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10 Best Invoicing Software of 2026

Statlyst data desk · updated November 12, 2026 · next review December 27, 2026

FreshBooks is the best invoicing software for small service businesses in 2026, with six client payment methods on every plan and Lite from $23 a month for 5 clients. QuickBooks Online suits businesses that want invoices posted into full accounting from $38 a month, and Wave is the best free option, with unlimited invoices on its $0 Starter plan. Prices were checked as of November 2026; teams that bill by the hour should look at Harvest from $9 per seat.

#ProductFeatures (35%)Adoption and reviews (35%)Value (30%)OverallUsers or customersFrom
1FreshBooks9.28.68.28.7500K+ (2026)$23
2QuickBooks Online9.09.67.08.623% revenue growth (2026)$38
3Wave7.88.89.48.622.5 million invoices a year (2026)$19
4Zoho Invoice8.28.09.48.51 million+ paying customers (2026)Free
5Square Invoices8.28.48.68.4$1.16 billion quarterly gross profit (2026)$49
6Xero8.49.27.08.35 million (2026)$27
7Invoice Ninja8.47.49.08.2200,000+ (2026)$14
8Stripe Invoicing8.28.67.48.1$1.9 trillion (2025)Custom
9Harvest7.67.68.07.770,000+ (2026)$9
10Bonsai7.86.67.07.110,000+ (2026)$19

Adoption figures come from company filings, official releases or independent surveys, linked in each entry. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests. Scoring method

This list is for small businesses that send invoices and want to get paid faster: freelancers, service firms, trades and shops. Each product is scored on documented invoicing features (35 percent), adoption backed by a published user, customer or volume figure (35 percent) and value based on published US prices (30 percent). Adoption figures come from vendor pages, annual reports and investor letters, and they count different things, such as businesses served, invoices sent or company-wide revenue, so read them as signs of scale rather than a direct head count. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run hands-on tests. All prices were checked on the vendors' US pages on November 12, 2026.

AssessmentFreshBooks ranks first because invoicing is the center of the product: every plan takes cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later, includes estimates and expense tracking, and more than 500,000 small businesses have used it. QuickBooks Online is the stronger choice when invoices need to flow into full accounting, and its fiscal 2026 results show QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue up 23 percent. Wave and Zoho Invoice are the free picks: Wave has no invoice cap on its $0 Starter plan, and Zoho Invoice allows 500 invoices a year with a customer portal. Square Invoices is the obvious choice for Square sellers, Xero covers low-volume accounting users at $27, Invoice Ninja is the cheapest paid app at $14, Stripe Invoicing charges 0.4% per paid invoice, and Harvest and Bonsai suit hourly and contract-led billing.

  1. 1

    FreshBooks

    8.7overall

    Invoicing and accounting software for self-employed people and small service businesses, priced by the number of clients you bill.

    Best forservice businesses that bill a set list of clients

    Adoption data

    500K+FreshBooks states on its About page that more than 500,000 small businesses have used its software.

    FreshBooks, About FreshBooks (2026): “500K+ small businesses have used FreshBooks”

    FreshBooks is built around the invoice: plans are named by how many clients you can bill, with Lite covering 5 clients at $23 a month, Plus 50 clients at $43 and Premium unlimited clients at $70, and the pricing page showed an 80 percent discount for the first 4 months in November 2026. Every plan lets clients pay by credit or debit card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Buy Now, Pay Later, and every plan includes estimates, expense tracking and tax-time reports. Plus adds proposals and client retainers, which suit agencies and consultants who bill monthly. FreshBooks says more than 500,000 small businesses have used it. The trade-off is that client caps push growing businesses up the price ladder quickly, and extra team members cost $11 per user per month. A business with many one-off customers may get more invoices for less money from Wave or Zoho Invoice.

    Strengths

    • +Invoicing is the core of the product, not an add-on to a ledger
    • +Six payment methods for clients listed on every plan
    • +Large disclosed user base of 500K+ small businesses

    Limitations

    • −Lite caps billing at 5 clients, so many businesses need Plus at $43
    • −Extra team members cost $11 per user per month
    • −Regular prices are higher than Wave Pro ($19) and Xero Early ($27)

    SummaryFreshBooks is the best invoicing software for service businesses because every plan includes six client payment methods, estimates and expense tracking. Pick Plus at $43 a month once you bill more than 5 clients.

  2. 2

    QuickBooks Online

    8.6overall

    Intuit's cloud accounting software, with invoicing and QuickBooks Payments built into every plan, plus a $0 QuickBooks Free tier.

    Best forsmall businesses that want invoices and full bookkeeping in one place

    Adoption data

    23% revenue growthIntuit reported in its fiscal 2026 annual report that QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue grew $931 million, or 23 percent, partly from customer growth.

    Intuit, Intuit Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2026 (2026): “QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue increased $931 million, or 23%, in fiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 2025 due to the interrelated factors of higher effective prices, customer growth, and mix shift.”

    QuickBooks Online is the default choice for small businesses that want invoicing tied directly to their books. Intuit's pricing page lists QuickBooks Free at $0 a month for businesses that are just starting to get organized and get paid, then Simple Start at $38 a month for 1 user and Essentials at $85 for 3 users, both shown at 50 percent off for 3 months in November 2026. Invoices can take credit cards and bank transfers through QuickBooks Payments, with status updates and reminders, and every paid plan includes access for 2 accountants. Intuit's fiscal 2026 annual report shows QuickBooks Online Accounting revenue up 23 percent, which it attributes partly to customer growth. The downside is cost: once the promotion ends, Simple Start costs more than Wave Pro or Xero Early, and payment processing is billed on top. Businesses that only need to send invoices can stay on QuickBooks Free or choose a dedicated invoicing app.

    Strengths

    • +Invoices post straight into a full general ledger
    • +Accountant access included on paid plans
    • +Backed by Intuit's audited fiscal 2026 results

    Limitations

    • −Simple Start lists at $38 a month after a 3-month 50 percent discount
    • −Card and bank payments run through QuickBooks Payments with separate fees
    • −Essentials jumps to $85 a month for 3 users

    SummaryQuickBooks Online is the best choice for small businesses that want invoices posted into full accounting because every paid plan pairs QuickBooks Payments with access for 2 accountants. Start on QuickBooks Free and move to Simple Start at $38 when you need the ledger.

  3. 3

    Wave

    8.6overall

    Free invoicing and bookkeeping software for small businesses in the US and Canada, with an optional Pro plan.

    Best forUS and Canadian owners who want unlimited invoices for free

    Adoption data

    22.5 million invoices a yearWave says its customers send more than 22.5 million invoices every year, and that it has helped more than 5.9 million small business owners in the US and Canada since 2010.

    Wave, About Wave (2026): “sent more than 22.5M invoices every year.”

    Wave gives US and Canadian small businesses the most invoicing for the least money. Its Starter plan costs $0 and includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, with optional online card payments at 2.9% plus $0.60 per transaction and a mobile app for invoicing away from the desk. The Pro plan costs $19 a month or $190 a year and drops the fixed card fee to $0 while adding automatic bank transaction imports. Wave reports that its customers send more than 22.5 million invoices every year and that it has served more than 5.9 million small business owners since 2010. The limits are geography and depth: Wave is aimed at the US and Canada, and it lacks the time tracking and project billing that service firms get from FreshBooks or Harvest. Businesses taking many small card payments should compare the $0.60 fixed fee against Pro.

    Strengths

    • +Unlimited invoices on a permanent free plan
    • +Pro costs $19 a month or $190 a year
    • +Over 22.5M invoices sent a year by Wave customers

    Limitations

    • −Built for the US and Canada only
    • −Starter card fee carries a $0.60 fixed charge
    • −Fewer project and time features than FreshBooks or Harvest

    SummaryWave is the best free invoicing software for US and Canadian small businesses because its Starter plan includes unlimited invoices and estimates at $0. Upgrade to Pro at $19 a month when card fees start to add up.

  4. 4

    Zoho Invoice

    8.5overall

    Zoho's free invoicing app for small businesses and freelancers, with quotes, recurring invoices, time logs and a customer portal.

    Best forsmall businesses sending up to 500 invoices a year at no cost

    Adoption data

    1 million+ paying customersZoho Corporation, which makes Zoho Invoice, said it serves more than one million paying customers and more than 150 million users globally.

    Zoho, Zoho Corporation surpasses one million customers (2026): “is now a trusted technology provider to more than one million paying customers and more than 150 million users globally.”

    Zoho Invoice is a free invoicing app with no paid tier on its US pricing page. Zoho's FAQ sets the limits clearly: up to two users, up to three projects and up to 500 invoices per year, with Powered by Zoho Invoice branding on documents. Within those limits it covers more than most free tools: quotes, recurring invoices, automated payment reminders, custom templates, expense records, time logs, a self-service customer portal and integrations with Zoho CRM, Zoho Books and Zoho Analytics. Support runs 24/5 by email and voice. The parent company, Zoho Corporation, reports more than one million paying customers and 150 million users, though it does not publish a figure for Zoho Invoice alone, so we scored adoption conservatively. Watch the inactivity rule: Zoho deletes data from accounts unused for over 180 days, after notice. Businesses that outgrow 500 invoices a year are pointed toward Zoho Billing.

    Strengths

    • +No subscription fee at all
    • +Zoho says it shows no ads and does not sell customer data
    • +24/5 email and voice support on the free product

    Limitations

    • −500 invoices per year and 3 projects is the ceiling
    • −Invoices carry Powered by Zoho Invoice branding
    • −Data is deleted after 180 days of inactivity unless you log in or back up

    SummaryZoho Invoice is the best choice for small businesses that send fewer than 500 invoices a year because it costs $0 and still includes recurring invoices, reminders and a customer portal. Plan a move to a paid tool before you hit the cap.

  5. 5

    Square Invoices

    8.4overall

    Invoicing built into Square, included in every Square plan, with card-on-file billing, estimates, contracts and projects.

    Best forbusinesses that already take in-person payments with Square

    Adoption data

    $1.16 billion quarterly gross profitBlock reported Square gross profit of $1.16 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 14 percent year over year.

    Block, Block Q3 2026 Shareholder Letter (2026): “Square Gross Profit $ 1.16 B +14% YoY Growth”

    Square Invoices is part of every Square plan, so a seller on Square Free can send invoices, recurring invoices, estimates and contracts without a subscription. Invoices go out by email, SMS or a shareable link, customer cards can be stored on file for automatic billing, and funds move to an external bank account the next day for free. The cost is in processing: card payments made through an invoice cost 3.3% plus 30 cents on Square Free and 2.9% plus 30 cents on Square Plus, which is $49 a month per location. ACH invoice payments cost 1% with a $1 minimum, and Plus adds a $10 cap, payment schedules and custom invoice templates. Block reported $1.16 billion in Square gross profit for the third quarter of 2026, a sign of the platform's scale, although it does not break out invoicing users. Square is the natural pick for businesses that already use Square at the counter.

    Strengths

    • +Invoicing costs nothing extra on Square Free
    • +Next-day transfers to your bank for free
    • +One customer directory for in-person and invoiced sales

    Limitations

    • −Card fee on Square Free is 3.3% + 30¢, higher than Plus
    • −Payment schedules and custom templates need Square Plus at $49 per location
    • −Monthly fee applies per location on paid plans

    SummarySquare Invoices is the best choice for businesses already on Square because invoicing is included in the $0 Square Free plan. Move to Plus at $49 per location if you invoice enough to benefit from the lower 2.9% card rate and $10 ACH cap.

  6. 6

    Xero

    8.3overall

    Cloud accounting software for small businesses with quotes, invoices and online invoice payments on every plan.

    Best forsmall businesses that want accounting with a mid-priced invoicing plan

    Adoption data

    5 millionXero states on its US pricing page that it is trusted by 5 million customers.

    Xero, Xero US pricing plans (2026): “Trusted by 5 million customers”

    Xero suits small businesses that want invoicing inside a full accounting system at a lower entry price than QuickBooks. The US Early plan costs $27 a month, shown at $5.40 for the first 3 months in November 2026, and sends quotes and 20 invoices with online invoice payments, bank reconciliation, sales tax and W-9 and 1099 management. Growing at $59 and Established at $97 remove the invoice cap and add automation and analytics. Xero says it is trusted by 5 million customers. The 20-invoice limit on Early is the catch: a business sending more than 20 invoices a month pays $59, which is more than Wave Pro or Invoice Ninja Pro. There is no free plan, and payroll comes through a Gusto-powered add-on.

    Strengths

    • +5 million customers worldwide
    • +Invoices sit inside full double-entry accounting
    • +Same core invoicing on all three plans

    Limitations

    • −Early caps you at 20 invoices
    • −Unlimited invoicing starts at $59 a month
    • −No permanent free plan

    SummaryXero is the best choice for small businesses that want accounting and invoicing for under $30 a month because its $27 Early plan includes 20 invoices and online payments. Expect to move to Growing at $59 once volume rises.

  7. 7

    Invoice Ninja

    8.2overall

    Invoicing, payments, expenses and time tracking app with a forever-free plan and low-cost Pro and Enterprise tiers.

    Best forfreelancers and small firms that want a low-cost invoicing app

    Adoption data

    200,000+Invoice Ninja states on its homepage that it is trusted by more than 200,000 businesses.

    Invoice Ninja, Invoice Ninja homepage (2026): “Trusted by 200,000+ businesses”

    Invoice Ninja packs a lot of invoicing into a small price. The free plan covers 5 clients with unlimited invoicing, 11 templates, logo branding, online payments, auto-billing, recurring invoices, deposits and partial payments, a client portal and automatic currency conversion. Ninja Pro at $14 a month removes the client cap and the Created by Invoice Ninja footer, and adds custom SMTP sending, a branded portal URL, fully custom designs, API access, automatic late-payment reminders and US sales tax calculation. Enterprise starts at $18 a month and adds up to 100 users with permissions. Invoice Ninja says more than 200,000 businesses use it and that it has built business tools since 2014. It is not full accounting software, so businesses that need a general ledger still pair it with QuickBooks or Xero.

    Strengths

    • +Pro costs $14 a month, or 2 months free on annual billing
    • +Client-side invoice and payment portal on the free plan
    • +Projects, expenses and inventory in one app

    Limitations

    • −Free plan is limited to 5 clients
    • −Free invoices carry Created by Invoice Ninja branding
    • −Smaller disclosed user base than Wave or FreshBooks

    SummaryInvoice Ninja is the best low-cost invoicing app for freelancers and small firms because Ninja Pro adds unlimited clients and late-payment reminders for $14 a month. Stay on the free plan if you bill 5 clients or fewer.

  8. 8

    Stripe Invoicing

    8.1overall

    Stripe's invoicing product for sending hosted invoices, automating reminders and reconciling payments, priced per paid invoice.

    Best foronline businesses already processing payments with Stripe

    Adoption data

    $1.9 trillionStripe said businesses on its platform generated $1.9 trillion in 2025.

    Stripe, Stripe 2025 annual letter (2025): “In 2025, businesses on Stripe generated $1.9 trillion”

    Stripe Invoicing suits businesses that already take payments with Stripe and want invoices on the same rails. There is no monthly fee or setup cost: the Starter plan charges 0.4% per paid invoice and Plus, which adds quotes, charges 0.5%, with Stripe's standard payment fees on top. Each invoice links to a mobile-friendly hosted page where customers can choose from 125+ payment methods, including bank transfers. Stripe sends automatic reminders, uses Smart Retries to rerun failed payments, supports credit notes and partial payments, and reconciles payments without spreadsheets. Invoices can be created in the Dashboard or through the API, with Stripe Tax as an option. Stripe reports that businesses on its platform generated $1.9 trillion in 2025. For a small service business without a Stripe account, the per-invoice fee and lack of bookkeeping make Wave, FreshBooks or Invoice Ninja simpler.

    Strengths

    • +No fixed fees or setup costs
    • +Strong API for invoicing from your own app
    • +125+ payment methods for customers

    Limitations

    • −0.4% to 0.5% per paid invoice on top of card fees
    • −Quotes need the Plus plan at 0.5%
    • −No bookkeeping or time tracking

    SummaryStripe Invoicing is the best choice for online businesses already on Stripe because it adds hosted invoices, reminders and 125+ payment methods for 0.4% per paid invoice with no monthly fee. Service firms that need bookkeeping should look higher on this list.

  9. 9

    Harvest

    7.7overall

    Time tracking software that turns logged hours and expenses into client invoices.

    Best forteams that bill clients by the hour

    Adoption data

    70,000+Harvest states on its homepage that more than 70,000 companies use it to turn tracked hours into paid invoices.

    Harvest, Harvest homepage (2026): “Over 70,000 companies use Harvest to turn tracked hours into paid invoices”

    Harvest is the pick for teams whose invoices are mostly hours. Time and expenses logged in Harvest become invoice line items, and the Teams plan integrates with Stripe, QuickBooks Online, Xero and Deel so payments and accounting stay in sync. A free plan covers 1 seat and 2 projects with time tracking, invoicing and expense tracking, which fits a freelancer testing the tool. Teams costs from $9 per seat per month billed annually or $11 monthly and adds unlimited seats, team reporting and capacity tracking; Enterprise starts at $14 per seat and adds custom and profitability reports. Harvest says more than 70,000 companies use it to turn tracked hours into paid invoices. It is weaker for businesses that sell products or fixed-price jobs, and per-seat pricing gets expensive for larger teams compared with flat-priced tools such as Invoice Ninja.

    Strengths

    • +Invoices are built from hours already tracked
    • +Free plan for solo freelancers
    • +Syncs invoices to QuickBooks Online or Xero

    Limitations

    • −Free plan stops at 2 projects
    • −Per-seat pricing grows with team size
    • −Not a full accounting tool

    SummaryHarvest is the best choice for teams that bill by the hour because tracked time and expenses flow straight into invoices on every plan. Product sellers and fixed-price businesses are better served by Wave or Square Invoices.

  10. 10

    Bonsai

    7.1overall

    Client and project management software for freelancers and agencies with proposals, contracts, invoices and payments.

    Best forfreelancers who want proposals, contracts and invoices together

    Adoption data

    10,000+Bonsai states on its homepage that more than 10,000 firms and freelancers use it.

    Bonsai, Bonsai homepage (2026): “Join 10,000+ firms and freelancers using Bonsai to streamline their business.”

    Bonsai is a client workflow tool for freelancers and small agencies, and invoicing is one stage of that workflow rather than the whole product. The cheapest plan with invoices and payments is Essentials at $19 per user per month billed annually, which also includes proposals, contracts, forms, scheduling, a client portal and expense and income tracking. The $9 Basic plan covers time tracking, tasks and CRM but not invoicing. Premium at $29 adds integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, Zapier, Calendly and Google and removes Bonsai branding. Bonsai says more than 10,000 firms and freelancers use it, the smallest disclosed figure in this list, so its adoption score is conservative. For a business that only needs to send invoices, Wave, Zoho Invoice or Invoice Ninja cost less; Bonsai earns its price when you also send proposals and contracts.

    Strengths

    • +Proposal, contract and invoice in one client workflow
    • +Unlimited clients and projects
    • +iOS and Android apps

    Limitations

    • −Invoicing needs Essentials at $19 per user, billed annually
    • −Removing Bonsai branding needs Premium at $29
    • −Smallest disclosed user base in this list

    SummaryBonsai is the best choice for freelancers who want proposals, contracts and invoices in one workflow because its $19 Essentials plan bundles all three. Businesses that only need invoices will pay less elsewhere.

Choosing a product

Start with how many invoices and clients you bill
Several plans cap volume. FreshBooks Lite bills 5 clients, Xero Early sends 20 invoices, Zoho Invoice allows 500 invoices a year and the Invoice Ninja free plan covers 5 clients. Wave Starter has no invoice cap, and Invoice Ninja Pro at $14 a month removes its client limit.
Add payment fees to the subscription
The subscription is only part of the cost. Wave Starter charges 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment, Square Free charges 3.3% + 30¢ on invoice card payments, and Stripe Invoicing adds 0.4% per paid invoice on top of its card fees. Compare the fee on a typical invoice before choosing a free plan.
Decide whether you need accounting too
FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online, Wave and Xero post invoices into a ledger with reports for tax time. Zoho Invoice, Invoice Ninja, Square Invoices and Stripe Invoicing focus on billing and payments, so you may still need separate bookkeeping.
Match the tool to how you bill
Hourly work fits Harvest, which builds invoices from tracked time. Contract-led freelance work fits Bonsai, which bundles proposals and contracts with invoices. Repeat customers fit Square Invoices or Invoice Ninja, which store cards and auto-bill.
Watch introductory prices
In November 2026 FreshBooks showed 80 percent off for 4 months, QuickBooks 50 percent off for 3 months and Xero 80 percent off for 3 months. This list uses the regular monthly price after the promotion so the comparison stays fair.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best invoicing software for small business?

FreshBooks is the best invoicing software for most small service businesses in 2026. Every plan accepts cards, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Buy Now, Pay Later, and Lite costs $23 a month for 5 clients. QuickBooks Online ranks second for businesses that want full accounting.

What is the best free invoicing software?

Wave is the best free invoicing software for US and Canadian businesses because its $0 Starter plan has unlimited invoices and estimates. Zoho Invoice is also free, with up to 500 invoices a year and 2 users, and Invoice Ninja has a free plan for 5 clients.

How much does invoicing software cost?

Paid invoicing plans in this list start between $9 and $38 a month. Harvest Teams costs $9 per seat billed annually, Invoice Ninja Pro $14, Wave Pro $19, FreshBooks Lite $23, Xero Early $27 and QuickBooks Simple Start $38, as of November 2026.

Is QuickBooks or FreshBooks better for invoicing?

FreshBooks is better if invoicing is your main job, and QuickBooks Online is better if you need full bookkeeping. FreshBooks sizes plans by billable clients and includes estimates on every plan, while QuickBooks includes access for 2 accountants on each paid plan.

Can I send invoices with Square for free?

Yes. Square Invoices is included in the $0 Square Free plan, with invoices, recurring invoices, estimates and contracts. You pay 3.3% + 30¢ when a customer pays an invoice by card, or 2.9% + 30¢ on Square Plus at $49 per location per month.

What invoicing software is best for hourly billing?

Harvest is the best choice for hourly billing because it turns tracked time and expenses into invoices. Harvest says more than 70,000 companies use it, and Teams costs from $9 per seat per month billed annually.

Does Stripe charge for invoicing?

Yes. Stripe Invoicing charges 0.4% per paid invoice on Starter and 0.5% on Plus, with no monthly fee, plus standard Stripe payment fees such as 2.9% + 30¢ for US cards.

Questions or corrections: editorial@statlyst.com · Disclosure

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