How to Switch from Harvest to InvoiceQuickly

Harvest is a popular time tracking tool that includes invoicing as a secondary feature. The problem: you're paying $10.80/seat/month primarily for time tracking, and the invoicing you get is basic — limited templates, minimal customization, and no AI automation. If you've already found a time tracking solution you prefer (or don't need one), Harvest's invoicing alone doesn't justify the cost.

InvoiceQuickly handles invoicing for free with AI generation, 200+ templates, and multi-currency support. Here's how to transition.

Why People Leave Harvest for Invoicing

Per-seat pricing for basic invoicing. At $10.80/user/month, a 5-person team pays $648/year. Harvest's invoicing is a feature within a time tracking tool — it's not a dedicated invoicing platform. If you're paying mostly to send invoices, the cost-to-value ratio is off.

Limited invoice templates. Harvest provides minimal invoice template options. You get a clean but rigid format — not the industry-specific or country-specific templates that help your invoices look professional in different markets.

Invoicing tied to time entries. Harvest's invoicing strength is converting tracked time into invoices. But if you bill flat rates, project milestones, or retainers, this tight coupling with time entries becomes a constraint rather than a feature.

Step 1: Export Your Data from Harvest

1. In Harvest, go to Manage → Clients and export your client list
2. Navigate to Invoices and export your invoice history as CSV — this includes invoice numbers, amounts, clients, and statuses
3. Download PDF copies of recent invoices for reference
4. If you use time-based billing, export your Time Reports so you have records of hours billed per client and project
5. Note any recurring/draft invoices you regularly send

Harvest's data export is straightforward. The Harvest API documentation details additional export options.

Step 2: Set Up InvoiceQuickly

1. Sign up at InvoiceQuickly — free, no per-seat pricing
2. Enter your business details: company name, address, logo, tax identifiers
3. Browse the template library — agencies and consultancies should look at templates tagged for professional services
4. Create your first AI invoice: type something like "consulting project for DataVault Inc, 62 hours at $175/hour, project management phase, plus $500 in approved expenses, NET 30" and get a complete invoice

Since Harvest users typically bill by the hour, you'll appreciate that the AI understands time-based descriptions and calculates totals automatically.

Step 3: Import Your Client List

Transfer your Harvest client data to InvoiceQuickly — company names, contact emails, billing addresses, and any client-specific notes (billing rate, preferred payment terms, etc.).

Step 4: Recreate Recurring Invoices

Harvest doesn't have true recurring invoices — it generates invoices from tracked time. With InvoiceQuickly, you can create retainer invoices manually each month. The recurring invoice feature is coming soon, which will automate this for fixed-amount retainers.

Step 5: Update Payment Methods

Harvest integrates with Stripe and PayPal for online invoice payments. InvoiceQuickly's integrated payments are in development. Add your payment details directly to each invoice — bank transfer information, payment links, or other preferred methods.

If your clients are accustomed to clicking "Pay" on Harvest invoices, include a Stripe payment link on your InvoiceQuickly invoices for a similar experience.

Step 6: Inform Your Clients

"We've switched our invoicing tool to InvoiceQuickly. Invoices will look different — more professional, actually — but payment terms and methods remain the same. Please reply if you have any questions."

What You Gain vs. What You Lose

The honest assessment: if your billing is 100% time-based and the automatic time-to-invoice conversion is critical to your workflow, Harvest's tight integration has real value. But if you bill mixed rates (hourly + flat fee + expenses), or want better templates and free invoicing, InvoiceQuickly is the better tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

I track time in Harvest. How do I create time-based invoices in InvoiceQuickly?

Export your time report from Harvest (or your new time tracking tool), then describe the hours in InvoiceQuickly's AI generator. Example: "40 hours development at $150/hr, 12 hours project management at $125/hr for ClientX." The AI calculates totals and formats everything.

Can my whole team use InvoiceQuickly without per-seat fees?

Yes. InvoiceQuickly doesn't charge per seat for invoice creation. Your team can create and manage invoices without the per-user costs that made Harvest expensive for larger teams.

What should I use for time tracking after leaving Harvest?

InvoiceQuickly focuses on invoicing, not time tracking. Popular standalone time trackers include Toggl Track, Clockify (free), or Timely. Use whichever fits your workflow, then reference the tracked hours when creating invoices.

Does InvoiceQuickly support project-based invoicing?

Yes. The AI generator handles project milestones, flat-rate projects, and mixed billing (hours + expenses + flat fees) naturally. Describe the deliverables and pricing, and the AI structures the invoice appropriately.

Stop Paying Per Seat to Invoice

Harvest charges per user. InvoiceQuickly is free for everyone.

Get early access →

Compare features: InvoiceQuickly vs Harvest.