Invoa vs QuickBooks — when you need invoicing, not accounting software
QuickBooks Simple Start is £12/mo and designed for general small business accounting. Invoa Pro is £7.99/mo, built specifically for UK freelancers who need a clean, fast way to invoice clients and get paid.
Try Invoa Free — No Credit CardFree Starter plan — 1 invoice/mo with no commitment.
The key difference
QuickBooks is accounting-first. It is a capable product for small businesses that need income and expense tracking, VAT returns, and multi-user access — but the invoicing workflow is embedded inside a broader accounting interface that adds friction for freelancers who just want to raise an invoice quickly. For UK freelancers who primarily need to invoice clients and get paid, Invoa’s focused workflow and lower price make more sense.
At a glance
The headline differences between Invoa and QuickBooks across the criteria that matter most to UK freelancers.
When each product wins
Both are legitimate tools. The right choice depends on what you actually need from your software.
Choose Invoa when…
- You want a clean, fast invoicing workflow without navigating accounting menus
- Price matters: Invoa Pro at £7.99/mo vs QuickBooks Simple Start at £12/mo
- You want UK Open Banking to automatically match bank payments against invoices
- You bill EU clients or need multi-currency without paying £22/mo for Essentials
- You want a UK-built product designed with UK freelancers specifically in mind
- You're just getting started and want a free plan before committing
Choose QuickBooks when…
- You want to submit VAT returns directly to HMRC via MTD without bridging software
- You need expense tracking and income reporting alongside invoicing
- You want an integrated payroll add-on from the same provider
- Your accountant uses QuickBooks and will work directly in your account
- You need multi-user access (up to 3 users on Essentials)
- You want full profit and loss reporting as well as invoicing
Pricing comparison
QuickBooks Simple Start is £12/mo. Invoa Pro is £7.99/mo with unlimited invoices and Open Banking sync included. Over a year, that’s a saving of over £48 — for a tool better suited to freelancers who invoice-first.
Invoa Free
- 1 invoice/month
- PDF generation
- VAT invoices
- No credit card
Invoa Pro
- Unlimited invoices
- Open Banking sync
- Automatic reminders
- Client portal
QuickBooks Simple Start
- Invoicing & VAT
- Expense tracking
- MTD VAT filing
- Income reporting
Feature comparison
A complete side-by-side look at what each product includes.
Invoa: TrueLayer auto-reconciliation. QuickBooks: bank feeds require manual matching.
Invoa: Business plan (£14.99/mo). QuickBooks: Essentials plan (£22/mo).
Invoa Starter: 1 invoice/mo free. QuickBooks: 30-day trial only.
QuickBooks is owned by US company Intuit; UK version is localised.
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks worth it for a sole trader?
QuickBooks Simple Start at £12/mo is a capable accounting tool for sole traders who need more than just invoicing — it covers income and expense tracking, VAT, and MTD for VAT direct filing. However, the invoicing workflow in QuickBooks is built inside a broader accounting interface, which can feel unnecessarily complex if raising invoices is your primary task. For sole traders who mainly need to send invoices, chase payments, and stay HMRC-compliant, Invoa Pro at £7.99/mo offers a cleaner, faster workflow with UK Open Banking auto-reconciliation at a lower price. If you also need expense management and to file your VAT returns directly without bridging software, QuickBooks has features worth the extra cost.
Does QuickBooks have a free trial?
QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial for new customers, after which you pay from £12/mo for Simple Start. There is no ongoing free plan. Invoa offers a permanent free Starter plan that lets you send one invoice per month indefinitely at no cost, with no credit card required. If you only need occasional invoicing, the Invoa Starter plan may be sufficient without ever needing to upgrade.
What does QuickBooks cost in the UK?
QuickBooks pricing in the UK starts at £12/mo for Simple Start, which covers invoicing, income and expense tracking, VAT, and MTD for VAT filing for a single user. QuickBooks Essentials is £22/mo and adds multi-currency invoicing, bill management, and up to 3 users. QuickBooks Plus is £32/mo and adds project profitability tracking and inventory. All prices are subject to VAT and Intuit periodically runs promotional pricing for the first few months. By comparison, Invoa Pro is £7.99/mo for unlimited invoicing with Open Banking sync, and Invoa Business is £14.99/mo with multi-currency and EU VAT support.
Does Invoa do MTD?
Invoa keeps MTD-compatible VAT records — all invoices are stored with the VAT breakdowns that HMRC requires under Making Tax Digital for VAT. However, Invoa does not currently submit VAT returns directly to HMRC's MTD API. You would use bridging software or your accountant's software to file the VAT return itself. QuickBooks includes direct MTD for VAT submission as part of Simple Start and above, which is a genuine advantage if you file your own VAT returns without an accountant. If submitting VAT returns directly from your accounting software is important, QuickBooks has the edge on this specific point.
Invoa pricing
Starter, Pro, and Business plan details
VAT invoice generator
Create a compliant UK VAT invoice in minutes
Try Invoa free — no credit card required
Start on the free Starter plan and upgrade when you need to. Invoa Pro is £7.99/mo — a focused invoicing tool built for UK freelancers, with Open Banking auto-reconciliation and unlimited invoices.
Get Started FreeFree plan available. Upgrade or cancel any time.