inv.so vs QuickBooks (2026 Comparison)
inv.so and QuickBooks serve completely different needs. inv.so is simple invoicing for creatives. QuickBooks is comprehensive accounting software for businesses.
This comparison helps you choose: simple invoicing or full accounting suite.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | inv.so | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Simple invoicing | Full accounting |
| Price | $9/month | $30-200/month |
| Invoicing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Expense Tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Time Tracking | ❌ | ✅ |
| Reports | Basic | Advanced |
| Tax Features | ❌ | ✅ |
| Payroll | ❌ | ✅ |
| Design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Simplicity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
inv.so Overview
What It Is
inv.so is:
- Simple invoicing tool
- Built for designers and creators
- Minimal, fast, beautiful
- No accounting bloat
Best for: Creatives who just need invoicing.
Key Features
✅ Fast invoicing — Create invoice in under 2 minutes
✅ Simple tracking — Draft, sent, paid status
✅ Stripe integration — Card payments included
✅ Clean design — Modern, minimal interface
✅ No bloat — Just invoicing, nothing more
Pricing
- Free: 3 sends
- Pro: $9/month (unlimited)
QuickBooks Overview
What It Is
QuickBooks is:
- Comprehensive accounting software
- Invoicing + expenses + payroll + taxes
- Built for small to medium businesses
- Industry standard for accounting
Best for: Businesses that need full accounting and tax features.
Key Features
✅ Invoicing — Professional invoices
✅ Expense tracking — Track all business expenses
✅ Time tracking — Track hours worked
✅ Payroll — Payroll management
✅ Tax preparation — Tax reporting and filing
✅ Reports — Comprehensive financial reports
✅ Bank reconciliation — Automatic bank sync
✅ Inventory management — Track inventory
Pricing
- Simple Start: $30/month
- Essentials: $60/month
- Plus: $90/month
- Advanced: $200/month
Detailed Comparison
Invoicing
inv.so:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fastest workflow (under 2 minutes)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best design (modern, minimal)
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Simplest interface
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Built for creatives
QuickBooks:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good invoicing
- ⭐⭐⭐ Professional design
- ⭐⭐⭐ More complex
- ⭐⭐⭐ Built for businesses
Winner: inv.so — Faster, simpler, better design for creatives.
Expense Tracking
inv.so:
- ❌ No expense tracking
- Just invoicing
QuickBooks:
- ✅ Full expense tracking
- ✅ Receipt scanning
- ✅ Expense categorization
- ✅ Mileage tracking
- ✅ Expense reports
Winner: QuickBooks — Only if you need expense tracking.
Time Tracking
inv.so:
- ❌ No time tracking
- Just invoicing
QuickBooks:
- ✅ Time tracking
- ✅ Hourly billing
- ✅ Time reports
- ✅ Project time tracking
Winner: QuickBooks — Only if you need time tracking.
Tax Features
inv.so:
- ❌ No tax features
- Just invoicing
QuickBooks:
- ✅ Tax preparation
- ✅ Tax reporting
- ✅ Quarterly tax estimates
- ✅ 1099 generation
- ✅ Integration with tax software
Winner: QuickBooks — Only if you need tax features.
Reports
inv.so:
- Basic income tracking
- Simple monthly summaries
- No complex reports
QuickBooks:
- Profit & loss statements
- Balance sheets
- Cash flow reports
- Tax reports
- Custom reports
- Industry-specific reports
Winner: QuickBooks — Only if you need complex reports.
Design & UX
inv.so:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Modern, minimal
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fast, intuitive
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Built for designers
QuickBooks:
- ⭐⭐⭐ Clean, professional
- ⭐⭐⭐ Good UX
- ⭐⭐ More features = more complex
Winner: inv.so — Better design, faster workflow.
Price
inv.so:
- $9/month
- Just invoicing
QuickBooks:
- $30-200/month
- Full accounting
Winner: inv.so — 3-22x cheaper.
When to Choose inv.so
Choose inv.so if:
✅ You just need invoicing — No expenses or time tracking
✅ You value speed — Fast workflow matters
✅ You want simplicity — No accounting complexity
✅ You're a creative — Designer, photographer, writer
✅ You want good design — Modern, minimal interface
✅ You want to save money — $9/month vs $30-200/month
When to Choose QuickBooks
Choose QuickBooks if:
✅ You need full accounting — Expenses, payroll, taxes
✅ You have employees — Need payroll features
✅ You need tax help — Tax preparation and filing
✅ You need complex reports — Financial statements
✅ You have inventory — Need inventory management
✅ You're a business — Not just a freelancer
The Bottom Line
For creatives: inv.so is faster, simpler, and 3-22x cheaper. You get beautiful invoices in under 2 minutes without accounting bloat.
For businesses: QuickBooks offers comprehensive accounting, payroll, and tax features. But it's overkill if you just need invoicing.
Most freelancers don't need QuickBooks. They need simple invoicing, not full accounting software.
Ready to try simple invoicing? Try inv.so free — 3 free sends, then $9/month.