| Word / Excel / Google Docs template | Invoice generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice numbers | You change them by hand | Automatic and in sequence |
| Totals and tax | Formulas you have to maintain (none in Word) | Worked out for you |
| Customers and items | Copied and pasted | Saved, then picked from a list |
| Who has paid | A separate spreadsheet | Payments, balance and overdue status built in |
| Export each file | One click | |
| Works offline | Yes | Depends on the tool |
When a template is fine
If you send one or two invoices a month and already know your way around Excel, a template works. Keep one master copy, save each invoice as a new file named after its number, and export a PDF to send.
When a generator saves you time
Once you have regular customers, more than a handful of invoices, tax to add or part payments to track, the copying adds up and mistakes creep in: duplicate numbers, a formula that didn't update, a customer billed twice. A generator removes those steps.
The privacy question
Most online generators want an account and keep your data on their servers. InvoiceDesk doesn't. It runs in your browser and saves there, like a template saved on your own computer, but with the automation of a generator. Every list exports to CSV for Excel or Google Sheets.
Try the free online invoice template.
Make your invoice in InvoiceDesk. Free, no sign-up, and it saves to your browser.
Create an invoice