Best Invoice App for Freelancers in Australia (That'll Help You Get Paid Faster!)

As a freelancer, you've probably faced a few issues when testing invoice software and apps:

• They are too complicated and take 2+ hours to learn how to use
• They aren't built for Australia-based freelancers, and are therefore not tax-compliant
• They require manual reconciliation (you have to enter the app and match each invoice to your income manually)
• They won't help you accept payments quickly
• You still need 3+ other tools to help with accounting, sending payments, saving for tax time and all the other admin freelancers have to do

Based on conversations with freelancers in the Parpera community and our own experience building an invoice app, we've come to understand the unique needs each freelancer has when it comes to an invoicing, managing payments and saving for taxes.

In this article, we'll be comparing 5 different invoice apps, and we'll look closely at whether they address the issues mentioned above.

1. Parpera
2. Zoho
3. Hnry
4. Xero
5. Invoice2go

Note: Looking to get started with an invoice app right away? Download Parpera and start your free 30 day trial.

To help you choose the best invoicing app for your freelancing needs, here’s a chart comparing features between Parpera, Zoho, Hnry, Xero, and Invoice2go.

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Parpera: Invoicing on-the-go designed for freelancers

Parpera is an all-in-one money-management app designed for Australian freelancers and sole traders. A Parpera account includes a free 30-day trial, a Volt bank account, expense categorisation and management, automatic payment reconciliation, and invoicing, all directly from our app.

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Here’s why Parpera works as a great invoice app for freelancers and sole traders in Australia:

Invoicing with Parpera takes less than a minute

In just a few clicks, you can create and send an invoice directly from the app. How? Once you create an account with Parpera, your bank details are safely stored and automatically inserted into every invoice. So you can say goodbye to searching for your bank information, wasting time with copy and paste, or potentially inserting the wrong details.

Parpera allows you to save client information and automate your services for future invoicing. Just type them in once, then Parpera will offer them as options that you can add with a click.

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Parpera invoices are professionally designed for faster payments

We’ve optimised the design of our invoices to help clients understand how to pay you, resulting in quicker, faster payments.  

With Parpera, your bank details are the most prominent feature on your invoice, placed on the top right-hand side, and not hidden like traditional invoices, down at the bottom in fine print. We will soon be including a Pay Now button on each invoice and a payment link, making it easier for clients to pay you quickly.

And Parpera invoices are professionally designed so they look good, too. And soon you’ll be able to make free international payments and offer clients a pay-by-card option!

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Parpera emails your invoice on your behalf

You can email your invoices directly from the Parpera app to your clients and send a copy to yourself as well.

Our email messages are friendly, professional, and designed for faster payments because we:

• Personalise each email with the client’s name.
• Remind the client to include the invoice number in the payment, which allows us to auto-reconcile your invoices, automatically moving your invoice from unpaid to paid.
• Include a payment link within the email message.
• Attach the invoice as a PDF.
• Provide an option to send a copy of the email to yourself and/or your accountant.

Even if the client doesn’t pay immediately, we’re soon going to launch a feature where Parpera sends automatic reminder emails as the payment due date nears, so you don’t have to worry about chasing up.  

You may like: How To Create an Invoice in Australia (And Get Paid Faster!)

Your invoices move automatically from unpaid to paid

Parpera offers automatic reconciliation on your invoice payments, moving your unpaid invoices to paid when your client pays via one of your payment links or adds the invoice number to their payments. This means we make accounting easier for you come tax time and you won’t have to manually log into separate software to reconcile your invoices.  

With auto-reconciliation, you can tell at a glance which invoices are paid or outstanding.

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Parpera creates tax-compliant invoices in just one click

We auto-generate a unique invoice number and automatically add your business and bank details, your client’s details, and your payment terms in each invoice. All you need to do is to add the date, choose your services, and insert the price per service or product. Yes, it’s that simple.

Plus, Parpera takes the guesswork out of Australian tax compliance with simple buttons to flag Goods and Services Tax (GST). Our automated invoicing system will add 10% GST (you can edit the % if you require) and create a tax-compliant invoice.

Bonus: if you’re registered for GST, Parpera will soon be able to create and automatically move your GST money received into a separate savings wallet, so you have your tax monies ready for end-of-year filing.

Read more: Xero vs MYOB vs Parpera: Which One's Best for You?

Parpera does more than only invoicing

We know that freelancers often have to use 3+ tools to help them with all their admin: one to receive and make payments, one to create invoices, one to manage projects, one to manage taxes, and so on.

We built Parpera with the goal of helping freelancers reduce the number of tools, and have a one stop shop where they could manage everything. That's why, with Parpera you'll also get:

• A Volt business bank account
• A Mastercard business debit card
• The ability to flag expenses as tax deductible
• A separate tax saver wallet to set aside money for taxes
• The ability to categorise your expenses and see how your spending is doing at a glance

You can learn more about Parpera's story here: The Banking World for Freelancers was Broken. Here's How We're Fixing it With Parpera

Ready to get started? Download the Parpera app and start preparing invoices now

Cons of using Parpera for invoicing

Not an-invoice-only app

If you’re looking for an invoice-only app, then Parpera may not be right for you. We designed Parpera as an all-in-one money management app. When you create an account with us, besides automatic online invoicing, you’ll receive a business bank account provided by Volt Bank, expense categorisation, a GST savings wallet, accounting integration with Xero, bookkeeping, and more.

After 30 days, it’s paid

During your free 30-day trial, you can create and send as many invoices as you want. After the trial, you’ll pay $15 per month or a 25% discounted yearly fee of $135 to continue to use Parpera’s invoicing features.  

No desktop feature

Currently, we don’t have a desktop version of Parpera, which is available only for smartphones. So if you’re looking for an invoice mobile app that can connect to a desktop version as well, Parpera might not be the best choice for you.

Who is Parpera good for?

We designed Parpera for Australian freelancers and sole traders who want to spend less time managing admin and use a convenient, easy-to-use invoicing and money management app that helps them manage and grow their business.

You may also like: Wave Alternative in Australia: Parpera

However, we know Parpera is not for everyone and other invoicing apps may be a better fit for your particular circumstances. Here are some other invoicing software suitable for Australian freelancers:

Zoho

Zoho is a cloud-based solution for running small businesses. It offers free invoicing on their dedicated app.

What are the pros and cons of the Zoho Invoice app?

Features and pros:

• Up to 1,000 free invoices per year that you can create and send directly from the app.
• Create quotes and turn them into invoices.
• Stores client information to make future invoicing easier.
• Integrates with Zoho Books, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho CRM.
• Use multiple currencies and create invoices in over 10 languages.
• Payment reminders available.
• Track invoice payment status.
• You can set up recurring client invoices.
• Supports various online payments like PayPal, Stripe, and Worldpay.
• Saves clients’ card details for automatic payments on recurring invoices.

Cons:

• Cannot customise invoices from the app. You can only download a template and customise it via desktop.
• You’ll also need to download the template to add GST to be tax compliant.
• Payment reminders can be sent only manually from the app. You can create and set up 30 automatic reminders from the desktop version.
• Doesn’t automatically reconcile payments with invoices.
• Customer support is available only via email from within the app. 

Who is the Zoho Invoice app good for?

The Zoho Invoice app for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and sole traders who are tech savvy and want to integrate with other Zoho services.

Hnry

Created by accountants, Hnry is a financial website and app designed for self-employed New Zealanders and Australians. Similar to Parpera, Hnry provides its members access to a NAB business account.

Hnry's services include quoting and invoicing, business and savings bank accounts, receiving payments and reconciliation, investments, and tax filing.

What are the pros and cons of the Hnry app?

Features and pros:

• Unlimited amount of invoices.
• Invoicing on the go, directly from the app. 
• Create and send quotes, which you can transform into invoices.
• Invoice payment status tracking. 
• Payment reconciliation.
• Automatic late-payment reminders. 
• Receive your income minus the taxes you’ll have to pay.
• Online payments via debit or credit cards.
• You only pay when clients pay into your Hnry bank account.
• Human support team available via chat, email, and phone.
• The app includes invoicing, viewing your tax deductions and income insights, payment management, and money allocation. 

Cons:

• Hnry costs 1% of your taxable income, capped at a maximum of $1,500. 
• While you can invoice in any currency, Hnry doesn’t offer free international payments or currency conversion, so you’ll need to use a third party app if you want to reduce costs.
• Full features available on desktop version only.
• They don’t offer a business debit card

Who is HNRY good for?

Considering the fee, Hrny is a good option for part-time or gig workers who are juggling two or more jobs with local clients and looking for an easy-to-use invoicing app and help with their taxes.

Xero

Xero is a full-fledged accounting and money management tool that can create tax-compliant invoices for Australia. Xero offers a desktop version and an app.

What are the pros and cons of the Xero Accounting app?

Features and pros:

• Offers a 30-day free trial, then you can choose one of three plans. 
• Create and customise unlimited invoices with the Standard and Premium 5 plans.
• Xero’s Pay-now button on your invoices integrates with Stripe and other payment options to facilitate payments from anywhere in the world. 
• Xero’s desktop version will automatically sync with the app. 
• It’s cloud-based so there’s less risk of losing info and lets you access your invoices from anywhere.
• Payment reconciliation.
• Create and send quotes.
• Automatic late-payment reminders. 

Cons:

• For international invoicing and multiple currencies, you’ll need to sign up for the Premium 5 plan, which costs $70 per month. 
• Xero is more of an accounting software designed for accountants, bookkeepers, and finance managers, so there’s a learning curve to use all of its features successfully. 
• It’s more expensive than other invoicing apps. Their least expensive paid plan starts at $27 per month. 
• Payment to invoice reconciliation is manual and available only through the desktop’s dashboard, not through the app. You can only reconcile your expenses manually via the app. 
• Some Xero reviewers say invoices are difficult to customise and don’t look very professional.
• They don’t offer a support phone number, only a support hub with online information and email address. If you send them your phone number via email, they will call you back.

Who is Xero good for?

Small business owners who want to use Xero more for its accounting services and have a single-country client base.

Invoice2go

Invoice2go is a complete invoicing platform you can use on your phone and is optimised to make invoices easy to create and send.

What are the pros and cons of Invoice2go?

Features and pros:

• Available on both app and desktop.
• Offers a free plan for 30 days. 
• Includes 30, 100, or an unlimited number of invoices per year, depending on your plan. 
• Create quotes you can turn into customised invoices. 
• Offers a variety of custom invoice templates to choose from. 
• Automatic reminders on overdue invoice payments.
• Invoice status and expense tracking.
• Flexible payment options, integrating with Stripe and PayPal. 
• Allows you to implement time tracking and bill your hours. 
• You can send your invoice via text, email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other apps available on your phone.
• Invoice and payment syncing to QuickBooks and Xero (only available with the Professional and Premium plans).
• Payment notification and reminders. 
• Invoice payments via bank transfer are free.

Cons:

• Only a limited number of invoices are available on the less expensive plans:

• 2 invoices per month or 30 per year for the Starter plan, which costs $7.99/month or $79.99/year.
• 5  invoices per month or 100 per year with the Professional plan, which costs 12.99/month or 129.99/year. 

• Unlimited invoices cost more with the Premium plan, at the price of $49.99/month or $499.99/year. 
• Recurring invoices for regular clients are only available with the more expensive Premium plan. 
• Online credit card payments incur a fee:

1. Starter plan: 2.4% + 30¢ per payment transaction. 
2. Professional plan: 2.1% + 30¢ per payment transaction.
3. Premium plan: 1.9% + 30¢ per payment transaction.

• PayPal payments incur a 2.9% + 30¢ fee on all plans. 
• Business bank account available only in USD.
• You’ll need to customise your invoices to be tax compliant in Australia. 

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Who is Invoice2go good for?

Invoice2go is suitable for part-time freelancers and sole traders who need only a few invoices per month without many recurring, regular clients and aren’t looking for online payment systems.

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We hope this article is useful and you have all the information you need to choose the best invoicing app to help you manage and grow your freelance business. If you’re looking for a complete money management tool all in a single app, Parpera will help you get up and running in under 10 minutes.

Start your free 30-day invoicing trial today: