Why invoicing software matters
As a freelancer, getting paid on time is everything. The right invoicing tool saves you hours every month and makes you look professional. We tested over a dozen options so you don’t have to.
What we looked for
We evaluated each tool based on five criteria:
- Ease of use – Can you send your first invoice in under 5 minutes?
- Pricing – Is it affordable for a solo freelancer?
- Features – Recurring invoices, payment reminders, multi-currency?
- Integrations – Does it connect to your bank and accounting software?
- Support – Can you get help when something breaks?
Our top picks
1. Hiveage
Hiveage is our top pick for freelancers who want simplicity without sacrificing features. The free plan covers up to 5 clients, and the paid plan at $16/month unlocks everything.
Pros: Clean interface, great free tier, built-in time tracking. Cons: Limited payment gateway options on the free plan.
2. Invoice Ninja
If you’re technical and want full control, Invoice Ninja is hard to beat. It’s open source, self-hostable, and the hosted version starts at $10/month.
Pros: Open source, incredibly customizable, strong API. Cons: The UI can feel overwhelming for non-technical users.
3. Zoho Invoice
Part of the Zoho ecosystem, this is ideal if you already use other Zoho products. The free plan supports up to 5 customers.
Pros: Generous free plan, excellent integrations within Zoho. Cons: Best value only if you’re in the Zoho ecosystem.
The bottom line
For most freelancers, Hiveage strikes the best balance between simplicity and features. If you need maximum customization, go with Invoice Ninja. And if you’re already a Zoho user, Zoho Invoice is a no-brainer.
Choose the tool that fits your workflow – the best invoice software is the one you’ll actually use consistently.