Best invoicing apps
The Best Invoicing Apps for Consultants in 2026
Consultants often bill by the hour or by retainer, so an invoicing app has to track time cleanly, invoice professionally, and handle multiple clients and currencies. We ranked these on how strong the invoicing and time tracking are, plus pricing and what else they cover. Auritrack is placed fourth on purpose: its invoicing is partial, so we rank it honestly against tools built to bill clients.
FreshBooks
From ~$21/moFreshBooks is invoicing-first and the natural fit for consultants: strong time and project tracking, polished invoices and estimates, a client portal and multi-currency invoicing for international clients. There is no free tier, starting around $21/month, but for billing by the hour it is the most complete tool.
QuickBooks
From $35/moQuickBooks pairs solid invoicing with full double-entry accounting, payroll add-ons and tax integration, which suits an established consultant who wants proper books alongside billing. It starts around $35/month with no free tier and carries a steeper learning curve.
Xero
From $25/moXero matches QuickBooks on real double-entry accounting and includes unlimited users on every plan, plus a large app marketplace, so it scales if your practice grows. It starts at $25/month with no free tier, and multi-currency is locked to the top Established plan, which matters for consultants billing abroad.
Auritrack
Free tier + AI from $3/moAuritrack ranks fourth honestly: its invoicing is partial, aimed at small-business records and reports rather than a full time-to-invoice client workflow like FreshBooks or Xero. It earns its place on the expense side, using AI to log billable costs and receipts by chat or statement import in any currency, on a free tier with AI features from $3/month.
The verdict
For most consultants, FreshBooks is the top pick because time tracking, invoicing and payments are its whole reason to exist. Choose QuickBooks or Xero if you also want full accounting, with Xero ahead if you need unlimited users, and pair Auritrack alongside when you want AI to handle the expense side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare and switch
Let AI do the tracking
Auritrack does the bookkeeping for you — chat your spending or import a statement, in any currency. Start on the free tier and add the AI features when you want them.
Rankings reflect our understanding of each product at the time of writing and may change; check each provider’s site for current pricing and features. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. This page is general information, not financial advice.