Comparison
InvoiceWriteNow vs Invoice Ninja: hosted simplicity or open source?
Invoice Ninja is a favourite of developers who want to run their own invoicing server. InvoiceWriteNow is for businesses that would rather not run anything and want local details handled.
InvoiceWriteNow is best for
South African small businesses that want a ready-to-use tool with Rand pricing, PayFast and SARS-ready invoices.
Invoice Ninja is best for
Technical users who want to self-host, customise templates in code, or integrate deeply with their own systems.
Side by side
| Feature | InvoiceWriteNow | Invoice Ninja |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Starter plan; Pro R199/month (R159 annual); Business R449/month (R359 annual). Priced in Rand. | Free self-hosted; hosted free tier with branding; paid tiers in USD. |
| Scope | Invoicing and quotations only, deliberately. | Invoicing, quotes, expenses, time tracking, projects. |
| VAT and tax invoices | 15% VAT and SARS tax invoice fields built in; switch off if not registered. | Configurable taxes; wording set up by you. |
| Payments | EFT details on the invoice; PayFast for card, Instant EFT, SnapScan, Zapper and more. | Many gateways, configured by you. |
| Send from your own email | Send from your own email address (SMTP) on Pro and Business. | Yes, with your own SMTP when self-hosted. |
| Recurring invoices | Recurring monthly invoices on Pro and Business. | Yes. |
| Quotations | Quotations convert to invoices in one click. | Yes. |
| Setup | Sign up, add your details, send. | Hosted: quick. Self-hosted: server, updates and backups are on you. |
| Support | Email support from South Africa. | Community forums; paid support on higher tiers. |
Invoice Ninja details are summarised from its public website and may change; check its pricing page for current figures. InvoiceWriteNow pricing is shown excluding VAT.
About Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is an open-source invoicing and billing application available as a hosted service (free tier with Invoice Ninja branding, paid tiers) or self-hosted on your own server. It supports many payment gateways and extensive customisation. Check Invoice Ninja's site for current tiers.
Verdict
If you enjoy running servers and want full control, Invoice Ninja is a strong open-source option. If you want to send a compliant South African invoice this afternoon and never think about hosting, InvoiceWriteNow is the shorter path.
Frequently asked questions
Is InvoiceWriteNow open source?
No. It is a hosted service operated by Write Now Agency in South Africa, with your data exportable at any time.
Can I self-host InvoiceWriteNow?
No. It is hosted for you, with updates, backups and security handled.
Ready to send your first invoice?
Free plan, no card, first document in two minutes. Upgrade when the invoices start stacking up.