Best Site for Invoicing
Summary
The best invoicing site is Invoice Ninja for users who want open-source self-hostable invoicing — full features without subscription lock-in. Wave is the best free hosted option with payment processing if you need it. Stripe Invoicing is the right pick for businesses already in the Stripe ecosystem. Bonsai (now Hello Bonsai) is the polished freelance-suite option. FreshBooks is the marketing leader but the pricing tier system makes it expensive at scale. Most listicles miss Invoice Ninja entirely; we don't.
Top 5 at a glance
| # | Site | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invoice Ninja | Open-source self-hostable invoicing with full features | Free self-hosted; paid cloud tiers available |
| 2 | Wave | Free hosted invoicing integrated with accounting | Free for invoicing; payment processing per-transaction fees |
| 3 | Stripe Invoicing | Businesses already in the Stripe ecosystem | Per-invoice fee plus standard payment processing |
| 4 | Bonsai | Freelance-focused suite with invoicing plus contracts and proposals | Subscription tiers |
| 5 | FreshBooks | Marketing-leader invoicing with client portal | Subscription tiered by client count |
Detailed rankings
Invoice Ninja
Open-source self-hostable invoicing with full features
The default when sovereignty or cost matter. Self-hosted Invoice Ninja is full-featured at zero ongoing cost.
Pros
- Open-source under Elastic License — full self-host capability
- Free tier on hosted is genuinely usable
- Strong recurring billing and subscription invoicing
- Multi-currency and multi-language
Cons
- Self-hosting requires Docker comfort
- Cloud tier upsells some features paid
- Smaller community than mainstream invoicing apps
Price: Free self-hosted; paid cloud tiers available
Sources: invoiceninja.com, github.com
Wave
Free hosted invoicing integrated with accounting
The right pick when you want a hosted free option and the integration with Wave accounting if you also use it.
Pros
- Genuinely free invoicing with no per-invoice cost
- Integrated with Wave accounting
- Payment processing available if you want it
- Client payments via card or ACH
Cons
- Payment processing fees apply when you use Wave Payments
- Multi-currency limited
- Customization less flexible than dedicated invoicing tools
Price: Free for invoicing; payment processing per-transaction fees
Sources: www.waveapps.com
Stripe Invoicing
Businesses already in the Stripe ecosystem
The right pick when you already process payments through Stripe and want invoicing in the same place.
Pros
- Tight integration with Stripe payment processing
- Strong recurring billing and subscription features
- Developer-friendly APIs
- Direct ACH and card acceptance
Cons
- Per-invoice fee on top of payment processing — does add up
- Less suited for businesses not already using Stripe
- Account suspension by Stripe affects invoicing alongside processing
Price: Per-invoice fee plus standard payment processing
Sources: stripe.com
Bonsai
Freelance-focused suite with invoicing plus contracts and proposals
The right pick for solo freelancers who want a complete suite rather than picking separate tools.
Pros
- Combines invoicing with contracts, proposals, and time tracking
- Polished UX
- Strong for solo freelancers and consultants
- Multi-currency
Cons
- Subscription cost adds up for solo freelancers
- Less suited for businesses with employees
- Feature bundle may be more than you need
Price: Subscription tiers
Sources: www.hellobonsai.com
FreshBooks
Marketing-leader invoicing with client portal
Functional but you can match the output with free alternatives. Choose only if a specific FreshBooks feature is decisive.
Pros
- Polished invoicing UI
- Strong client portal for payments
- Time tracking built in
- Mature product with broad integrations
Cons
- Client-count tier pricing climbs fast
- Aggressive marketing skews listicle recommendations
- Comparable functionality available cheaper or free elsewhere
Price: Subscription tiered by client count
Sources: www.freshbooks.com
How we chose
- Free tier completeness or self-host option.
- Payment integration — direct ACH, card processing, Stripe, PayPal.
- Recurring invoice support for subscription billing.
- Multi-currency for international clients.
- Client portal for payment self-service.
- Export to accounting software.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use my accounting software for invoicing?
Usually yes if you already use Wave, QuickBooks, or Xero. The unified workflow saves time and ensures invoiced amounts flow correctly into accounting. Use a separate invoicing tool only if your accounting software doesn't include invoicing or its invoicing is materially worse than alternatives.
Should I accept card payments?
For client convenience, yes. Card fees are typically 2.9% + small fixed fee. You can pass the fee to the client (legality varies by jurisdiction) or absorb it as cost of doing business. ACH is cheaper for larger invoices and worth offering as an option.
Can I send invoices in multiple currencies?
Invoice Ninja, Bonsai, and Stripe Invoicing handle multi-currency well. Wave's multi-currency is limited. For internationally billing businesses, verify the specific currencies you need are supported with appropriate exchange-rate handling.
How do I get clients to pay on time?
Clear payment terms in the invoice (Net 14 or Net 30). Easy payment methods (card, ACH, Stripe). Polite automated reminders before due date. Follow-up sequence after due date. Pre-billing larger projects. Most overdue invoices result from clients losing track, not deliberate non-payment.
What about tax invoicing rules?
Required information varies by jurisdiction — VAT, GST, sales tax all have specific format requirements. Most invoicing tools support adding required fields. Verify your invoices comply with local rules where you operate or where your client receives the invoice.