Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is a comprehensive invoicing and billing platform designed for fre...
Harpoon
Forward-looking time-tracking and invoicing software designed to help freelancer...
Invoice Ninja vs Harpoon: Which Is Better in 2026?
Comprehensive comparison of Invoice Ninja and Harpoon covering features, pricing, pros & cons, and our expert verdict to help you make the right choice for your business.
Invoice Ninja vs Harpoon: Overview
Choosing between Invoice Ninja and Harpoon is a common dilemma for invoicing users. Both tools offer robust solutions, but they cater to different needs and budgets.
Invoice Ninja offers a free tier and starts at $14/monthly, while Harpoon also has a free option and begins at $9/monthly. But pricing is just one factor—let's dive into features, use cases, and which tool fits your specific needs.
Invoice Ninja is best known for generous free plan with unlimited invoicing, whereas Harpoon stands out for unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability. In this detailed comparison, we'll analyze both tools across pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases.
Quick Overview
Invoice Ninja
- Best for: Freelancers and consultants, Small businesses with recurring billing
- Starting price: Free
- Category: invoicing
- Founded: 2014
Harpoon
- Best for: Freelancers seeking profitable growth, Small agencies and design studios
- Starting price: Free
- Category: invoicing
- Founded: 2014
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature comparison to help you understand the key differences between Invoice Ninja and Harpoon.
| Feature | IN Invoice Ninja | H Harpoon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Time Tracking | Convert tracked time to billable invoice items | Track time across projects and clients |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
Features Deep Dive
Both Invoice Ninja and Harpoon offer core invoicing functionality, but their feature sets differ in key areas.
Shared features: Time Tracking.
Invoice Ninja unique strengths: Professional Invoice Templates, Online Payment Processing, Recurring Invoices. This makes it ideal for freelancers and consultants.
Harpoon unique strengths: Invoicing, Financial Forecasting, Project Scheduling. This makes it better suited for freelancers seeking profitable growth.
Invoice Ninja offers 10 core features with 8 integrations, while Harpoon provides 10 features and 2 integrations.
Our Verdict
After extensive testing and analysis, Invoice Ninja edges out as the winner in this comparison. While both tools excel in their respective areas, Invoice Ninja offers more features for the price. Harpoon remains a strong alternative, especially for users who prioritize freelancers seeking profitable growth.
Invoice Ninja
Best for Freelancers and consultants and Small businesses with recurring billing. Generous free plan with unlimited invoicing.
Try Invoice NinjaHarpoon
Best for Freelancers seeking profitable growth and Small agencies and design studios. Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability.
Try HarpoonPros & Cons
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
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
Pricing Comparison
Compare the pricing plans and see which tool offers better value for your budget.
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
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
Pricing Comparison Analysis
Invoice Ninja Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $14/monthly. 4 plans available: Free, Ninja Pro, Enterprise, Premium Business+.
Harpoon Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans start at $9/monthly. 5 plans available: Free Trial, Starter, Freelancer, Studio, Agency.
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 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
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
Final Verdict
Choose Invoice Ninja if: You need freelancers and consultants or small businesses with recurring billing. It excels at generous free plan with unlimited invoicing and self-hosted option available for data control.
Choose Harpoon if: You prioritize freelancers seeking profitable growth or small agencies and design studios. It's particularly strong for unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability and simple four-rule methodology for business management.
Overall: Invoice Ninja has a slight edge with a 4.3/5 rating from 2,500 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.
Invoice Ninja vs Harpoon FAQ
What are the main differences between Invoice Ninja and Harpoon?
Invoice Ninja focuses on freelancers and consultants with generous free plan with unlimited invoicing, while Harpoon excels at freelancers seeking profitable growth with unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability. Key differences include pricing structure, feature depth, and target user base.
Is Invoice Ninja or Harpoon better for small businesses?
Invoice Ninja 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 Invoice Ninja and Harpoon?
Invoice Ninja starts at $14/month with a free tier available, while Harpoon starts at $9/month with a free tier available. Both offer multiple pricing tiers with different feature sets.
Can Invoice Ninja integrate with Harpoon?
While direct integration may vary, both Invoice Ninja and Harpoon support third-party integrations through platforms like Zapier. Invoice Ninja integrates with Stripe, PayPal, Square, while Harpoon works with Stripe, Web browsers.
Which tool is easier to use, Invoice Ninja or Harpoon?
Based on user reviews, Invoice Ninja 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. Invoice Ninja is known for self-hosted option available for data control.
Does Invoice Ninja or Harpoon offer better customer support?
Both Invoice Ninja and Harpoon provide customer support, with options varying by plan tier. Invoice Ninja offers support through standard support channels. Check each tool's specific plan for support details.
What are the pros of Invoice Ninja compared to Harpoon?
Invoice Ninja's main advantages include: Generous free plan with unlimited invoicing, Self-hosted option available for data control, Extensive payment gateway integrations. Compared to Harpoon, it's particularly strong for freelancers and consultants.
What are the cons of Invoice Ninja compared to Harpoon?
Invoice Ninja's potential drawbacks include: Advanced features require paid plans, Self-hosting requires technical expertise. Harpoon may be a better choice if these limitations affect your use case.
Should I switch from Invoice Ninja to Harpoon 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, Invoice Ninja leads in this comparison with a 4.3 rating. However, the best choice depends on your specific requirements. Invoice Ninja excels for freelancers and consultants, while Harpoon is ideal for freelancers seeking profitable growth.