If you’re a freelancer, sending invoices is part of your daily routine. But doing it manually in Word or Excel wastes hours every month — and makes you look less professional.
That’s why we tested the best free invoicing tools in 2026. Below you’ll find the top 7 options that let you send professional invoices, track payments, and get paid faster — most with a free plan.
Why Freelancers Need Invoicing Software
Manual invoicing has three big problems:
- Wasted time — Creating invoices from scratch takes 10–20 minutes each.
- Late payments — Without automatic reminders, clients forget to pay.
- Unprofessional look — Word templates look amateur compared to proper tools.
The best free invoicing software for freelancers solves all three — without costing a cent.
How We Chose the Best Options
We evaluated each tool based on:
- Free plan limits — How many invoices/clients can you manage?
- Ease of use — Can you send your first invoice in 5 minutes?
- Payment options — Does it support PayPal, Stripe, and bank transfers?
- Automation — Recurring invoices, payment reminders, late fees.
- Extras — Expense tracking, tax reports, mobile app.
1. Wave — Best Overall Free Invoicing Tool
Wave is the gold standard for free invoicing. You get unlimited invoices, unlimited clients, and unlimited estimates — completely free, forever. They make money from payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.60 per transaction), not subscriptions.
The invoice templates look professional, and you can accept credit cards, bank transfers, and PayPal directly from the invoice.
Pros:
- Unlimited invoices for free
- Accepts credit cards and bank payments
- Also includes free accounting
Cons:
- Only available in US and Canada
- Payment processing fees apply
Best for: US/Canada freelancers who want unlimited free invoicing.
Pricing: Free; payment fees apply.
2. Zoho Invoice — Best Free Option Globally
Zoho Invoice is Wave’s main competitor — but available worldwide. It’s also completely free, with no limits on invoices or clients.
Features include time tracking, expense tracking, recurring invoices, and multi-currency support. Perfect for freelancers working with international clients.
Pros:
- Free worldwide (no country restrictions)
- Time tracking built in
- Multi-currency support
Cons:
- Interface slightly less polished than Wave
- Zoho ecosystem can be overwhelming
Best for: International freelancers.
Pricing: Free.
3. Invoice Ninja — Best Open-Source Option
Invoice Ninja is an open-source invoicing tool you can self-host for free. The hosted version also has a free tier supporting up to 20 clients.
If you’re technical and want full control over your data, this is a great pick.
Pros:
- Open-source and self-hostable
- Supports 40+ payment gateways
- Free tier for up to 20 clients
Cons:
- Self-hosting requires technical skills
- Free hosted tier limited to 20 clients
Best for: Technical freelancers who want control.
Pricing: Free (self-hosted); hosted plans start at $10/month.
4. Invoice Simple — Best for Mobile
Invoice Simple focuses on speed: create and send invoices from your phone in under a minute. Great for freelancers who work on-site (photographers, contractors, cleaners).
Pros:
- Excellent mobile app
- Quick invoice creation
- Free plan available
Cons:
- Limited features on free plan
- Better for simple jobs than complex projects
Best for: Freelancers who invoice on the go.
Pricing: Free; paid plans start at $6.99/month.
5. Hiveage — Best for Simplicity
Hiveage is a no-frills tool with a clean interface. The free plan supports unlimited invoices and clients, with a few ads displayed.
Pros:
- Unlimited invoices on free plan
- Simple, clean interface
- Multi-currency support
Cons:
- Free plan shows ads
- Fewer integrations
Best for: Freelancers who want simplicity.
Pricing: Free (with ads); paid plans start at $17/month.
6. FreshBooks — Best Free Trial (Paid Afterward)
FreshBooks is not free forever, but it offers a 30-day free trial with all features unlocked. After the trial, plans start at $19/month.
It’s the most polished invoicing + accounting tool available. If you’re willing to pay for quality, it’s worth it.
Pros:
- Beautiful, easy interface
- Full accounting features
- Excellent client portal
Cons:
- Not free after trial
- Higher price than competitors
Best for: Freelancers ready to invest in a paid tool.
Pricing: 30-day free trial; plans start at $19/month.
7. PayPal Invoicing — Best If You Already Use PayPal
PayPal Invoicing lets you send invoices directly through your existing PayPal account. Free to send, with standard PayPal fees for receiving payments.
Simple but effective — perfect if your clients already pay you through PayPal.
Pros:
- Free to send invoices
- Trusted by clients worldwide
- No setup needed
Cons:
- No accounting features
- Limited customization
Best for: Freelancers already using PayPal.
Pricing: Free; PayPal transaction fees apply.
Comparison Table: Best Free Invoicing Software for Freelancers
| Tool | Free Plan | Best For | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | Yes (unlimited) | US/Canada freelancers | Free |
| Zoho Invoice | Yes (unlimited) | International freelancers | Free |
| Invoice Ninja | Yes (20 clients) | Technical freelancers | $10/month |
| Invoice Simple | Yes | Mobile invoicing | $6.99/month |
| Hiveage | Yes (with ads) | Simplicity | $17/month |
| FreshBooks | 30-day trial | Paid quality | $19/month |
| PayPal Invoicing | Yes | PayPal users | Free |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Here’s our quick recommendation based on your situation:
- US/Canada freelancer? → Wave (unlimited free).
- International freelancer? → Zoho Invoice.
- Technical and want full control? → Invoice Ninja.
- Invoice on your phone? → Invoice Simple.
- Want simplicity? → Hiveage.
- Ready to pay for quality? → FreshBooks.
- Already use PayPal? → PayPal Invoicing.
If you’re also evaluating business software, check out our guides to the best CRM software for small business and the top project management tools.
Final Thoughts
The best free invoicing software for freelancers depends on where you live, how you get paid, and how much time you want to save. If you’re in the US or Canada, Wave is unbeatable. For everyone else, Zoho Invoice is the best free option worldwide.
Start with a free tool, upgrade only when you outgrow it. Most freelancers never need to pay for invoicing at all.
Have a favorite tool we missed? Let us know in the comments. For more freelancer guides, check out our blog.