Replacing Report Writer for ConnectWise Invoices

Better Invoice replaces ConnectWise Report Writer for invoice generation. This page covers the specific Report Writer limitations that Better Invoice was built to solve.

Performance

Report Writer is slow. Custom invoice templates built in Report Writer take 20 to 40 seconds to generate a single PDF. Even a blank custom template with a single data source and four fields takes 20+ seconds on ConnectWise-hosted instances. The default built-in templates generate in 3 to 4 seconds, but they offer almost no customization.

Report Writer itself is also slow to load. The editor frequently hangs on a blank page, sometimes for minutes. When Report Writer stops loading, every custom invoice template that depends on it stops generating too.

Cloud-hosted performance has gotten worse over time. MSPs who have used Report Writer for years report that generation times have increased significantly, with some describing it as a crawl. (Both the 20–40 second benchmark and the cloud slowdown are documented in a synthesis of MSP threads on r/msp and r/ConnectWise — same complaints, eight years apart.)

Better Invoice generates fully custom, print-ready PDFs in under one second. Rendering happens on dedicated infrastructure outside of ConnectWise, so performance is consistent regardless of your ConnectWise hosting environment or time of day.

No developer skills required

Report Writer is an HTML-based template system. Customizing an invoice means editing raw HTML in a small textarea with no preview. Even basic formatting requires knowledge of:

• HTML table structures and inline CSS
• ConnectWise’s repeater syntax for grouped data (the documentation uses three different formats interchangeably, only two of which work)
• SQL-style queries and joins for data sources
• CASE statements for simple things like displaying negative numbers in parentheses
• The @Subtotal decorator, which silently fails if the column name contains spaces or underscores (undocumented)

ConnectWise’s own documentation contradicts itself. The repeater syntax is documented as [repeater], <!--[repeater]-->, and <repeater>. The last one never works. The subtotal syntax is documented as both @Subtotal and #Subtotal. The docs say you can only subtotal one field per repeater — this is also incorrect.

Better Invoice has 150+ visual settings that control every aspect of your invoice. No HTML. No CSS. No SQL. Select options, toggle switches, and see the result in a live preview. If you need full control beyond the settings, a browser-based code editor with syntax highlighting, live preview, and version history is available on the Pro and Custom plans.

No SQL required

Report Writer data sources are SQL views into ConnectWise’s database. Building a custom invoice that shows the right data means understanding which views to join, how to filter them, and how to handle ConnectWise’s data quirks — like the fact that all custom fields are stored as varchar regardless of the type you selected, requiring manual type casting in your expressions.

On cloud-hosted instances, you cannot create custom stored procedures, views, or expressions that reference each other. You are limited to what ConnectWise exposes through their reporting views.

Better Invoice pulls data directly from the ConnectWise API. The data is already structured and typed. You select what to show and what to hide through settings — no queries to write, no views to join, no type casting to debug.

Template management

Report Writer has no way to track which invoice templates are in use or how often they are used. MSPs accumulate templates over time and have no built-in way to audit or consolidate them. Third-party consultants have had to build custom Report Writer reports just to answer the question “which templates are we actually using?”

Reprinting a closed invoice with a different template requires unbatching and reopening the invoice. There is no way to preview an invoice with an alternate template without modifying the invoice record.

Better Invoice manages your template separately from ConnectWise. Preview any invoice at any time without modifying records. Switch between template versions instantly. The editor includes full version history with one-click restore.

Support

ConnectWise’s stated support policy for Report Writer:

“The ConnectWise Support Team provides support that is focused on ensuring that Report Writer is functioning without defect and as designed.”

In practice, this means ConnectWise will confirm the tool loads. They will not help you build a template, debug a layout issue, or explain why your subtotals are not working. Support tickets for Report Writer issues have gone unanswered for four or more business days.

Better Invoice includes direct support for template setup and customization. The Custom plan includes 1-on-1 consultation and onboarding.

Comparing your options

Report Writer isn’t the only alternative. Third-party solutions like NexNow offer consulting-based custom templates, while Better Invoice provides a self-service approach. See Why Report Writer Is the Wrong Tool for ConnectWise Invoices for the full case against Report Writer, Better Invoice vs NexNow for a detailed comparison, or ConnectWise Invoice Template Alternatives for a complete overview of all your options.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Report Writer in ConnectWise Manage?

In ConnectWise Manage, go to System > Report Writer. You need the Report Writer security role enabled on your member record to see it.

Is ConnectWise Report Writer being discontinued?

ConnectWise has not announced an end-of-life date for Report Writer, but it hasn't received meaningful updates in years. The UI still runs on legacy desktop-era conventions, and ConnectWise has steered new reporting toward BI tools and third-party integrations.

Can Report Writer build custom invoice layouts?

Yes, but poorly. Report Writer can produce invoice PDFs, but the layout engine is rigid — you can't easily add logos, branded colors, or grouped sections without SQL-style expressions and hours of trial and error.

What's the best replacement for ConnectWise Report Writer for invoices?

For invoice templates specifically, most MSPs switch to a dedicated tool like Better Invoice that reads ConnectWise billing data directly and renders branded PDFs from HTML templates — no SQL, no desktop client, editable in the browser.