Getting paid on time is the most important operational function of any freelance business — and your invoicing software either makes that easier or harder. We tested every major platform by actually sending invoices, collecting payments, and managing client relationships across 90 days. The result: most freelancers are either overpaying for software they underuse or underusing free tools they don’t know exist.
The short version: FreshBooks is the best paid invoicing tool for freelancers who want professional polish and features that actually get invoices paid faster. Wave is the best free option for solopreneurs with straightforward needs. Zoho Invoice is an astonishing free alternative that most freelancers have never heard of. Harvest wins if time tracking is central to your billing model.
In a Hurry? Here’s the Short Version:
- Best overall paid: FreshBooks — client portal, read receipts, time tracking, recurring invoices; designed for freelancers
- Best free option: Wave — genuinely unlimited free invoicing with solid accounting features
- Best free alternative (often overlooked): Zoho Invoice — completely free, powerful, and better than Wave for freelancers tracking multiple projects
- Best for time-based billing: Harvest — built around the time → invoice → payment workflow; $9/seat/month
- Best for in-person + invoice hybrid: Square Invoices — seamlessly connects with Square POS if you also sell in person
- Best for one-time, no-setup invoicing: PayPal Business — universal acceptance, instant setup, but expensive transaction fees
- Best for power users who want everything: Hiveage — recurring billing, retainers, multi-currency, and time tracking from $16/month
Quick Comparison Table
| Software | Our Rating | Starting Price | Free Plan | Get Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks ⭐ Top Pick | 9.3/10 | $21/mo (Lite) | ❌ (30-day trial) | Check Price |
| Wave | 8.6/10 | $0 (free forever) | ✅ | Check Price |
| Zoho Invoice | 8.8/10 | $0 (free forever) | ✅ | Check Price |
| Square Invoices | 8.1/10 | $0 (free) / $20/mo (Plus) | ✅ | Check Price |
| PayPal Business | 7.5/10 | $0 (free) + transaction fees | ✅ | Check Price |
| Harvest | 8.7/10 | $9/seat/mo (annual) | ✅ (1 user, 2 projects) | Check Price |
| Hiveage | 8.2/10 | $0 (free) / $16/mo (Basic) | ✅ (5 clients) | Check Price |
1. FreshBooks — Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers Overall
Best for: Freelancers and service businesses who invoice regularly, track time, and want features specifically designed to get clients to pay faster — not just create invoices.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billable Clients | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $21/mo | 5 | Invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, basic reports |
| Plus ⭐ | $38/mo | 50 | + Proposals, retainers, recurring invoices, bank reconciliation, double-entry reports |
| Premium | $65/mo | Unlimited | + Project profitability, unlimited clients, custom email templates |
| Select | Custom | Unlimited | + Lower fees, dedicated account manager, white-label emails, 2 team members |
Pros
- Invoice read receipts — see the exact timestamp when a client opens your invoice; eliminates the “I didn’t get it” excuse and informs when to follow up
- Automatic payment reminders — set sequences (e.g., 3 days before due, day of, 7 days after) and FreshBooks sends them so you don’t have to have awkward conversations
- Client portal — clients access a branded portal to view, download, and pay invoices; significantly reduces payment follow-up emails
- Time tracking built into every paid plan with project-level tracking — log hours and convert them to line items on invoices in one click
- Recurring invoices with retainer management — set up monthly retainer clients once and never manually invoice them again
Cons
- Lite plan’s 5-client cap is genuinely restrictive — most freelancers with an active roster need Plus ($38/month) immediately
- Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.30 for credit cards via FreshBooks Payments — competitive but not industry-leading
- Not designed for product-based businesses — no inventory management or product catalog
- FreshBooks raised prices in 2026; the promotional rates mask the full-price increase
Key Features for Freelancers
- Invoice Read Receipts: Know exactly when clients open your invoice — use this data to time follow-up calls perfectly; FreshBooks reports this feature reduces average payment time by 5+ days
- Proposals & Estimates (Plus+): Send professional project proposals that clients can approve and convert to projects — the client experience from proposal to invoice to payment is seamless
- Automated Late Payment Reminders: Customizable reminder sequences go out automatically — the average FreshBooks freelancer reduces overdue invoices by 60% after enabling reminders
- Time Tracking → Invoice: Start a timer on any project, track hours across days or weeks, then batch-convert logged hours to invoice line items — the cleanest time-billing workflow in this roundup
- Expense Tracking with Client Billback: Photograph a receipt, categorize the expense, and mark it as billable — it automatically appears as a line item on your next invoice to that client
Our Take
FreshBooks is built for one person — the freelancer who gets paid by invoicing clients for time or services. Every feature in the product is optimized for that workflow: from the read receipts that tell you when to follow up, to the retainer management that automates monthly billing, to the client portal that makes your work look professional without requiring a web designer. At $38/month for Plus, it’s not the cheapest option — but the time saved on payment follow-up alone justifies the cost for any freelancer billing over $3,000/month. If your invoicing is the lifeblood of your business, this is the tool built for you.
Try FreshBooks Free for 30 Days →
2. Wave — Best Free Invoicing Software for Freelancers
Best for: Solopreneurs and early-stage freelancers who want professional invoicing plus basic accounting at zero monthly cost — and don’t mind paying transaction fees when they get paid.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features | Payment Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | Unlimited invoices, estimates, expense tracking, accounting, bank connections | 2.9% + $0.60 (card); 1% bank ($1 min) |
| Wave Pro | $16/mo (US) or $170/yr | + Recurring invoices, automatic payment reminders, scheduling, receipt scanning | 2.9% + $0.60 (card); 1% bank ($1 min) |
Pros
- Truly unlimited free invoicing — no client caps, no invoice caps, no expiration
- Built-in double-entry accounting included free — not a stripped-down version; actual full accounting features
- Bank connection and automatic transaction import are free — no add-on required
- Professional invoice templates that look significantly better than most competitors at any price point
- Wave Pro ($16/month) adds recurring billing and auto-reminders — the core paid upgrade for established freelancers
Cons
- Payment processing fees are slightly higher than competitors — $0.60 fixed fee per transaction versus $0.30 with FreshBooks or Stripe
- Customer support on the free plan is email-only with slower response times than paid alternatives
- Time tracking requires a third-party integration — Wave doesn’t have a built-in timer, a significant gap for hourly billing freelancers
- Mobile app experience is functional but less polished than FreshBooks — invoice creation on mobile is clunkier
Key Features for Freelancers
- Unlimited Free Invoicing: Send as many invoices to as many clients as you need — no paywall, no upgrade required, no time limit on the free tier
- Full Accounting Suite (Free): Income/expense categorization, bank reconciliation, P&L reports, balance sheets — features that comparable tools charge $20–$40/month for
- Invoice Customization: Add your logo, adjust colors, and customize fields — the result looks professional without any design skill required
- Online Payment Acceptance: Clients can pay directly from the invoice via credit card or bank transfer — no separate payment setup required
- Wave Pro Recurring Billing: Set up monthly retainers or subscription invoices that send automatically — Wave Pro at $16/month is a worthwhile upgrade for any freelancer with recurring clients
Our Take
Wave is the best free invoicing software available — and it’s not a stripped-down demo version; it’s a fully functional accounting and invoicing platform that charges you nothing monthly. The only costs are payment processing fees when clients pay online. For a freelancer billing under $3,000/month or just starting out, Wave is the rational starting point. Upgrade to FreshBooks when you need time tracking, read receipts, or a more polished client experience. Wave Pro at $16/month adds recurring invoices and auto-reminders, making it genuinely competitive with FreshBooks Lite at a lower price.
3. Zoho Invoice — Best Free Invoicing Tool You’ve Never Heard Of
Best for: Freelancers who want a completely free invoicing tool with project management, time tracking, and multi-currency support — without Wave’s accounting complexity.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Invoice | $0 — forever free | Unlimited invoices, time tracking, project management, customer portal, 10 automated workflows, multi-currency |
Pros
- Completely free — Zoho made Invoice permanently free in 2021 to compete with Wave and as a gateway to the broader Zoho ecosystem
- Built-in time tracking and project-based billing — a feature FreshBooks charges $21–$38/month for
- Customer portal where clients can view invoices, make payments, and manage their account
- Multi-currency invoicing — essential for freelancers with international clients
- 10 automated workflows included free — set up payment reminders, thank-you emails, and follow-up sequences without manual work
Cons
- Part of the broader Zoho ecosystem — switching later ties you deeper into Zoho’s product stack
- Accounting features are less developed than Wave — Zoho Invoice focuses on invoicing/receivables, not full bookkeeping
- Some advanced features (payroll, full inventory) require upgrading to Zoho Books (paid)
- UI feels slightly enterprise-y compared to FreshBooks — the learning curve is steeper than competitors
Key Features for Freelancers
- Time Tracking (Free): Log hours by project and client, then automatically pull tracked time onto your next invoice — entirely free, with no upgrade required
- Project-Based Invoicing: Create projects, assign tasks, track time and expenses per project, and generate project-specific invoices — more structured than Wave’s approach
- Automated Payment Reminders: Set up multi-step reminder sequences (before due, on due date, after due) that run automatically — free on the forever plan
- Customer Portal: Clients get a dedicated portal to view statements, pay invoices, and download documents — professional client experience at zero cost
- Multi-Currency + Automatic Exchange Rates: Invoice international clients in their local currency with automatic exchange rate conversion — essential for freelancers working across borders
Our Take
Zoho Invoice might be the best-kept secret in freelance software. It’s completely free, includes time tracking and project management (which FreshBooks charges for), has a client portal, automated reminders, and multi-currency support. The reason most freelancers don’t use it: Zoho’s marketing is oriented toward enterprise buyers, so Zoho Invoice doesn’t show up in “best free invoicing” searches as often as it should. If you’re a freelancer doing project-based work with international clients and want a free, capable platform, Zoho Invoice deserves serious consideration — especially over Wave if accounting depth matters less to you than time tracking and project management.
4. Square Invoices — Best for Freelancers Who Also Sell In Person
Best for: Photographers, contractors, consultants, and service providers who sometimes collect payment in person with a card reader and want one platform that handles both in-person and invoice billing.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Processing Fees | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/month | 3.3% + $0.30 (invoice/online) | Unlimited invoices, estimates, recurring, payment schedules, basic contracts |
| Plus | $20/mo per location | 2.9% + $0.30 (online) | + Custom fields, advanced contracts, milestone payments, team permissions |
Pros
- The free plan includes genuinely useful features — recurring invoices, payment schedules, and milestone billing are all available without paying a subscription
- Seamless integration with Square POS — in-person and invoiced payments appear in the same dashboard, one reconciliation
- Payment by installment and milestone payment scheduling built in — useful for project-based freelancers collecting deposits
- Square Card Reader ($49 first reader) lets you collect in-person payments from the same account as your invoiced payments
- Accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App Pay — broad payment method coverage for clients who don’t have card details handy
Cons
- Processing fees (3.3% + $0.30 per invoice transaction) are higher than Stripe direct or FreshBooks Payments
- No time tracking — freelancers billing hourly need a separate time tracking tool
- Accounting features are minimal — Square Invoices is a billing tool, not an accounting platform; you’ll need Wave or QuickBooks alongside it
- ACH bank transfer fee (1%, $1 min, $10 cap) is competitive but not as favorable as Wave’s 1% bank transfer rate
Key Features for Freelancers
- Payment Schedules: Split any invoice into multiple scheduled payments — ideal for photographers requiring 50% deposit, 50% on delivery
- Milestone Billing: Tie invoice payments to project milestones — collect payment when specific deliverables are completed
- Digital Contracts: Attach and collect signatures on project contracts alongside invoice creation — keeps everything in one place
- Square POS Integration: In-person card swipes, tap-to-pay, and invoice payments all reconcile in one Square Dashboard — eliminates manual bank statement matching
- Automatic Late Fees: Configure automatic late fee additions when invoices go overdue — enforces payment terms without a confrontational conversation
Our Take
Square Invoices is a compelling free option specifically for freelancers who collect payment both via invoice and in person. A photographer who invoices clients for packages but also accepts payment at events, or a contractor who sends digital invoices but sometimes swipes cards on-site — these are the ideal Square Invoices users. The processing fees run slightly high for high-volume invoicers, and the lack of time tracking is a gap. But for the hybrid in-person/remote billing model, no other tool on this list matches Square’s seamlessness.
Get Started with Square Invoices (Free) →
5. PayPal Business — Best for Instant, Universal One-Off Invoicing
Best for: Freelancers sending occasional invoices to clients who insist on paying via PayPal — or who need to start collecting payment immediately with zero setup time.
Pricing
| Method | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal Checkout / Venmo (invoice) | 3.49% + $0.49 | Standard domestic rate |
| Credit / Debit card (invoice) | 2.99% + $0.49 | Standard card rate |
| Bank transfer / ACH (invoice) | 1% (capped at $10) | Best rate available |
| International transaction surcharge | +1.50% | Added to base rate |
| Invoicing software subscription | $14.99/mo (optional) | Advanced invoicing features |
Pros
- Every client already has a PayPal account or knows how to pay via PayPal — zero friction for client adoption
- No monthly subscription required — send invoices entirely free, pay only on successful transactions
- Instant setup — create a Business account and send your first invoice in under 10 minutes
- Buyer protection policies give clients confidence, which can increase conversion rates for first-time client relationships
- International payment acceptance in 200+ countries with automatic currency conversion
Cons
- Transaction fees are among the highest in this roundup — 3.49% + $0.49 for PayPal checkout is expensive at scale
- On a $1,000 invoice paid via PayPal checkout, you pay $35.39 in fees — versus $9.30 with Stripe direct or FreshBooks Payments
- Invoicing features are basic — no time tracking, no client portal, limited automation
- Disputes and chargebacks are more frequent on PayPal than on purpose-built invoicing platforms — the buyer protection that attracts clients can work against you
- Funds can be held or frozen for new accounts — a cash flow risk for freelancers depending on quick payment
Key Features for Freelancers
- One-Click Invoice Creation: Build and send a professional invoice in minutes with no accounting setup — effective for ad hoc, one-off client engagements
- Partial Payments: Clients can pay invoices in installments — useful for larger project deposits
- Invoice Reminders: Set automatic reminder emails for overdue invoices within the PayPal invoice interface
- Multi-Currency: Send invoices in any of 24 currencies and receive the USD equivalent automatically — straightforward for international freelancers
- Pay Later Integration: Clients can use PayPal Pay Later (BNPL) to spread payments — can improve collection rates on larger invoices, though at a higher fee (4.99% + $0.49)
Our Take
PayPal Business invoicing is best used as a fallback, not a primary system. The universal recognition and zero monthly fee make it useful for occasional invoicing or when a specific client insists on PayPal. But the transaction fees are punishing at scale: a freelancer processing $5,000/month in invoices pays $174/month in PayPal checkout fees versus $29/month with Stripe or FreshBooks Payments. If PayPal is your primary invoicing tool, the fee difference alone will pay for a year of FreshBooks Plus within a few months. Use PayPal for one-offs; use a purpose-built tool for your regular client billing.
Set Up PayPal Business Invoicing →
6. Harvest — Best Invoicing Software for Time-Based Billing
Best for: Consultants, designers, developers, and agencies who bill by the hour and need time tracking, project capacity planning, and invoice generation tightly integrated in one tool.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Users | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | 1 user, 2 projects — functional trial for solopreneurs testing the platform |
| Teams | $9/seat/mo (annual) or $11/seat/mo (monthly) | Unlimited | Unlimited projects, time tracking, invoicing, team reporting, accounting integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe) |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited | SSO, audit logs, formal approval workflows, dedicated support |
Pros
- The time tracking → invoice workflow is the tightest in this roundup — log hours, mark them billable, generate an invoice in two clicks
- Project budget tracking alerts you when you’re approaching scope on a fixed-price project — prevents scope creep before it happens
- Capacity planning shows team availability across all projects — essential for agencies managing multiple concurrent client engagements
- Deep integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Stripe, and Asana — fits into existing agency tech stacks cleanly
- $9/seat/month (annual) is competitive for a dedicated time-tracking + invoicing solution
Cons
- Invoicing features, while functional, are less polished than FreshBooks — templates are simpler and automation is more limited
- Time tracking is Harvest’s strength; invoicing is secondary — freelancers who want advanced invoicing features alongside time tracking are better served by FreshBooks
- Free plan limited to 1 user and 2 projects — effectively a trial, not a usable free tier for any established freelancer
- No built-in payment processing — you need to connect Stripe or PayPal; invoices don’t have a native “Pay Now” button without setup
Key Features for Freelancers
- One-Click Invoice from Time Entries: Select a date range, choose a client, and Harvest automatically populates an invoice with all logged billable hours — the most efficient time-to-invoice workflow in this roundup
- Project Budget Tracking: Set hour or dollar budgets per project and receive email alerts at 80% and 100% consumption — prevents the cash-destroying problem of scope overrun
- Team Time Reports: See utilization rates across team members — critical for agencies that need to balance workload and ensure profitable capacity use
- Retainer Management: Track recurring retainer budgets and automatically carry over unused hours (if applicable) to the next billing period
- Stripe Integration: Connect Stripe to add a “Pay Now” button to emailed invoices — clients pay by card without leaving the invoice email
Our Take
Harvest is the best tool in this list for one very specific workflow: you bill clients by the hour, you manage multiple concurrent projects, and you need to know at any given moment exactly which projects are profitable and which are losing money. For that use case, Harvest at $9/seat/month is indispensable. The invoicing features are functional but secondary — Harvest is fundamentally a time tracking tool that generates invoices, not an invoicing tool that happens to have a timer. If your billing model is primarily project-based or retainer-based rather than hourly, FreshBooks or Wave will serve you better.
7. Hiveage — Best Feature-Dense Invoicing for Power Users
Best for: Established freelancers and micro-agencies who need multi-currency invoicing, retainer management, time tracking, and unlimited recurring billing — and find FreshBooks too expensive for what they need.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Clients | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 5 | Unlimited invoices, time tracking, expense tracking, payment gateways |
| Basic | $16/mo (monthly) / $19/mo listed | 50 | + Recurring billing, financial reports, unlimited invoices |
| Pro | $25/mo (monthly) / $29 listed | 250 | + 5 team members, custom domain emails, auto payment reminders |
| Plus | $42/mo (monthly) / $49 listed | 1,000 | + 10 team members, API access, auto-billing, personalized migration support |
Pros
- Free plan allows unlimited invoices to 5 clients with time tracking — one of the most generous free tiers of any paid competitor
- Recurring billing, retainer management, and auto-billing are available at lower price points than FreshBooks
- Multi-currency support with 150+ currencies — better international coverage than most competitors
- Accepts all major payment gateways: Stripe, PayPal, Braintree, Authorize.Net, and 10+ others
- Clean, uncluttered interface — avoids the feature sprawl that can make FreshBooks overwhelming for newer users
Cons
- Less brand recognition than FreshBooks or Wave — fewer integrations and a smaller support community
- Accounting features are invoicing-focused — no full accounting suite like Wave offers
- Pro plan restricts to 5 team members — agencies with larger teams need the Plus tier
- Some G2 reviews note occasional sync issues with payment gateway connections
Key Features for Freelancers
- Unlimited Recurring Billing (Basic+): Set up recurring invoices for any interval — weekly, monthly, quarterly — with automatic delivery and optional auto-billing
- Multi-Currency Invoicing (150+ currencies): Invoice international clients in their local currency with automatic conversion tracking — the broadest currency support in this roundup
- Time Tracking + Expense Tracking (all plans): Log billable hours and client expenses, then pull them into your next invoice — available on the free plan, unlike most competitors
- Retainer Management: Track prepaid retainer balances and deduct against them as work is invoiced — clean retainer workflow without a separate tool
- Custom Domain Email (Pro+): Send invoices from your own domain address (invoices@yourbusiness.com) — maintains professional branding without white-label upgrade costs
Our Take
Hiveage is an underrated option for the established freelancer who finds FreshBooks’ pricing creeping up but doesn’t want to sacrifice features. The free plan — with unlimited invoices, time tracking, and payment gateway support for up to 5 clients — is generous enough to cover a just-starting-out freelancer’s needs. Basic at $16/month adds recurring billing and financial reports for less than FreshBooks Lite. It’s not as polished as FreshBooks and has less ecosystem support, but the feature-per-dollar ratio is competitive. If you’ve outgrown free tools and need retainer management or multi-currency billing without paying FreshBooks Premium prices, Hiveage is worth a serious look.
How We Tested
We evaluated each invoicing platform across six dimensions over 90 days, using three test personas: a solo graphic designer (5 active clients, hourly + project billing), a web development freelancer (10 active clients, retainer + project billing), and a 3-person content agency (20 active clients, flat-fee billing).
- Invoice Creation Speed: Time from opening the app to sending a professional invoice to a new client
- Payment Collection: Online payment acceptance rates, fee structures, time-to-deposit for each platform
- Automation Depth: Payment reminders, recurring invoice setup, auto-billing capability
- Time Tracking Integration: Quality of the time-to-invoice workflow; timer accuracy; project organization
- Client Experience: What the client sees when they receive an invoice; ease of payment; portal quality
- Value for Money: Total cost including transaction fees at $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000/month invoicing volume
How to Choose the Right Invoicing Software
By Billing Model
- Hourly / time-based billing: Harvest (tightest time→invoice workflow) or FreshBooks (more polished overall UX with built-in timer)
- Project-based / milestone billing: FreshBooks (proposals + milestone invoicing) or Square Invoices (payment schedules built in)
- Retainer billing (monthly recurring): FreshBooks (retainer management on Plus+), Hiveage (cheaper recurring billing), or Wave Pro
- One-off / occasional invoicing: PayPal Business (no setup required) or Square Invoices (free, more features)
- International clients in multiple currencies: Hiveage (150+ currencies), Zoho Invoice (multi-currency, free), or FreshBooks Premium
By Budget
- $0/month: Wave (best accounting depth), Zoho Invoice (best time tracking + project management), Hiveage Free (best for 5 clients), or Square Invoices (best for in-person hybrid)
- $9–$20/month: Harvest Teams ($9/seat, annual) for time-based billing; Hiveage Basic ($16/month) for recurring billing; Wave Pro ($16/month) for Wave users wanting automation
- $20–$40/month: FreshBooks Plus ($38/month) — the best all-around paid option for freelancers with 10–50 active clients
- $40+/month: FreshBooks Premium ($65/month) for unlimited clients; select for high-volume billing needs
By Team Size
- Solo freelancer: Wave (free) or FreshBooks Plus ($38/month) — single-user tools optimized for one-person operations
- 2–5 person team: Harvest Teams ($9/seat/month) if time tracking matters; FreshBooks Plus with team add-on; Hiveage Pro ($25/month)
- Agency (5+ people): FreshBooks Premium or Select; Harvest Teams with project capacity planning; Hiveage Plus ($42/month)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free invoicing software for freelancers in 2026?
Wave and Zoho Invoice are the best free options. Wave wins for freelancers who also need full accounting features — it includes double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, and financial reports at no cost. Zoho Invoice wins for freelancers who need time tracking, project management, and multi-currency support without any subscription. Both are genuinely unlimited on the free tier.
Does Wave charge fees when clients pay invoices?
Yes — Wave earns revenue through payment processing fees rather than subscriptions. Credit card payments: 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction. Bank transfers (ACH): 1% with a $1 minimum. These fees are deducted automatically before funds are deposited to your account. The invoicing and accounting software itself remains free regardless of whether you use Wave Payments.
Is FreshBooks worth the price for freelancers?
Yes, for active freelancers billing over $2,000–$3,000/month. The invoice read receipts, automatic payment reminders, and client portal genuinely reduce payment delays and follow-up time. At $38/month (Plus), if FreshBooks helps you collect one late payment faster per month on an average invoice of $1,000, the ROI is immediate. If you’re billing under $1,000/month, start with Wave or Zoho Invoice and upgrade when the limitations become friction.
What invoicing software do most freelancers use?
FreshBooks, Wave, and PayPal Business are consistently the top three by user count. FreshBooks leads among freelancers who pay for dedicated invoicing software. Wave leads among those using free tools. PayPal is often used by freelancers whose clients specifically request it rather than as a primary invoicing system.
Can I send invoices from my phone?
All seven platforms on this list have mobile apps for iOS and Android. FreshBooks has the highest-rated mobile invoicing experience (4.7/5 iOS). Square Invoices and Wave both perform well on mobile. Harvest’s mobile app is optimized for time tracking but can also create invoices. PayPal’s mobile interface is the most universally recognized by clients paying on their phones.
What is the best invoicing software for international freelancers?
Hiveage (150+ currencies) and Zoho Invoice (multi-currency, free) are the strongest for international billing. FreshBooks Premium and Wave also support multi-currency invoicing. For international payment collection, make sure to check the fee structure for international transactions — PayPal adds a 1.50% international surcharge, while Stripe (which integrates with FreshBooks and others) typically has more transparent international pricing.
Does Square Invoices require a Square account?
Yes — you need a free Square business account to use Square Invoices. Setup takes about 10 minutes. There’s no monthly subscription for the free tier; you only pay processing fees when clients pay invoices online. If you already use Square for in-person payments, Square Invoices integrates natively with your existing account.
Bottom Line: Which Invoicing Software Should You Choose?
Here’s the decision framework we’d use if we were starting a freelance business today:
- Just starting out and want $0/month: Zoho Invoice — time tracking, multi-currency, automated reminders, and client portal, all free. Get Zoho Invoice Free →
- Want free with accounting features: Wave — unlimited invoicing plus full double-entry accounting at no cost. Get Wave Free →
- Ready to invest in the best freelancer tool: FreshBooks Plus — read receipts, retainer management, automatic reminders, and the most polished invoice experience available. Try FreshBooks Free →
- Bill primarily by the hour: Harvest — the time→invoice workflow is unmatched at $9/seat/month. Start Harvest Free →
- Sell in-person AND invoice clients: Square Invoices — one account, one dashboard, two billing channels. Start Square Invoices Free →
- Want maximum features at mid-range price: Hiveage — recurring billing, multi-currency, retainers, and time tracking from $16/month. Try Hiveage Free →
- Client insists on PayPal: PayPal Business — zero setup, universal acceptance, but budget for the fees. Set Up PayPal Business →
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