Best Invoice Software for Creatives (2025)

Compare inv.so with popular alternatives. Find the right invoicing tool for your freelance business.

Quick Summary

  • Best for designers: inv.so — custom template upload, minimal interface, made for creatives
  • Best for full accounting: FreshBooks — comprehensive features but more complex
  • Best free option: Wave — full accounting for free, but generic templates
  • Best for developers: Invoice Ninja — open source, self-hostable

Feature Comparison

Featureinv.so RecommendedFreshBooks Wave Invoice Ninja
PriceFree / $10/moFrom $17/moFreeFree / $10/mo
Core Features
Unlimited invoices
PDF generation
Email sending
Client management
Payment tracking
Design & Customization
Custom template upload
Dark mode
Mobile friendly
Advanced Features
Partial payments
Multi-currency
Time tracking
Expense tracking
Tax calculations

1. inv.so Our Pick

Simple invoicing for designers and creatives

Free / $10/mo

Pros

  • + Designed specifically for creatives
  • + Upload your own invoice designs
  • + No bloated accounting features
  • + Beautiful, minimal interface
  • + Free tier with unlimited invoices

Cons

  • - No built-in time tracking
  • - No expense management
  • - Limited integrations
Best for: Freelance designers, photographers, and creatives who want beautiful invoices without accounting complexity

2. FreshBooks

Accounting software for small businesses

From $17/mo

Pros

  • + Full accounting features
  • + Time tracking included
  • + Expense management
  • + Good mobile app

Cons

  • - More expensive
  • - Complex for simple invoicing
  • - No custom template upload
  • - Overkill for creatives
Best for: Small businesses needing full accounting software

3. Wave

Free accounting and invoicing

Free

Pros

  • + Completely free
  • + Full accounting features
  • + Receipt scanning

Cons

  • - Generic templates only
  • - No custom branding
  • - Ad-supported
  • - US/Canada focused
Best for: Budget-conscious freelancers who need basic accounting

4. Invoice Ninja

Open-source invoicing platform

Free / $10/mo

Pros

  • + Open source option
  • + Self-hostable
  • + Many features
  • + Good API

Cons

  • - Complex setup
  • - Generic templates
  • - Overwhelming for simple needs
  • - Dated interface
Best for: Developers and tech-savvy users who want self-hosting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best invoice software for freelance designers?
inv.so is specifically designed for freelance designers and creatives. Unlike general accounting software, it focuses on beautiful, minimal invoicing with custom template upload support, letting designers use their own invoice designs.
Is inv.so free to use?
Yes, inv.so offers a free tier with unlimited invoices and up to 3 clients. The Pro plan at $10/month adds unlimited clients, custom template upload, partial payments tracking, and branding removal.
How does inv.so compare to FreshBooks?
inv.so is simpler and more affordable than FreshBooks. While FreshBooks offers full accounting features, inv.so focuses purely on invoicing without the complexity. inv.so also uniquely supports uploading your own invoice designs, which FreshBooks doesn't offer.
Can I upload my own invoice template to inv.so?
Yes, inv.so is the only major invoice software that lets you upload your own PDF or PNG invoice designs and convert them to reusable templates. This is perfect for designers who want their invoices to match their brand.

Ready to create beautiful invoices?

Join thousands of freelance designers using inv.so

Get started free →