Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers & Solo Service Businesses (Free and Paid)

Updated October 30, 2026 · Facts checked against official sources linked at the end · 8 min read

"Best" depends on two numbers: how many clients you invoice and how much of your bookkeeping you want automated. A photographer sending eight invoices a year needs something very different from a cleaning business billing 30 households every month.

Below, each tool is described using its own published pricing and plan pages (checked October 30, 2026). Where we couldn't confirm a detail, we say so instead of guessing.

Five features that actually get you paid faster

1. Online payments. Clients pay by card or bank transfer straight from the invoice. Processing fees apply, and they differ by provider.
2. Automatic payment reminders. The app nudges late payers so you don't have to.
3. Recurring invoices. Essential for retainers and weekly or monthly services.
4. Deposits and retainers. Useful for photographers, event pros and anyone booking ahead.
5. A client limit you won't hit. Some plans cap how many clients you can bill.

Comparison table

Introductory discounts are common. Plan around the list price you'll pay once they end.

Zoho Invoice: the strongest truly free option

Zoho says Zoho Invoice is free for small businesses, with no paid tier to upgrade into. Its US pricing page lists the limits: up to 500 invoices per year, two users and three projects. Recurring invoices, payment reminders and a customer self-service portal are included.

Watch-outs: it's invoicing software, not full bookkeeping. When you need bank reconciliation and accounting reports, Zoho points you to Zoho Books. Zoho Books has its own free plan for businesses under a revenue threshold (stated as $50K in Zoho's materials and set per region).

Wave Starter: free, but bank feeds now cost extra

Wave's free Starter plan still covers invoices, estimates, bills, manual bank-statement uploads and reconciliation. In 2026 Wave made automatic bank connections and advanced receipt matching part of its paid Pro plan, $19/month or $190/year in the US. Older free accounts that didn't use Wave's payments or payroll were moved to Starter on June 1, 2026.

If you're deciding whether to pay for Pro or move elsewhere, read our Wave alternatives guide.

We don't currently earn a commission from Wave.

FreshBooks: built around clients

FreshBooks is the most client-centred tool here. All plans send invoices. Proposals, retainers, receipt scanning and double-entry accounting reports start on the Plus plan, according to FreshBooks' plan pages and help centre.

Watch-out: plans are priced by billable clients: Lite covers 5, Plus 50, Premium unlimited, and FreshBooks counts archived clients as well as active ones. If you've billed more than five clients, compare Plus ($43/month), not Lite.

QuickBooks Solopreneur: for one-person businesses

Intuit designed Solopreneur for self-employed people without employees, typically filing Schedule C. It includes automatic GPS mileage tracking in the mobile app and connects to QuickBooks Live Tax (powered by TurboTax), which is a separate service.

Watch-out: if you plan to hire employees, start with QuickBooks Online instead.

QuickBooks Online Simple Start: full accounting

Simple Start is the entry tier of QuickBooks Online, the accounting system many US accountants already use. It costs more ($38/month list) and covers one billable user plus access for two accounting firms, but gives you standard double-entry books and a path to bigger plans later.

Choose in 60 seconds

• Fewer than ~40 invoices a month and no budget? Start with Zoho Invoice (500 invoices a year is about 41 a month).
• You want invoices and books for free, and don't mind uploading bank statements? Wave Starter.
• Your work is client projects, proposals and retainers? FreshBooks (check the client limit).
• You work alone, drive for work and want tax-time organisation? QuickBooks Solopreneur.
• You have an accountant or plan to grow a team? QuickBooks Online.

Still unsure? Our head-to-head FreshBooks vs QuickBooks guide has a decision table by business type.

By type of business

Cleaning businesses and other recurring services

You likely bill the same households or offices every week or month, so recurring invoices and automatic reminders matter most, and so does the client limit. Ten regular clients already rules out FreshBooks Lite (5 clients), so compare FreshBooks Plus, QuickBooks and the free Zoho Invoice. Track supplies and mileage between jobs too; our free spreadsheet has a mileage log.

Hair stylists, estheticians and other beauty pros

Many clients pay at the chair, so you may send few invoices but still need clean income and expense records: booth rent, products, education. If you rarely invoice, a spreadsheet or QuickBooks Solopreneur (income/expense tracking for one-person businesses) may fit better than an invoicing-first tool. Booth renters who bill a salon or run retail sales should check that the tool records card-payment payouts clearly.

Photographers, designers and other project-based creatives

You need deposits or retainers and often proposals. In FreshBooks those start on the Plus plan. Compare that with QuickBooks Online if you also want full accounting.

Invoice basics that matter more than the app

• State payment terms clearly (for example "Due within 14 days") and say how to pay.
• Number invoices consistently so you and your clients can track them.
• Invoice promptly: send it the day the work is done or on a fixed schedule.
• Keep a copy of every invoice. The IRS expects records that support the income you report.

FAQ

Sources (checked October 30, 2026)

1. Zoho Invoice pricing (free; 500 invoices/year; 2 users; 3 projects): https://www.zoho.com/us/invoice/pricing/
2. Zoho Books free plan: https://www.zoho.com/blog/books/unveiling-the-free-plan-of-zoho-books-for-businesses.html and https://www.zoho.com/us/books/pricing/
3. Wave Pro plan fees (US$19/month or US$190/year): https://support.waveapps.com/hc/en-us/articles/15601519996436-Receipts-and-Pro-Plan-subscription-fees
4. Wave FAQ, plans for legacy businesses: https://support.waveapps.com/hc/en-us/articles/26449863006612-FAQ-Plans-for-legacy-businesses
5. FreshBooks pricing: https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing; features by plan: https://support.freshbooks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006873232-What-is-the-pricing
6. QuickBooks pricing: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/; Solopreneur: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/solopreneur/
7. IRS, What kind of records should I keep: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/what-kind-of-records-should-i-keep