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The Best Invoicing Tools for Freelancers

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world in December 2019 and spread fast, one thing we had to learn was diversifying income sources. That’s when freelancing became more popular, although it has been there for years. With freelancing, you need a freelance invoicing tool whose choice depends on many things, including the services you need, such as 

what tools your clients prefer, whether you want to track time, and whether other team members will need the device. There are many invoicing tools to choose from. If invoicing is all you want, you might opt for simple means that you can access freely. Still, if you need additional features like money transfer apps, you might need other options and might have to pay for them. 

Here are the best invoicing tools you can try.

1. PayPal

PayPal tops this list since it is one of the most used accounting tools the world has today. Creating a PayPal account is free, and you might already have one. Besides, your clients might also have a PayPal account already. In such a scenario, invoicing becomes easy as they quickly pay you on PayPal via credit card or bank transfers. 

PayPal is an excellent invoicing tool that allows you to work with an unlimited number of clients. You can create and manage invoices for total users with PayPal. When you want to make withdrawals, PayPal has its standard charges, which will apply.

2. Quickbooks 

Quickbooks is also among the widely used invoicing tools for freelancers, and you certainly want to try it for invoicing. It comes in two different formats; the Quickbooks Online version and the Quickbook Desktop version. Both of these are payable, and since there is nothing like one-size-fits-all, you need to decide your option well. 

Still, many people prefer the online version since it’s versatile, cheaper, and can work with multiple datasets. In addition, it saves a person the hassle of keying in voluminous data manually.

3. Wave

If you are looking for the best invoicing tool, try Wave as your first option. Just like PayPal, Wave offers you a free account and a free plan. Yet, even with the free services, you can handle multiple data for an unlimited number of clients. Besides, the library has many functionalities which make work easier. For instance, you can work out recurring bills, structure and send estimates later converted to invoices after approval, create reminders, and follow up on payments. Even when it comes to collecting the invoices and running payrolls for them, Wave does all this for you for a small fee.

4. Bonsai

Bonsai is yet another good invoicing tool for freelancers. Its motto is ‘make more, manage less.’ The agency provides a suite that does everything for you in a single package. Its functionalities are varied and include tracking time, setting reminders, working out intelligent proposals, sending estimates and returning invoices, and compiling them. 

In fact, with Bonsai, you don’t have to chase people around. In addition, the tool reminds clients of unpaid invoices. It automatically adds late payment charges once the due date is passed. As a result, it’s less of a hassle with the Bonsai invoicing tool.

5. Invoicely

Many freelancers are now using Invoicely for invoicing and accounting activities, and for every good reason. This tool is more of an app with free plans but offers all you need for simple invoicing needs. When using Invoicely, you have access to all the full functionalities like PayPal and other invoicing tools. Yet, you don’t have to pay a penny for this, save for the withdrawal charges which you find in all other invoicing tools.

6. Honeybook

When talking about the best invoicing tools for freelancers, Honeybook cannot miss the list. It has a dashboard labeled ‘Pipeline,’ allowing you to visualize all your projects and their different statuses. When you have to send emails, you can do it all through the Pipeline section. Besides, Honeybook helps you fill forms and work on proposals that can earn you wins. Like other invoicing tools, you can do time tracking and set reminders with Honeybook.

7. Invoicera

Although many freelancers use Invoicera for their invoicing activities, it has many features. Its usage is way above what typical freelancers would need, which is why it is both billing and invoicing software. It has a free plan with which you can manage up to 3 clients and the Premium plan payable for $15/month but managing 100 clients. With either plan, you can set reminders, customize templates, and work on recurring billing. 

In addition, you might want to report losses and profits and customize client needs from time to time, and Invoicera plans do all these. What’s more, the tool has project and data management functionalities, which data and project managers find helpful.

8. And.Co

This is a genius tool for invoicing, which is why many people are now trying it in the freelancing world. The tool analyzes your data, generates estimates, sends them to clients, sends them back to you as invoices upon approval. Accepts payment when shipped, alerts you of charges, and even notifies you when the invoices are viewed. Moreover, it has a free plan you can enjoy. Still, a Pro plan for which a person pays $18/month and gets access to more features. Such functionalities include plugging of the logo from documents.

9. Freshbooks

FreshBooks is a billing and invoicing tool many freelancers are using today. It is a feature-rich app with many functionalities, including loss/profit reporting, customizing templates, set reminders, and bill at least 5clients. Unfortunately, because of its advanced features, Freshbooks does not have a free plan. The cheapest plan is the Lite plan, payable at $15/month. Still, the services you enjoy are worth your cash.

Bottom line

Freelancing is one of the most-paying hassles in the world today. For freelancers, invoicing tools are part of their essential needs. The tools help customize templates, design proposals, send estimates, follow up on late payments, and close deals. This article has shared the best invoicing tools for you to try as a freelancer.

Rose Rosie is a writer for the personal finance website, Joy Wallet, which provides readers with useful information, resources, and tools to help maximize their financial fitness.