FreshBooks is the best invoicing software for most service businesses in 2026, and Zoho Invoice is the best free option for freelancers and small teams. FreshBooks makes it quick to bill for time and expenses, and Zoho Invoice covers the core features without a subscription.
The rest of the list fits specific needs. QuickBooks Online suits businesses that want invoicing inside full accounting software. Xero works well when your accountant already uses it. Wave keeps costs low with a free Starter plan, and Stripe Invoicing fits companies that sell online and prefer to pay per invoice.
Before you choose, look past the subscription price. Card processing fees often cost more than the software, so compare the rate each tool charges per payment and check whether a client limit or invoice cap applies to the plan you need.
Our top pick
FreshBooks
Fast, clean invoicing for businesses that bill for their time.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best free option
Best with full accounting
Best on a budget
Best for online payments
How we ranked these tools
We scored each tool on five criteria: fit for freelancers and small businesses that send invoices, depth of invoicing and payment features, pricing and value, ease of use, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing pages, and public user reviews. No vendor paid for placement. Prices reflect regular published rates as of October 2026, not introductory discounts, so confirm the current price with the vendor before you buy.
The 6 best invoicing software tools for small business
1. FreshBooks
Best for service businesses that bill for time
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting price$23 / month
Free planNo (30-day trial)
FreshBooks is accounting software built around invoicing for service businesses. You track time and expenses, turn them into a branded invoice, and let clients pay online by card or bank transfer. Lite costs $23 a month and bills up to five clients, Plus costs $43 for up to 50 clients, and Premium costs $70 with no client cap. Each added team member costs $11 a month. The client limits are the catch, so count your active clients before you pick a plan.
Pros
- Tracked time and expenses flow straight into invoices
- Clean, branded invoices clients find easy to pay
- 30-day free trial with no credit card
Cons
- Lite plan caps you at five billable clients
- Team members cost extra on every plan
Key features
- Recurring invoices
- Time tracking
- Online payments
- Payment reminders
2. QuickBooks Online
Best for invoicing inside full accounting
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$38 / month
Free planYes (1 user)
QuickBooks Online puts invoicing inside full accounting software, so every paid invoice lands in your books without a second step. Simple Start costs $38 a month for one user, Essentials costs $85 for three users, Plus costs $140 for five, and Advanced costs $340 for 25. Intuit also lists a Free plan for a single user, plus a 30-day trial on paid plans. It suits businesses that want invoicing, bookkeeping, and reports in one place, but a freelancer who only sends invoices will pay for features that sit unused.
Pros
- Invoices post straight to your books
- Most accountants already know it
- Free plan and 30-day trial on paid tiers
Cons
- Higher price than invoicing-only tools
- More software than a freelancer needs
Key features
- Custom invoice templates
- Card and ACH payments
- Recurring invoices
- Financial reports
3. Zoho Invoice
Best free invoicing for freelancers and small teams
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Zoho Invoice is invoicing software with no subscription at all. You get customizable templates, recurring invoices, quotes, time tracking, and a customer portal where clients view and pay what they owe. Zoho applies usage limits to invoices per year and to users, so a fast-growing business can outgrow it, and those customers usually move to Zoho Books for full accounting. For freelancers and small service firms that want professional invoices without another monthly bill, it is the easiest choice here.
Pros
- Free with no subscription
- Customer portal for viewing and paying invoices
- Quotes convert to invoices quickly
Cons
- Annual invoice and user limits apply
- No bookkeeping, so you need separate accounting
Key features
- Recurring invoices
- Quotes and estimates
- Time tracking
- Customer portal
4. Xero
Best for businesses whose accountant uses Xero
Our rating4.4 / 5
Starting price$27 / month
Free planNo
Xero is cloud accounting software with solid invoicing and a large following among accountants and bookkeepers. The Early plan costs $27 a month but limits you to 20 invoices a month, which rules it out for many businesses. Growing, at $59 a month, removes that cap, and Established costs $97. New US customers can get a steep discount for the first six months. Choose Xero when your accountant already works in it, since shared access to your books saves time at tax season.
Pros
- Invoicing tied to full accounting
- Popular with accountants and bookkeepers
- Online payments and invoice reminders
Cons
- Early plan caps invoices at 20 a month
- Full accounting is more than some users need
Key features
- Repeating invoices
- Online payments
- Invoice reminders
- Bank reconciliation
5. Wave
Best for keeping costs as low as possible
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$19 / month
Free planYes
Wave offers a free Starter plan with unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records, which makes it the cheapest way to bill clients and keep basic books. The Pro plan costs $19 a month, or $190 a year, and adds automatic invoice sending, late payment reminders, and bank transaction import. Card payments cost 2.9% plus $0.60 per transaction on Starter, and Pro waives the $0.60 on the first 10 transactions each month. Support and integrations are thinner than on the paid competitors.
Pros
- Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices
- Low-cost Pro upgrade
- Bookkeeping included
Cons
- Fixed per-transaction fee adds up on small invoices
- Fewer integrations than larger platforms
Key features
- Unlimited invoices and estimates
- Online card payments
- Late payment reminders
- Basic bookkeeping
6. Stripe Invoicing
Best for online businesses already on Stripe
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price0.4% per paid invoice
Free planNo
Stripe Invoicing lets you create and send invoices from the same platform that processes your card payments. There is no monthly fee. Invoicing Starter costs 0.4% per paid invoice and Invoicing Plus costs 0.5%, on top of standard Stripe processing fees. Plus adds quotes, smart payment retries, and automatic reconciliation. It suits software companies and online businesses that already run on Stripe, but it is not accounting software, so you still need a separate tool for your books.
Pros
- No monthly subscription
- Built into Stripe payments
- Quotes and payment retries on Plus
Cons
- Fees grow with your invoice volume
- No bookkeeping or accounting features
Key features
- Hosted payment page
- Automatic reminders
- Quotes
- Developer API
Compare the top invoicing software
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Service businesses that bill for time | $23 / month | No (30-day trial) | 4.7 |
| QuickBooks Online | Invoicing inside full accounting | $38 / month | Yes (1 user) | 4.6 |
| Zoho Invoice | Best free invoicing for freelancers and small teams | Free | Yes | 4.5 |
| Xero | Businesses whose accountant uses Xero | $27 / month | No | 4.4 |
| Wave | Keeping costs as low as possible | $19 / month | Yes | 4.3 |
| Stripe Invoicing | Online businesses already on Stripe | 0.4% per paid invoice | No | 4.2 |
How to choose invoicing software
Decide whether you need accounting too
If you only send invoices, a dedicated tool such as Zoho Invoice keeps things simple. If you also reconcile bank accounts and prepare taxes, invoicing inside FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online, Xero, or Wave avoids entering the same numbers twice. Ask your accountant which system they prefer before you commit.
Compare payment fees, not just plans
Card fees usually land near 3% of each payment, and some tools add a fixed fee per transaction. On a few thousand dollars of card payments a month, a small difference in rate can cost more than the subscription. Offer bank transfer as a cheaper option for large invoices.
Check client and invoice limits
Several plans cap usage. FreshBooks Lite bills five clients, Xero Early sends 20 invoices a month, and Zoho Invoice sets annual limits. Pick a plan with room for the next year of growth so you are not forced to switch in the middle of a busy season.
Test the client side
Send a test invoice to a colleague and pay it from a phone. Clients pay faster when the invoice is clear and the payment page loads quickly, so the experience they see matters as much as your own dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
What is invoicing software?
Invoicing software creates, sends, and tracks bills for the work you do. It stores client details, fills in line items and taxes, accepts online payments, and sends reminders when an invoice is late. Many tools also handle recurring invoices and estimates, and some include full accounting.
How much does invoicing software cost?
Invoicing software costs anywhere from nothing to about $70 a month for a small business. Zoho Invoice and Wave Starter are free, Wave Pro costs $19 a month, and FreshBooks starts at $23. Stripe Invoicing charges 0.4% per paid invoice instead of a subscription. Card processing fees apply on top of all of them.
Can you run a real business on free invoicing software?
Yes. Zoho Invoice and Wave Starter both produce professional invoices and accept online payments with no subscription. The tradeoffs are usage limits, fewer automations, and lighter support. Many businesses start free and upgrade once they need automatic reminders, team access, or full accounting.
Do you need accounting software if you have invoicing software?
Most businesses do. Invoicing tools track what clients owe, but they do not reconcile bank accounts, record every expense, or produce a balance sheet. FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Wave cover both jobs. Zoho Invoice and Stripe Invoicing need a separate accounting system.
Which invoicing software is best for freelancers?
Zoho Invoice is the best free choice for freelancers, and FreshBooks is the best paid choice for freelancers who bill by the hour. FreshBooks Lite costs $23 a month for up to five clients and turns tracked time straight into invoices, which saves time at the end of each month.
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