H
Harpoon4.3/5vsPm
Paymo4.2/5Harpoon vs Paymo (March 2026)
| HHarpoon | PmPaymo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Free Tier | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Best For | Freelancers seeking profitable growth, Small agencies and design studios | Small teams and freelancers needing integrated time tracking and invoicing, Agencies managing client projects with billable hours and expenses |
Quick Verdict
Harpoon edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating versus Paymo's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Quick Overview
H
Harpoon
Forward-looking time-tracking and invoicing software designed to help freelancers, agencies, and studios plan and foreca...
- Best for: Freelancers seeking profitable growth, Small agencies and design studios
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Invoicing Software
- Founded: 2014
- Pricing model: subscription
Pm
Paymo
Paymo is an all-in-one project management software with built-in time tracking and invoicing tailored for small business...
- Best for: Small teams and freelancers needing integrated time tracking and invoicing, Agencies managing client projects with billable hours and expenses
- Starting price: Free
- Category: Invoicing Software
- Founded: N/A
- Pricing model: freemium
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Harpoon | Paymo |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Financial Forecasting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Project Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| The Harpoon Method | ✓ | ✗ |
| SSL Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Stripe Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dashboard Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| No Software Installation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Convert timesheets to invoices | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile invoicing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recurring invoices | ✗ | ✓ |
| Estimates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expense tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Online payments | ✗ | ✓ |
| Client portal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Profitability tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-language invoices | ✗ | ✓ |
| WYSIWYG invoice editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Employee performance widgets | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Comparison
Prices last verified: March 16, 2026
Harpoon
Free
Starting price
subscription · 5 plans
Free Trial
FreeStarter
$9/moFreelancerPopular
$19/moStudio
$39/moAgency
$99/moPaymo
Free
Starting price
freemium · 3 plans
Free
FreePlusPopular
$16.90/moAdvanced
$29.90/moPros & Cons
Harpoon
Pros
- Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability
- Simple four-rule methodology for business management
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required
- 21% discount for annual billing
Cons
- Starter plan limited to only 3 clients
- No free permanent plan available
- Additional team members cost $5 each beyond 20 users
- May be too simple for complex enterprise needs
Paymo
Pros
- All-in-one tool combining time tracking, project management, and invoicing
- Free plan for lifetime invoicing with basic features
- Mobile invoicing and expense capture for on-the-go use
- Seamless timesheet-to-invoice conversion
Cons
- Free plan includes watermarks on invoices
- Limited invoicing functionalities compared to dedicated tools
- Higher pricing for advanced features vs invoicing-only competitors
- Some features like PM Payments limited to US customers
Which Is Best for You?
H
Choose Harpoon if:
- Freelancers seeking profitable growth
- Small agencies and design studios
- Service-based businesses needing financial clarity
- Teams wanting to predict future revenue streams
- You want to start with a free plan
- Higher user rating matters to you (4.3 vs 4.2)
Pm
Choose Paymo if:
- Small teams and freelancers needing integrated time tracking and invoicing
- Agencies managing client projects with billable hours and expenses
- Businesses tracking profitability per project
- Remote teams requiring mobile invoicing and client portals
- You want to start with a free plan
- Budget is a priority ($5.90 vs $9)
Our Verdict
🏆
HHarpoon — WinnerPmPaymo — Runner-up
After thorough analysis, Harpoon takes the lead in this comparison with a higher rating of 4.3/5 versus Paymo's 4.2/5.
Harpoon is best for Freelancers seeking profitable growth and Small agencies and design studios. Unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability.
Paymo remains a strong alternative, especially for Small teams and freelancers needing integrated time tracking and invoicing and Agencies managing client projects with billable hours and expenses. All-in-one tool combining time tracking, project management, and invoicing.
Pricing-wise, Paymo is the more affordable starting option. Evaluate free trials of both before committing.
Explore More
Harpoon Alternatives
Paymo Alternatives
Category Resources
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Harpoon edges ahead with a 4.3/5 rating versus Paymo's 4.2/5, offering stronger value for most teams.
Paymo starts at $5.90/mo (free tier available), while Harpoon starts at $9/mo (free tier available).
Yes. Most users can migrate data between the two. Check both platforms for import/export tools before switching.
Harpoon integrates with Stripe, Web browsers. Paymo integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, PM Payments. Both offer solid third-party connectivity, though the best choice depends on your existing tech stack.
Both tools are designed for ease of use. Harpoon is best for Freelancers seeking profitable growth and Small agencies and design studios, while Paymo excels for Small teams and freelancers needing integrated time tracking and invoicing and Agencies managing client projects with billable hours and expenses. Consider trying both free trials to judge which interface suits your workflow.
Harpoon has a 4.3/5 rating from 150 reviews, while Paymo scores 4.2/5 from 850 reviews. Higher review counts generally indicate a more established support ecosystem.
For small businesses, Paymo may be more budget-friendly starting at Free. However, Harpoon (Free) could offer better value depending on the features you need most.
For enterprise use, consider which offers more advanced plans. Harpoon has 5 plans while Paymo has 3 plans. Evaluate each tool's enterprise features, security compliance, and team management capabilities before committing.
Check each tool's website for the latest mobile app availability. Both Harpoon and Paymo offer web-based access, and many modern SaaS tools provide companion mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Choose Harpoon if you prioritize unique focus on financial forecasting and profitability and want to start free. Choose Paymo if you value all-in-one tool combining time tracking, project management, and invoicing and want a free tier.