The Top 10 Online Payment & Billing Solutions for IT Firms & Managed Service Providers: Support Getting Paid While Your Team is Handling Tech Support and More

When you’re in the business of managed services and tech support, it can be hard to feel like you’ve got the support that you need—let alone the right solutions to get paid quickly and easily. Too often, companies focus on the work at hand, which is great, but what about getting paid?

If you’re like most, you want a better solution, but you’re just not sure where to look or how to start. Fortunately, we’ve taken most of the work right out of that equation for you by compiling this guide. Below, you’ll find the top 10 choices for billing and payments that are going to serve your IT team or managed service company better than anything you’re currently using (otherwise, you wouldn’t be here, right?). 

Speaking of serving you better, consider adding the 24/7 support of our virtual receptionists at Smith.ai to handle things like appointment scheduling, customer service inquiries, and even payment collection when you’re not available, or so that you don’t have to be. 

1. Invoice Ninja

Invoice Ninja is a top pick for the IT crowd because it’s an open-source solution that leaves a lot of room for customization and integrations. You'll be able to pick and choose every detail of how you use this tool, including the incorporation of all of the standard features: automated reminders, recurring billing and payments, mobile invoices, easy online payment portals, and more. This app isn’t lacking in any way, and it’s surprisingly affordable when you do pay. 

That's right—we said when you do pay. That's because Invoice Ninja has a free forever basic platform that includes a robust database of invoice templates, tools and features, and even customizable dashboards and reporting. You'll only pay to upgrade if you decide you want any of those features. You can even manage billable hours and track project time to convert to bills with ease. 

Invoice Ninja highlights include:

• Free option? Yes
• Price: Starts at $10 per month
• Custom templates
• Time tracking
• Automated billing
• Integrates with 40+ payment gateways
• Real-time reporting
• Open-source platform
  

2. Invoice2Go

The Invoice2Go invoicing platform makes it easy, and affordable, for all IT firms and managed service providers to get paid quickly and easily. This dedicated billing and payment solution includes a host of tools and billing resources to keep things moving and make sure that you’re getting paid. The basic plan is $3 per month, so you can’t even be that upset that there’s no free option here. 

Invoice2Go offers customizable invoices, tracking of billed and billable hours, online payment processing, mobile invoicing and apps, and more. You can even use the lead generation tools to boost your business and keep track of everything with the Android and iOS apps when you are on the go. Plus, the company offers a money-back guarantee, and that’s saying something when you’re only spending three bucks in the first place. 

Consider the key features:

• Free option? No
• Price? $3 per month to start
• Unbilled hours tracking
• “Pay Now” button for instant payment acceptance
• Mobile apps and invoicing
• Custom invoicing
• Recurring payments 
• Automated reminders 
  

3. FreshBooks

FreshBooks will make billing and invoicing easier than ever before. With this tool, you’ll be able to handle all of your accounting in one place, including on the go if you choose, thanks to mobile apps for Android and iOS. You will also find impressive features like real-time reporting with detailed insights, a retainer feature for taking deposits on big jobs and other needs, and double-entry accounting to ensure everything is on point. 

FreshBooks also offers a cloud deployment that’s easily scalable and you will find recurring invoicing options, automated reminders, and other features that take a lot of the hassles off your hands. Many users love this app because it includes an estimate-to-invoice conversion tool that allows you to turn quotes into bills in a matter of seconds. Plus, it integrates with plenty of other software and apps so that it will fit right into your tech stack. 

The highlights include:

• Free option? No
• Price: $15 per month to start
• Estimate-to-invoice converter
• Real-time reporting dashboard
• Retainer/deposit feature
• Fee-based payment processors available
• Double-entry accounting
  

4. Invoicely

Invoicely is going to make invoicing easier than ever, and that starts by offering everyone a huge selection of free invoice templates and a free basic option so that you can handle all of your billing without spending a dime if you desire. For IT firms and managed service providers on a budget, this tool is great. It's also a prime choice for solo IT providers and startups that need something to get them off the ground—chances are you won’t even upgrade later unless it’s to a higher plan on this platform. 

Invoicely offers mobile invoice creation and robust mobile apps, along with detailed reporting and custom invoice branding to give that personal touch and professional image. Workflow automation tools take all the hassles of billing off your hands, and you’ll even be able to create custom labels to manage your dashboard your way. Plus, it’s got an open API, so it integrates pretty much seamlessly with any of the tools that you’re using. 

The key features of Invoicely include:

• Free option? Yes
• Price: Paid plans start at $10 per month
• Custom invoice branding
• Workflow automation
• Custom labels 
• Mobile invoicing
• Automated reminders
• Recurring billing feature
  

5. Zoho Invoice

Zoho Invoice is popular for those who enjoy simplicity in their billing tools. The platform offers a host of different features and integrations and is surprisingly affordable for those who need a paid plan. Solo users can take advantage of the free platform from Zoho Invoice, which still includes everything you need to get paid. You’ll find an online client portal to accept payments 24 hours a day, along with the ability to accept those payments in multiple currencies. 

Zoho also has an estimate-to-invoice conversion option so that you can turn quotes and jobs into bills in seconds, and then automate those bills or send batch invoices to save time and effort. You can track unbilled hours and expenses until it’s time to add them to the invoice and enjoy a simplified view of everything from the user-friendly dashboard.

The best features of Zoho Invoice are:

• Free option? Free for single users
• Price $9 per month to start
• Accept multiple currencies
• Online payment portal (client-facing)
• Automated billing and reminders
• Custom branding options
• Invoice templates
• Estimate-to-invoice conversion
  

6. Wave

Wave Accounting makes it easy to get your billing handled in one place, no matter what kind of billing you need to do. The best thing, especially for the IT world where it’s already pick-and-choose preferred, is that Wave offers most features on a pay-per-use basis. That means you don’t have to pay monthly fees for a load of software when you only use a few features. Use the invoice templates (of which there are tons). Use the recurring billing features. Even use the payment processing gateway, but that one will incur a fee. 

With Wave, you can integrate into your existing tech stack with ease. There are client data management tools and you can find custom reports to help you keep track of your billing at all times. Plus, some features are totally free and there are monthly solutions available for bigger things like payroll and taxes so that you can do it all in one place. 

The highlights of Wave include:

• Free option? Yes, some features are free
• Price: $20 per month for plans to start
• Expense tracking
• Pay-as-you-go pricing
• Recurring billing
• Custom invoices
• Automated payments and reminders
• Payroll solutions available
• Some free features
  

7. FreeAgent

With the FreeAgent platform, you will be able to enjoy all of the billing features and tools that you need in a single place. This platform also has one of the largest inventories of invoice templates to ensure that you can create the perfect impression every single time. With FreeAgent, there are no contracts or setup costs, and you can have unlimited clients and users on any plan. There isn’t a free plan, but a trial is offered so that you can take it for a test drive. 

FreeAgent offers project management tools, reminders, expense tracking, dozens of integrations, and even the chance to get discounts on memberships when you’re a new customer. The tool is available for iOS and Android so that you can also take your billing on the go, and payment processing and other tools are offered, as well. 

The highlights of this tool include:

• Free option? No, but there is a trial
• Price: $12 per month starting out
• Unlimited users and clients
• Android and iOS apps
• No contracts
• Project management tools
• Recurring invoicing 
• Automated payments
  

8. Xero

With Xero, anyone will be able to make more headway when it comes to streamlining billing. IT companies and managed services love this platform because it has so many forward-thinking digital solutions for people who need a better way to get paid and pay their bills. Xero offers project tracking tools so that you can get paid the way you work, and interactive quotes so that everyone can be on the same page from the start. 

Xero offers easy bank account linking and customization of the platform, as well as the chance to custom brand your invoices for a perfectly professional finish. You can even track records and integrate with payment processors and other tools. There are tools to track expenses and claim them properly, and the mobile apps make sure that you can access everything on the go. 

Check out the key features, including:

• Free option? No, but there is a trial
• Price: Starts at $11 per month
• Interactive quotes
• Project tracking tools
• Custom invoices
• Mobile apps
• Expense claiming/tracking
  

9. EBizCharge

EBizCharge is a custom platform, but for the IT firm or managed service provider with more custom or detailed tastes, this platform may deliver and be worth the quote process. The tool offers a customer-facing portal and mobile apps to manage things from anywhere, along with hardware that you can use to take physical payments if you have a point of contact with your clients. This platform also makes it easy to send email payments and invoices and process payments in seconds. 

With EBizCharge, you can accept payments on all types of channels and even get real-time reports to tell you how things are going. The app also has customization features for the dashboard so that you can track things in a way that works for you. Automate workflows, set up recurring payments and bills, and more. 

Plus, check out highlights like:

• Free option? No
• Price: Custom quote
• Email payments
• Mobile apps
• Integrated billing
• Multi-channel payment processing
• Integrates with more than 100 tools 
• Detailed real-time reports
  

10. OneUp

OneUp makes it easy for you to get “one up” on the competition when it comes to billing and payments. This easy-to-use platform is another affordable choice that IT firms and other industry providers love because of its simplicity and customization options. The platform starts with a Customer 360 view that allows you to keep tabs on your clients one at a time. You can also use the iOS and Android apps to track things on the go. 

This tool also includes plenty of AI and automation to help streamline billing and save you time in getting paid. The OneUp platform has a dedicated business assistant that will handle billing, time tracking, taxes, expenses, and other needs for you while you take care of your clients. Plus, the scan-to-pay feature turns paper bills and receipts into digital accounting entries with ease. 

Check out key features like:

• Free option? No
• Price: Starts at $9 per month
• Digital accounting
• Open API
• Automated reminders
• Business assistant 
• Customer 360 views
• Custom invoicing
  

Take automation one step further and take back your time with Smith.ai

When it comes to handling your payments and billing, any of the tools on the list above is sure to give you a good solution. Depending on the features that matter most to you and what your budget looks like, you might decide that you like one of these better than another. That's what makes it great—there are solutions for just about everyone on this list and there is no wrong answer. 

If you want another right answer, consider saying “yes” to the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai, who can handle things like overflow calls, 24/7 live online chat and phone answering, appointment booking, and payment collection. We’ll handle the details while you focus on your clients, your projects, and your specialty because those details are ours. 

Schedule your live chat consultation now to find out how our virtual receptionists can change the way you manage your administrative tasks and mission critical services, or drop us a line at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.