Just Invoice vs QuickBooks Online for Canadian Contractors (2026)

If you're a Canadian contractor or tradesperson looking for invoicing software, you've probably considered QuickBooks Online. It's the most well-known name. But many small trade businesses find it more than they need — and more expensive than necessary.

Just Invoice was built in Canada specifically for contractors, plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC techs, and other service businesses who want fast, simple invoicing that handles Canadian taxes properly without the bloat.

This comparison is direct and honest. We cover pricing, tax handling for GST/HST/QST/PST, payment features (especially Interac e-transfer), ease of use, and when each tool makes sense.

Quick Summary Table (text)

Pricing Details (2026)

Just Invoice

• Free: Up to 2 invoices per month, unlimited clients and products/services. Great for testing or very low volume.
• Premium: $8 per month CAD. Unlimited invoices, email invoices, custom logo on PDFs, recurring invoices (rolling out), receive credit card payments via Stripe Connect.

QuickBooks Online (approximate Canadian Pricing, Check Current for Promos)

• Simple Start: Around $30/month CAD (cheaper annually). Basic invoicing + expense tracking.
• Essentials: ~$55+/mo. More users, bill tracking.
• Plus: ~$85+/mo. Project profitability, inventory — often recommended for contractors but overkill for many solo or small crews.

For a one-person plumbing or electrical business doing 10-40 invoices a month, the price difference is significant: $8 vs $30+ and you still may not use most of the extra features.

Tax Handling for Canadian Contractors

Both Handle GST/HST. Just Invoice Was Designed from Day One Around Canadian Provincial Differences:

• Easy selection of region (Québec TPS+TVQ, Ontario HST 13%, BC GST+PST 5%+7%, Alberta GST only, etc.).
• Line-item tax calculation matching how most contractors quote (labour + materials).
• Clear display of your registration numbers (GST/HST, QST, PST if applicable).
• Built-in calculators for quick checks (see our GST QST Calculator and HST tools).

QuickBooks has robust tax support and can handle multi-province, but it often requires more initial setup of tax rates, tax codes, and accounts. Many tradespeople report spending hours configuring it correctly for QST or mixed PST.

If your work stays mostly in one or two provinces and you want taxes "just to work," Just Invoice is faster to set up correctly.

Payments and Getting Paid (the Canadian Reality)

A Standout Difference for Canadian Users

Just Invoice includes a native "Ask for e-transfer on this invoice" option. You check a box, put your e-transfer email or phone, and the PDF/invoice shows clear instructions for the client. This matches exactly how most Canadian homeowners and small clients prefer to pay trades.

Card payments: On Premium, connect Stripe once. Your clients pay by card on a hosted page. Just Invoice take zero percent of the transaction. You pay Stripe's standard processing fees only. Full transparency.

QuickBooks offers payments too, but their merchant fees are layered on top and the integration is part of their broader ecosystem. e-transfer is not a first-class citizen; many users add it manually in the notes or use separate requests.

For contractors who hate chasing payments, the built-in e-transfer ask + fast simple invoices is often the biggest daily win.

Ease of Use and Time Saved

The founder story behind Just Invoice: a family member running a small service business was drowning in unnecessary steps in full accounting software just to send a simple invoice for a service call + parts.

Result: Just Invoice focuses on the 20% of features that deliver 80% of the value for trades:

• Fast line items (quantity x price, discounts, tax per line or summary).
• Save clients and products for reuse.
• Default payment terms (Net 30, due on receipt, etc.).
• Professional PDF in one click.
• Business settings for tax numbers once, apply everywhere.

QuickBooks is powerful if you need job costing, inventory for larger material jobs, or are growing into needing payroll and full books. For the typical independent contractor or small crew that just needs to bill accurately and quickly after the job, the extra power often becomes friction.

Who Should Choose Just Invoice

• Solo operators or small teams (under ~10-15 employees).
• Businesses primarily doing service work, installations, repairs (plumbing, electrical, roofing, HVAC, landscaping, handyman, etc.).
• People who want Canadian taxes handled simply without an accountant configuring everything.
• Anyone who values Interac e-transfer requests as a core feature.
• Budget-conscious: keep more of your money with $8/mo vs $30+ and no platform cut on card payments.
• Bilingual teams or Québec-based (full French support with proper terms).

Who Should Choose QuickBooks Online Instead

• Businesses with employees needing payroll.
• Companies managing significant inventory or material purchasing.
• Those wanting advanced project tracking and profitability reports per job.
• Teams that already have a bookkeeper or accountant who loves QuickBooks and will manage the setup.
• Very high volume or complex multi-entity needs.

Real Talk on the Best Choice

There is no universal winner. QuickBooks is an excellent, mature product with a huge ecosystem. But for the specific use case of Canadian tradespeople who repeatedly say "I just want to send a clean invoice with the right taxes and get paid," the majority of small operators we've talked to are happier with something purpose-built and lighter.

Many switch from QuickBooks to simpler tools and never look back on the invoicing side.

Try Before You Decide

You can create and download professional Canadian invoices for free right now with no account required using our invoice generator. Test the tax calculations for your province.

If you like the speed and simplicity, the Premium plan at $8/month removes all limits and adds card payments.

Links

• Free invoice generator: invoice generator
• See full features: features
• Pricing: pricing
• Tax calculators: tax calculators

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import my data from QuickBooks to Just Invoice?

A: Currently we support manual CSV export/import for clients and products. Full automated migration tools are on the roadmap. Most small users re-enter their common clients and items in under an hour because the interface is so fast.

Does Just Invoice do job costing or estimates?

A: We have estimates in the app and basic reporting. Advanced job profitability is planned but not the primary focus. If you need heavy job costing today, QuickBooks Plus may still be worth it.

What about year-end accounting and my accountant?

A: Many Just Invoice users export reports or PDFs for their accountant. We also provide tax summary reports (by tax type) that make filing easier. Talk to your bookkeeper — most are happy to work with clean invoice data.

Is the free plan enough to compare?

A: Yes. Create real invoices with your actual tax rates and client info. When you hit the 2-per-month limit you'll feel the need for Premium if you're active.

Does QuickBooks have better support?

A: QuickBooks has more support staff overall. Just Invoice support is smaller but highly focused on the exact problems Canadian service businesses face. We answer directly and improve the product based on real user feedback from trades.

Other Comparisons

See also: Just Invoice vs FreshBooks, Just Invoice vs Wave, Best Invoicing Software Canada 2026.