Quick answer: The best invoice app for a freelancer depends on how you work. Invoice Maker suits freelancers who want fast, professional invoices from their phone, even offline. Wave is a good free option if you also want basic bookkeeping. Zoho Invoice suits freelancers who want more automation and reports. PayPal Invoicing is convenient if your clients already pay through PayPal. Most freelancers are best served by the simplest app that covers invoicing, tracking, and reminders.
Disclosure: Invoice Maker is made by Codematics, the team behind this blog. We've aimed to describe every app fairly, including where others may suit you better.
Introduction
As a freelancer, you're the designer, writer, developer, or photographer, and you're also the accounts department. Every hour spent fighting with invoice templates or chasing late payments is an hour you're not earning.
The right invoice app fixes that. It helps you send professional invoices in minutes, see who's paid, and follow up without awkward emails. But with so many tools around, choosing one can feel like another job.
This guide compares four popular invoicing options for freelancers, explains what to look for, and helps you pick the one that fits the way you actually work.
What Freelancers Need From an Invoice App
Freelancers have different needs from larger businesses. You probably don't need payroll, inventory, or complex accounting. You need to invoice quickly and get paid. Look for:
- Speed: create and send an invoice in a few minutes
- Mobile access: invoice from your phone, wherever the work happens
- Professional templates: with your logo and branding
- Payment tracking: know which invoices are paid, viewed, or overdue
- Reminders: follow up on late payments automatically
- Estimates: quote new clients before work begins
- Multiple currencies: if you work with international clients
- Simple setup: no accounting knowledge needed
It's also worth asking yourself one question before you compare apps: do I want an invoicing app, or full accounting software? If you only need invoices, a simpler tool usually saves time.
1. Invoice Maker: Best for Fast Mobile Invoicing
Invoice Maker is a mobile app built for freelancers and small businesses who want to create invoices and estimates quickly, without the complexity of accounting software.
Key features:
- Quick invoices and estimates in a few taps
- Custom Templates with your logo, signature, and stamp
- Real Time Tracking of viewed, paid, and overdue invoices
- Payment Reminders for unpaid invoices
- Invoice PDFs ready to send
- Multiple Currency Support for international clients
- Offline Access, with changes syncing later
- Client Management with saved details and payment history
Pros:
- Designed for phones first, so it's easy to invoice from anywhere
- Works offline, handy for on-site or traveling freelancers
- Fast setup with no accounting knowledge needed
- Available on iPhone and Android
Cons:
- Focused on invoicing and estimates rather than full bookkeeping, so you may still need separate accounting software at tax time
Best for: freelancers who want a quick, professional invoicing routine on their phone. For a full walkthrough, see how to create a professional invoice using an invoice maker app.
2. Wave: Best Free Option With Basic Bookkeeping
Wave is a well-known tool for small businesses that combines invoicing with basic accounting. Its free Starter plan includes unlimited invoicing and estimates, and there's a Wave mobile app for managing things on the go.
Pros:
- Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices and estimates
- Includes basic bookkeeping, not just invoicing
- Good for freelancers who want invoicing and accounting in one place
Cons:
- Some useful features, such as automated payment reminders and recurring invoices, are part of the paid Pro plan
- Built around accounting, so it can feel like more than you need if you just want to send invoices
- Online payment processing fees apply when clients pay by card or bank through Wave
Best for: freelancers who want free invoicing plus simple bookkeeping. Check Wave's site for current plan prices.
3. Zoho Invoice: Best for Automation and Reports
Zoho Invoice is a feature-rich invoicing tool from Zoho, a large business software company. It offers a free plan that includes recurring invoices, automated reminders, quotes, time and expense tracking, and a customer portal.
Pros:
- Lots of features on its free plan
- Strong automation, such as recurring invoices and reminders
- Reports and time tracking, useful for hourly freelancers
- Connects with other Zoho apps if you already use them
Cons:
- More settings and screens to learn, which can feel complex for beginners
- The free plan has usage limits; check Zoho's site for current details
Best for: freelancers who bill by the hour, want automation, or already use Zoho tools.
4. PayPal Invoicing: Best if Your Clients Use PayPal
If many of your clients already pay through PayPal, its built-in invoicing can be convenient. You can send an invoice, and clients can pay with PayPal or a card in just a few clicks.
Pros:
- Easy for clients to pay
- A familiar, widely trusted payment brand
- Payments land directly in your PayPal account
Cons:
- Limited design and branding options compared with dedicated invoice apps
- Transaction fees are taken from payments you receive; check PayPal's current fee page, as rates vary by country and payment type
- Ties your invoicing to one payment platform
Best for: freelancers whose clients prefer paying by PayPal.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Invoice Maker | Wave | Zoho Invoice | PayPal Invoicing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Fast invoicing and estimates | Invoicing + bookkeeping | Invoicing with automation | Payments |
| Mobile app | Yes, mobile-first | Yes | Yes | Via PayPal app |
| Offline invoicing | Yes | Check provider | Check provider | Check provider |
| Custom branding | Logo, signature, stamp | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Payment tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automated reminders | Yes | Paid Pro plan | Yes (free plan) | Check provider |
| Estimates/quotes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check provider |
| Free plan | Check store listing | Yes (Starter) | Yes | Free to send; fees on payments |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium | Medium to high | Low |
Features and plans change often, so check each provider's site for the latest details before you decide.
Which Invoice App Is Best for You?
Answer these questions to narrow it down:
- Do you mostly work from your phone or on site? Choose a mobile-first app like Invoice Maker.
- Do you need bookkeeping too? Wave or Zoho may suit you better.
- Do you bill by the hour? Zoho Invoice's time tracking helps.
- Do your clients all use PayPal? PayPal Invoicing is the simplest route.
- Do you often work without internet? Look for offline support.
- Do you just want invoices done fast? Pick the simplest tool that covers invoicing, tracking, and reminders.
If you're a small business rather than a solo freelancer, our honest comparison of the best free invoice apps for small businesses looks at the options from that angle.
Why Many Freelancers Prefer Simple Invoice Apps
Most freelancers don't need every feature. They need a tool they'll actually open. Simple invoice apps tend to win because they offer:
- A fast workflow: invoice the moment a job is done
- A clean interface: nothing to learn or dig through
- Easy tracking: see unpaid invoices at a glance
- Minimal setup: start invoicing on day one
The cost of a clunky process adds up. Late invoices, forgotten follow-ups, and small pricing errors quietly eat into a freelancer's income. We look at this in why most freelancers lose money without realizing it.
Tips for Getting Paid Faster, Whichever App You Choose
- Invoice as soon as the work is done. The longer you wait, the longer you wait to be paid.
- Set clear payment terms, such as "Due within 14 days."
- Ask for a deposit on larger projects.
- Track every invoice so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Follow up politely and promptly when a payment is late.
For more, read how to keep track of unpaid invoices and get paid on time and how to handle partial payments on an invoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best invoice app for freelancers?
It depends on your needs. Invoice Maker suits fast mobile invoicing, Wave suits free invoicing with bookkeeping, Zoho Invoice suits automation and time tracking, and PayPal suits clients who pay by PayPal.
Are there free invoice apps for freelancers?
Yes. Wave and Zoho Invoice both offer free plans, and many invoice apps offer free features. Check each app's current plans, as features and limits change.
Do I need accounting software or just an invoice app?
If you only need to bill clients and track payments, an invoice app is usually enough. If you also want to manage expenses and bookkeeping in one place, accounting software may suit you better.
Can I send invoices from my phone?
Yes. Mobile invoice apps like Invoice Maker let you create and send PDF invoices from your phone, even offline.
Can I invoice international clients?
Yes. Look for multiple currency support so clients see the amount in their own currency.
What should a freelancer invoice include?
Your details and logo, the client's details, an invoice number, dates, itemized work, the total, and payment terms. See how to create a professional invoice in minutes.
Final Thoughts
There's no single best invoice app for every freelancer. If you want accounting built in, Wave or Zoho Invoice are worth a look. If your clients live on PayPal, its invoicing is easy. But if you want to send professional invoices from your phone in minutes, track payments, and get reminders without learning accounting software, a dedicated mobile app like Invoice Maker is hard to beat.
Whichever you choose, the most important thing is to pick a tool you'll use consistently.
👉 Try Invoice Maker on the App Store or Google Play and send your first invoice in minutes.