Settle vs. PayPal Invoicing
A PayPal Invoicing alternative for solo contractors
What PayPal Invoicing costs, where it caps you, and when it is the better pick. Prices checked November 2, 2026.
PayPal Invoicing is invoicing and estimates built into a PayPal business account, paid per transaction, with a phone app and a web dashboard. Settle is a free iPhone app for solo contractors with no cap on estimates or invoices, where payments go to your own Stripe account. Choose Settle if you work alone on an iPhone. Stay with PayPal Invoicing if your customers already pay with PayPal or Venmo.
Side by side
| Settle | PayPal Invoicing | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited estimates and invoices | Free: $0, no document limit | No subscription. PayPal's help page says Invoicing has no set-up or monthly fees; you pay a fee when a customer pays online |
| Limits on lower plans | None on any plan. AI drafts: 3 free, then Pro | No document limit listed |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes. Creating and sending invoices is included with a PayPal account; fees apply when the customer pays online |
| Card payment fee | Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢ paid to Stripe; Settle adds nothing | 2.99% + 49¢ for cards and Apple Pay; 3.49% + 49¢ when the customer pays with PayPal or Venmo; 1% capped at $10 for Pay by Bank. Fees page dated October 1, 2026 |
| Payouts | Paid straight to your own Stripe account. Stripe sets payout timing and runs its own risk checks; Settle never holds the money | PayPal processes the payment and the money lands in your PayPal balance. PayPal's user agreement says risk-based holds generally remain for up to 21 days; its help page says new sellers and sellers over a monthly limit may not get payments right away, and a hold on a service is released 7 days after you mark the order completed. A standard transfer to your bank is free and typically takes 1 to 3 business days; Instant Transfer costs 1.50% |
| Scheduling and dispatch | No | Not listed on the pages we checked (recurring invoices and automatic reminders only) |
| Platforms | iPhone only | iPhone, Android, web |
From each company's public pages, checked November 2, 2026. Confirm on PayPal Invoicing's page before you buy.
Why contractors look for a PayPal Invoicing alternative
The per-payment fees are higher than Stripe's card rate
PayPal's merchant fees page lists invoice payments at 2.99% + 49¢ for cards and Apple Pay, and 3.49% + 49¢ when the customer pays with PayPal or Venmo. On a $1,000 invoice that is $30.39 or $35.39. Settle's payments go to your own Stripe account at Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢, or $29.30. PayPal's Pay by Bank at 1%, capped at $10, is cheaper than either card rate.
Source: PayPal merchant fees
The money lands in a PayPal balance that PayPal can hold or limit
PayPal's user agreement says risk-based holds generally remain in place for up to 21 days, and its help page says a limited account may not be able to send or withdraw money. With Settle the payment goes to a Stripe account in your own name and Settle is never in the money path. Stripe still runs its own risk checks and sets payout timing.
"Frozen all the money my business has in the app."PayPal Business reviewer, App StoreSource: PayPal User Agreement
Your records are a payments history, not job records
PayPal's help page says you can download a report of your transaction activity as a PDF, Quicken, QuickBooks, CSV or TAB file, up to 12 months at a time. Estimates exist, but the invoicing page and the app listing don't mention them. Settle is built around the estimate, the customer's approval and the invoice on your phone.
When PayPal Invoicing is the better choice
- Your customers already pay with PayPal or Venmo.
- You want customers to pay in installments with Pay Later while you get paid in full up front.
- You need Android or a web dashboard, or want QuickBooks-format exports.
- You bill customers outside the US. PayPal says 200+ markets and 24 currencies.
When Settle is not the right app
We would rather you know before you download:
- iPhone only. There is no Android app and no web app.
- No scheduling, dispatching, GPS or time tracking.
- No QuickBooks sync. You can export everything to CSV.
- One user per account. No crew or team logins.
- Documents live on your phone. There is no sync between devices yet.
- English only for now.
- A new app from a small team. Most of the apps it competes with have been around for years.
How to switch from PayPal Invoicing
There is nothing to cancel; PayPal's help page says you can keep your account open if you might use PayPal again. Before closing, move any balance out, since PayPal can't close an account with a remaining balance, an account limitation or other unresolved issues, and a closed account can't be reopened.
There is nothing to import into Settle. Open the app, tap the orange button, and describe your next job. Your own prices are remembered from what you send, so your old price list doesn't need to come along.
Questions
Is Settle a good alternative to PayPal Invoicing?
Settle is a good alternative to PayPal Invoicing if you work alone, use an iPhone, and want no cap on how many estimates and invoices you send. It is not a replacement if you need scheduling, dispatch, a crew login, QuickBooks sync, or an Android or web app.
How much does PayPal Invoicing cost compared to Settle?
PayPal Invoicing: No subscription. PayPal's help page says Invoicing has no set-up or monthly fees; you pay a fee when a customer pays online. Cheapest plan: Free to send; per-payment fees. No document limit listed. Settle's free plan sends unlimited estimates and invoices; Settle Pro is $19.99 a month or $149.99 a year and adds unlimited AI-written drafts. Prices checked November 2, 2026.
Can I export my data from PayPal Invoicing before I switch?
There is nothing to cancel; PayPal's help page says you can keep your account open if you might use PayPal again. Before closing, move any balance out, since PayPal can't close an account with a remaining balance, an account limitation or other unresolved issues, and a closed account can't be reopened.
Does Settle hold my money?
No. Customers pay through a link, and the payment goes to a Stripe account in your own name. Settle takes no cut and is never in the money path. Stripe sets payout timing and still runs its own identity and risk checks, as it does for any business.
Sources
- PayPal Invoicing pricing
- PayPal help: close your account
- PayPal help: statements and reports
- PayPal User Agreement
- PayPal Business reviewer, App Store
Try Settle alongside PayPal Invoicing.
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