For most small businesses, FreshBooks offers an excellent balance of ease and features at reasonable cost. Wave provides a strong free option for simpler needs. For larger enterprises, Zoho Invoice integrates seamlessly with broader business software suites.
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1FreshBooksFreshBooks supports automatic late payment reminders and offers built-in late fees.95.0NEW£12.50/month 2Zoho InvoiceZoho Invoice supports over 135 currencies and multiple payment gateways globally.92.7NEW£10/month 3WaveWave never charges subscription fees; it monetises through 2.2% payment processing fees.90.3NEWFree 4QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks Online serves millions of businesses globally and integrates with over 500 third-party applications.88.0NEW£10/month 5Stripe BillingStripe Billing handles usage-based billing, tiered pricing, and complex subscription models automatically.85.7NEWFree + 2.2% payment fee 6XeroXero allows unlimited users on higher tiers, making it ideal for accounting firms managing multiple clients.83.3NEW$13 per month 7Square InvoicesSquare Invoices integrates directly with Square's point-of-sale system for seamless inventory and customer management.81.0NEWFree 8HubSpot InvoicesHubSpot Invoices connects invoice creation directly to customer records and sales pipelines.78.7NEWFree 9BilltrustBilltrust processes billions of pounds in invoices annually for enterprise clients across multiple industries.76.3NEWCustom 10PayPal InvoicingPayPal Invoicing integrates directly with PayPal's payment system for immediate settlement.74.0NEWFree The ranking, in detail
01
Cloud-based invoicing built for small businesses and freelancers
FreshBooks is a leading cloud-based accounting and invoicing platform that specialises in time tracking, expense management, and automated invoice delivery. It serves millions of users globally with strong mobile support and integrations.
From £12.50/monthBest for Freelancers and small service businesses needing integrated time tracking
95.0
02
Comprehensive invoicing as part of the Zoho ecosystem
Zoho Invoice is a flexible invoicing solution that integrates deeply with Zoho's broader business software suite. It provides advanced customisation, multi-currency support, and strong automation capabilities for growing businesses.
From £10/monthBest for Businesses already invested in Zoho tools or requiring advanced customisation
92.7
03
Free invoicing and accounting software for small businesses
Wave is a genuinely free invoicing platform offering core invoicing, expense tracking, and basic accounting features. It generates revenue through optional payment processing, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious startups.
From FreeBest for Startups and freelancers with minimal budgets seeking straightforward invoicing
90.3
04
Industry standard accounting and invoicing for businesses at scale
QuickBooks Online is the cloud version of the ubiquitous QuickBooks desktop software, offering comprehensive invoicing alongside full accounting, payroll, and inventory management capabilities.
From £10/monthBest for Growing businesses and accountants requiring comprehensive accounting alongside invoicing
88.0
05
Revenue operations platform for subscription and recurring billing
Stripe Billing is a developer-friendly platform designed specifically for managing recurring revenue, subscriptions, and complex billing scenarios. It integrates seamlessly with Stripe's payment processing ecosystem.
From Free + 2.2% payment feeBest for SaaS companies and businesses with subscription models or complex recurring billing
85.7
06
Cloud accounting platform with integrated invoicing and basic proposal features
Xero is a cloud-based accounting platform with strong invoicing features, particularly popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It offers real-time collaboration and integrates with numerous business applications.
From $13 per monthBest for Accounting firms and finance-focused businesses wanting proposals integrated with accounting and invoicing workflows
83.3
07
Simple invoicing from Square's payments platform
Square Invoices is a straightforward invoicing tool integrated with Square's payment processing. It works well for small retailers and service businesses already using Square for point-of-sale transactions.
From FreeBest for Small retailers and service businesses already using Square point-of-sale
81.0
08
Invoicing integrated with CRM and sales automation
HubSpot Invoices is part of HubSpot's larger CRM and business operations platform, offering invoicing alongside customer relationship management, sales pipeline tracking, and marketing automation.
From FreeBest for Businesses already using HubSpot CRM seeking integrated invoicing and payment collection
78.7
09
Enterprise invoicing and accounts receivable automation platform
Billtrust is an enterprise-focused platform specialising in invoice delivery, payment collection, and accounts receivable automation. It serves large organisations requiring sophisticated workflow management.
From CustomBest for Large enterprises needing extensive invoice automation and AR workflow management
76.3
10
Simple invoicing built into PayPal for freelancers and small businesses
PayPal Invoicing is a lightweight invoicing solution integrated within PayPal's payment ecosystem. It allows users to create, send, and track invoices whilst accepting payments directly through PayPal.
From FreeBest for Freelancers and micro-businesses already using PayPal for payment processing
74.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the best invoicing tool for a freelancer just starting out?
Wave or PayPal Invoicing are excellent free options for freelancers beginning their business. Both offer essential invoicing features without subscription costs. As you grow, FreshBooks provides better organisation and integrated time tracking at reasonable cost.
Which invoicing tool works best with accounting software?
Xero and QuickBooks Online are comprehensive accounting suites with integrated invoicing and strong accounting features. Zoho Invoice integrates excellently if you use other Zoho products. For separate tools, FreshBooks integrates well with most major accounting platforms.
What invoicing tool should I use if I run a subscription-based business?
Stripe Billing is purpose-built for subscription and recurring billing models with complex pricing scenarios. For simpler subscriptions, Zoho Invoice handles multiple billing cycles well. QuickBooks Online also supports subscription billing through integration with billing processors.