Best Free Invoice Generator for Freelancers in 2025

Freelancers and small business owners spend a great deal of time on invoices. Creating them, sending them, tracking payments, and keeping records for tax season can take hours. Do it manually and you risk errors. You also risk looking less professional. And as a result, you risk late payments. One study found that 61% of late invoice payments in the US are caused by manual errors in invoicing.

This is where free invoice tools come in. They let you create professional invoices in minutes and send them to clients with less effort. But many stop at the basics. They don’t store your invoices securely, connect with bookkeeping tools, or make year-end reporting any simpler.

Deel Bookkeeping takes it further. It’s free, built for freelancers, and designed to handle the full workflow. Create invoices fast. Send them worldwide. Keep them organized. Track expenses. Store documents. Get ready for tax season—all in one place.

In this guide, we’ll run through the best free invoicing tool options available in 2025. You’ll see where different platforms perform best and how Deel Bookkeeping compares.

What is an invoice generator, and why should you use one?

An invoice generator is a tool designed to help you quickly create professional invoices. Rather than starting from scratch in Word or Excel, you simply input the details of your work, and the tool generates a document that you can send directly to your client.

Many freelancers opt for invoice generators because they reduce administrative tasks. These tools usually calculate totals for you, include tax fields when necessary, and make sure your invoice contains all the essential information. This leads to fewer mistakes and less back-and-forth with clients. It also helps you maintain a professional appearance, which is crucial when vying for repeat business.

See also: Your Ultimate Guide to Creating an Invoice

Key features to look for in an invoice generator

When you’re looking for an invoice generator, keep an eye out for these key features that go beyond the basics:

• Custom templates that match your style or branding
• Automated calculations so you never risk sending the wrong total
• Tax fields to include VAT, GST, or other local requirements
• Compliance-friendly formats like PDFs and email-ready files that clients can process quickly

Best free invoicing software for freelancers

In 2025, Deel Bookkeeping is the best free invoicing software, combining invoice generation with built-in bookkeeping, expense tracking, and compliance features. Canva is great for polished templates, Bonsai is useful if you also need contracts, Invoice-Generator.com works for quick one-offs, and Paymo is great for hourly billing with time tracking.

Below, we break down each tool, including its strengths, weaknesses, and the type of freelancer it’s best suited for.

1. Deel Bookkeeping

Deel Bookkeeping is a complete financial toolkit designed specifically for freelancers and contractors.

Strengths:

• 100% free to use
• Professional invoice templates that meet client expectations
• One-click recurring invoices for ongoing projects
• Built-in bookkeeping tools: expense tracking, tax categories, and income reports
• Compliance-friendly setup: invoice numbers, required tax fields, and local rules built in
• Everything in one place: invoicing, contracts, payments, and tax documents

This combination is what sets Deel apart. Instead of juggling multiple tools for invoicing, expense reporting, and tax prep, you can manage everything in a single platform. So you’ll spend less time switching between apps and more time focused on client work.

Best for: Freelancers who want more than invoices—an all-in-one bookkeeping solution without the cost of traditional software.

2. Canva

Canva is known for its design tools, and its free invoice generator is no exception. You can choose from hundreds of beautiful templates and customize them to reflect your brand.

Strengths:

• Wide range of templates
• Easy to customize your design
• Professional-looking invoices

Weaknesses:

• No bookkeeping features
• No automation (you’ll need to create each invoice manually)

Best for: Freelancers who care about branding and presentation but don’t need bookkeeping or recurring invoices.

3. Bonsai

Bonsai combines contracts and invoicing in one platform, which is useful for freelancers managing client agreements. It offers a free version, but many advanced features require upgrading.

Strengths:

• Contracts and invoices together
• Project management features for teams
• Professional look and feel

Weaknesses:

• Free plan is limited
• Constant upsell to paid tiers

Best for: Freelancers who frequently need both contracts and invoices but are willing to pay for advanced tools.

4. InvoiceGenerator.com

Invoice-Generator.com is one of the simplest tools on the list. You can open the site, type in your details, and instantly download an invoice. There’s no signup and no cost.

Strengths:

• Extremely fast and easy to use
• No login required
• Great for quick one-off invoices

Weaknesses:

• No record-keeping or tracking
• No recurring invoice options
• Lacks compliance checks

Best for: Freelancers who only need to send the occasional invoice and don’t require bookkeeping.

5. Paymo

Paymo is a project management tool with built-in invoicing. Its free plan includes time tracking, which is helpful for freelancers billing by the hour.

Strengths:

• Time tracking is tied directly to invoices
• Project management features are included
• Useful for hourly billing

Weaknesses:

• Limited features in the free plan
• More complex setup than simple invoice tools

Best for: Freelancers who bill hourly and want time tracking linked to their invoices.

6. Zoho Invoice

Zoho Invoice is a generous free tool that lets you create unlimited invoices, track expenses, and manage projects inside the same system.

Strengths:

• Unlimited invoices
• Expense tracking
• Client portal

Weaknesses:

• Can feel complex for solo freelancers

Best for: Freelancers managing multiple clients or projects

Comparison table for free invoice generator tools

Why freelancers need more than just invoices

Invoices are only one part of freelance admin, not the whole picture.

Expenses pile up. Taxes get messy. Clients in different countries all want something slightly different. Keeping it compliant takes time you’d rather spend working.

Most free invoice generators don’t help with that. They create a basic PDF. Then you’re left to track payments in a spreadsheet. Or dig through emails for receipts. Or figure out tax categories on your own.

That’s the gap. As a freelancer, you don’t just need an invoice; you need tools that make the rest of the process easier, too.

The best invoice generators don’t stop at the invoice. They help track expenses, categorize transactions, and help you prepare for tax season. Some even connect directly to payment systems, so you can get paid faster.

If you’re relying on a tool that only creates PDFs, you’ll still spend hours managing the admin around them. A smarter option links invoices with bookkeeping, taxes, and compliance in one place.

See also: How Freelancers Can Use Deel’s Free Tools for Contracts, Invoicing, and Expenses

How to choose the right invoice generator

Free doesn’t always mean free. Some tools only give you a trial. Others cap the number of invoices you can send. Always check before committing.

Unlimited invoices matter if you bill often. Hitting a limit mid-month can slow payments and create admin you don’t need.

Look at the details too. Does the tool include tax fields? Does it generate invoice numbers automatically? These small features help you stay compliant and save time.

Think about what else you want in one place. Some platforms only create invoices. Others track expenses, monitor payments, and keep records ready for tax season. The right choice depends on whether you want a simple generator or an all-in-one system.

See also: Best Bookkeeping Software for Freelancers

Simplify freelance invoicing and admin with Deel

As a freelancer, you don’t just send invoices. You need to manage payments, track expenses, and handle taxes, too. Doing that across multiple clients can eat up time quickly.

Deel gives you a single platform for it all. Create professional invoices. Automate recurring payments. Store receipts. Categorize expenses. Stay compliant in every country you work with.

With Deel’s all-in-one platform, you can:

• Generate and automate invoicing and expense tracking with essential Bookkeeping tools
• Create, send, and sign localised work agreements
• Keep accurate records for tax season
• Access expert tax advice and compliance support
• Get paid through multiple payment and withdrawal methods
• Spend your earnings in USD with the Deel Card
• Access funds early with Deel Advance
• Enjoy contractor perks from 150+ partners

Want to spend more time on your freelance business and less on the books? Sign up for the Deel platform today to simplify your independent contractor bookkeeping.