Invoicing software for contractors.
From simple mobile billing to progress invoicing, retainage, and AIA forms.
Do you need this
software yet?
The honest answer: maybe not. Many small financial software operations need better discipline before they need a full operations platform.
Most roundup posts pretend every reader is the ideal buyer. They're not. Before you compare the tools below, work through this checklist. If you land mostly on the right side, save your money — a better spreadsheet will do more for you this quarter than any of these.
- ✓invoices take more than a day to send after job completion
- ✓follow-up on unpaid invoices happens inconsistently or not at all
- ✓multiple people need to create or approve invoices
- ✓progress billing or retainage tracking is done manually in spreadsheets
- ✓payment status is unclear across multiple jobs
- —the business only sends a few invoices per month and cash flow is not a problem
- —an existing accounting system already handles invoicing well enough
- —the real bottleneck is pricing discipline or sales volume, not billing speed
- —the contractor works exclusively on platforms that handle billing automatically
Jobber
"Contractors who switch to Jobber often mention the same thing — invoices finally go out the same day the job finishes."
Jobber is not dedicated invoicing software. It is field-service software that happens to handle invoicing exceptionally well. The quote-to-cash workflow is what makes it worth considering — create a quote, schedule the job, mark it complete, and invoice from the same record. Batch invoicing lets you send multiple bills at once. Automated follow-up emails and texts chase unpaid invoices without you remembering to do it.
- +Batch invoicing and automated payment reminders save hours every week.
- +Invoices connect directly to scheduling, CRM, and reporting. Nothing lives in a separate tool.
- +Strong mobile app for creating and sending invoices from the truck.
- −Not built for progress billing or AIA forms. General contractors on commercial work should look elsewhere.
- −Core plan starts at $29/month annual but important features require Connect, Grow, or Plus.
QuickBooks Online
"When the invoice and the P&L need to agree, QuickBooks is still the default choice."
QuickBooks Online handles contractor invoicing through its project-tracking feature. Create progress invoices tied to estimates, track payments by job, and generate 1099s for subcontractors. The Simple Start plan at $19/month covers basic invoicing; Plus at $91/month adds project profitability tracking, time tracking, and inventory. For contractors doing progress billing across multiple milestones, QuickBooks is one of the few options that handles retainage workarounds without custom development.
- +Project-based invoicing with job-costing visibility.
- +Subcontractor tracking and 1099 generation built in.
- +Integrates with dozens of construction estimating and management tools.
- −No native AIA billing. G702/G703 forms require manual setup or a third-party add-on.
- −Can feel bloated for a solo contractor who just needs to send a few invoices per month.
Square Invoices
"Square Invoices proves you do not need to pay a subscription to look professional."
Square Invoices starts free. Create branded invoices, accept card payments online or in person, and track payment status from a dashboard. The Plus plan at $49/month per location adds payment schedules, custom invoice templates, and a $10 ACH cap. For a one-person trade business — handyman, cleaner, small repair contractor — the free tier is genuinely usable. The catch is that payment processing fees apply to every transaction, which is standard across the industry.
- +Free plan is not a trial. It is a real product with no monthly fee.
- +Fast setup. Most contractors are invoicing within an hour.
- +Clean, simple interface that does not overwhelm new users.
- −No job costing, progress billing, or construction-specific features.
- −Payment processing fees (2.6% + 15¢ in-person; 3.3% + 30¢ online) apply to every transaction.
- −Plus plan is $49/month per location, not $29.
FreshBooks
"FreshBooks is built for the contractor who bills time, not the builder billing progress against a schedule of values."
FreshBooks shines for time-based billing. Start a timer from your phone, add the hours to an invoice, and send it. Automated payment reminders, recurring invoices, and proposal-to-invoice conversion are all included. The Lite plan at $6.30/month covers basic invoicing for one client; Plus at $11.50/month adds unlimited clients and proposals. Where it falls short for construction is progress billing, retainage, and change-order tracking — none of which are native features.
- +Excellent time tracking and expense capture from mobile.
- +Clean, intuitive interface with fast invoice creation.
- +Lower cost than most competitors for solo operators.
- −No progress billing, AIA forms, or construction-specific workflows.
- −Not a good fit for general contractors or builders with complex billing needs.
Zoho Invoice
"Zoho Invoice is the only genuinely free option that does not feel like a stripped-down demo."
Zoho Invoice is free for small businesses with limits of 2 users, 2 organizations, 3 projects, and 500 invoices per year. It supports multiple currencies, automated reminders, time tracking, and expense logging. The mobile app works on iOS and Android. If your business outgrows the free tier, Zoho Billing is the recommended upgrade path. The downside is that Zoho Invoice is a standalone product. It does not connect to scheduling, CRM, or field-service tools without upgrading to the broader Zoho ecosystem.
- +Free plan includes up to 500 invoices per year, 2 users, and 3 projects.
- +Clean mobile app for field invoicing.
- +Easy upgrade path to Zoho Billing for growing businesses.
- −No connection to job management, scheduling, or field-service workflows.
- −Revenue cap means growing contractors will need to migrate eventually.
Best Invoicing Software for Contractors (2026)
For most contractors, invoicing is not a software category. It is a moment. The job is done, the customer is satisfied, and now someone has to turn the work into a bill and get it paid. The right tool determines whether that moment takes five minutes or five days.
This guide covers five options across the spectrum: from free tools for new contractors to full accounting systems for general contractors managing progress billing and retainage.
Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you sign up through one, Contractor Software Hub may earn a commission. That does not change the rankings or the pricing notes below.
Quick picks
| Best fit | Tool | Current pricing posture |
|---|---|---|
| Best for field-service contractors | Jobber | Core from $29/month annual; 14-day no-card trial |
| Best for accounting + invoicing together | QuickBooks Online | Simple Start $19/month; Plus $91/month annual |
| Best free option | Square Invoices | Free plan; Plus $49/month per location |
| Best for hourly billing | FreshBooks | Lite $6.30/month annual; Plus $11.50/month annual |
| Best free option for very small business | Zoho Invoice | Free; 500 invoices/year, 2 users, 3 projects |
How to choose
Before comparing products, define what “invoice” means in your business.
- Simple service invoice: Use Jobber, Square Invoices, or Zoho Invoice. The win is speed. Send from the truck, accept online payment, move on.
- Progress billing on construction projects: Use QuickBooks Online or Buildertrend. The invoice is a percentage of the total contract, tied to milestones.
- AIA billing for commercial GCs: Use Buildertrend or a dedicated construction accounting package. G702/G703 forms are not optional.
- Hourly consulting or time-based work: Use FreshBooks. Time tracking feeds directly into invoices.
1. Jobber — best for field-service contractors
Jobber earns the top spot because it treats invoicing as part of a workflow, not an isolated task. The quote goes out, the job gets scheduled, the crew marks it complete, and the invoice generates automatically. Batch invoicing lets you send ten bills in the time it used to take to send one.
Current pricing: Core starts at $29/month billed annually ($39/month on a one-year monthly commitment, $49 month-to-month). Connect, Grow, and Plus add users, automated reminders, QuickBooks integration, job costing, and advanced reporting.
Why contractors start here:
- invoices connect to quotes, schedules, and customer records
- automated follow-up emails and texts reduce days-sales-outstanding
- batch invoicing saves hours for teams doing multiple jobs per day
- the mobile app handles the entire quote-to-cash cycle from the field
- 14-day no-card trial makes testing low-risk
Where to be careful:
- progress billing and AIA forms are not supported
- important features sit in Connect, Grow, or Plus, not Core
- general contractors with commercial work will outgrow it quickly
Best fit: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, cleaning, pest control, and other service contractors who want invoicing connected to operations.
2. QuickBooks Online — best for accounting + invoicing
QuickBooks Online is the default choice for contractors who need their invoices to match their books in real time. The project feature tracks income and expenses by job, and progress invoicing lets you bill percentages of the total estimate as work is completed.
Current pricing: Simple Start at $19/month covers basic invoicing and expense tracking. Plus at $91/month adds project profitability, time tracking, inventory, and 1099 management. Advanced at $235/month adds custom fields, automated workflows, and dedicated support.
Why it earns a spot here:
- project-based invoicing with real job-costing visibility
- subcontractor tracking and 1099 generation
- integrates with Buildertrend, JobNimbus, CoConstruct, and dozens of others
- retainage workarounds exist (manual liability account approach)
Where to be careful:
- no native AIA billing. requires manual setup or an add-on
- can feel complex for a solo contractor who just needs to send invoices
- support quality varies based on plan tier
Best fit: General contractors, builders, and remodelers who need invoicing inside a full accounting system.
3. Square Invoices — best free option
Square Invoices is genuinely free. Create branded invoices, accept card payments, and track status without paying a monthly fee. The Plus plan at $49/month per location adds payment schedules, custom invoice templates, and a $10 ACH cap.
Why it earns a spot here:
- Free plan is not a trial. It is a real product.
- Most contractors are invoicing within an hour of signing up.
- Payment processing is integrated. No separate merchant account.
- Clean interface that does not overwhelm new users.
Where to be careful:
- Payment processing fees (2.6% + 15¢ in-person; 3.3% + 30¢ online) apply to every transaction.
- No job costing, progress billing, or construction-specific features.
- Does not connect to field-service or project management tools.
Best fit: New contractors, solo tradespeople, and side businesses that need professional invoicing without a subscription.
4. FreshBooks — best for hourly billing
FreshBooks is built for the contractor who bills time. Start a timer from the mobile app, add the hours to an invoice, and send it. The interface is cleaner than QuickBooks and the learning curve is shorter.
Current pricing: Lite at $6.30/month annual covers one client. Plus at $11.50/month annual adds unlimited clients, proposals, and recurring invoices. Premium at $22.50/month annual adds project tracking and profitability reports.
Why it earns a spot here:
- excellent time tracking and expense capture from mobile
- fast invoice creation with professional templates
- lower cost than most competitors for solo operators
- automated payment reminders and late fees
Where to be careful:
- no progress billing, AIA forms, or construction workflows
- not a good fit for general contractors or builders
- Lite plan limits you to one client. most contractors need Plus
Best fit: Consultants, independent contractors, and service professionals who bill hourly.
5. Zoho Invoice — best free option for very small business
Zoho Invoice is free for small businesses with limits: 2 users, 2 organizations, 3 projects, and 500 invoices per year. It handles multiple currencies, automated reminders, time tracking, and expense logging. If you outgrow it, Zoho Billing is the recommended upgrade path.
Why it earns a spot here:
- Free plan includes real invoicing tools, not a stripped-down demo.
- Clean mobile app for field invoicing.
- Easy upgrade path to Zoho Billing for growing businesses.
- Multi-currency support for international work.
Where to be careful:
- Revenue limits mean growing contractors will need to migrate eventually.
- No connection to job management or field-service tools.
- Zoho ecosystem is powerful but can feel fragmented.
Best fit: Very small contractors, freelancers, and businesses just starting out.
What to check before signing
- Payment processing: Does the tool accept the payment methods your customers prefer? Are processing fees competitive?
- Automation: Can you set up recurring invoices, payment reminders, and late fees?
- Mobile access: Can you create and send invoices from the job site?
- Integrations: Does it connect to your accounting, scheduling, and CRM tools?
- Progress billing: If you do construction work, can you invoice by percentage or milestone?
- Multi-user access: Can your office staff and field crews both create invoices without sharing logins?