What is the best invoicing app for freelancers?

Wave is the best free invoicing app — unlimited invoices and clients at zero cost, with a clean mobile app for on-the-go billing. FreshBooks is the best paid app for freelancers who bill hourly, with built-in time tracking and automatic payment reminders.

Is there a free invoicing app for freelancers?

Yes — Wave is completely free with unlimited invoices, clients, and expense tracking. There's no monthly fee ever. You only pay optional processing fees if clients pay by card online (2.9% + 60¢ per transaction).

What invoicing app works best on mobile?

FreshBooks and Bonsai have the strongest mobile apps for freelancers. Both let you send invoices, log expenses, and track time from your phone. Wave's mobile app is functional but less polished than the desktop version.

Can I take payments directly from an invoice app?

Yes. Wave, FreshBooks, and Bonsai all let clients pay directly from the invoice with a card or bank transfer. Clients click a 'Pay now' button on the invoice email — no need to chase them for payment details.

Best Invoicing App for Freelancers (2026)

Short answer

The best invoicing app for freelancers is Wave if you want free, or FreshBooks if you bill hourly and need time tracking built in. Both work on mobile and desktop — and both let clients pay directly from the invoice.

Why the invoicing app matters more than the invoicing software

Most guides use "invoicing software" and "invoicing app" interchangeably, but for freelancers there's a real distinction: an invoicing app means you can send invoices, log expenses, and check who's paid from your phone — not just from a laptop.

If you're on-site at a client, finishing a job at a venue, or just want to send an invoice immediately after a call, a strong mobile app removes the friction. FreshBooks and Wave both have iOS and Android apps that cover 90% of what freelancers do in the field.

Top invoicing apps for freelancers compared

| App | Price | Mobile app | Best for | |-----|-------|-----------|---------| | Wave | Free | Good | Solopreneurs, zero budget | | FreshBooks | $17–$55/mo | Excellent | Hourly billing, time tracking | | Bonsai | $25–$79/mo | Excellent | Contracts + invoices together | | AND.CO | $18/mo | Good | Minimalist invoicing | | HoneyBook | $19–$79/mo | Good | Creative freelancers |

Wave — Best free invoicing app

Wave's free invoicing app handles everything most freelancers need at zero cost:

Send unlimited invoices to unlimited clients
Set up recurring invoices for retainer clients (auto-sends monthly)
Automatic payment reminders — clients get nudged without you chasing
Mobile app: send invoices, snap receipts, check who's paid
Accept online payments (card + bank transfer, fees apply per transaction)

The catch: Wave's mobile app is solid but not as polished as FreshBooks or Bonsai. If you're billing hourly and want to track time from your phone, Wave doesn't have a native time tracker — you'd need a separate app like Toggl.

FreshBooks — Best invoicing app for hourly freelancers

FreshBooks is built specifically for service-based freelancers who bill by the hour. The mobile app stands out:

One-tap time tracking — start a timer, stop it, it automatically populates an invoice line item
Expense capture from camera — photograph receipts, FreshBooks reads the amount and categorises it
Invoice from your phone — professional-looking invoices sent in under 2 minutes
Push notifications — get notified the second a client opens your invoice (tells you they received it)
Late payment reminders — auto-scheduled so you're never manually chasing

Price: $17/month (Lite, up to 5 clients) to $55/month (Plus, unlimited clients). 30-day free trial.

If chasing late invoices is costing you time, FreshBooks' automatic reminders alone are worth the cost. Freelancers using automatic reminders get paid an average of 8 days faster.

Bonsai — Best app for freelancers who need contracts too

Bonsai combines proposals, contracts, and invoices in one mobile-friendly workflow. If a client asks for a contract before you start, you can create it, get it signed, and send the deposit invoice — all from your phone.

Pre-built contract templates for web design, copywriting, photography
E-signature built in (clients sign on their phone)
Milestone-based invoicing: invoice at project start, midpoint, and completion
Time tracking + invoicing integration

Price: $25–$79/month. Best suited for project-based freelancers (designers, developers, photographers) rather than hourly-rate freelancers.

How to send your first invoice in under 5 minutes (Wave, free)

Go to waveapps.com and create a free account
Add your client's name and email
Add a line item: description of work, quantity, rate
Set a due date (14 or 30 days is standard)
Click Send — the client receives a professional email with a Pay Now button

Wave auto-saves the client details so the next invoice is even faster.

Key features every freelance invoicing app should have

Whatever app you use, make sure it covers:

Automatic payment reminders — chasing late invoices manually wastes hours
Online payment — clients pay by card directly from the invoice email
Recurring invoices — essential for retainer clients
Mobile-friendly — you should be able to send an invoice from your phone in 3 minutes
Expense tracking — captures billable expenses and tax-deductible costs throughout the year

Which invoicing app is right for you?

Just starting out, tight budget → Wave (free forever)

Billing hourly, want the best mobile experience → FreshBooks

Need contracts + invoices in one app → Bonsai

Already use a specific payment processor → Check if they have an invoicing feature (Stripe has basic invoicing built in)

For a deeper comparison including AI features, BNPL options, and QuickBooks vs Wave, see our full invoicing software guide for freelancers.