Clear Books and Refrens tie across most categories (17 tied features). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan |
✗ No
30-day trial
|
✓ Yes
Branded free tier
|
| Entry paid plan |
— Paid add-on
From ~AU$15/mo
|
— Paid add-on
Pro ~AU$8/mo
|
| Download PDF without signup |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited invoices |
— Limited
|
— Limited
|
| Custom logo & branding |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Recurring invoices |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Email invoices to clients |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Multi-currency |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Client management |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| ATO-compliant GST invoices |
— Limited
UK VAT focused
|
— Limited
|
| ABN field built in |
— Limited
Custom field workaround
|
— Limited
Custom field workaround
|
| Australian-focused support |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| Bank reconciliation |
✓ Yes
|
✗ No
|
| Expense tracking |
— Limited
|
— Limited
|
| Payroll |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Inventory tracking |
✗ No
|
✗ No
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe payments |
✓ Yes
|
✓ Yes
|
| Mobile app |
— Limited
|
— Limited
|
| Feature | Clear Books | Refrens |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time |
— Limited
Account signup required
|
— Limited
Account signup required
|
Neither tool fits your invoicing-only workflow? Try InvoiceSonic — free for unlimited ATO-compliant tax invoices, no signup required.
Create a free invoice now →Clear Books starts at From ~AU$15/mo; Refrens starts at Free; Pro from ~AU$8/mo. Clear Books offers 30-day trial. Refrens offers free unlimited invoices (with branding).
For ATO-compliant GST: Clear Books = limited, Refrens = limited. For native ABN field: Clear Books = limited, Refrens = limited. If you operate in Australia and either tool falls short here, InvoiceSonic handles both natively — and it's free.
Most freelancers want fast invoicing without paying for full accounting. Between these two, Refrens wins more categories overall. But if you're a freelancer who just wants ATO-compliant tax invoices for free, InvoiceSonic is purpose-built for that workflow.
Do not assume a one-click migration. Confirm each product's current export and import formats, then test contacts, opening balances, unpaid invoices, tax codes, attachments and reconciliations before cancelling the old account. Keep statutory records outside both systems.
Both tools include more than invoicing. If invoicing is your only need, a dedicated generator can be faster and more focused than a full accounting subscription.
Yes — InvoiceSonic lets you create and download an invoice without signup. Its account plans have separate limits and pricing, so compare current official plans before deciding.