Compare · Solo contractors
Best estimate and invoice apps for solo contractors
If you work alone, you don't need software built for a 20-truck company. You need to price the job at the door, send it, and get paid.
For a solo contractor on an iPhone who wants unlimited estimates and invoices for free, Settle has no document cap and pays you to your own Stripe account at Stripe's standard rate. If you need Android or a computer, Square Invoices and Wave are free with no document cap but take a higher card fee. Joist ($17 a month for unlimited) and Invoice Simple ($21.99) are built for trades but cap documents on cheaper plans. Zoho Invoice is free up to 500 invoices a year. Jobber is the pick once you schedule a crew.
Who wrote this: the team behind Settle, one of the apps below. Every price and limit comes from each company's own pricing or help pages (sources linked on each app's page), and we say where another app is the better fit.
The shortlist
| App | Cheapest plan | Unlimited estimates and invoices | Card fee | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settle | Free | Free plan; Pro $19.99/mo adds unlimited AI drafts | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe), Settle adds nothing | iPhone only |
| Square Invoices | Free | Free plan | 3.3% + 30¢ online on Free | iPhone, Android, web |
| Wave | Free (Starter) | Free plan | 2.9% + 60¢ | iPhone, Android, web (US and Canada) |
| Zoho Invoice | Free | No: 500 invoices a year | Set by the gateway you connect | iPhone, Android, web, desktop |
| Joist | Basics, $10/mo (5 documents a month) | Pro, $17/mo | Not listed on its pricing page | iPhone, Android, web |
| Invoice Simple | Essentials, $6.99/mo (3 invoices a month) | Premium, $21.99/mo | Not listed on its pricing page | iPhone, Android, web |
| Jobber | Core, $29/mo billed annually ($49 month-to-month) | Core | 2.9% + 30¢ | iPhone, Android, web |
From each company's pricing and help pages, checked October 27 to November 4, 2026. See the full comparison of 23 apps for sources, and the card fee calculator to compare fees on your own invoice amount.
Which one fits your business
- You work alone on an iPhone and send lots of estimates: Settle. Free with no cap, you describe the job out loud and it writes the estimate from your prices, and payments go to your own Stripe account. No scheduling, no Android.
- You already take cards with Square: Square Invoices' free plan keeps everything in one place. Online card payments cost 3.3% + 30¢ on the free plan.
- You want free bookkeeping too: Wave. Free invoicing plus basic accounting, US and Canada only, 2.9% + 60¢ per card payment.
- You send fewer than about 40 invoices a month and want a computer: Zoho Invoice is free up to 500 a year.
- You want a long-established trade app and don't mind paying: Joist Pro at $17 a month.
- You're about to hire: Jobber, for scheduling and crew logins on every plan.
What to check before you pick
- The real cap. "Free" often means 3 or 5 documents a month, and estimates usually count.
- The card fee. On a $1,500 job, 3.3% + 30¢ is $49.80 and 2.9% + 30¢ is $43.80.
- Who holds the money. Apps that process payments themselves set their own payout timing and reviews. See why invoice apps hold your money.
- Your phone. Settle is iPhone only.
What is the best free estimate and invoice app for a solo contractor?
On an iPhone, Settle is free with no limit on estimates or invoices and pays you to your own Stripe account. On Android or a computer, Square Invoices and Wave have free plans with no document cap; Zoho Invoice is free up to 500 invoices a year.
Is Zoho Invoice really unlimited?
No. Zoho's pricing FAQ lists the free plan at up to 500 invoices a year, two users and three projects.
Does Joist still have a free plan?
No. Joist's pricing page says the free plan is no longer available. Basics is $10 a month for 5 documents a month, and Pro is $17 a month for unlimited.
Do I need Jobber as a one-person business?
Only if you want scheduling and dispatch. If you mostly send estimates and invoices, a lighter app costs less.
Try Settle free: unlimited estimates and invoices.
Free on iPhone. Unlimited estimates and invoices. 7 days of Pro to try the voice drafts, and you cancel in two taps.
Download on the App StoreiPhone, iOS 17 or later. Questions? Text Nina: (818) 945-9686