7 Best Free Invoicing Software for Freelancers in 2025 (No Hidden Fees)

Disclosure: This guide includes BillerBear, our own product. All descriptions are based on publicly available information as of December 2025, and we've aimed to keep this comparison accurate and fair.

Finding invoicing software shouldn't feel harder than the work you actually do as a freelancer.

If you're searching for a free invoicing tool in 2025, the options can be overwhelming. Some tools are "free" but take a cut of your payments. Others are free only if you accept complexity, lock-in, or strict limits.

This guide breaks down the best free invoicing software for freelancers — what's truly free, where the trade-offs are, and which tools make sense depending on how you work.

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Quick Answer: Best Free Invoicing Tools in 2025

If you don't want to read the whole article, here's the short version:

• BillerBear → Best for simplicity and control (no payment platform involved)
• Wave → Best for invoicing + accounting

• Zoho Invoice → Best if you plan to grow inside a business platform
• Invoice Ninja → Best for technical freelancers

• PayPal / Square → Best if clients already pay you there
• Canva → Best for designers who want full visual control

Now let's look at each one in detail.

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What to Look for in Free Invoicing Software

Before selecting a tool, ask yourself:

• Do I just want to send invoices — or handle accounting too?
• Do I want a platform taking a percentage of every payment?

• Do I care about design and brand?
• Do I want to stay independent from financial systems?

• Do I want something lightweight or a full business suite?

"Free" always has a catch. The trick is choosing the one you're okay with.

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The 7 Best Free Invoicing Software for Freelancers in 2025

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1. BillerBear

Best for: Freelancers who want invoicing without payment platforms

Payment processing: ❌ None — you control how clients pay

BillerBear is not a fintech app. It doesn't process payments.

Instead of forcing you into PayPal, Stripe, or Square, BillerBear lets you:

• Add your own bank details
• Paste your own payment links (PayPal, Wise, Stripe, etc.) so clients can still click-to-pay, but the money goes straight to you

• Keep 100% of your revenue
• Avoid vendor lock-in

Your money never passes through BillerBear. There are no percentages taken and no gateways controlling your income.

#### Free Plan Includes:

• 3 invoices per month
• Professional invoice templates

• Client management
• PDF exports

• Your own payment instructions
• No credit card required

#### Pro Plan:

• Unlimited invoices
• Advanced customization

• Premium features

Why freelancers choose BillerBear:

• Clean, minimalist design
• No accounting clutter

• No merchant fees
• No forced gateways

• Total independence

Best for: Freelancers who want clean invoices without platforms interfering in their finances.

Create Your First Invoice →

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2. Wave

Best for: Freelancers who also want accounting

Payment processing: ✅ Yes (fees apply)

Wave offers free invoicing and basic accounting. They make money through payment processing and add-on services.

Great if:

• You want accounting and invoicing together
• You like reports and bookkeeping

• You accept card and ACH fees

Trade-offs:

• Heavier interface
• Transaction fees on every payment

• Designed for accounting workflows more than freelancing

Great if: You want automated bookkeeping and don't mind paying around 2.9% per payment for convenience.

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3. Zoho Invoice

Best for: Freelancers planning to scale

Payment processing: ✅ Yes

Zoho Invoice is free, but it's part of the Zoho ecosystem.

That means:

• You'll create an "organization"
• Configure tax rules

• See features you may not need
• Get upsold to other Zoho products

Good if:

• You want a long-term business platform
• You plan to scale into CRM, finance, and operations

Overkill if:

• You just want to send invoices and move on.

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4. Invoice Ninja

Best for: Technical freelancers

Payment processing: ✅ Yes

Invoice Ninja offers:

• Hosted version (free with limits)
• Open-source self-hosted version

Free hosted version = limited clients, unlimited invoices.

Self-hosting requires:

• Server management
• Updates

• Backups

Great if you're technical. Not great if you want plug-and-play simplicity.

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5. PayPal Invoicing

Best for: PayPal users

Payment processing: ✅ Yes

Built directly into PayPal.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Clients trust it

• No monthly fee

Cons:

• Transaction fees on every invoice
• PayPal branding

• Fees compound quickly with large invoices

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6. Square Invoices

Best for: Hybrid businesses

Payment processing: ✅ Yes

Strong for:

• In-person work
• Service businesses

• POS + invoicing

Costs:

• 3.3% + $0.30 per invoice payment on the free plan

(lower on paid subscriptions)

Best if:

• You already use Square

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7. Canva

Best for: Designers

Payment processing: ❌ None

Canva is not invoicing software.

It gives you:

• Invoice templates
• Full visual control

• Custom branding

But:

• No automation
• No tracking

• No reminders
• No real invoice management

It's design — not a system.

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The Hidden Cost of "Unlimited"

"Unlimited invoices" usually means:

• Unlimited invoices
• Unlimited fees

• Unlimited ecosystem control

If you send 3 invoices for $1,000 each through a payment platform, you could lose over $100 every month in transaction fees.

Unlimited suddenly isn't free.

How these tools really make money:

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Which One Is Right For You?

Choose BillerBear if:

• You hate payment fees
• You want independence

• You want invoices without financial platforms attached

Choose Wave if:

• You want free accounting + invoicing

Choose Zoho if:

• You want an entire business system

Choose Invoice Ninja if:

• You're technical and want control

Choose PayPal / Square if:

• Clients already pay you there

Choose Canva if:

• Design matters more than automation

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When Should You Upgrade From Free?

Upgrade when:

• You invoice frequently
• You want recurring invoices

• You need automation
• Your time matters more than $10/mo

Free is a starting point. Efficiency is a growth decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is free invoicing software actually free? Sometimes. Usually you pay in fees, complexity, or upgrade pressure.

Do I need built-in payments? No. If you already use bank transfers, PayPal, Wise or Stripe links, you don't need a middleman.

Is unlimited invoicing better? Not if it costs you money every time you get paid.

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Ready to Invoice Without Platforms in the Middle?

If you want invoices — not fintech… Not accounting… Not merchant fees… Not lock-in…

BillerBear is built for you.

Create your first invoice for free. No card. No percentages. No lock-in.

Create Your First Invoice →