Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers in 2026
Honest comparison of 8 tools β not sponsored. What each does well, where each falls short, and which one is actually best for getting paid faster.
β‘ Quick answer
For creating invoices: Wave (free) or FreshBooks (paid). For getting overdue invoices paid: Chaser (add it to whatever invoicing tool you use). Most freelancers need both.
What most freelancers get wrong about invoicing software
There's a difference between invoicing software (tools that create and send invoices) and invoice follow-up tools (tools that chase payment). Most products reviewed here are primarily the former.
Here's the problem: 60% of freelancers get paid late. Most invoicing tools send one automated reminder, maybe two. That's not enough β especially for clients who have learned they can ignore the first reminder.
A good setup for most freelancers: a free invoicing tool for creating/sending, plus a dedicated follow-up tool for chasing. You'll spend $0β$15/mo and recover thousands.
The 8 best invoicing tools for freelancers
Wave
Best free invoicing for freelancers
Free (payments fee: 2.9% + 60Β’)
β Pros
- +Completely free invoicing
- +Good client portal
- +Accounting integration
- +Accepts credit cards
β Cons
- βNo invoice follow-up automation
- βLimited customization
- βSupport is slow
- βPayments cost extra
Rating: 4/5 for invoicing, 1/5 for chasing
https://www.wave.comFreshBooks
Best all-in-one for growing freelancers
$17/mo (Lite), $30/mo (Plus)
β Pros
- +Polished UI
- +Time tracking built-in
- +Automated reminders (1 per invoice)
- +Good mobile app
β Cons
- βExpensive for solo freelancers
- βReminders are basic (1 email)
- βNo escalation logic
- βOverkill if you just need invoicing
Rating: 4/5 for invoicing, 2/5 for follow-up
https://www.freshbooks.comBonsai
Best for freelancers who want proposals + contracts too
$24/mo (Starter)
β Pros
- +Proposals, contracts, invoicing in one
- +Client portal
- +Automated payment reminders
- +Templates
β Cons
- βMost expensive option
- βFollow-up is still basic
- βCluttered if you just need invoicing
- βUS-focused
Rating: 3/5 for invoicing, 2/5 for follow-up
https://www.hellobonsai.comInvoice Ninja
Best self-hosted / open-source option
Free (self-hosted), $12/mo (cloud)
β Pros
- +Highly customizable
- +Self-hosted = full data control
- +Good feature set
- +Affordable cloud version
β Cons
- βComplex setup (self-hosted)
- βUI is dated
- βNo smart escalation
- βSteep learning curve
Rating: 4/5 for invoicing, 2/5 for follow-up
https://invoiceninja.comHoneyBook
Best for creative freelancers (photographers, event planners)
$19/mo (Starter)
β Pros
- +Beautiful templates
- +Great client experience
- +Contracts + invoicing
- +Automations
β Cons
- βVery niche (photography/events)
- βExpensive
- βOverkill for most freelancers
- βUS-centric
Rating: 4/5 for creative niches, 2/5 for general use
https://www.honeybook.comPayPal Invoicing
Best if your clients already use PayPal
Free (PayPal transaction fee: 3.49% + 49Β’)
β Pros
- +Clients recognise the brand
- +Zero setup
- +Instant payment
- +Free invoicing
β Cons
- βHigh transaction fees
- βNo reminders
- βBasic templates
- βNo automation at all
Rating: 3/5 for simple invoicing, 0/5 for follow-up
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/invoiceStripe Invoicing
Best for tech-savvy freelancers already using Stripe
Free + 0.4% per paid invoice
β Pros
- +Best payment UX
- +Excellent for recurring billing
- +Developer-friendly
- +Card + bank transfer
β Cons
- βNo follow-up reminders
- βNot designed for freelancers (technical)
- βRequires Stripe account
- βLimited templates
Rating: 4/5 for payments, 1/5 for follow-up
https://stripe.com/invoicingChaser
Our pick for follow-upBest for freelancers who need their invoices actually paid
Free (3 invoices), $15/mo (unlimited)
β Pros
- +Automated 4-stage escalation sequence
- +Escalating tone (polite β firm β urgent)
- +Works with Stripe or manual
- +Emails go from your address
β Cons
- βFocused only on follow-up (no full invoicing suite)
- βNot ideal if you have zero late payment problems
Rating: 5/5 for follow-up, N/A for invoicing creation
Try Chaser free βQuick comparison table
| Tool | Price | Auto follow-up | Escalation | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | Free | None | No | Yes |
| FreshBooks | $17/mo+ | 1 reminder | No | No |
| Bonsai | $24/mo+ | Basic | No | No |
| Invoice Ninja | Free/self-hosted | Manual | No | Yes |
| HoneyBook | $19/mo+ | Basic | No | No |
| PayPal | Free | None | No | Yes |
| Stripe | 0.4%/invoice | None | No | Yes |
| Chaser π | $0β$15/mo | 4-stage auto | Yes | Yes |
Our recommendation
For most freelancers, the right answer is two tools:
- Wave (free) for creating and sending invoices
- Chaser ($0β$15/mo) for automated follow-up when invoices go overdue
Total cost: $0 to start, $15/mo if you have more than 3 overdue invoices at once. The first month Chaser recovers a late invoice that you'd have let slide, it's paid for itself.
If you want an all-in-one and are willing to pay more: FreshBooksat $17/mo is the most polished option for freelancers. But combine it with Chaser for proper follow-up β FreshBooks' one reminder isn't enough for persistent late payers.
Automate your invoice follow-up
Chaser sends polite-to-firm follow-up emails automatically. Free for up to 3 invoices.
Try Chaser free βRelated guides
Free 7-Day Email Course: Get Invoices Paid Faster
One practical lesson per day. Learn better invoice terms, follow-up scripts, and how to automate the whole system. Completely free.
Enroll free β