The verdict for freelance web developers: Harvest is solid software, but at $13/month it costs $523 over 3 years. Nexa does most of what Harvest does for $279 once. For solo freelance web developers and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.
Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $244. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | Harvest | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $13/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $523 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
Harvest plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Freelance Web Developers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Tracking billable hours across multiple client projects and internal work. Scope creep — 'one small change' turning into 5 hours of unpaid work. Clients who don't understand why maintenance costs money after launch. Harvest charges $11/month for time tracking that doesn't integrate with project management. Chasing invoices from clients who approved the work 3 weeks ago. Harvest charges $13/month on top of these daily realities. The median web developer earns $77,030/year — $156/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Nexa is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for freelance web developers. You own it like you own your Development workstation (high-spec laptop or desktop).
You're deep in a React build for Client A when Client B pings about a 'quick bug fix' on their WordPress site. You switch contexts, forget to change your time tracker, spend 45 minutes on the fix, and realize you billed those minutes to the wrong project. Meanwhile Client C's invoice is 18 days overdue and you need to send an awkward follow-up. Harvest and FreshBooks together cost you $28/month — $336/year — and neither handles project scope management.
Real freelance web developers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a web developer? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every web developer on Nexa →
For solo freelance web developers and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Harvest may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
Harvest has features like Clean, simple interface and Automatic invoice generation from time that some businesses rely on. For most solo freelance web developers, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $13/month, Nexa pays for itself in 21.5 months. After that: $156 saved every year.
Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Nexa — $279 Once