Best 5 invoicing softwares for freelancers by features and fees

Getting paid should be the exciting part of freelancing, but for many, it’s the most frustrating. Invoices get ignored, processing fees are too high, and clunky software only adds to the stress. Whatever the case, your invoicing software should make life easier, not harder.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best invoicing software for freelancers based on real needs, whether you're looking for the most features, the lowest fees, or a simple way to get started for free. Let’s find the one that fits how you work.

What are the top 5 invoicing softwares for freelancers?

Not all freelancers need the same features. Some just want to send a simple invoice and get paid. Others need more, like recurring billing, project tracking, or international payments. What’s best for you depends on how you run your business, how you charge clients, and how hands-off you want the process to be.

1. Invoicing software with the cheapest transaction processing fees

Even if the invoicing tool is free to use, you still pay a fee every time a client pays an invoice. In this section, we compare the invoicing tools that keep more money in your pocket by offering the lowest transaction fees.

Compare our price against the top payment companies.

All the research done for you – compare rates from top providers in one convenient document.

Download

Invoicing software with the cheapest transaction fees for U.S. merchants

Invoicing software with the cheapest transaction fees for Canada merchants

Why are Helcim’s fees an approximation instead of a flat fee? Helcim uses Interchange Plus pricing, which passes the actual cost of each transaction (the interchange fee) plus a small markup to you. Since interchange fees vary by card type and transaction details, your costs fluctuate too. That’s why Helcim shows an average rate.

If keeping more of your hard-earned money matters, Helcim invoicing tool offers some of the lowest credit card processing fees. Thinking about switching? Get a savings estimate with Helcim.

2. Invoicing system with the most features

The table below compares the key features of five popular invoicing tools for freelancers.

3. Invoicing solution with no monthly fees

If you’re a freelancer just starting out, or want to keep costs down, finding invoicing software with no monthly fee can help you save more of what you earn. Helcim, Square, PayPal, and Stripe offer invoicing tools with no subscription fees. You can send unlimited invoices, automate reminders, accept payments, and even share payment links without paying anything monthly.

Helcim also offer completely free access to advanced features like:

• Surcharging/convenience fees (pass on credit card fees to customers)
• Recurring invoicing
• Reminder automation
• Payment links
• Customizable invoice templates

If you're looking to send professional invoices and get paid without extra costs, tools like Helcim give you everything you need without the monthly bill.

On the other hand, platforms like Square and QuickBooks lock advanced features behind a paid plan. For example, additional invoice customization, milestone payment, and project management. If your business needs those advanced features and prefers managing everything in one platform, it may be worth paying for a subscription.

4. Invoicing software that accepts the most payment methods

The more payment options you offer, the easier it is for clients to pay you.

In the U.S., all five platforms, Helcim, Square, PayPal, Stripe, and QuickBooks let you accept credit cards, debit cards, and ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments. This means your customers can pay invoices using their preferred payment method.

In Canada, only Helcim, Stripe and QuickBooks offer EFT (electronic bank transfer) for merchants. EFT is unavailable for Square and Paypal.

5. Invoicing software with third-party integration

Most specialized invoicing software can integrate with accounting tool like QuickBooks and Xero. Helcim goes a step further. Here’s what makes Helcim's QuickBook integration stand out:

• Create invoices in QuickBooks, and Helcim will automatically send a “Pay Now” email to your clients so that they can pay using Helcim’s lower processing fees.
• When a client pays through Helcim, the invoice is marked as “Paid” in both QuickBooks and Helcim. No manual updates. No double entry.
• Even though you’re using QuickBooks, your payments are processed through Helcim’s affordable rates, so you still benefit from lower transaction fees.

On the other hands, QuickBooks is the perfect option if you prefer an accounting software with an invoicing feature. It's an one-stop-shop for expense tracking and invoice collection. If managing projects is one of your need, Square paid plan is the best solution.

What features to look for in invoicing software for freelancers

The more features your invoicing software has, the less you have to juggle. Here are the features that can make a real difference:

1. Design customization: Customize your invoice layout, text, color, and logo to create a unique branding experience.

2. Invoice customization: Add custom fields, billing information, shipping information, taxes, tips, shipping cost, discounts, or notes.

3. Recurring invoices: If you invoice clients on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, or quarterly), recurring invoicing automates the process. You set it up once and the software automatically sends multiple invoices to your clients.

4. Pass on credit card fees to customers: Pass payment processing fees to clients if they choose to pay with a credit card.

5. Reminder automation: Polite follow-up can help you collect outstanding or overdue invoices. Look for software that sends automatic payment reminders before and after the due date so you don’t have to.

6. Payment link: Instead of sending a traditional PDF, you can share a simple payment link by email, text, or even a QR code. Clients click, view the invoice online, and pay right away.

7. Multiple currency acceptance: Working with international clients? Choose a platform that supports billing in different currencies to ensure the client knows how much to pay and avoid payment delays.

8. Milestone payments: It’s risky to accept one big payment at the end of the project. Milestone invoicing lets you break payments down into phases, so you’re not waiting until the end to get paid.

9. Project management tool: Some software lets you organize tasks, track time, share project files, and link work directly to your invoices. This feature is ideal for freelancers managing multiple clients.

How can freelancers choose the best invoicing software?

If you're just starting out or want to avoid monthly costs, look for software with no subscription fees that still lets you create professional invoices, automate reminders, and accept online payments. Helcim, Square, PayPal, and Stripe all offer solid free plans.

If you don't want high transaction fees eat into your earnings, Helcim is a perfect choice. Helcim Invoicing Software helps you save more on every invoice with some of the lowest rates in the industry. If you want to pass the credit card fees to the clients, Helcim free credit card processing is an ideal solution.

If you need advanced tools, like milestone billing, project tracking, or advanced customization, then a paid invoicing system like Square or QuickBooks may be worth the investment.

Create and send professional invoice for free with Helcim

If you’ve read this far, you already know what Helcim offers for your invoicing needs: a free invoicing tool, surcharging, affordable payment processing rates, no monthly fees, and no contracts. But there’s more:

• Built-in CRM software: After the first payment, Helcim securely saves your customer details, payment information, and payment history so you can process repeat payments faster.
• Overdue invoice collection: Overdue invoices hurting your cash flow? You can retrieve saved payment info to process overdue invoices with Helcim Virtual Terminal.

Book a demo now to see how Helcim helps you send and manage online invoices, handle late payments, and save on processing fees.

FAQ

Are there any invoicing software for freelancers with free plans?

Yes, Helcim, PayPal, Square and Stripe offer free plans designed for freelancers. They let you create and send invoices without paying a monthly fee. Helcim also offers essential features like payment links, automated reminders, and recurring invoices so that you have more ways to get your invoices paid. Just note that while the software is free, you'll still pay processing fees on transactions.

Is there a way to create invoices for free?

You can create invoices for free using tools like Helcim, Square, Stripe or PayPal. These platforms let you create, send, and track invoices at no cost. You only pay when the client pays your invoice.

Which software is best for making an invoice?

The best invoicing software depends on your needs. Helcim stands out for offering powerful features with no monthly fees. It includes advanced customization, automated reminders, recurring invoices, surcharging and low processing rates. If you need built-in project management or accounting, QuickBooks or Square may be better suited.

Does Helcim offer a free invoicing app?

Yes. The Helcim Point of Sale app lets you send invoices to your clients right from your phone. Once you sign up for a Helcim account, you can download the app from the App Store or Google Play and log in with your credentials to start accepting payments.