Toggl vs Invollo: Auto-Invoicing & Tax Guide
Choosing between Toggl and Invollo comes down to a dedicated time tracker versus time tracking that lives next to your invoices, quotes and expenses. Here is how to decide.
When comparing Toggl vs. Invollo, the key difference lies in scope. Toggl Track is a dedicated time tracker, whereas Invollo combines time tracking with invoicing, quotes, a client portal and expense records. In Invollo you turn tracked hours into invoice lines directly, your clients pay through your own Stripe or PayPal account, and your expenses sit next to your revenue. Freelancers who want fewer tools between finished work and a paid invoice will find that combination useful; if you only need a timer, a dedicated tracker may be all you need.
- Tool consolidation: Toggl focuses on tracking time, so many freelancers pair it with a separate invoicing tool. Invollo combines tracking, invoicing, quotes, client payments and expense records in one workspace.
- Fewer unbilled hours: In Invollo, tracked time becomes invoice lines without exporting or retyping, which makes it harder for hours to slip through.
- Payments: Invollo takes 0% of client payments. Clients pay through your own Stripe or PayPal account, and the gateway's standard fees apply.
- Tax readiness: Invollo keeps categorised expense records you can export for your accountant. It doesn't file taxes for you.
Understanding the Toggl vs. Invollo Dynamic
Freelancers frequently start with a standalone tool like Toggl for tracking. As the client list grows, moving data between a time tracker, an invoicing tool and a payment platform by hand becomes a source of errors and admin work.
| Feature | Toggl Track | Invollo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Time tracking and reporting | Invoicing, quotes, client portal, expenses and time tracking |
| Hours to invoice | Commonly exported or connected to a separate invoicing tool | Tracked time becomes invoice lines inside Invollo |
| Client payments | Handled by whichever invoicing tool you use | Clients pay through your own Stripe or PayPal account; Invollo takes 0% |
| Expense records | Not its focus | Categorised expenses per project, billable expenses on invoices, CSV/JSON export |
| Pricing | See Toggl's current plans | Free plan with no time limit; paid plans billed monthly (see pricing) |
Step 1: Stop Billable Hours Leaking Between Tools
Hours get lost in the gap between tracking and billing: a timer entry that never makes it into the invoice, or a rate that's copied wrong. Toggl records your hours, but if you invoice elsewhere you still have to move those hours across.
Invollo removes that step. When you create an invoice, you add the client's unbilled tracked time and each entry becomes a line in decimal hours multiplied by your rate. You can still review and edit the lines before sending.
Step 2: Reduce Tool Fragmentation
A typical freelance stack is a time tracker, an invoicing app, a payment account and a spreadsheet for expenses. Every extra tool is another subscription and another place where records can drift apart.
Invollo brings time tracking, invoices, quotes, client payments and expense logging into one workspace, with a dashboard that shows revenue, outstanding and overdue invoices, hours, expenses and net income in your workspace currency.
Step 3: Understand Your Payment Fees
International clients usually pay by card or bank transfer, and card payments carry the gateway's processing and currency-conversion fees. No invoicing tool removes those fees, so it's worth checking your Stripe or PayPal pricing for cross-border payments.
What Invollo does is stay out of the way: clients pay through your own Stripe or PayPal account, the money goes straight to you, and Invollo takes 0% of it. You can invoice in 10 currencies, and if a client pays by bank transfer, you record the payment manually.
Step 4: Keep Expense Records Ready for Tax Time
Missing receipts and uncategorised costs make tax time slower. Because Toggl is focused on time, expenses usually end up in yet another tool.
In Invollo you record each expense with a category, date, amount and project, mark client costs as billable, and export your records as CSV or JSON for your accountant. Invollo doesn't file taxes or categorise expenses automatically; it keeps the records organised so the filing is easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import my existing Toggl time logs into Invollo?
Invollo doesn’t import Toggl time logs. Keep an export of your Toggl history for your records and start tracking new work in Invollo.
How does Invollo handle different currencies for international clients?
You can invoice in 10 currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, BDT, INR, JPY, CHF and SGD). Reports convert amounts to your workspace currency. Clients pay through your own Stripe or PayPal account, whose usual fees apply.
Is Invollo suitable for freelance agencies or small teams?
Invollo suits solo freelancers and small, owner-run agencies. The Free plan is one user, and Invollo doesn’t currently offer defined multi-seat team packages; contact sales about Enterprise if you need several people in one workspace.