FreshBooks caps you at 5 clients on its $21/month plan and charges up to $780/year for full access. These are the best alternatives, from free tools to affordable SaaS, honestly reviewed.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · Cancel anytime
Per-client pricing tiers: the $21/month plan limits you to 5 active clients, forcing an upgrade as your business grows
High cost for invoicing-only users: most freelancers don't need FreshBooks's full accounting suite but pay for it anyway
No self-hosted option: your business data lives on FreshBooks's servers with no way to run your own instance
Closed source: you can't audit the code, customize behavior, or migrate easily if FreshBooks changes its pricing
Avoid tools with per-client tiers or usage-based pricing that escalate as your business grows. Look for flat monthly pricing.
Check whether the tool caps active clients, invoices, or team members on lower tiers, a common pattern that forces upgrades.
Direct Stripe or PayPal integration means clients can pay from the invoice itself, reducing time-to-payment significantly.
Can you export your data fully? Is a self-hosted option available? These matter if the vendor changes pricing or shuts down.
Open source tools let you inspect the codebase, self-host for free, and avoid vendor lock-in entirely.
If you have retainer clients, automatic recurring invoices save significant time each billing cycle.
Honestly reviewed, including real alternatives, not just our own product.
Open-source invoicing for freelancers and small businesses. Cloud from $9/mo or self-host free.
Best for: Freelancers and small businesses who want FreshBooks-level invoicing without the price or client caps
Strengths
Limitations
Free invoicing and accounting for small businesses. Paid only for payment processing.
Best for: Micro-businesses and solo operators on a strict zero-budget
Strengths
Limitations
Free invoicing software, the gateway to the Zoho ecosystem.
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho CRM or other Zoho products
Strengths
Limitations
Feature-rich open-source invoicing, but not MIT licensed.
Best for: Power users who want feature-rich open-source invoicing and can handle a complex interface
Strengths
Limitations
Mobile-first, ultra-simple invoicing for occasional use.
Best for: Very occasional invoicers who send a handful of invoices per month from their phone
Strengths
Limitations
All-in-one for freelancers: contracts, proposals, invoicing, and time tracking.
Best for: Freelancers who need an all-in-one tool covering contracts, proposals, and project management alongside invoicing
Strengths
Limitations
| Tool | Price | Free Option | Open Source | Self-Hostable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SolidInvoice(recommended) | from $9/mo | Free self-hosted | MIT License | |
| Wave | Free | Free forever | ||
| Zoho Invoice | Free (1 user) / $15/mo | Free (1 user limit) | ||
| Invoice Ninja | $10 to $14/mo hosted | Free self-hosted | Elastic License v2 | |
| Invoice Simple | From $5/mo | |||
| Bonsai | $24 to $36/mo |
I'm a freelancer who just needs to send invoices and get paid
→ SolidInvoice (from $9/mo or free self-hosted)
Full invoicing features, online payments, no client caps, at the lowest price in the category.
I have zero budget and can accept limitations
→ Wave (free)
Wave's free tier covers basic invoicing and accounting. The tradeoffs are limited support, ads, and no self-hosting.
I want open-source control over my data
→ SolidInvoice (MIT License, self-host free)
MIT license with full GitHub source code. Self-host on any server. No vendor lock-in.
I'm already in the Zoho ecosystem
→ Zoho Invoice
Native integration with Zoho CRM and Zoho Books makes it worth staying if you're already paying for Zoho.
I need contracts, proposals, and time tracking alongside invoicing
→ Bonsai or Invoice Ninja
Bonsai for a polished all-in-one experience; Invoice Ninja for a more feature-rich open-source option.
SolidInvoice: free cloud plan plus paid plans from $9/mo, or self-host free. 14-day Pro trial on signup, no credit card.