best Zoho alternatives on the market.

1. Billdu
2. Freshbooks
3. QuickBooks
4. Xero
5. Invoice Simple
6. Wave
7. CO
8. HoneyBook
9. Invoicely
10. BigTime
11. SAP Concur
12. Invoiced
13. Sunrise
14. Housecall Pro
15. Invoice Ninja
16. Square Invoices

1. Billdu

Billdu makes professional invoicing seem easy, and it was built specifically with freelancers and small businesses in mind. Instead of being a hassle, invoicing is turned into a fast, simple, and even enjoyable process that will impress customers.

Users praise its intuitive interface, and it has a wide range of features that go far beyond standard invoicing. Sales and communication tools are built into the platform for a seamless experience. For example, take bookings, send estimates, or even sell products online via a simple store. However, you don’t need to add extra features unless you need them, allowing you to keep your workflow as simple as you need it to be.

Source: billdu.com

Noteworthy features

• Choose a customizable invoice template and get started in minutes
• Create advanced documents such as automatic recurring invoices, delivery notes, purchase orders, credit notes, and more
• Track all your expenses in the same app, complete with a receipt scanner
• Create professional price quotes and estimates, then turn them into invoices when they’re accepted
• Communicate with customers directly in your business inbox
• Accept online payments using credit cards and Paypal
• Generate detailed charts and reports that you can export and share
• Collaborate with your whole team, and invite your accountant
• Complete mobile invoicing solution with apps for iPhone, iPad and Android

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Subscriptions start at $3.99/month
• Premium plan is $16.99/month

Why is Billdu a good Zoho alternative?

Besides building an invoicing system that is simple yet powerful, Billdu offers sales and communication tools all on the same platform. So whether you’re a creative or a craftsman, you’ll find a streamlined process that you can customize to suit your needs. As a result, you’ll save time, get paid faster, and enjoy doing it.

2. Freshbooks

Freshbooks is an established player in the invoicing space. Their platform is geared towards freelancers or small-scale businesses and offers users a well-rounded experience. Even with all its extra features, Freshbooks’ interface is well designed and doesn’t require an accounting or tech background to use.

Source: freshbooks.com

Best features

• Usability on any device – desktop, mobile, or tablet
• Detailed records show when clients interact with invoices
• Automatic payment reminders
• Time tracking and team collaboration
• Track your inventory
• Many app integrations
• Capable reports and analysis

Pricing

• Subscriptions start at $6/month
• Premium plan is $20/month

Why is Freshbooks a good Zoho alternative?

Freshbooks is a powerful tool that many users choose because of its extensive functionality. Besides invoicing, it offers a wide range of accounting, time tracking, project management tools, and more. For users that need all the extra features, Freshbooks is a great option.

3. Quickbooks

Quickbooks’ cloud accounting software is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. The platform offers a complete range of accounting tools, including but not limited to invoicing. Chances are, you’ll find the feature you need on this platform, regardless of your industry.

Source: quickbooks.intuit.com

Best features

• Reports are detailed and comprehensive
• Data is backed up to the cloud
• Project profitability tracking
• Flexible online payment options
• Add-on payroll option
• Track inventory
• Access to accounting tools

Pricing

• Basic plan starts at $12.50/month
• Advanced subscription costs $90/month

Why is Quickbooks a good Zoho alternative?

Quickbooks has earned its reputation for a reason. It’s a robust platform with all the tools you’ll need to run accounts for a small business. However, freelancers or businesses with tighter budgets may not be able to afford all of the features available on the premium plans, and some users find its interface a challenge to navigate.

4. Xero

Xero is a powerful business solution that goes far beyond invoices. It offers small to medium-sized businesses all the tools they need to pay bills, track projects, accept payments, and more with a wealth of app integrations.

Source: xero.com

Best features

• A vast amount of app integrations
• Bank reconciliation services
• Accept payments instantly
• Turn accepted quotes into invoices
• Receive a notification when a customer opens your invoice
• Bulk invoices

Pricing

• Plans start at $20/month
• Premium subscription is $40/month

Why is Xero a good Zoho alternative?

 Suppose you’re looking to customize your invoice management flow with any number of your favorite apps. In that case, you’ll be interested in the wide variety of integrations that Xero offers. It’s a very comprehensive platform, but one that may overwhelm a user looking for a simple solution.

5. Invoice Simple

Its defining feature is in the name. This invoice management system was designed to be, above all else, simple. As a result, it’s easy to create and send professional invoices right from your mobile device. Simple invoicing is at the heart of Invoice Simple.

Source: invoicesimple.com

Best features

• Quick to get started
• User-friendly, mobile-first experience
• Turn estimates into invoices
• Simple, customizable templates
• Notifications when invoices are read or due

Pricing

• Free for the first 3 invoices
• $5.99 for unlimited invoices

Why is Invoice Simple a good Zoho alternative?

If you do most of your invoicing on the go, then Invoice Simple is a solid option. While it can be used on any device, it is built with the mobile user in mind.  It may not offer the extensive functionality of some of the other platforms on this list, but it is a professional invoicing solution nonetheless.

6. Wave

Wave is an excellent option for freelancers or small businesses operating on a shoestring budget. Why? Because it’s absolutely free to create, customize, and send unlimited invoices. It includes simple accounting software as well to help users keep track of expenses and revenue.

Source: waveapps.com

Best features

• Quick to get started, easy to use
• Track payments and customer communication
• Automatic cloud backups
• Invoicing data syncs with the included accounting software to help you track your finances
• Recurring payments can be set up to occur automatically

Pricing

•  Free

Why is Wave a good Zoho alternative?

 Wave may not have as many features or integrations as some of the other options on this list. However, if you’re looking for a simple, free invoicing solution, then Wave is a good option to check out.

7. AND.CO

AND.CO was explicitly built for freelancers, so it does things a little bit differently than competing platforms. With only one customizable invoice template, it uses a step-by-step wizard to help you complete each invoice. This works well for freelancers billing different items at different prices for different clients.

Source: and.co

Best features

• Interface built for freelancers
• Good project management tool
• Create contracts and proposals in the app
• Time tracking
• Good customer support

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Pro subscription is $18/month

Why is AND.CO a good Zoho alternative?

If you call yourself a freelancer, hustler, entrepreneur, or digital nomad, then AND.CO was built with you in mind. As long as you don’t need to bill the same items on every invoice, the platform’s novel, flexible approach to invoicing might suit your needs. Besides invoicing, it offers a bunch of great features and helpful customer support.

8. Honeybook

Honeybook is another platform that might attract freelancers or entrepreneurs. It features a friendly, personalized interface that is geared towards those in the creative industry.

Source: honeybook.com

Best features

• Friendly, not just user-friendly, interface
• Appointment booking and scheduling
• Attractive invoice templates
• Easy payment system
• Create contracts and proposals
• Unique pipeline style project management

Pricing

• Basic subscription starts at $9/month
• Unlimited subscription is $39/month

Why is Honeybook a good Zoho alternative?

Creatives will like Honeybook’s personalized approach to CRM. While it does invoicing well, it is built around the entire customer management experience. Users rate its onboarding experience, though its extensive features come at a higher cost than other options.

9. Invoicely

Invoicely is another good option for small businesses that want an easy-to-use invoicing system. Their dashboard contains a range of features, from reports to client management.

Source: invoicely.com

Best features

• Extensive business and finance reports
• Track time, expenses, and mileage
• Create both estimates and invoices
• Manage multiple businesses
• Supports multiple countries and currencies

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Subscriptions start at $9.99/month
• Premium subscription is $29.99/month

Why is Invoicely a good Zoho alternative?

Invoicely can do more than create invoices. It’s a good tool for gaining business insights through its reporting feature, and it helps you track different aspects of ongoing projects. It’s simple yet effective, especially for managing multiple businesses.

10. BigTime

BigTime is made for professional service providers. It’s a time-centric platform that helps automate different aspects of business management, including but not limited to invoicing. BigTime offers some of the best time and expense tracking tools for teams that need to get their billable hours right.

Source: bigtime.net

Best features

• Highly capable time tracking and project management tools
• Resource allocation and job assignments
• Real-time reporting and analytics
• Cloud-based, with powerful integrations
• Flexible billing rates
• Time and materials invoices

Pricing

• Subscriptions start at $10/month per user, with a min. of 5 users
• Premier subscription is $40/month per user, with a min. of 10 users

Why is BigTime a good Zoho alternative?

BigTime’s capabilities are probably too robust for the needs of freelancers, and their pricing model reflects that. However, if you’re a firm offering professional consulting, architectural, accounting, engineering, or IT-support services, then BigTime has all the features you need to budget, track, and bill your time.

 11. SAP Concur

SAP Concur is a different kind of platform than most of the others on this list. It is focused less on generalized invoice generation and management and more geared towards travel and expense reports. If your invoice needs are limited to travel and expense management, then SAP Concur may be the management system you’re looking for.

Source: concur.com.au

Best features

• Two or three-way matching resolves invoice discrepancies
• Invoice Capture technology sorts through submitted invoices and extracts data
• Extensive app integration
• Gamifies expenses to keep costs down
• Travel planning feature

Pricing

• $9/report
• Individualized pricing plans

Why is SAP Concur a good Zoho alternative?

Suppose you’re a freelance consultant that regularly bills companies for expenses or a business that needs to automate the expense reporting of your employees. In that case, SAP Concur might be the perfect invoicing platform for you.

12. Invoiced

Like most invoicing management systems, Invoiced is built to save you time and get you paid faster. However, where it stands out is its processes for automating the entire accounts receivable process.

Source: invoiced.com

Best features

• Powerful automation for accounts receivable processes
• Subscription billing
• In-depth customer portal
• Offer customers payment installment plans
• Complex invoice generation
• Automated collections and streamlined payments

Pricing

• Subscriptions start at $500/month
• Customized plans available

Why is Invoiced a good Zoho alternative?

 Sure, Invoiced might be out of reach for some small businesses because of its high cost. But as your business grows, you may end up looking for a platform that is capable of automating your billing and collections processes. If you can afford it, then Invoiced is a strong contender.

13. Sunrise

Sunrise offers something a little different in that a premium subscription assigns you a professional bookkeeper to help you manage your accounting. Even if you stick to the free plan, the platform is attractively designed and intuitive to use.

Source: sunriseapp.com

Best features

• Simplified process to create an invoice in a few clicks
• Recurring invoices
• Professional bookkeeper option to manage your accounting
• Double-entry accounting
• Cloud-based
• Financial reporting

Pricing

• Free for managing invoicing on your own
• Premium subscription with professional bookkeeping services starts at $149/month

Why is Sunrise a good Zoho alternative?

If you want to combine the flexibility of a self-service platform with the option to connect to a professional bookkeeper, then Sunrise gives you that capability. While you may not get everything you want out of the free version, it’s easy-to-use and should suffice for basic invoicing needs.

14. Housecall Pro

If you’re a plumber, electrician, housekeeper, HVAC technician, or another service professional, then you’re in constant need of invoicing. Housecall Pro is an invoice management system built specifically for you.

Source: housecallpro.com

Best features

• Scheduling and online booking
• Easily create estimates and invoices
• Communicate with customers via friendly “on-my-way” texts
• Live map GPS for assigning employees to jobs
• Automated invoice reminders and follow-up marketing
• Property profiles and notes

Pricing

•  Subscriptions start at $49/month
• Premium subscription is $109/month
• Customized pricing for larger enterprises

Why is Housecall Pro a good Zoho alternative?

Housecall Pro is a good Zoho alternative if you fit the user profile. It offers a range of complementary features for service professionals to go beyond invoice management. It’s definitely not a solution for the whole market, but it is a clear frontrunner for its niche.

15. Invoice Ninja

If you’re looking for a free option that can grow with your business, then take a look at Invoice Ninja. It offers one of the best free plans out there, allowing you to send unlimited invoices. But don’t be fooled by its low cost. It provides many great complementary features, and you can upgrade to a paid plan for even more capability.

Source: invoicenina.com

Best features

• Customizable templates
• Easily set up recurring or auto-billing
• Over 40 different payment gateways supported
• Create quotations and proposals
• Project management workflows with Kanban boards
• Time tracking and expense reporting

Pricing

• Unlimited free plan available
• Subscriptions start at $10/month
• Enterprise subscription starts at $14/month

Why is Invoice Ninja a good Zoho alternative?

 Consider Invoice Ninja if you don’t have a big budget right now, but need a platform that can scale with your growth.

16. Square Invoices

Square Invoices is part of the larger Square ecosystem, built to handle digital payments and financial services. As such, it is a well-built platform for creating and managing professional invoices. Most importantly, it offers streamlined processes for getting paid.

Source: squareup.com

Best features

• Real-time invoice tracking
• One-click payment
• Save customer bank account information for auto-billing and custom contracts
• Good reporting tools
• Progress invoices

Pricing

• Zero monthly fees
• Square takes 2.9% + $0.30 each time an invoice is paid online by card
• Square takes 1% per ACH transaction

Why is Square Invoices a good Zoho alternative?

 If you already use Square’s point-of-sale and payment processing solutions, then you may want to consider integrating Square Invoices into your workflow. It is a competent platform, but make sure to calculate how much the fees will cost you.

Finding the right fit is crucial

As a small business, sometimes you don’t need every advanced feature on the list. The platform you choose should be capable enough to improve your efficiency without slowing you down with unnecessary options.

Your budget is another big factor, but don’t only look for the best free option. Consider the amount of time you’ll be investing in these tools every day, and evaluate how much money a competent platform will save you in time and unpaid invoices.

With so many great options out there, it’s more important than ever to do a little extra research to make sure you choose the right invoicing software for your team.