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Quick picks
FreshBooks
Cleanest invoicing UX, low payment fees, strong time tracking
Try FreshBooks free →Wave
Genuinely free invoicing — just watch the payment processing fees
Start free with Wave →HoneyBook
If you already use HoneyBook for CRM, invoicing is built right in
Try HoneyBook →Side-by-side comparison
| Tool | Monthly cost | Payment fee | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | $19/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | ✕ | Overall best UX |
| Wave | Free | 2.9% + 60¢ | ✓ | Zero budget |
| HoneyBook | $19/mo | 2.9% + 25¢ | ✕ | CRM + invoicing |
| Bonsai | $21/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | ✕ | Freelancer stack |
| Stripe Invoicing | Free | 0.4% per invoice | ✓ | High volume |
In-depth reviews
FreshBooks
The cleanest invoicing experience for independent professionals
FreshBooks is the tool I point most freelancers toward when invoicing is their priority. The interface is genuinely a pleasure to use — sending a professional invoice takes less than two minutes. Automatic payment reminders, late fees, and recurring invoices are all straightforward to set up. The accounting features are solid enough that you might not need a separate bookkeeping tool.
What works
- Fastest invoice creation in the category
- Automatic payment reminders
- Solid built-in accounting
- Time tracking included
What doesn't
- No free plan
- Client limit on entry plan
- Payment fees aren't the lowest
Wave
Free invoicing and accounting — genuinely free, with a catch
Wave is genuinely free for invoicing and accounting, which is rare. The catch: payment processing fees are slightly higher than competitors at 2.9% + 60¢ per transaction. At low invoice volumes this barely matters. At $10K+ per month in billing, you'll want to run the numbers — FreshBooks might actually be cheaper overall once you factor in fees.
What works
- Completely free invoicing
- Free accounting included
- Clean, simple interface
- Good for getting started
What doesn't
- Higher payment fees (2.9% + 60¢)
- Limited automation
- Support is slow