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Proposals · head to head

Cone vs Invoicely

Cone logo

Cone

Proposals

Proposal to payment software for accounting and bookkeeping firms, with engagement letters and direct debit

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Invoicely logo

Invoicely

Accounting

Web-based invoicing app with a free plan for freelancers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Invoicely has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cone the product is shaped around accountancy engagements, so a freelancer or agency outside professional services pays for engagement letter and compliance features they will never open.; Invoicely free plan is limited to just 5 invoices and 3 clients per month, and PayPal-only payments.
  • They diverge on capability: Cone covers Engagement letters, Invoicely covers Invoice creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cone and Invoicely actually diverge.

Attributes where Cone and Invoicely differ
AttributeConeInvoicely
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
CategoryProposalsAccounting

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cone

  • Engagement letters
  • Electronic signature
  • Recurring billing
  • Direct debit collection
  • Scope creep flagging
  • Service line templates
  • Client onboarding tasks

Only in Invoicely

  • Invoice creation
  • Recurring invoices
  • Time, expense, and mileage tracking
  • Multi-currency support
  • Team member access
  • Credit card payments

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cone

  • A bookkeeping practice moving clients from ad hoc invoicing onto signed recurring fee agreementsnot Invoicely
  • An accountancy firm that needs engagement letter wording attached to every proposal for compliance reasonsnot Invoicely
  • A practice losing revenue to out of scope work that is never billed because nobody notices itnot Invoicely
  • Standardising pricing across a firm so that partners stop quoting the same service at different ratesnot Invoicely

Invoicely

  • Freelancers sending a small number of invoices for freenot Cone
  • Small businesses needing recurring billing and time trackingnot Cone
  • Multi-currency invoicing for international clientsnot Cone
  • Teams needing shared access to client invoicingnot Cone

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cone

  • The product is shaped around accountancy engagements, so a freelancer or agency outside professional services pays for engagement letter and compliance features they will never open.
  • Recurring collection depends on which payment rails are supported in your country, and direct debit coverage varies enough that the headline benefit may not apply to your client base.
  • Practice management integration is shallower than the incumbents, so client records often exist in two systems and have to be reconciled.
  • Pricing is not published, which makes it hard to compare against a general proposal tool without entering a sales process first.
  • As a younger vendor in a market that consolidates through acquisition, roadmap continuity carries more risk than choosing an established practice software supplier.

Invoicely

  • Free plan is limited to just 5 invoices and 3 clients per month, and PayPal-only payments.
  • No native mobile app mentioned, limiting on-the-go invoicing.
  • Team member limits on lower tiers can be restrictive for growing businesses.
  • No listed integrations with accounting platforms like QuickBooks or Xero.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cone

On request
  • Cone$undefined/year
    • Proposals and engagement letters
    • Electronic signature
    • Recurring billing and direct debit mandates

Invoicely

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 monthly invoices
    • 3 saved clients
    • PayPal payments only
  • Basic$9.99/month
    • 100 monthly invoices
    • 25 saved clients
    • Up to 2 team members
  • Professional$19.99/month
    • 250 monthly invoices
    • 100 saved clients
    • Up to 10 team members
  • Enterprise$29.99/month
    • Unlimited monthly invoices
    • Unlimited saved clients
    • Up to 25 team members

Which should you pick?

Choose Cone if

  • You need engagement letters.
  • You also want electronic signature.
Cone review

Choose Invoicely if

  • You need invoice creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want recurring invoices.
Invoicely review

Questions people ask

Is Cone or Invoicely better?
Neither clearly leads. Cone starts at On request and Invoicely at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cone or Invoicely?
Invoicely has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Cone and Free for Invoicely.
Does Cone or Invoicely run on more platforms?
Cone runs on Web. Invoicely runs on web.
Can I use Invoicely for free?
Yes. Invoicely has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cone starts at On request.
What is Cone best used for?
Cone is most often used for a bookkeeping practice moving clients from ad hoc invoicing onto signed recurring fee agreements, an accountancy firm that needs engagement letter wording attached to every proposal for compliance reasons, a practice losing revenue to out of scope work that is never billed because nobody notices it, standardising pricing across a firm so that partners stop quoting the same service at different rates. Of those, a bookkeeping practice moving clients from ad hoc invoicing onto signed recurring fee agreements and an accountancy firm that needs engagement letter wording attached to every proposal for compliance reasons are not what Invoicely is typically brought in for.
What can Cone do that Invoicely cannot?
Cone covers Engagement letters, Electronic signature, Recurring billing, Direct debit collection. Invoicely covers Invoice creation, Recurring invoices, Time, expense, and mileage tracking, Multi-currency support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cone: Is this only for accountants?

It is designed for accounting and bookkeeping firms. Other professional services firms use it, but general freelancers will find most of it irrelevant.

Invoicely: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Free plan allows up to 5 monthly invoices and 3 saved clients, with PayPal-only payments and no team members, and requires no credit card.

Source
Cone: Does it handle recurring fees?

Yes, and that is the main reason firms adopt it. Acceptance creates the fee schedule and the collection mandate together.

Invoicely: What does Invoicely cost?

Paid plans start at Basic for $9.99/month, Professional at $19.99/month, and Enterprise at $29.99/month, each raising invoice, client, and team member limits.

Source
Cone: How are payments collected?

Through supported card and direct debit providers, whose processing fees apply on top of the subscription.

Invoicely: Can I change or cancel my plan?

Yes, Invoicely allows customers to upgrade or downgrade their subscription level at any time.

Source
Cone: What is scope creep flagging?

It compares work performed against the scope agreed in the proposal and surfaces the difference so it can be billed rather than absorbed.

Cone: Is pricing published?

Not in a form that can be quoted reliably. Expect a sales conversation before you can compare it on cost.

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