Harpoon
Forward-looking time-tracking and invoicing software designed to help freelancer...
Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is a comprehensive invoicing and billing platform designed for fre...
Harpoon vs Invoice Ninja: Which Is Better in 2026?
Comprehensive comparison of Harpoon and Invoice Ninja covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.
Harpoon vs Invoice Ninja: Overview
Choosing between Harpoon and Invoice Ninja is a common dilemma for invoicing users. Both tools offer robust solutions, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
Harpoon offers a free tier and starts at $9/monthly, while Invoice Ninja also has a free option and begins at $14/monthly. But pricing is just one factor—let's dive into features, use cases, and which tool fits your specific needs.
Harpoon is best known for unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability, whereas Invoice Ninja stands out for generous free plan with unlimited invoicing. In this detailed comparison, we'll analyze both tools across pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases.
Quick Overview
Harpoon
- Best for: Freelancers seeking profitable growth, Small agencies and design studios
- Starting price: Free
- Category: invoicing
- Founded: 2014
Invoice Ninja
- Best for: Freelancers and consultants, Small businesses with recurring billing
- Starting price: Free
- Category: invoicing
- Founded: 2014
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between Harpoon and Invoice Ninja.
| Feature | H Harpoon | IN Invoice Ninja |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Track time across projects and clients | Convert tracked time to billable invoice items |
| Invoicing | Professional invoice generation and management | |
| Financial Forecasting | Plan and predict future revenue streams | |
| Project Scheduling | Schedule projects and estimate cash flow | |
| The Harpoon Method | Four-rule system for financial clarity | |
| SSL Encryption | Secure data protection like online banking | |
| Stripe Integration | Secure payment processing for client payments | |
| Team Management | Studio and Agency plans only | |
| Dashboard Analytics | Key business metrics at a glance | |
| No Software Installation | Web-based platform with automatic updates | |
| Professional Invoice Templates | 4 templates on free plan, 11 on paid plans | |
| Online Payment Processing | Supports Stripe, PayPal, Square, and dozens of other gateways | |
| Recurring Invoices | Auto-billing with stored payment tokens | |
| Client Portal | Available on all plans including free | |
| Expense Management | Track expenses and re-bill to clients | |
| Multi-Currency Support | Bill international clients with localized formatting | |
| Mobile & Desktop Apps | Native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux | |
| API & Webhooks | RESTful API with webhook support for integrations | |
| Self-Hosted Option | Open-source version available for self-hosting |
Features Deep Dive
Both Harpoon and Invoice Ninja offer core invoicing functionality, but their feature sets differ in key areas.
Shared features: Time Tracking.
Harpoon unique strengths: Invoicing, Financial Forecasting, Project Scheduling. This makes it ideal for freelancers seeking profitable growth.
Invoice Ninja unique strengths: Professional Invoice Templates, Online Payment Processing, Recurring Invoices. This makes it better suited for freelancers and consultants.
Harpoon offers 10 core features with 2 integrations, while Invoice Ninja provides 10 features and 8 integrations.
Our Verdict
After extensive testing and analysis, Harpoon edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, Harpoon offers more features for the price. Invoice Ninja remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize freelancers and consultants.
Harpoon
Best for Freelancers seeking profitable growth and Small agencies and design studios. Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability.
Try HarpoonInvoice Ninja
Best for Freelancers and consultants and Small businesses with recurring billing. Generous free plan with unlimited invoicing.
Try Invoice NinjaPros & Cons
Harpoon Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability
- Simple four-rule methodology for business management
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required
- 21% discount for annual billing
- No hidden fees or setup costs
Cons
- Starter plan limited to only 3 clients
- No free permanent plan available
- Additional team members cost $5 each beyond 20 users
- May be too simple for complex enterprise needs
Invoice Ninja Pros & Cons
Pros
- Generous free plan with unlimited invoicing
- Self-hosted option available for data control
- Extensive payment gateway integrations
- Native mobile and desktop apps
- Strong API and webhook support
Cons
- Advanced features require paid plans
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- Limited advanced reporting on lower tiers
- Interface can be overwhelming for simple needs
Pricing Comparison
Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.
Harpoon
subscription- 14-day trial
- All features included
- No credit card required
- Up to 3 clients
- Basic time tracking
- Invoicing
- Unlimited clients
- Time tracking
- Invoicing
- Multiple team members
- Advanced reporting
- Project scheduling
- Up to 20 team members
- Advanced analytics
- Custom reporting
Invoice Ninja
freemium- Up to 5 clients
- Unlimited invoicing
- 4 invoice templates
- Unlimited clients
- 11 invoice templates
- Advanced customization
- All Pro features
- Advanced reporting
- Multi-user access
- All Enterprise features
- Premium Business Concierge
- Custom development
Pricing Comparison Analysis
Harpoon Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $9/monthly. 5 plans available: Free Trial, Starter, Freelancer, Studio, Agency.
Invoice Ninja Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $14/monthly. 4 plans available: Free, Ninja Pro, Enterprise, Premium Business+.
Verdict: Harpoon is more affordable at the entry level and offers a free tier. However, Invoice Ninja may offer better value at scale with Extensive payment gateway integrations.
For budget-conscious teams, Harpoon is the clear winner. For teams prioritizing freelancers and consultants, Invoice Ninja's pricing may be justified.
Which Tool Is Best For You?
Choose Harpoon if you need:
- Freelancers seeking profitable growth
- Small agencies and design studios
- Service-based businesses needing financial clarity
- Teams wanting to predict future revenue streams
- Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability
- Simple four-rule methodology for business management
Choose Invoice Ninja if you need:
- Freelancers and consultants
- Small businesses with recurring billing
- Teams needing self-hosted solutions
- Businesses requiring extensive payment gateway options
- Generous free plan with unlimited invoicing
- Self-hosted option available for data control
Final Verdict
Choose Harpoon if: You need freelancers seeking profitable growth or small agencies and design studios. It excels at unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability and simple four-rule methodology for business management.
Choose Invoice Ninja if: You prioritize freelancers and consultants or small businesses with recurring billing. It's particularly strong for generous free plan with unlimited invoicing and self-hosted option available for data control.
Overall: Harpoon has a slight edge with a 4.3/5 rating from 150 reviews. However, Invoice Ninja has a larger user base with 2,500 reviews, suggesting broader market validation.
Both tools are solid choices in the invoicing space. Your decision should ultimately depend on your specific requirements, team size, and budget.
Harpoon vs Invoice Ninja FAQ
What are the main differences between Harpoon and Invoice Ninja?
Harpoon focuses on freelancers seeking profitable growth with unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability, while Invoice Ninja excels at freelancers and consultants with generous free plan with unlimited invoicing. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.
Is Harpoon or Invoice Ninja better for small businesses?
Harpoon offers a free tier which is great for small businesses starting out. For small businesses with limited budgets, consider starting with the tool that offers Harpoon's lower starting price of $9/month.
What is the pricing difference between Harpoon and Invoice Ninja?
Harpoon starts at $9/month with a free tier available, while Invoice Ninja starts at $14/month with a free tier available. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.
Can Harpoon integrate with Invoice Ninja?
While direct integration may vary, both Harpoon and Invoice Ninja support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. Harpoon integrates with Stripe, Web browsers, while Invoice Ninja works with Stripe, PayPal, Square.
Which tool is easier to use, Harpoon or Invoice Ninja?
Based on user reviews, Harpoon generally receives higher marks for ease of use with a 4.3 rating. However, ease of use can depend on your specific needs and technical background. Harpoon is known for simple four-rule methodology for business management.
Does Harpoon or Invoice Ninja offer better customer support?
Both Harpoon and Invoice Ninja provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. Harpoon offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.
What are the pros of Harpoon compared to Invoice Ninja?
Harpoon's main advantages include: Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability, Simple four-rule methodology for business management, 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Compared to Invoice Ninja, it's particularly strong for freelancers seeking profitable growth.
What are the cons of Harpoon compared to Invoice Ninja?
Harpoon's potential drawbacks include: Starter plan limited to only 3 clients, No free permanent plan available. Invoice Ninja may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.
Should I switch from Harpoon to Invoice Ninja or vice versa?
Consider switching if your current tool doesn't meet your needs. Key factors include: current pain points, migration complexity, team training, and total cost of ownership. Use our ROI calculator to estimate the potential impact of switching.
Which tool is best for invoicing in 2026?
In 2026, Harpoon leads in this comparison with a 4.3 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. Harpoon excels for freelancers seeking profitable growth, while Invoice Ninja is ideal for freelancers and consultants.