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 and small business owners in the Parpera community and our own experience building an invoice app, we've come to understand the unique needs each business owner has when it comes to 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.

Parpera: Invoicing on-the-go designed for freelancers

Parpera makes it easy for sole traders and small business owners to do business by offering accounts, cards, payments, invoicing, insights, tax, and accounting - all in one easy-to-use app. A Parpera account includes a free 30-day trial, a business account, expense categorisation and management, automatic payment reconciliation, and invoicing, all directly from our App.

Here’s why Parpera works as a great invoice app for freelancers, sole traders and small business owners 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 details are safely stored and automatically inserted into every invoice. So you can say goodbye to searching for your account information, wasting time with copy and paste, or potentially inserting the wrong details.

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

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 account 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. You’ll also be able to add a Pay Now button on each invoice and a payment link, making it easier for clients to pay you quickly. 

Not just that, but you can set up different payment options depending on the client. You can request a real-time bank transfer, send a payment link and can even choose to get paid in person with QR codes. Soon you’ll also be able to pay via BPAY.

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, you’ll be able to send payment reminders 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.

Parpera creates tax-compliant invoices in just one click

We auto-generate a unique invoice number and automatically add your business and account 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?

Set aside the right amount for tax time

As a freelancer or small business owner, you want to do as little admin as possible. That’s why we designed Parpera to do more than just prepare invoices.

We’ll help you estimate how much you need to set aside for tax, and you’ll also have a separate wallet where you can set aside money every month for income tax and GST. You’ll also be able to prepare your BAS from the app, making it a lot easier to lodge every quarter.

You’ll also be able to earn interest on the money you set aside in your tax wallet with Parpera Earn (coming soon!).

You’ll never feel alone when using Parpera 

We support you every step of the way, offering 24/7 human support via chat, email, and phone. 

When you create an account with us, you become a member of the Parpera community. 

This means we collaborate with you to improve existing features and design new ones that will help you save time and money. We also believe in fair and transparent collaboration, which is why we make it easy for you to cancel your membership at any time, for free, no questions asked. 

‍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 invoicing, you’ll receive a business account with our partner, Wise, 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 can choose between our two different packages: Run, for $15/month and Pro, for $35/month 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 small business owners 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 apps 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 Monoova 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.

Read more: Parpera vs Hnry: What's the Difference and Which One is Best for You?

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 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: Download Parpera now