2026 head-to-head

Refrens vs Square Invoices: Which is Better in 2026?

Refrens and Square Invoices tie across most categories (15 tied features). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.

Scoreboard

2
Refrens wins
15
Tied
2
Square Invoices wins

Feature-by-feature comparison

Pricing

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
Free plan
✓ Yes
Branded free tier
✓ Yes
Free creation; 2.2% on payments
Entry paid plan
— Paid add-on
Pro ~AU$8/mo
✓ Yes
Per-transaction fees only
Download PDF without signup
✗ No
✗ No

Invoicing features

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
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

Australian compliance

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
ATO-compliant GST invoices
— Limited
— Limited
ABN field built in
— Limited
Custom field workaround
✗ No
Australian-focused support
✗ No
— Limited

Accounting features

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
Bank reconciliation
✗ No
✗ No
Expense tracking
— Limited
— Limited
Payroll
✗ No
✗ No
Inventory tracking
✗ No
✗ No

Integrations

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
Stripe payments
✓ Yes
✗ No
Square payments only
Mobile app
— Limited
— Limited

Setup & support

Feature Refrens Square Invoices
Setup time
— Limited
Account signup required
— Limited
Account signup required

Where Refrens wins

  • ABN field built in
  • Stripe payments

Where Square Invoices wins

  • Entry paid plan
  • Australian-focused support

A third option: InvoiceSonic, free

Neither tool fits your invoicing-only workflow? Try InvoiceSonic — free for unlimited ATO-compliant tax invoices, no signup required.

Create a free invoice now →

Frequently asked questions

Is Refrens cheaper than Square Invoices?

Refrens starts at Free; Pro from ~AU$8/mo; Square Invoices starts at Free (2.2% per paid invoice). Refrens offers free unlimited invoices (with branding). Square Invoices offers free to create — fees on card payments.

Does Refrens handle Australian GST and ABN better than Square Invoices?

For ATO-compliant GST: Refrens = limited, Square Invoices = limited. For native ABN field: Refrens = limited, Square Invoices = no. If you operate in Australia and either tool falls short here, InvoiceSonic handles both natively — and it's free.

Which is better for freelancers — Refrens or Square Invoices?

Most freelancers want fast invoicing without paying for full accounting. Between these two, Square Invoices 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.

Can I switch from Refrens to Square Invoices easily?

Both Refrens and Square Invoices let you export client lists and invoice history (usually as CSV). Migration takes an afternoon for most small businesses. If you're considering switching anyway, it might be worth evaluating InvoiceSonic as a free alternative for invoicing while keeping your accountant's tool of choice for bookkeeping.

Should I use Refrens or Square Invoices for invoicing only?

Both tools are accounting-first platforms; their invoicing modules are a subset of what they do. If invoicing is your only need, a free dedicated invoice generator like InvoiceSonic is usually faster, cheaper, and more focused — without paying for bookkeeping, payroll, or inventory features you won't use.

Is there a free alternative to both Refrens and Square Invoices?

Yes — InvoiceSonic is free for unlimited Australian-compliant invoices with no signup required for PDF download. You can run it alongside or instead of paid accounting platforms.