Is Zoho Invoice free?

Yes, Zoho Invoice has a genuinely generous free tier - up to 1,000 invoices and basic features at no cost. PayReady is also free while Early Access runs, with no invoice limit.

Is PayReady better than Zoho Invoice for tradesmen?

For sole traders in the UK and Ireland, yes. PayReady has PayReady AI quote generation from plain English, WhatsApp send, and PayReady AI-written payment reminders in three tones - none of which Zoho Invoice offers - plus Irish VAT rates (23%, 13.5%, 9%) and UK VAT (20%, 5%) built in, so you set your rate once.

Does Zoho Invoice support Irish VAT rates for tradesmen?

Zoho Invoice has VAT support, but you enter the rate yourself on every line item. In PayReady you set your VAT rate once in your profile and it is worked out on every quote and invoice. In Ireland, supply-and-fit work is usually 13.5% for labour and materials together, unless the materials cost more than two-thirds of the price, when the whole job is 23%. Materials sold without fitting are 23%.

Does Zoho Invoice work on mobile?

Zoho Invoice has a mobile app that handles basic invoicing reasonably well. However, it is not built mobile-first - quoting from a plain English description, WhatsApp send, and PayReady AI payment chasing are not in its mobile experience. PayReady is built entirely for your phone.

Side-by-side comparison

PayReady vs Zoho Invoice: Which is better for sole traders in the UK and Ireland?

Zoho Invoice is a capable generic invoicing tool with a generous free tier. PayReady is built specifically for tradesmen in the UK and Ireland - PayReady AI quotes in 30 seconds from plain English, WhatsApp send, Irish and UK VAT rates built in, and PayReady AI-written payment reminders.

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Free during Early Access. No credit card. Ready in 2 minutes.

The key difference

Generic invoicing tool vs trade-specific quoting app

Zoho Invoice does invoicing well for any type of business. PayReady does quoting and invoicing specifically for tradesmen - with Irish and UK VAT rates, PayReady AI quote generation, and WhatsApp send built in.

PayReady

Built for the trades. VAT rate set once. AI-powered.

Describe the job in plain English. PayReady AI builds a professional quote in 30 seconds - VAT at the rate you set, your rates, your branding. Send via WhatsApp. One-tap invoice. PayReady AI writes the payment chaser when the client goes quiet. All from your phone.

Zoho Invoice

Generic invoicing for any type of business.

Zoho Invoice is a well-built generic invoicing platform - part of the wider Zoho ecosystem. It handles estimates, invoices, and basic reminders well. But it has no trade-specific knowledge, no AI quote generation from plain English, no WhatsApp send, and you pick the VAT rate yourself on each line item.

Feature comparison

PayReady vs Zoho Invoice

Feature	PayReady	Zoho Invoice
PayReady AI quote from plain English (30 sec)
WhatsApp send
Mobile-first (works fully on phone)		Partial
Irish VAT rates (23% / 13.5% / 9%) built in		Manual entry
UK VAT rates (20% / 5%) built in		Manual entry
PayReady AI payment reminders - 3 tones
Basic payment reminders
Stage invoicing		Partial
Quote to invoice, one tap
Built for UK and Ireland tradesmen		Generic
Free tier	Yes (Early Access)	Yes (generous)
Starting price	Free	Free / $9/mo paid

Pricing comparison

What you actually pay

PayReady

Free now

Free while Early Access runs, with no credit card. Early Access members can lock in the founding rate for life before Early Access closes.

✓Early Access: full Pro access, free while it runs - no card, so nothing is charged when it ends
✓Founding rate: €19/mo billed annually (€228/year, IE) / £16/mo billed annually (£192/year, UK) - locked for life if you take it before Early Access closes
✓Standard Pro monthly: €29/month (IE) / £25/month (UK)
✓Standard Pro annual: €24/mo billed €288/year (IE) / £20/mo billed £240/year (UK)
✓Flat price - not per user

Zoho Invoice

Free

Zoho Invoice has a genuinely generous free tier for small businesses. It is one of the better free invoicing tools available.

–Free tier: up to 1,000 invoices, 5 customers
–Paid plans from $9/month (for more customers)
–Part of the wider Zoho ecosystem
–No AI quoting, no WhatsApp send
–VAT rate entered on each line item

PayReady is completely free during Early Access. Zoho Invoice has a strong free tier. PayReady Pro is €29/month (£25/month UK) and is built around trade-specific features Zoho Invoice does not have - PayReady AI quoting and PayReady AI payment chasers.

Our honest take

Which should you choose?

Choose PayReady if

You are a tradesman in the UK or Ireland
You want PayReady AI quotes from plain English - 30 seconds on site
You want your VAT rate set once, not typed on every invoice
You want to send quotes via WhatsApp
You want PayReady AI to write your payment chasers

Consider Zoho Invoice if

You want a free generic invoicing tool
You are not VAT registered and need only basic invoices
You already use other Zoho tools (CRM, Books, etc.)
Trade-specific features are not important to you

The smarter way to run your trade business

A generic invoicing tool is not built for your trade. PayReady is.

PayReady AI quotes in 30 seconds. Irish and UK VAT rates built in. WhatsApp send. PayReady AI payment reminders. Free during Early Access.

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