The Freelancer's Billing Problem
Chasing invoices is the least glamorous part of freelance life — but the most important. Unpaid invoices are the #1 cause of cash flow crises for self-employed professionals. The right invoicing software sends professional invoices, accepts online payments, sends automatic reminders, and tracks who owes what — so you can focus on actual work.
What to Look For
- Online payment acceptance — Stripe, PayPal, or credit card processing
- Automatic reminders — scheduled overdue notices without manual follow-up
- Recurring invoices — for retainer clients billed monthly
- Time tracking integration — log hours and convert to invoices
- Client portal — clients can view and pay invoices without email back-and-forth
- Mobile app — send invoices on the go
Top Invoicing Apps for Freelancers
1. FreshBooks — Best Overall for Freelancers
FreshBooks was built specifically for freelancers and service businesses. Its time tracking, expense capture, client portal, and automatic late payment reminders work seamlessly together. The mobile app is excellent.
Standout features: Time tracking tied directly to invoices, automatic payment reminders, double-entry accounting Accepts payments via: Stripe, PayPal, credit card (2.9% + 30¢ per transaction) Pricing: Lite $19/month (5 active clients); Plus $33/month; Premium $60/month Best for: Freelancers billing 5+ clients with complex time tracking needs2. Wave — Best Free Option
Wave is completely free for invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning. You pay only for payment processing (2.9% + 60¢ per card transaction). For freelancers just starting out or with simple billing needs, Wave is hard to beat.
Standout features: Free forever, unlimited invoices, automatic accounting, payroll add-on available Accepts payments via: Credit card, bank transfer (ACH) Pricing: Free (payment processing fees apply) Best for: New freelancers, part-time freelancers, or anyone who wants a free solution3. HoneyBook — Best for Creative Freelancers
HoneyBook combines invoicing with contracts, proposals, scheduling, and client communication in one platform. Photographers, designers, and event professionals love it for replacing 5 different tools with one.
Standout features: Contract + invoice in one workflow, automations, client portal, questionnaires Accepts payments via: Credit card, bank transfer Pricing: Starter $16/month; Essentials $32/month; Premium $66/month Best for: Photographers, designers, event planners — any service business with proposals and contracts4. Invoice Ninja — Best Open-Source Option
Invoice Ninja is free to self-host or offers affordable cloud plans. It supports 40+ payment gateways, multi-currency invoicing, and customizable invoice templates. The white-label client portal is a premium feature.
Standout features: Self-hostable, 40+ payment gateways, multi-currency, recurring invoices Pricing: Free (self-hosted); Ninja Pro $10/month; Enterprise $14/month Best for: Tech-savvy freelancers who want a powerful tool at low cost5. Bonsai — Best for Contract + Invoice Combo
Bonsai started as a contract tool and added invoicing, time tracking, and project management. Its contract templates are freelance-lawyer-reviewed and state-specific. The full suite replaces several point solutions.
Standout features: Legal contract templates, scope creep alerts, client portal Pricing: Starter $21/month; Professional $32/month; Business $66/month Best for: Consultants and agencies that need contracts, proposals, and invoices togetherTips for Getting Paid Faster
- Require a deposit upfront — 25–50% before starting work dramatically reduces non-payment risk
- Offer online payment — clients who pay online pay 2x faster than those mailing checks
- Net 14 over Net 30 — shorter payment terms = faster cash flow
- Automate reminders — a friendly automated nudge on day 1, 7, and 14 overdue works
- Add late fees — even if you don't enforce them, the clause motivates timely payment
The Bottom Line
Just starting out? Wave is free and capable. Full-service creative business? HoneyBook integrates your whole client workflow. Complex time tracking? FreshBooks is the freelancer favorite. Need contracts too? Bonsai handles the full engagement lifecycle.The best invoicing app is the one you'll actually use consistently — and that accepts online payments. That single feature, more than any other, gets invoices paid faster.