Best Free Invoicing Apps for Freelancers (2026): Free-Plan Limits Compared
Free-plan limits verified on Oct 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026
“Free invoicing” can mean three different things: free with no cap on invoices but per-payment fees, free with a yearly invoice cap, or free with a client cap. Picking the wrong one only hurts once you grow. Below are the free plans of three popular tools, with each limit taken from the vendor’s own pricing page.
Quick comparison
| Wave Starter | Zoho Invoice | Invoice Ninja Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $0 (“forever-free”) | $0 (“Forever free”) |
| Invoice limit | Unlimited invoices & estimates | Up to 500 invoices per year | Unlimited invoicing |
| Client limit | None stated | None stated | Up to 5 clients |
| Users | Not stated on pricing page | Up to 2 users | Account users are an Enterprise feature |
| Recurring invoices | Not listed for Starter | Yes | Yes (with auto-billing) |
| Automatic payment reminders | Pro plan only | Yes | Paid plans only |
| Branding on invoices | — | “Powered by Zoho Invoice” | “Created by Invoice Ninja” (removed on Pro) |
| Online card payments | 2.9% + $0.60 per card (3.4% + $0.60 Amex) | Multiple payment options offered | Connect your own gateway (Stripe, PayPal, Square, etc.) |
| Also includes | Bookkeeping records, mobile app | Quotes, expenses, time tracking, up to 3 projects, client portal | Quotes, expenses, projects & time tracking, client portal |
Sources: Wave pricing, Zoho Invoice pricing, Invoice Ninja pricing. All checked October 2026.
Wave Starter: best if you also want free bookkeeping
Wave’s free Starter plan lets you “create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records,” invoice from the mobile app, and see cash flow and customers in one dashboard.
The catch is payments. If you accept cards through Wave on Starter, the rate is 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction and 3.4% + $0.60 per Amex transaction. The Pro plan ($19/month, or $190/year) drops the fixed $0.60 fee, but only for the first ten transactions each month. Automatic late-payment reminders, bank-transaction auto-import and unlimited receipt capture are all Pro features.
Wave also notes that approval for online payments “is subject to eligibility criteria, including identity verification and credit review.”
Pick Wave if: you want invoicing and basic bookkeeping in one free tool and don’t mind chasing late payers yourself.
Zoho Invoice: the most features on a free plan
Zoho’s US pricing page calls Zoho Invoice a “forever-free invoicing solution.” It includes quotes, recurring invoices, automated payment reminders, expense tracking, time logging, a customer self-service portal and custom templates.
The limits are in the FAQ: up to two users, up to three projects, and up to 500 invoices per year. Invoices carry “Powered by Zoho Invoice” branding. You can run up to two organizations under one account.
Watch the inactivity rule. Zoho says that if a user “is inactive for over 180 days, their associated data will be deleted in the subsequent 20 days,” with a warning sent first. Seasonal businesses should log in now and then or keep backups.
Pick Zoho Invoice if: you send fewer than about 40 invoices a month and want built-in reminders and recurring billing at no cost.
Invoice Ninja Free: unlimited invoices, but only five clients
Invoice Ninja’s free plan offers “5 Clients + Unlimited Invoicing,” 11 invoice templates, your logo on invoices, recurring invoices with auto-billing, deposits and partial payments, projects with time tracking, expense tracking and a client portal. The comparison table also lists Zapier, Make and n8n support on the free plan.
The ceiling is five clients. Unlimited clients, automatic late-payment reminders, removing the “Created by Invoice Ninja” footer, and REST API access all need Ninja Pro ($14/month, or $140/year billed annually).
Pick Invoice Ninja if: you have a few retainer clients you bill repeatedly and want auto-billing.
How to choose in 30 seconds
- More than 5 clients and more than 500 invoices a year? Of these three, only Wave Starter is uncapped on both. Budget for its card fees.
- You need automatic payment reminders for free? Zoho Invoice is the only one of the three that includes them on the free plan.
- A handful of recurring clients? Invoice Ninja’s auto-billing fits well.
What we didn’t cover
We didn’t test payout speed, deliverability or support quality, and the details above come from published plan descriptions. Sales tax and invoicing rules differ by state and country, so check your obligations with a qualified professional.
Prices and limits change. Confirm on each vendor’s pricing page before signing up.