Best Invoicing Tools for Freelancers in 2025

The right invoicing tool can save you hours each month and help you get paid faster. Here's our comparison of the top options for freelancers.

1. Wave - Best Free Option

Price: Free

Best for: Budget-conscious freelancers

Pros:

Completely free invoicing
Unlimited invoices and clients
Professional templates
Automatic payment reminders

Cons:

Limited customization
No time tracking

2. FreshBooks - Best All-in-One

Price: $17-$55/month

Best for: Freelancers wanting complete business management

Pros:

Beautiful, professional invoices
Built-in time tracking
Expense tracking
Project management features
Late payment reminders

Cons:

Higher price point
Client limits on lower tiers

3. HoneyBook - Best for Creatives

Price: $16-$66/month

Best for: Photographers, designers, event planners

Pros:

Stunning proposals and contracts
Client portal
Booking and scheduling
Automation workflows

Cons:

Overkill for simple invoicing
Learning curve

4. Bonsai - Best for Contracts + Invoicing

Price: $24-$79/month

Best for: Freelancers wanting integrated contracts

Pros:

Contract templates included
Proposal creation
Tax preparation tools
Time tracking

Cons:

Higher price for full features
Can feel complex

5. PayPal Business - Best for Quick Payments

Price: Free (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)

Best for: Simple invoicing with familiar payments

Pros:

Clients can pay instantly
Widely trusted
No monthly fees
Invoice templates

Cons:

Higher transaction fees
Limited features

Quick Comparison Table

Tool	Price	Time Tracking	Contracts	Best For
Wave	Free	No	No	Budget
FreshBooks	$17+	Yes	No	All-in-one
HoneyBook	$16+	No	Yes	Creatives
Bonsai	$24+	Yes	Yes	Contracts
PayPal	Free	No	No	Simple

Features to Look For

Automatic reminders: Reduces manual follow-up
Multiple payment methods: Makes it easy for clients to pay
Recurring invoices: Essential for retainer clients
Late fee calculation: Automatically adds penalties
Mobile app: Invoice on the go
Reports: Track your income and outstanding payments

When Invoicing Isn't Enough

Even the best invoicing tools can't force a bad client to pay. Use Unpaid alongside your invoicing software to document and publicize non-paying clients.

Track Unpaid Invoices

Our Recommendation

For most freelancers, we recommend starting with Wave (free) and upgrading to FreshBooks as your business grows. If contracts are important to your work, consider Bonsai for the integrated experience.

The best tool is one you'll actually use consistently. Pick one, set it up properly, and stick with it. Consistency in invoicing leads to consistency in payment.