Best Invoice Software for Contractors and Tradespeople 2026
FreshBooks is the best invoice software for most independent contractors — it handles estimates, invoices, time tracking, and expenses in one place at $17/month. Jobber is the best choice for field service businesses (plumbers, electricians, landscapers) that need scheduling and job management alongside invoicing. Wave is the best free option for straightforward contractor invoicing.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to FreshBooks and Jobber. We earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you. All tools were independently evaluated.
Contractors and tradespeople have specific invoicing needs that generic software often misses: deposit invoices, progress billing, material costs, labour charges, VAT/GST on construction work, and the need to generate professional quotes that convert to invoices once accepted. A general “freelancer invoicing app” often lacks these features.
We reviewed seven tools specifically for contractors — builders, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, landscapers, IT consultants, and independent tradespeople.
Best Invoice Software for Contractors: Compared
| Software | Price | Estimates? | Job Scheduling? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | From $17/mo | ✅ (proposals) | ❌ | IT/trade contractors, consultants |
| Jobber | From $49/mo | ✅ | ✅ Full scheduling | Field service businesses |
| Wave | Free | ❌ | ❌ | Solo contractors, zero budget |
| Invoice2go | From $5.99/mo | ✅ | ❌ | Mobile-first tradespeople |
| QuickBooks Online | From $30/mo | ✅ | ❌ | Contractors needing full accounting |
| Tradify | From $35/mo | ✅ | ✅ | Trade businesses UK/AU/NZ |
1. FreshBooks — Best for Independent Contractors
FreshBooks is the go-to choice for independent contractors — IT consultants, designers, developers, electricians who work solo, freelance construction managers — who need professional invoicing with estimates but don’t run a field dispatch operation.
Why contractors love FreshBooks:
- Estimates to invoices: Send a proposal/estimate → client approves → converts to invoice automatically. No retyping.
- Deposit invoices: Request a 50% upfront deposit before work starts, then invoice the remainder on completion.
- Progress billing: Split a project into milestones and invoice at each stage.
- Time + materials billing: Track time against a project and add material costs separately — both appear as line items on the final invoice.
- Retainer billing: Automatically charge clients a fixed monthly fee for ongoing work.
- Mobile app: Create and send invoices on-site from your phone — no laptop needed.
- Expense photos: Photograph material receipts and attach them to projects for client reimbursement.
Pricing: Lite $17/mo (5 clients) · Plus $30/mo (50 clients + proposals) · Premium $55/mo (unlimited)
2. Jobber — Best for Field Service Contractors
Jobber is purpose-built for home service and field service businesses: plumbers, electricians, landscapers, HVAC, cleaning companies, pest control. It combines job scheduling, client management, invoicing, and payment collection into one platform. If your business dispatches crews, manages routes, or schedules jobs through a calendar, Jobber is significantly more appropriate than a pure invoicing tool.
- Scheduling calendar with drag-and-drop job dispatch
- Quotes → jobs → invoices workflow (everything linked)
- Client self-service portal for approving quotes and paying invoices
- Automated job completion follow-up emails and review requests
- GPS tracking for field teams
- Card payment collection on-site (Jobber Payments)
- Two-way sync with QuickBooks Online
Pricing: Core $49/mo (1 user) · Connect $149/mo (up to 5 users) · Grow $249/mo (unlimited users)
Best for: Any contractor with a field team or regular job scheduling needs. The $49/month Core plan is very reasonable for a sole-trader plumber or electrician who needs professional scheduling + invoicing.
3. Invoice2go — Best Budget Mobile App
Invoice2go is designed for tradespeople who want to create and send quotes and invoices from their phone in under a minute. The app is polished, simple, and widely used in Australia, the UK, and the US. At $5.99/month for the basic plan (up to 5 invoices/month), it’s the cheapest entry point for mobile-first contractors.
- Create professional quotes and invoices on a phone in 60 seconds
- Accept card payments via Stripe
- Expense tracking and photo receipts
- Built-in estimates with one-tap conversion to invoices
- Popular in Australia (GST-compliant) and UK (VAT-compliant)
4. Tradify — Best for UK/AU Trade Businesses
Tradify is purpose-built for UK and Australian trade businesses — builders, plumbers, electricians — and is a popular Jobber alternative in those markets. It includes job management, quoting, time tracking, invoicing, and integrates with Xero and QuickBooks. Particularly popular with sole traders and small trade companies in the UK and Australia.
- Job cards, scheduling, and job history
- Quoting with material and labour line items
- Time sheets per job
- Xero and QuickBooks Online integration
- MTD-ready for UK VAT filing (via Xero integration)
Pricing: From $35/mo per user. Free 14-day trial available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a contractor invoice include?
A contractor invoice should include: your business name and address, client name and address, invoice number, invoice date, payment due date, itemised list of work (labour, materials), subtotal, tax (VAT/GST if applicable), total due, and payment instructions. If you worked on a fixed-price contract, reference the original quote number so the client can match the invoice to their records.
Do contractors need to charge VAT in the UK?
UK contractors must register for VAT once their annual turnover exceeds £90,000. Construction work is generally standard-rated at 20% VAT, but there are significant exceptions: new residential builds are zero-rated, certain energy efficiency installations are zero or 5%-rated, and the Construction Industry Domestic Reverse Charge (DRC) applies between VAT-registered businesses in the construction supply chain. The DRC means the recipient (not the supplier) accounts for the VAT — consult your accountant before invoicing other VAT-registered contractors.
Can I send invoices from my phone as a contractor?
Yes. FreshBooks, Invoice2go, Wave, and Jobber all have strong mobile apps. Invoice2go is the most popular specifically for on-site invoicing from a phone — tradespeople use it to generate and send a professional invoice before leaving the job, which dramatically speeds up payment. FreshBooks is equally capable and includes expense tracking (photo receipts) for materials purchased on-site.
Final Thoughts
For most independent contractors — sole traders, IT consultants, construction project managers — FreshBooks hits the ideal balance of contractor-specific features (estimates, deposit invoices, time + materials billing) at a price that pays for itself within one recovered late payment. If you run a field service business with multiple crew members and need scheduling, Jobber is worth the higher price. Start with a free trial of both before committing.
Try FreshBooks Free for 30 Days
Estimates, deposit invoices, time tracking, expense photos, and automatic payment reminders — purpose-built for contractors and freelancers. No credit card required.
Disclaimer: Pricing and features are subject to change. UK VAT rules for the construction industry are complex — consult a tax professional for advice specific to your trade. Affiliate links are present in this article.