InvoiceShelf Alternative

    An InvoiceShelf Alternative: MIT-Licensed Core, Hosted From $9/mo.

    InvoiceShelf is free and open source, but self-host only, so the server work is on you. SolidInvoice's core ships under the same open, permissive MIT license, and we host it for you from $9/month: no server to provision or maintain. The core is still free to self-host if you'd rather run your own infrastructure.

    InvoiceShelf

    Self-host only

    Plus VPS + ops time

    VS

    SolidInvoice

    From $9/mo

    Free plan available

    Hosted from $9/mo. Same open source freedom.
    Start free View Pricing

    Free forever. No credit card required.

    MIT Licensed·Truly open source
    Self-Host Free·Own your data
    Free Forever Plan·No card needed
    Unlimited Invoices·On every paid plan

    Why Users Switch from InvoiceShelf

    1

    No official hosted or cloud version of InvoiceShelf, you have to provision, secure and maintain your own server before you can send a single invoice

    2

    AGPLv3 is strong copyleft. If you modify InvoiceShelf or expose it to users over a network as part of a product, the license can require you to publish your changes

    3

    Self-hosting means ongoing responsibility for security patches, backups, PHP and database upgrades, SSL certificates, and uptime monitoring

    4

    Recurring billing, automated reminders, and built-in Stripe and PayPal payment workflows are more limited than in dedicated invoicing platforms

    Side-by-Side Pricing

    PlanMonthly PriceAnnual CostYour Savings
    InvoiceShelfSelf-host onlyPlus VPS + ops timeN/A
    SolidInvoice ✓From $9/moFrom $90/yearHosted from $9/mo, keep the MIT freedom

    SolidInvoice's core is MIT licensed and open source.

    Feature Comparison

    SolidInvoice outperforms InvoiceShelf on 5 of 14 comparisons

    FeatureSolidInvoiceInvoiceShelf
    Open source codebase
    Free self-hosted option
    Open source licenseAdvantageMIT (permissive)AGPLv3 (copyleft)
    Managed cloud / hosted planAdvantagefrom $9/mo
    GDPR-compliant EU hosting optionAdvantage
    Built-in Stripe and PayPal payments
    Recurring and subscription billingLimited
    Quote to invoice workflow
    Client management
    Multi-currency support
    REST API accessPro and up
    Native iOS and Android apps
    Active development historyAdvantageSince 2013Crater fork (2022)
    No server admin requiredAdvantage

    Switch in a day, not a week

    Moving from InvoiceShelf is straightforward. Most users are live on SolidInvoice within hours.

    1

    Create your free account

    Sign up on the Free plan in 30 seconds. No credit card required.

    2

    Add your active clients

    Add the clients you're currently billing to SolidInvoice. It takes a few minutes. Keep InvoiceShelf in read-only mode for historical records.

    3

    Go live

    Send your first invoice, set up online payments, and you're done.

    Ready to make the switch?

    Professional invoicing, online payments, and recurring billing. Free to start, paid plans from $9 a month.

    Start freeMore about our open source invoicing software

    Free forever. No credit card required.

    Common Questions About Switching from InvoiceShelf

    Both projects are genuinely free if you self-host, and both ship the full source code on GitHub. The differences are practical. SolidInvoice uses the MIT license, which has zero commercial restrictions beyond attribution, while InvoiceShelf is AGPLv3, a strong copyleft license that can create obligations if you modify the code or build a product on top of it. Most SolidInvoice users skip the server altogether and use the managed cloud plan from $9/mo; InvoiceShelf is self-host only.

    Self-hosted SolidInvoice is the same codebase as the cloud version. Unlimited invoices, unlimited clients, recurring billing, Stripe and PayPal integration, multi-currency, team roles, and the full REST API are all included. No usage caps, no upsells, no license keys. Invoice and quote templates are the one cloud-only feature. Otherwise the cloud plan just means we run, update, and back up the server for you.

    AGPLv3 is a strong copyleft license. If you only run InvoiceShelf as-is for your own internal invoicing, you have no obligations. The moment you modify the code, or expose a modified version to users over a network as part of a product or service, AGPLv3 can require you to publish your modifications under the same license. Many businesses, especially agencies and SaaS teams, prefer to avoid that exposure. SolidInvoice uses the MIT license, which has no such viral clause.

    SolidInvoice does not yet have a one-click InvoiceShelf importer, that is on the roadmap. The fastest path today is to add your active clients to SolidInvoice manually and start fresh for new invoices, while keeping your InvoiceShelf instance available for historical records. Most users finish the transition in an afternoon. Contact our support team if you want help mapping your data.

    Yes. SolidInvoice has been in active development since 2013 with regular releases on GitHub. You can review the full commit history, release cadence, and open issues before deciding to switch. The cloud product is run by the same team that maintains the open source repo.

    The software itself is free in both cases. The real cost of self-hosting is a VPS, typically $5 to $20 per month, plus your time on initial setup, SSL, backups, and ongoing PHP and database upgrades. SolidInvoice's hosted plan from $9/mo sits at the low end of that same VPS budget, but removes all of the maintenance work. If you enjoy running servers, self-host either one for free. If you don't, the SolidInvoice cloud plan is the easier path and the one most people choose.

    Also compare SolidInvoice with

    FreshBooks

    Starts at $21 to $65/mo

    QuickBooks

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    Invoice Ninja

    Starts at $10 to $14/mo

    Zoho Invoice

    Starts at $15/mo