Invoice Software Comparison 2025: What Freelancers Actually Need
Invoice Software Comparison 2025: What Freelancers Actually Need
There are tons of invoice tools out there. They all claim to be "the best" and "easiest to use." So how do you actually choose?
We're going to compare tools honestly—including our own—based on what freelancers actually need. No marketing BS.
What We're Comparing
We'll look at popular tools across different categories:
Simple Invoice Tools:
Full Accounting Software:
Payment-First Tools:
All-in-One Freelance Platforms:
The Comparison Framework
We'll evaluate based on what actually matters:
1. Ease of use - Can you create an invoice in under 3 minutes?
2. Pricing - Fair value for what you get?
3. Payment processing - Can clients pay easily?
4. Mobile experience - Does it work on your phone?
5. Core features - What's included vs. extra?
We're not looking at every feature. Because honestly, most features don't matter for basic invoicing.
Quick Comparison Table
Here's a side-by-side look at the key differences:
| Tool | Monthly Price | Unlimited Invoices? | Mobile App | Best For |
|------|--------------|---------------------|------------|----------|
| Wave | Free | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Okay | Budget-conscious beginners |
| Invoisseur | $4.99-$19.99 | ✅ Yes (paid plans) | ✅ Great | Simple unlimited invoicing |
| Invoice Simple | $5.99-$8.99 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | Ultra-basic needs |
| Zoho Invoice | $9-$29 | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Clunky | Zoho ecosystem users |
| QuickBooks | $30-$200 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | Full accounting needs |
| FreshBooks | $19-$60 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | Accounting-lite |
| Xero | $13-$70 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | International business |
| PayPal | Free + fees | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | Existing PayPal users |
| Square | Free + fees | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | In-person + invoicing |
| Stripe | Free + fees | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Basic | Technical users |
| Bonsai | $24-$52 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Good | All-in-one freelance suite |
| HoneyBook | $19-$79 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Great | Creative professionals |
| Dubsado | $20-$40 | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Okay | Complex workflows |
Payment processing fees are similar across all platforms (typically 2.9% + $0.30 for credit cards).
Simple Invoice Tools
Wave (Free Forever)
Best for: Freelancers on a tight budget who invoice occasionally.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Great if you're just starting out and need to keep costs at zero. The high payment fees add up though if you process a lot of payments online.
Invoisseur (That's Us)
Best for: Freelancers who send 10+ invoices per month and want simplicity.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: We built what we wanted to use. Simple, fast, affordable. But if you need full accounting or lots of integrations, look elsewhere.
Why we built it differently:
*Speed:* Average invoice creation time is under 90 seconds. We optimized every click.
*Unlimited:* No counting invoices on paid plans. Create 5 or 500—same price.
*Mobile-first:* Built for mobile, adapted to desktop. About 40% of our users invoice on phones.
*No bloat:* We don't do accounting, time tracking, or project management. We do invoicing really well.
*Honest pricing:* $4.99/month gets you unlimited invoices. That's it. No hidden fees, no surprise charges.
Feature breakdown:
Invoice Simple
Best for: Occasional invoicers who want something basic.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Does what it says—simple invoicing. But almost too simple. No payment tracking, no reminders, just invoice creation.
Zoho Invoice
Best for: Freelancers who use other Zoho products.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Powerful if you're in the Zoho ecosystem. Feels unnecessarily complex otherwise.
Full Accounting Software
QuickBooks Online
Best for: Growing businesses that need full accounting.
Pricing: $30-$200/month (seriously)
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: If you need full accounting, it's worth it. But $30/month minimum for invoicing? That's expensive if it's all you need.
FreshBooks
Best for: Service-based businesses that want accounting-lite.
Pricing: $19-$60/month
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: The "simple QuickBooks." Still overkill if you just need invoicing, but nicer to use than QuickBooks.
Xero
Best for: International freelancers/small businesses.
Pricing: $13-$70/month
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Popular outside the US. Good if you need multi-currency and full accounting. Too much for simple invoicing.
Payment-First Tools
PayPal Invoicing
Best for: Freelancers who already use PayPal heavily.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Fine if you're already PayPal-heavy. But limited compared to dedicated invoice tools.
Square Invoices
Best for: Businesses that also take in-person payments.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Makes sense if you use Square's POS system. Less compelling standalone.
Stripe Invoicing
Best for: Tech-savvy freelancers comfortable with Stripe.
Pricing:
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Great if you're technical and already use Stripe. Otherwise, there are easier options.
All-in-One Platforms
Bonsai
Best for: Freelancers who want contracts + invoicing + everything.
Pricing: $24-$52/month
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: If you need the whole package, it's worth it. But $24/month for invoicing alone? No thanks.
HoneyBook
Best for: Creative professionals (photographers, planners, designers).
Pricing: $19-$79/month (annual commitment)
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: If you're a wedding photographer or event planner, it's built for you. Otherwise, probably too niche.
Dubsado
Best for: Service businesses with complex workflows.
Pricing: $20-$40/month
Pros:
Cons:
Honest take: Powerful but complex. Like using a bulldozer to plant a flower.
The Verdict: What Should You Choose?
If You're Just Starting Out
Wave - Free, full-featured, good enough to get going.
If You Send 10+ Invoices Per Month
Invoisseur or Zoho Invoice - Unlimited invoices, simple interface, affordable.
If You Need Full Accounting
FreshBooks (if you want simple) or QuickBooks (if you want powerful).
If You're Already Using a Payment Processor
PayPal, Square, or Stripe invoicing - Free and integrated.
If You Want Everything in One Place
Bonsai - Expensive but includes contracts, proposals, and time tracking.
If Budget Is Zero
Wave - Actually free, not a trial.
What Actually Matters
After all this comparison, here's what we think matters most:
1. Speed of use
Can you create and send an invoice in under 3 minutes? That's the bar.
2. Client payment experience
If your clients can't figure out how to pay you, none of the other features matter.
3. Price matches your volume
Don't pay $30/month if you send 3 invoices. Don't use a limited free tier if you send 50.
4. Mobile works
You'll use it on your phone. Make sure it doesn't suck.
5. You'll actually use it
The best tool is the one you use consistently. Complexity kills consistency.
Our Recommendation Process
Step 1: Decide if you need just invoicing or full accounting.
Step 2: Consider your volume.
Step 3: Try 2-3 options.
Most have free trials. Create actual invoices. Send them. See what feels right.
Step 4: Pick one and commit.
Switching tools is annoying. Choose well, then stick with it for at least 6 months.
The Bottom Line
There's no "best" invoice software for everyone. There's the best one for your situation.
Our bias: We built Invoisseur because we wanted simple, unlimited invoicing at a fair price. That's what we recommend if that matches your needs.
But honestly: Wave is great if you need free. QuickBooks is worth it if you need accounting. Bonsai makes sense if you want everything in one place.
Try a few. Pick one. Get back to doing work that actually makes you money.
Want to try Invoisseur? Start free—1 invoice per month free, unlimited for $4.99-$19.99/month based on features you need.
READY TO CREATE PROFESSIONAL INVOICES?
Try Invoisseur free—no credit card required. Unlimited invoices on paid plans starting at $4.99/month.
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