Billed vs PayPal Invoicing

PayPal Invoicing is a basic invoicing feature bundled with every PayPal Business account. It lets you create and send invoices that clients can pay via PayPal or credit card. Billed is a dedicated invoicing and business management platform with time tracking, project management, expense tracking, and team collaboration.

PayPal Invoicing works as a starting point when you have a PayPal account and need to send the occasional invoice. But it lacks the features growing businesses need — there is no time tracking, no project management, no expense management, and no financial reporting beyond payment history.

Feature Comparison: Billed vs PayPal Invoicing

Feature	Billed	PayPal Invoicing
Professional Invoicing	Yes	Basic
Estimates & Proposals	Yes	Yes
Expense Tracking	Yes	No
Time Tracking	Yes	No
Project Management	Yes	No
Client Management	Yes	Basic
Recurring Invoices	Yes	Yes
Online Payments	Yes (Stripe & PayPal)	PayPal only
Financial Reporting	Yes	No (Payment history only)
Multiple Businesses	Yes	No
Team Collaboration	Yes	No
Mobile Apps	Yes	Yes (via PayPal)
Invoice Templates & Customization	Yes (Full)	Limited

When to Choose PayPal Invoicing

PayPal Invoicing makes sense if you already use PayPal for payments, send very few invoices, and do not need any business management features. It is free to use (you only pay PayPal's standard transaction fees) and requires no additional setup.

When to Choose Billed

Billed is the better choice as soon as you need any business management beyond basic invoicing. With time tracking, project management, expense tracking, financial reporting, and full invoice customization, Billed handles the full billing lifecycle. Billed also integrates with PayPal, so you do not lose PayPal as a payment option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still accept PayPal payments if I use Billed?

Yes. Billed integrates with PayPal, so your clients can pay invoices through PayPal just like before. You also gain Stripe as an additional payment option.

Is PayPal Invoicing really free?

The invoicing feature is free to use, but PayPal charges its standard transaction fee (typically 2.99% + fixed fee) on every payment you receive. Billed does not add any extra fees on top of Stripe or PayPal rates.

Can PayPal Invoicing track expenses?

No. PayPal Invoicing does not include expense tracking. Billed lets you log expenses, attach receipts, categorize spending, and include expenses in financial reports.

Does PayPal Invoicing have financial reports?

No. PayPal shows your payment history and transaction records, but it does not offer business financial reports like income vs expense analysis, invoice aging, or product performance. Billed includes all of these.

The Bottom Line

PayPal Invoicing is fine for the occasional invoice, but it is not a business management tool. If you invoice regularly and need to track time, expenses, or projects, try Billed free for a complete solution that still accepts PayPal.