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
SolidInvoice
From $9/mo
14-day free trial
14-day free trial. Cancel anytime during your trial and you won't be charged.
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
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
Self-hosting means ongoing responsibility for security patches, backups, PHP and database upgrades, SSL certificates, and uptime monitoring
Recurring billing, automated reminders, and built-in Stripe and PayPal payment workflows are more limited than in dedicated invoicing platforms
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Cost | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| InvoiceShelf | Self-host only | Plus VPS + ops time | N/A |
| SolidInvoice ✓ | From $9/mo | From $90/year | Hosted from $9/mo, keep the MIT freedom |
SolidInvoice's core is MIT licensed and open source.
SolidInvoice outperforms InvoiceShelf on 5 of 14 comparisons
| Feature | SolidInvoice | InvoiceShelf |
|---|---|---|
| Open source codebase | ||
| Free self-hosted option | ||
| Open source licenseAdvantage | MIT (permissive) | AGPLv3 (copyleft) |
| Managed cloud / hosted planAdvantage | from $9/mo | |
| GDPR-compliant EU hosting optionAdvantage | ||
| Built-in Stripe and PayPal payments | ||
| Recurring and subscription billing | Limited | |
| Quote to invoice workflow | ||
| Client management | ||
| Multi-currency support | ||
| REST API access | Pro and up | |
| Native iOS and Android apps | ||
| Active development historyAdvantage | Since 2014 | Crater fork (2022) |
| No server admin requiredAdvantage |
Moving from InvoiceShelf is straightforward. Most users are live on SolidInvoice within hours.
Create your SolidInvoice account in 30 seconds. Cancel anytime during the trial and you won't be charged.
Add the clients you're currently billing to SolidInvoice. It takes a few minutes. Keep InvoiceShelf in read-only mode for historical records.
Send your first invoice, set up online payments, and you're done.
Professional invoicing, online payments, and recurring billing. From $9 a month.
14-day free trial. Cancel anytime during your trial and you won't be charged.