Quick Overview
- 1#1: Harvest - Harvest offers time tracking, expense management, and invoicing tailored for agencies and creative teams.
- 2#2: FreshBooks - FreshBooks provides cloud-based invoicing, time tracking, and accounting software designed for service-based agencies.
- 3#3: Accelo - Accelo delivers professional services automation including project management, time tracking, and client billing for agencies.
- 4#4: BigTime - BigTime specializes in time tracking, expense billing, and resource management for professional services agencies.
- 5#5: Scoro - Scoro integrates project management, CRM, and billing to streamline operations for marketing and creative agencies.
- 6#6: Productive - Productive combines resource planning, project tracking, and financial reporting with agency-focused billing tools.
- 7#7: Kantata - Kantata provides professional services automation with advanced time tracking and profitability billing for agencies.
- 8#8: FunctionFox - FunctionFox offers project management, time tracking, and invoicing software optimized for creative agencies.
- 9#9: Bonsai - Bonsai streamlines proposals, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing for freelancers and small agencies.
- 10#10: Plutio - Plutio is an all-in-one platform with CRM, task management, and simple invoicing for small agencies.
We ranked these tools based on feature depth—including automation, integration capabilities, and user-friendliness—along with overall value, ensuring they meet the unique demands of creative, marketing, and professional services agencies.
Comparison Table
Agency billing software simplifies financial workflows, with tools like Harvest, FreshBooks, Accelo, BigTime, Scoro, and more, playing a key role in operational success. This comparison table outlines critical features of these solutions to help readers evaluate which best aligns with their agency’s needs, from time tracking to invoicing and project management. By analyzing functionalities side-by-side, users can identify a tool that streamlines their specific workflows and enhances overall productivity.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvest Harvest offers time tracking, expense management, and invoicing tailored for agencies and creative teams. | specialized | 9.3/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 2 | FreshBooks FreshBooks provides cloud-based invoicing, time tracking, and accounting software designed for service-based agencies. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 3 | Accelo Accelo delivers professional services automation including project management, time tracking, and client billing for agencies. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | BigTime BigTime specializes in time tracking, expense billing, and resource management for professional services agencies. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | Scoro Scoro integrates project management, CRM, and billing to streamline operations for marketing and creative agencies. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 6 | Productive Productive combines resource planning, project tracking, and financial reporting with agency-focused billing tools. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 7 | Kantata Kantata provides professional services automation with advanced time tracking and profitability billing for agencies. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | FunctionFox FunctionFox offers project management, time tracking, and invoicing software optimized for creative agencies. | creative_suite | 7.8/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 9 | Bonsai Bonsai streamlines proposals, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing for freelancers and small agencies. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 10 | Plutio Plutio is an all-in-one platform with CRM, task management, and simple invoicing for small agencies. | other | 8.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 |
Harvest offers time tracking, expense management, and invoicing tailored for agencies and creative teams.
FreshBooks provides cloud-based invoicing, time tracking, and accounting software designed for service-based agencies.
Accelo delivers professional services automation including project management, time tracking, and client billing for agencies.
BigTime specializes in time tracking, expense billing, and resource management for professional services agencies.
Scoro integrates project management, CRM, and billing to streamline operations for marketing and creative agencies.
Productive combines resource planning, project tracking, and financial reporting with agency-focused billing tools.
Kantata provides professional services automation with advanced time tracking and profitability billing for agencies.
FunctionFox offers project management, time tracking, and invoicing software optimized for creative agencies.
Bonsai streamlines proposals, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing for freelancers and small agencies.
Plutio is an all-in-one platform with CRM, task management, and simple invoicing for small agencies.
Harvest
specializedHarvest offers time tracking, expense management, and invoicing tailored for agencies and creative teams.
Effortless invoice automation that pulls directly from approved time sheets and expenses
Harvest is a leading time tracking and invoicing platform tailored for agencies, enabling precise capture of billable hours across projects via desktop, mobile, and web timers. It automates invoice generation directly from tracked time and expenses, with approval workflows to ensure accuracy before billing clients. Comprehensive reporting on profitability, utilization, and budgets helps agencies optimize operations and demonstrate value to clients.
Pros
- Exceptionally intuitive time tracking with one-click timers and mobile apps
- Seamless automation from time entries to client-ready invoices
- Powerful profitability reports and integrations with tools like Asana, QuickBooks, and Stripe
Cons
- No native project management or task assignment features (relies on integrations)
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams without per-project billing options
- Limited advanced approval workflows compared to enterprise competitors
Best For
Creative agencies and service-based teams focused on accurate time-based billing and profitability tracking.
Pricing
Free for solo users; Pro plan at $12/user/month (annual billing) or $15 monthly; custom Enterprise pricing for advanced needs.
FreshBooks
specializedFreshBooks provides cloud-based invoicing, time tracking, and accounting software designed for service-based agencies.
Highly customizable, designer-quality invoices with real-time tracking and embedded payments
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting platform tailored for small businesses, freelancers, and service agencies, focusing on streamlined invoicing, time tracking, and expense management. It enables agencies to bill clients by hours, projects, or retainers, with features like client portals for approvals and automated payment reminders. The software integrates bookkeeping basics with online payments, making it ideal for service-based billing workflows without needing full ERP complexity.
Pros
- Intuitive interface with drag-and-drop invoicing and time tracking
- Automated recurring billing and late payment reminders
- Client portals for easy approvals and progress tracking
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and custom dashboards for larger agencies
- Pricing scales quickly with team members and higher plans
- Lacks built-in CRM or deep project management tools
Best For
Small to mid-sized agencies and freelancers prioritizing simple, professional billing and time tracking over enterprise-level project management.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month (Lite, 5 clients) up to $60/month (Premium, unlimited clients); team seats extra ($10/user/month), with 50% off annual billing.
Accelo
enterpriseAccelo delivers professional services automation including project management, time tracking, and client billing for agencies.
Real-time profitability dashboard that automatically calculates margins from time, expenses, and billing data across all projects
Accelo is an all-in-one professional services automation (PSA) platform tailored for agencies, combining CRM, project management, time tracking, and billing functionalities. It excels in agency billing by automating invoicing from tracked time and expenses, supporting retainers, milestones, and recurring billing for streamlined financial operations. The platform provides real-time profitability insights, helping agencies optimize billing accuracy and revenue recognition across client projects.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one PSA suite eliminates need for multiple tools
- Advanced billing automation with retainers, milestones, and profitability tracking
- Strong integrations with tools like QuickBooks and Google Workspace
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to feature-rich interface
- Pricing can be expensive for small agencies or startups
- Occasional reports of customization limitations and slower support response
Best For
Mid-sized agencies and consultancies needing an integrated platform for end-to-end project delivery and precise billing management.
Pricing
Quote-based with tiers starting at ~$39/user/month (billed annually), scaling to $89+/user/month for enterprise features.
BigTime
enterpriseBigTime specializes in time tracking, expense billing, and resource management for professional services agencies.
Advanced revenue forecasting and work-in-progress (WIP) management for precise agency profitability predictions
BigTime is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) platform designed for agencies and professional service firms, offering robust time tracking, project management, expense logging, and billing capabilities. It supports flexible billing models including hourly, fixed-price, milestone, and retainer billing, with automated invoicing and integrations to accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. The tool excels in resource planning and profitability tracking, helping agencies optimize workflows from project initiation to payment collection.
Pros
- Highly customizable billing and invoicing with support for multiple billing models
- Strong resource scheduling and capacity planning tools
- Excellent reporting and profitability analytics for agency financial health
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features and customizations
- Higher pricing tiers can be expensive for small agencies
- Limited native CRM functionality compared to dedicated sales tools
Best For
Mid-sized creative, marketing, or consulting agencies needing integrated time tracking, project management, and sophisticated billing automation.
Pricing
Tiered subscription starting at $10/user/month (Essentials) up to $40+/user/month (Elite), billed annually with minimum user requirements.
Scoro
enterpriseScoro integrates project management, CRM, and billing to streamline operations for marketing and creative agencies.
Real-time profitability tracking that combines billable time, expenses, and revenue across projects
Scoro is an all-in-one business management platform designed for agencies and consultancies, integrating project management, CRM, time tracking, and billing functionalities. It automates invoicing by directly pulling data from timesheets, expenses, and approved projects, ensuring accurate and efficient billing. The software also offers robust reporting for profitability analysis and resource planning, making it suitable for service-based businesses seeking operational efficiency.
Pros
- Comprehensive integration of projects, time tracking, and billing for seamless workflows
- Advanced profitability reporting and forecasting tools
- Customizable quotes, invoices, and automated recurring billing
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Higher pricing may not suit very small agencies
- Mobile app lacks some desktop functionalities
Best For
Mid-sized agencies and consultancies needing an integrated platform for project delivery, client management, and accurate billing.
Pricing
Starts at $26/user/month (Essential plan, billed annually) up to $49/user/month (Ultimate plan); custom enterprise pricing available.
Productive
specializedProductive combines resource planning, project tracking, and financial reporting with agency-focused billing tools.
Real-time profitability engine that calculates margins across projects, clients, and teams with forecasting
Productive.io is an all-in-one agency management platform designed for service-based businesses, offering tools for project management, resource planning, time tracking, and financial oversight. It streamlines agency billing through automated invoicing, expense tracking, profitability analysis, and integrations with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. Agencies can forecast budgets, monitor margins in real-time, and generate client-ready reports to ensure accurate and timely billing.
Pros
- Robust profitability tracking linking projects to revenue and costs
- Automated invoicing with time/expense approvals and retainers
- Strong resource scheduling that informs billing forecasts
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to extensive features
- Advanced billing tools locked behind higher tiers
- Limited native client portal for self-service billing
Best For
Mid-sized agencies requiring integrated resource planning and profitability-driven billing.
Pricing
Essential plan at $14/user/month, Pro at $32/user/month, Ultimate at $52/user/month (billed annually); minimum 5 users, custom enterprise options.
Kantata
enterpriseKantata provides professional services automation with advanced time tracking and profitability billing for agencies.
AI-powered skills-based resource matching and capacity planning
Kantata is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) platform tailored for agencies, offering end-to-end management of projects, resources, time tracking, and billing. It enables accurate invoicing based on time, expenses, and milestones, with real-time profitability insights and integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks and NetSuite. Designed for scaling agencies, it combines resource planning with financial controls to optimize billable utilization.
Pros
- Advanced time and expense tracking with automated billing rules
- Strong resource management and capacity forecasting for agencies
- Detailed profitability reporting and forecasting analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex features
- Pricing can be high for smaller agencies
- UI feels dated in some areas compared to modern alternatives
Best For
Mid-sized agencies and professional services firms needing integrated PSA for project billing and resource optimization.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing starting at around $39/user/month for basic plans, scaling to enterprise tiers with advanced features.
FunctionFox
creative_suiteFunctionFox offers project management, time tracking, and invoicing software optimized for creative agencies.
Drag-and-drop Planning Board that synchronizes schedules, time tracking, and billing in real-time
FunctionFox is an all-in-one project management and time tracking platform tailored for creative agencies, enabling teams to schedule projects, track billable hours, manage expenses, and generate invoices seamlessly. It features visual planning tools like Gantt charts and drag-and-drop scheduling to monitor project progress against budgets. The software also provides detailed reporting for profitability analysis and client billing, making it suitable for service-based businesses focused on agency workflows.
Pros
- Integrated time tracking with automatic invoicing from timesheets and expenses
- Visual drag-and-drop scheduling and Gantt charts for project oversight
- Robust reporting for profitability and client billing insights
Cons
- Dated user interface that may feel clunky compared to modern alternatives
- Limited native integrations with popular accounting or CRM tools
- Steeper learning curve for customizing workflows and reports
Best For
Creative agencies and marketing firms seeking an integrated solution for project planning, time tracking, and client billing without needing multiple tools.
Pricing
Plans start at $3.25/user/month (Solo), $5.25/user/month (Team), and $6.50/user/month (Advanced), billed annually; custom enterprise options available.
Bonsai
specializedBonsai streamlines proposals, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing for freelancers and small agencies.
End-to-end proposal-to-invoice automation that converts signed contracts directly into billable invoices
Bonsai is an all-in-one freelance and agency management platform that streamlines the client lifecycle from proposals and contracts to invoicing, time tracking, and payments. It offers robust billing features including automated recurring invoices, expense tracking, and integrated payment processing via Stripe and PayPal. Designed primarily for freelancers and small teams, it provides agency-friendly tools like client portals and project timelines, though it may lack depth for larger operations.
Pros
- Intuitive interface for quick setup and use
- Seamless workflow from proposal to payment
- Integrated time tracking and expense management for accurate billing
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics for agencies
- Scalability challenges for teams larger than 10-15 users
- Some key features locked behind premium plans
Best For
Small agencies and freelance teams seeking a simple, all-in-one billing and client management solution.
Pricing
Starts at $17/month (Lite), $32/month (Essential), $52/month (Premium); annual billing offers discounts, with a free trial available.
Plutio
otherPlutio is an all-in-one platform with CRM, task management, and simple invoicing for small agencies.
Direct project-to-invoice workflow with automatic time tracking and expense logging
Plutio is an all-in-one business management platform tailored for agencies and freelancers, combining CRM, project management, proposals, and billing tools into a single dashboard. For agency billing, it offers customizable invoicing, recurring billing, time and expense tracking, and payment integrations with Stripe and PayPal. It streamlines workflows by linking billing directly to projects and client portals, reducing the need for multiple tools.
Pros
- All-in-one platform integrates billing with projects and CRM
- User-friendly interface with customizable invoice templates
- Strong payment integrations and client portal for self-service payments
Cons
- Limited advanced billing automation compared to dedicated tools
- Reporting and analytics could be more robust for larger agencies
- Occasional performance issues with high-volume usage
Best For
Small to mid-sized agencies seeking an affordable, integrated solution for billing alongside project management.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month (Pro plan for 1 user), $49/month (Agency for unlimited users), up to $99/month (Plutio+ with advanced automation); free plan available with limits.
Conclusion
After evaluating the top 10 agency billing tools, Harvest emerges as the clear leader, offering tailored time tracking, expense management, and invoicing designed for agencies and creative teams. FreshBooks, with its cloud-based invoicing and accounting, and Accelo, providing professional services automation, stand out as strong alternatives, each suited to specific needs. Together, these tools highlight the diversity of solutions available, ensuring there’s a fit for every agency size and workflow.
Don’t miss out on optimizing your agency’s billing—start with Harvest, our top-ranked choice, and experience streamlined operations that let you focus on delivering exceptional work.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison