What Makes a Great Invoicing App for Contractors?
Most invoicing apps are built for accountants and office workers — not for someone standing in a customer's driveway after finishing a job. A great contractor invoicing app needs to be:
- Fast — You should be able to send an invoice in under 60 seconds
- Mobile first — Everything works on your phone, no laptop required
- Simple — No accounting degree needed to figure it out
- Flexible on payments — Cash, check, Venmo, CashApp, PayPal — whatever your customer prefers
- Affordable — You shouldn't pay $100/mo just to send invoices
With those criteria in mind, here's how the top options compare.
Top Invoicing Apps for Contractors Compared
| App | Price | Mobile First | No App Store | All Payment Methods | Team Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FieldPay | $24/mo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoice Simple | $29/mo | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Jobber | $49/mo | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Housecall Pro | $79/mo | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| QuickBooks | $30/mo | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
FieldPay is the only invoicing app built specifically for trades contractors that works without an app store download, supports all major payment methods, and starts at just $24/mo.
Why Most Contractors Stick With Paper Invoices (And Why That's Costing You Money)
According to industry surveys, over 60% of small trades businesses still use paper invoices or spreadsheets. The main reasons are:
- Existing software is too complicated
- Most apps require a laptop or desktop to use effectively
- Monthly costs are too high for a solo operator
- Getting set up takes too long
But paper invoices are costing you money every single day. Here's how:
- Delayed invoicing = delayed payment. Every day you wait to send an invoice is a day further from getting paid. Studies show invoices sent within 24 hours of job completion are paid 3x faster.
- Paper gets lost. A customer who loses your invoice has an excuse not to pay. A digital invoice link never gets lost.
- No follow-up system. Paper invoices have no automated reminder system. You have to remember to follow up manually — and most contractors don't.
"I used to wait until Friday to do all my invoices for the week. By then some customers had already spent the money. Now I send the invoice before I back out of the driveway and I get paid the same day." — FieldPay user
How FieldPay Works for Contractors
FieldPay is designed around one simple idea: you should be able to invoice a customer and collect payment without leaving the job site. Here's how it works:
- Finish the job — Do what you do best
- Open FieldPay on your phone — No app store needed, works in any browser
- Select the customer and add line items — Takes about 30 seconds
- Hit send — Customer gets a text or email with a professional invoice link
- Get paid — They pay via cash, check, PayPal, CashApp, or Venmo right then and there
The whole process takes under 60 seconds. No driving back to the office. No paper. No chasing payments weeks later.
Key Features to Look for in a Contractor Invoice App
1. Sales Tax Per Line Item
In most states, labor is not taxable but materials are. Your invoicing app needs to handle this — letting you mark each line item as taxable or non-taxable. FieldPay does this with a simple T button on each line item.
2. Custom Job Types
Every trade has its own job types. A roofer's most common jobs are completely different from a plumber's. Your app should let you save your own job types so you're not typing the same thing every invoice.
3. Saved Labor Rates
If you charge $85/hr for standard labor, you shouldn't have to type that every time. Save your rates once and apply them to invoices with one tap.
4. Follow-Up Alerts
The app should tell you when invoices go unpaid and make it easy to send a reminder. FieldPay shows unpaid invoices in an alerts tab and lets you resend with one tap.
5. Team Access
If you have workers, they should be able to send invoices under your business name. FieldPay's Team plan lets you add workers at $10/mo per seat.
FieldPay vs Invoice Simple
Invoice Simple is one of the most popular invoicing apps for contractors. Here's how it compares to FieldPay:
- Price: Invoice Simple starts at $29/mo. FieldPay is $24/mo.
- Payment methods: Invoice Simple integrates with Stripe for credit card payments (with fees). FieldPay shows all your payment handles — PayPal, CashApp, Venmo, cash, check — with no transaction fees.
- Team access: Invoice Simple is single user only. FieldPay supports unlimited workers on the Team plan.
- App store: Invoice Simple requires an app store download. FieldPay works in any mobile browser — no download needed.
For solo contractors who want simple and affordable, FieldPay wins on price and flexibility. For contractors who need credit card processing built in, Invoice Simple is worth considering.
FieldPay vs Jobber
Jobber is a full field service management platform with scheduling, CRM, and invoicing. Here's how it compares:
- Price: Jobber starts at $49/mo. FieldPay is $24/mo.
- Complexity: Jobber has a steep learning curve with dozens of features most solo contractors never use. FieldPay does one thing really well — invoicing.
- Setup time: Jobber takes hours to set up properly. FieldPay takes 5 minutes.
- Best for: Jobber is best for established businesses with a dedicated office manager. FieldPay is best for solo contractors and small crews who want to invoice fast and get paid.
Our Verdict: Best Invoice App for Contractors in 2026
For most independent contractors and small crews, FieldPay is the best invoicing app in 2026. Here's why:
- Cheapest option at $24/mo
- No app store download required
- Supports all payment methods with zero transaction fees
- Built specifically for trades businesses
- Set up in 5 minutes
- 14-day free trial with no credit card tricks
If you're a solo contractor or running a small crew and you want to send professional invoices from your phone and get paid faster, FieldPay is the clear choice.
Ready to get paid faster?
Start sending invoices from your phone today — free for 14 days.
Try FieldPay free for 14 days →