Best invoicing software for freelance designers (2026)
Zoho Invoice, Bonsai, FreshBooks, Wave or HoneyBook? Invoicing tools for freelance designers compared on price, proposals, contracts and where they work.
By Talha Riaz, UI/UX, brand and packaging designer
Updated , 5 min read
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Invoicing software helps a freelance designer get paid on time: it sends the invoice, tracks who has paid, chases late payments and keeps records for tax. The right one depends on where you live and how much of the client process you want in one place. I haven’t used all of these tools, so this list is based on each company’s own pricing and help pages, checked on 22 October 2026 from a US view.
How to choose
Ask three questions before you sign up:
- Does it work in your country? This rules tools out fastest. Wave only fully works in the US and Canada, and HoneyBook lists only a few countries.
- Do you need proposals and contracts too? If you send a proposal, then a contract, then an invoice for every project, a tool that does all three saves copying details between apps.
- What happens when you grow? Watch for client limits, like FreshBooks Lite’s 5 billable clients, and per-user pricing if you might hire help.
What each one costs
| Tool | Starting price | Proposals and contracts | Works outside US/Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Invoice | Free | No | Yes |
| Bonsai | $19/mo billed yearly (Essentials) | Yes | Yes |
| FreshBooks | $23/mo (Lite) | From Plus, $43/mo | Yes |
| Wave | Free | No | Can’t send invoices |
| HoneyBook | $29/mo billed yearly | Yes | US, Canada and a few others |
Prices are US list prices before tax, from each company’s pricing page on 22 October 2026. Payment processing fees are extra on all of them when clients pay online.
What a designer’s invoice should include
Whichever tool you use, a clear invoice gets paid faster. Include:
- Your name or business name, contact details and the client’s details.
- An invoice number and date, plus a due date.
- What you delivered, in plain words: “Brand identity: logo, colour palette and type system” rather than “Design work”.
- The amount, the currency and any deposit already paid.
- How to pay: a payment link, or bank details for a transfer.
If you work with clients abroad, decide how you’ll receive the money before you send the first invoice. Payoneer vs Wise compares the two most common options.
1. Zoho Invoice
Best for a free invoicing tool that works almost anywhere, from Free
Zoho calls Zoho Invoice a forever-free invoicing tool. The free plan covers up to 500 invoices a year, two users and three projects, with recurring invoices, time tracking, online payments and a self-service portal where clients can see and pay their invoices. The catch is small: invoices carry "Powered by Zoho Invoice" branding. I haven't used it on client work, so this entry is based on Zoho's own pricing page.
What's good
- Free, with no time limit
- Recurring invoices and time tracking included
- Client portal for viewing and paying invoices
- Works for freelancers outside the US and Canada
What's not
- Invoices show Zoho Invoice branding
- Capped at 500 invoices a year and 3 projects
- No proposals or contracts
2. Bonsai
Best for proposals, contracts and invoices in one place, from $19/mo billed yearly
Bonsai is built for freelancers and small studios. Proposals, contracts, invoices, payments, a client portal and scheduling all arrive together on the Essentials plan, which is $19 per user a month billed yearly or $25 billed monthly. The cheaper Basic plan doesn't include invoicing, so Essentials is the real starting point. Payment processing fees depend on the payment method and region. This entry is based on Bonsai's pricing page and help centre.
What's good
- Proposal, contract and invoice in one flow
- Client portal and scheduling on Essentials
- Free trial to test it first
What's not
- Priced per user, so a studio pays more
- Basic plan has no invoicing
- Payment processing fees on top
3. FreshBooks
Best for invoicing plus accounting and tax-ready reports, from $23/mo
FreshBooks is accounting software with strong invoicing. Lite is $23 a month for up to 5 billable clients; Plus, at $43, raises that to 50 clients and adds proposals, e-signatures and client retainers. New sign-ups were offered 80% off for the first 4 months when I checked. Extra team members cost $11 a month each. This entry is based on FreshBooks' US pricing page.
What's good
- Invoicing and bookkeeping in one place
- Proposals and e-signatures from the Plus plan
- Recurring invoices on every plan
What's not
- Lite caps you at 5 billable clients
- Gets expensive once you need Plus or a team
- Advanced Payments is a $20 a month add-on
4. Wave
Best for freelancers in the US or Canada who want free invoicing, from Free
Wave's Starter plan is free and lets you create unlimited estimates and invoices; card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction. Pro is $19 a month and adds automatic payment reminders and your own branding. The big limit is geography: Wave's help centre says it has focused only on the US and Canada since November 2020, and users elsewhere can't send invoices or reminders through Wave.
What's good
- Unlimited invoices and estimates on the free plan
- Automatic late-payment reminders on Pro
What's not
- Only fully works in the US and Canada
- Card fees of 2.9% + $0.60 on the free plan
5. HoneyBook
Best for US and Canadian freelancers who want a polished client experience, from $29/mo billed yearly
HoneyBook combines proposals, contracts, invoices, a client portal and scheduling, with automations from the Essentials plan. Starter is $29 a month billed yearly. Its sign-up page says it's available to business owners in the US and Canada, and in one place also mentions the UK and Australia, so check before you plan around it.
What's good
- Proposals, contracts and invoices from the Starter plan
- Client portal and scheduling built in
What's not
- Limited to a few countries
- The most expensive starting price in this list
Questions people ask
What is the best free invoicing software for freelance designers?
Zoho Invoice, for most designers. It's free for up to 500 invoices a year and includes recurring invoices, time tracking and a client portal. Wave is also free, but it only fully works in the US and Canada.
Do I need software to send an invoice?
No. A clear PDF with your details, the client's details, what you did, the amount, the due date and how to pay works. Software helps once you have several clients, because it tracks who has paid, sends reminders and keeps records for tax.
Which tool can send proposals and contracts too?
Bonsai, FreshBooks (from the Plus plan) and HoneyBook. Bonsai's Essentials plan, at $19 a month billed yearly, is the cheapest of them for proposals, contracts and invoices together.
Can I use these tools if I live outside the US?
Zoho Invoice, Bonsai and FreshBooks work for freelancers in many countries. Wave's help centre says users outside the US and Canada can't send invoices through it, and HoneyBook lists only a few countries.
Do these tools charge a fee when clients pay online?
Usually, yes. Card and bank payments made through an invoice carry processing fees, such as Wave's 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment. Check each tool's payment fees for your country before you add a pay button.
Written by Talha Riaz
UI/UX, brand and packaging designer
Designer with 8+ years across UI/UX, brand identity and packaging, and 76 projects for clients in the US, UK and Middle East. I have used Adobe Portfolio for years, built a small portfolio in Framer, and helped a developer on Webflow client sites.
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