Invoicing Software Rating Criteria
Invoicing Software Rating Criteria
Invoicing software is typically cloud-based and allows businesses to easily organize and automate the invoicing process. Invoicing software is generally focused on accounts receivable, although some programs also offer accounts payable options. The majority of our reviews are geared solely toward invoicing software, although we do cover billing software on occasion. We make small adjustments in evaluating stand-alone billing or accounts payable solutions.
Invoicing software is rated on the following eight sections: Pricing, Hardware & Software Requirements, Ease Of Use, Features, Customer Service & Support, User Reviews, Integrations & Add-Ons, and Security.
Each section is assigned a rating of Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor based on the outlined criteria. The overall score out of 5 stars is then based on the following general guidelines:
| Overall Score | Section Ratings |
|---|---|
| 5.0 | Majority "Excellent" and "Good", no "Poor" |
| 4.0 - 4.5 | Majority "Good" |
| 3.0 - 3.5 | Majority "Good" and / or "Fair" |
| 2.0 - 2.5 | Majority "Fair" and / or "Poor" |
| 1.0 - 1.5 | Majority "Poor" |
For more detailed information on scoring, as well as how we make recommendations based on these scores, see our Rating And Scoring System.
The following characteristics warrant an Excellent rating:
Pricing
- The price accurately reflects the value of the software at each pricing level
- Price is competitive and affordable relative to the intended customer base
- Industry-standard features are included within the main pricing plans
- All fees and expenses are made explicitly clear prior to purchase
- Provides a free trial to test the software
- Discounts available (for an annual subscription, education, non-profit, etc.)
Hardware & Software Requirements
- Accessible on all main browsers and devices
- Includes well-developed mobile apps
Ease Of Use
- Interface design is logical, intuitive, and easy to navigate
- Signup and on-boarding is simple and well-guided
- Individual features are easy to use with self-explanatory input fields
- Offers quality and easily-searchable learning resources (demos, tutorials, in-software guidance, etc.) to assist new users
- Runs smoothly with no major bugs or glitches affecting basic features
Features
- Provides a well-rounded set of built-in features that serve the intended audience
- Feature set offers good value for the price
- Features include: multiple invoice templates, invoice customization, invoice reminders, recurring invoices, estimates, contact management, expense tracking, live bank feeds, inventory, time tracking, project management, and a client portal or other method of accepting invoice payments online
- Features of specialized, niche software may differ from above but still offer strong value for the price and intended customer base
- The majority of individual features are robust
Customer Service & Support
- Provides multiple avenues for personalized support (phone, email/support tickets, live chat, etc.)
- Provides an extensive collection of quality online self-help resources (knowledgebase, tutorial videos, community forums, blog, etc.)
- A live representative can be reached during business hours via phone or live chat
- Company responds to support requests in a timely manner (emails within 24 hours, phone holds and live chats within minutes)
- Support representatives are knowledgeable, courteous, and able to resolve issues
- Support department has a reputation for good service, even if some complaints exist
User Reviews
- The number of complaints is reasonable in proportion to company size and user base
- Complaints reference isolated, specific circumstances rather than systemic problems the company has failed to address
- Complaints are addressed publicly in a reasonable and respectful manner
- Customer feedback is taken into consideration when updating the software, which frequently renders older complaints obsolete
- Receives mostly positive reviews/scores on trusted third-party review sites
- Positive reviews outnumber complaints
Note: Invoicing software with very few user reviews receives a rating of Fair until more data becomes available.
Integrations & Add-Ons
- Offers a large number of integrations
- Provides a well-rounded set of widely-used third-party software integrations (accounting, ecommerce, POS, loyalty, marketing, etc.)
- Provides multiple payment gateway integrations
- Includes a Zapier (or another multi-app connector) integration
- Provides an open API for developers
Security
- The company is transparent about its security measures
- Security features include at a minimum: data encryption, firewalls, virus/intrusion detection and prevention, regular backups, physical security measures for data centers
- Maintains a long track record of no major, wide-spread security issues
- Percentage uptime is at or above industry-standard levels
- Provides updates regarding security status, planned maintenance and downtime, etc.
