7 Simple Invoicing Tools for Creatives (Ranked 2026)

Not all invoicing tools are created equal. Some are built for accountants. Some are built for small businesses. Some are built for... well, nobody knows.

This list ranks the best simple invoicing tools specifically for creatives — designers, creators, freelancers who want simple, fast, beautiful invoicing without accounting bloat.

Ranking Criteria

Tools are ranked based on:

Simplicity — How easy is it to create and send invoices?
Speed — How fast is the workflow?
Design — Does it look good? Is it modern?
Features — Does it have what you need (and nothing more)?
Price — Is it affordable for freelancers?
Built for creatives — Is it designed for designers/creators?

The best tools are simple, fast, beautiful, and affordable.

1. inv.so ⭐ (Best Overall for Creatives)

Rating: 9.5/10

Why it's #1:

Built specifically for designers and creators
Minimal, fast workflow (create invoice in under 2 minutes)
Clean, modern design that doesn't look like accounting software
Simple status tracking (draft, sent, paid)
Easy Stripe integration for card payments
No accounting bloat — just invoicing

Best for: Designers, creators, freelancers who want simple, aesthetic invoicing.

Pricing:

Free: 3 sends
Pro: $9/month (unlimited)

Pros:

Fastest workflow
Best design
Built for creatives
No bloat
Affordable

Cons:

Free tier limited to 3 sends
Newer tool (less established)

Verdict: If you're a creative who values speed, simplicity, and good design, this is your tool.

2. Bonsai

Rating: 8/10

Why it's good:

Clean, modern UI
Good invoice templates
Includes contracts and time tracking
Professional appearance
Good for freelancers

Best for: Freelancers who want invoicing plus contracts/time tracking.

Pricing: $21/month

Pros:

Clean interface
Good templates
Includes contracts
Time tracking included

Cons:

More expensive
More features than most creatives need
Can feel bloated for simple invoicing

Verdict: Great if you need contracts and time tracking. Overkill if you just need invoicing.

3. Stripe Invoicing

Rating: 7.5/10

Why it's good:

Free (just Stripe fees)
Simple, payment-focused
Direct Stripe integration
No subscription required

Best for: Developers or very simple needs, low volume.

Pricing: Free (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)

Pros:

Completely free (no subscription)
Simple interface
Direct payment integration
No setup required

Cons:

Very basic invoice design
No status tracking
Manual invoice creation
Limited customization

Verdict: Good for very simple needs or if you're building your own system. Limited for most creatives.

4. Wave

Rating: 7/10

Why it's good:

Free (includes accounting features)
Good for small businesses
Includes expense tracking
No subscription fee

Best for: Small businesses that need free accounting software.

Pricing: Free (2.9% + $0.30 for card payments)

Pros:

Completely free
Includes accounting features
Good for small businesses

Cons:

Dated, corporate UI
Too many features for simple invoicing
Not built for creatives
Slow workflow

Verdict: Good if you need free accounting software. Not ideal for simple invoicing.

5. FreshBooks

Rating: 6.5/10

Why it's good:

Powerful, feature-rich
Professional invoices
Good for small businesses
Established tool

Best for: Small businesses that need full accounting.

Pricing: $17-55/month

Pros:

Powerful features
Professional appearance
Established tool
Good support

Cons:

Overwhelming for simple invoicing
Too many features
Corporate-looking
Expensive for what most creatives need

Verdict: Overkill for simple invoicing. Good if you need full accounting.

6. Notion Templates

Rating: 6/10

Why it's good:

Completely free
Fully customizable
Works if you love Notion
No limits

Best for: People who love Notion and don't mind manual work.

Pricing: Free

Pros:

Completely free
Full control
Customizable
No limits

Cons:

Completely manual
No automation
No payment links
Time-consuming
No status tracking

Verdict: Good if you love Notion and want maximum control. Very manual.

7. Google Docs / Canva Templates

Rating: 5/10

Why it's good:

Completely free
Fully customizable
Maximum control
No limits

Best for: People who want maximum control and don't mind manual work.

Pricing: Free

Pros:

Completely free
Full design control
Customizable
No limits

Cons:

Completely manual
No automation
No payment links
No status tracking
Very time-consuming
Easy to make mistakes

Verdict: Only if you want maximum control and don't mind doing everything manually.

Comparison Table

Tool	Price	Speed	Design	Features	Best For
inv.so	$9/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Creatives
Bonsai	$21/mo	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Freelancers
Stripe	Free*	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	Developers
Wave	Free*	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Small Business
FreshBooks	$17+/mo	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Small Business
Notion	Free	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐	Notion Users
Google Docs	Free	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐	Maximum Control

*Free tools charge processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)

How to Choose the Right Tool

Choose inv.so if:

You're a designer or creator
You want the fastest workflow
You value good design
You just need invoicing (not accounting)
You want to pay $9/month for simplicity

Choose Bonsai if:

You need contracts and time tracking
You want a full freelancer suite
You don't mind paying $21/month
You need more than just invoicing

Choose Stripe if:

You're a developer
You want completely free (just fees)
You're building your own system
You have very simple needs

Choose Wave if:

You need free accounting software
You're a small business
You need expense tracking
You don't mind dated UI

Choose FreshBooks if:

You need full accounting
You're a small business
You need lots of features
You don't mind paying $17+/month

Choose Notion/Google Docs if:

You want completely free
You don't mind manual work
You want maximum control
You're okay with no automation

The Bottom Line

For most creatives: inv.so is the best choice. It's fast, simple, beautiful, and built specifically for designers and creators.

If you need more: Bonsai offers invoicing plus contracts and time tracking.

If you want free: Stripe Invoicing or Wave work, but with trade-offs.

If you want maximum control: Notion or Google Docs work, but are very manual.

The best tool is the one that fits your workflow. For most creatives, that's inv.so.

Ready to try the best tool for creatives? Try inv.so free — 3 free sends, then $9/month.

7 Simple Invoicing Tools for Creatives (Ranked 2026)