Comparison
InvoiceWriteNow vs Zoho Invoice: which free invoicing tool for South Africa?
Both tools have a free tier and both make good-looking invoices. The differences are local: Rand, VAT wording, PayFast, and whether your invoices go out from your own email address.
InvoiceWriteNow is best for
South African businesses that want local payment methods, SARS-style tax invoices and sending from their own domain, with support close to home.
Zoho Invoice is best for
Businesses already using Zoho apps, or that need time tracking and expenses in the same tool.
Side by side
| Feature | InvoiceWriteNow | Zoho Invoice |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Starter plan; Pro R199/month (R159 annual); Business R449/month (R359 annual). Priced in Rand. | Free. |
| Scope | Invoicing and quotations only, deliberately. | Invoicing, estimates, expenses, time tracking. |
| VAT and tax invoices | 15% VAT and SARS tax invoice fields built in; switch off if not registered. | Configurable tax; wording needs setup for South Africa. |
| Payments | EFT details on the invoice; PayFast for card, Instant EFT, SnapScan, Zapper and more. | International gateways; local South African options limited. |
| Send from your own email | Send from your own email address (SMTP) on Pro and Business. | Zoho mail relay by default. |
| Recurring invoices | Recurring monthly invoices on Pro and Business. | Yes. |
| Quotations | Quotations convert to invoices in one click. | Yes (estimates). |
| Team | Up to 10 team members with approvals on Business. | Limited users on the free plan. |
| Support | Email support from South Africa. | Global. |
Zoho Invoice details are summarised from its public website and may change; check its pricing page for current figures. InvoiceWriteNow pricing is shown excluding VAT.
About Zoho Invoice
Zoho Invoice is a free invoicing application from Zoho Corporation with invoices, estimates, expenses, time tracking and client portals. It is part of the wider Zoho ecosystem (Zoho Books, CRM). Payment gateway availability depends on region. Check Zoho's site for current details.
Verdict
Zoho Invoice is a capable free tool if you are happy with generic tax setup and international payment options. InvoiceWriteNow is the choice when you want Rand, PayFast, SARS-ready tax invoices and your own email address on every invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Is InvoiceWriteNow free like Zoho Invoice?
Starter is free: 5 invoices, 3 quotations and 10 customers a month. Paid plans add unlimited documents, SMTP sending, recurring invoices and team features.
Can I accept PayFast payments with Zoho Invoice?
Check Zoho's current gateway list for South Africa. InvoiceWriteNow uses PayFast for its own subscriptions and supports EFT details on every invoice.
Ready to send your first invoice?
Free plan, no card, first document in two minutes. Upgrade when the invoices start stacking up.