Most contractors underestimate how much late invoicing costs them. Sending an invoice two weeks after a job is done instead of two days adds two weeks to your cash collection cycle on every job. On a business doing $500,000 in revenue, that average lag can mean $20,000 to $40,000 sitting uncollected at any given time.
The right invoicing software sends the invoice the day the job closes, accepts payment by card or ACH, and sends automatic reminders until it is paid. That one workflow change is worth thousands of dollars per year in faster cash flow alone.
This guide covers the six best invoicing and payment tools for contractors in 2026, including what each costs and what type of contractor each fits.
Why Invoicing Software Matters Beyond Just Sending Bills
Modern invoicing tools do more than generate a PDF. The important capabilities are faster delivery (send from phone the moment the job is done), professional presentation (branded invoice with your logo), multiple payment methods (ACH, card, tap-to-pay), automated reminders (follow up on unpaid invoices without making a phone call), and payment tracking (see at a glance what is outstanding).
Contractors who still use handwritten invoices or Word document templates are leaving speed and professionalism on the table. Even a free invoicing tool is a meaningful upgrade over no system at all.
The 6 Best Invoicing Tools for Contractors in 2026
1. Jobber
Jobber is not just an invoicing tool. It is a full field service CRM. But the invoicing module is the part that contractors consistently highlight as the reason they stay on the platform. Invoices are generated directly from job records, so you are not re-entering information. You can send invoices from your phone the second the job is complete, collect payment on-site with tap-to-pay, and set up automated follow-up reminders for unpaid invoices.
Pricing: Starts around $49/month for a solo operator. Invoicing is included on all plans.
Payment acceptance: Card, ACH, tap-to-pay.
Auto-reminders: Yes, automated on unpaid invoices.
Mobile: Excellent. Send invoices and collect payment from the field.
Best for: Home service contractors who want CRM and invoicing in one tool without managing two platforms.
2. Hearth
Hearth is primarily a contractor financing platform, but the subscription includes digital proposals and invoicing tools. If you are already using Hearth for financing, the invoicing capability comes with your plan. The invoicing is straightforward and the proposal tool helps present jobs professionally before the homeowner signs.
Pricing: Hearth’s annual subscription starts around $100-$200/month depending on plan. Invoicing is included.
Payment acceptance: Card and ACH.
Auto-reminders: Yes.
Mobile: Yes.
Best for: Contractors already using Hearth for financing who want to consolidate their proposal and invoicing tools in the same platform.
3. Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is a free, open-source invoicing platform with a solid feature set for a small contractor who needs clean invoicing without paying a monthly fee. The free plan handles unlimited clients and invoices. The Pro plan, around $10/month, adds recurring invoices, custom branding, and additional payment gateway options.
Pricing: Free plan available. Pro starts around $10/month.
Payment acceptance: Stripe, PayPal, and others via integration.
Auto-reminders: Yes on Pro plan.
Mobile: Mobile-friendly web, native apps available.
Best for: Solo contractors or very small operations that need professional invoicing without a monthly platform fee.
4. Square Invoices
Square Invoices is free to start, with Square charging a per-transaction fee (typically 3.3% plus $0.30 for card-not-present) rather than a monthly subscription for the basic tier. Square Invoices Plus adds features like milestones, custom fields, and automatic reminders for around $20/month. Square is familiar to consumers and the payment experience is clean from the homeowner’s side.
Pricing: Free plan with transaction fees. Plus plan around $20/month.
Payment acceptance: Card, ACH, tap-to-pay with Square hardware.
Auto-reminders: On Plus plan.
Mobile: Excellent.
Best for: Contractors who want zero monthly cost and do not mind transaction fees, or those already using Square for in-person payments.
5. Buildertrend
Buildertrend’s invoicing is project-based, designed for general contractors, remodelers, and custom builders who need milestone billing and draw schedules. You can invoice at project milestones (deposit, rough-in, completion) with change orders tracked against the original contract. This is the most sophisticated invoicing workflow on this list, built into a full project management platform.
Pricing: Essential plan starts around $499/month. Invoicing is included.
Payment acceptance: Card and ACH via Buildertrend Payments.
Auto-reminders: Yes.
Mobile: Good.
Best for: GCs and remodelers billing on project milestones who need invoicing tied directly to project financials.
6. Stripe
Stripe is not purpose-built for contractors but is worth mentioning for tech-comfortable owners who want flexibility. Stripe Invoicing lets you create and send professional invoices, accept card and ACH, set up payment plans, and automate reminders. The Stripe dashboard gives you a clean view of what is outstanding. Pricing is transaction-based with no monthly fee for basic invoicing.
Pricing: 0.4% per invoice for Starter (capped at $2), or 0.5% for advanced features. Card processing fees apply separately.
Payment acceptance: Card, ACH, many international methods.
Auto-reminders: Yes.
Mobile: Mobile-friendly dashboard, no dedicated native app.
Best for: Tech-comfortable solo contractors or those who want developer-level flexibility in how they handle billing.
Comparison Table
| Platform | Starting Price | Card + ACH | Auto Reminders | Mobile | CRM Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobber | ~$49/mo | Yes | Yes | Excellent | Yes | Home service contractors, all-in-one |
| Hearth | ~$100-$200/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Hearth financing users |
| Invoice Ninja | Free / $10/mo Pro | Via integration | Pro plan | Good | No | Solo, budget-conscious |
| Square Invoices | Free + transaction fees | Yes | Plus plan | Excellent | No | Transaction-fee-preferred ops |
| Buildertrend | ~$499/mo | Yes | Yes | Good | Yes (project mgmt) | GC and remodeling milestone billing |
| Stripe | Transaction % only | Yes | Yes | Web-based | No | Tech-comfortable, flexible billing |
Bottom Line
For most home service contractors (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, landscaping), Jobber is the practical choice because you get CRM, scheduling, and invoicing in one platform. You are not managing two tools and the invoicing workflow is fast enough to send from the job site.
If you are a GC or remodeler doing milestone billing on larger projects, Buildertrend justifies its higher cost because the invoicing is tied directly to project financials and change orders.
If you are just starting out and cannot justify a monthly fee yet, Invoice Ninja’s free plan or Square Invoices with no monthly cost both work until you are ready for a full platform.
For tools that pair with invoicing, see our comparison of best accounting software for contractors and our guide to the best estimating software for contractors.