Whether you are a freelancer sending your first invoice, a small business owner managing dozens of clients, or a side-hustler who just needs something quick and professional, the right online invoice generator can save you hours of work. But with dozens of options available, which one is actually the best — especially for free users? In this comprehensive comparison, we review and rank the top 7 free online invoice generators available in 2026, including Tooly's invoice generator and other popular alternatives.
What to Look for in a Free Invoice Generator
Before we dive into the comparison, here are the criteria we used to evaluate each tool:
- Invoice Quality: Does the invoice look professional and include all necessary fields (invoice number, date, due date, itemised line items, tax, total)?
- Free Tier Limits: How many invoices per month can you create for free? Are there watermarks?
- Export Options: Can you download as PDF, CSV, Excel, or send directly?
- Templates: Are there multiple template designs to choose from?
- Ease of Use: How quickly can you create and send your first invoice?
- Additional Features: Does it include estimates, recurring invoices, expense tracking, or multi-currency support?
- No Account Required: Can you use it without signing up?
1. Tooly Invoice Generator
Tooly offers a clean, fast, and completely free invoice generator as part of its growing suite of productivity tools. It is designed for freelancers and small business owners who need professional invoices without the complexity of full-featured accounting software.
Key Features:
- Fully free with no invoice creation limits
- Professional, customisable invoice templates
- Download as PDF directly
- Automatic invoice numbering
- Support for line items, tax rates, and discounts
- Send invoices directly to clients
- Multi-currency support
- No account creation required
Pros:
- Completely free with no hidden limits
- Fast and intuitive interface — invoice in under 60 seconds
- Integrates seamlessly with other Tooly tools like BookEase scheduling
Cons:
- Does not include payment processing or credit card acceptance
- No recurring invoice automation (currently in development)
2. Invoice Home
Invoice Home is a well-established invoice generator with a strong template library. It offers dozens of professionally designed invoice templates. The free version lets you create 3 invoices before requiring a subscription.
- Free tier: 3 free invoices
- Templates: 100+ professional templates
- Export: PDF only on free tier
- Best for: Occasional users who want premium design options
Verdict: Excellent templates, but the 3-invoice limit makes it impractical for regular use.
3. Zoho Invoice
Zoho Invoice is part of the Zoho ecosystem and offers a genuinely generous free tier — you can invoice up to 5 customers completely free, which covers most freelancers.
- Free tier: Up to 5 customers, unlimited invoices
- Templates: 18 customisable templates
- Export: PDF, CSV, Excel
- Best for: Freelancers who also need time tracking and expense management
Verdict: Great for users who need the full Zoho ecosystem, but the 5-customer limit is restrictive.
4. Wave
Wave offers free invoicing and accounting with no per-invoice limits. It is one of the most popular free invoicing platforms, particularly in North America.
- Free tier: Unlimited invoices, no customer limits
- Templates: Basic templates
- Export: PDF, CSV
- Best for: Solo business owners who also want basic accounting features
Verdict: Strong free tier, but the interface can be slow, and they aggressively push their paid payment processing.
5. FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a premium invoicing and accounting platform that offers a limited free plan. It is known for its excellent user experience and professional-looking invoices.
- Free tier: Up to 5 billable clients
- Templates: Professional, modern designs
- Export: PDF, CSV
- Best for: Freelancers who plan to upgrade to paid features later
Verdict: Excellent software, but the free tier is very limited. Most useful as a trial before upgrading.
6. Hiveage
Hiveage (formerly Yes Invoice) offers a comprehensive free plan that includes estimates, recurring invoices, and expense tracking.
- Free tier: Up to 5 customers, unlimited invoices
- Templates: 8 templates
- Export: PDF, CSV
- Best for: Freelancers who need recurring invoices and estimates
Verdict: Good feature set for a free plan, but the 5-customer limit is restrictive for growing businesses.
7. Billdu
Billdu is a UK-based invoicing app that offers a free plan with unlimited invoices to 1 customer. It includes expense tracking and receipt scanning.
- Free tier: 1 customer only
- Templates: Professional templates
- Export: PDF
- Best for: UK freelancers with a single client
Verdict: The 1-customer limit makes it almost unusable for most freelancers.
Comparison Table
| Tool | Invoices/Month (Free) | Customer Limit | PDF Export | No Sign-Up | Templates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tooly Invoice | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✓ | ✓ | 5+ |
| Invoice Home | 3 total | N/A | ✓ | ✓ | 100+ |
| Zoho Invoice | Unlimited | 5 | ✓ | ✗ | 18 |
| Wave | Unlimited | Unlimited | ✓ | ✗ | Basic |
| FreshBooks | 5 max | 5 | ✓ | ✗ | Premium |
| Hiveage | Unlimited | 5 | ✓ | ✗ | 8 |
| Billdu | Unlimited | 1 | ✓ | ✗ | 10+ |
Which Invoice Generator Should You Choose?
Here is our recommendation based on your situation:
Best Overall Free Choice: Tooly Invoice Generator
Tooly's invoice generator wins for most users because it offers unlimited invoices, unlimited customers, and requires no sign-up. It is perfect for freelancers, contractors, and small business owners who need a no-nonsense invoicing tool that works immediately.
Best for Accounting Integration: Wave
If you also need basic accounting features (income tracking, receipt scanning, profit and loss reports), Wave's free plan is unmatched. The trade-off is that you need to create an account and the interface is slower.
Best for Template Variety: Invoice Home
If you need a truly stunning invoice design and only send a couple of invoices per year, Invoice Home's templates are the best-looking. Just be aware of the 3-invoice limit.
Best for the Zoho Ecosystem: Zoho Invoice
If you already use Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, or other Zoho products, Zoho Invoice integrates seamlessly. The 5-customer limit is workable for sole traders.
How to Create a Professional Invoice in 3 Steps
Regardless of which tool you choose, here is the universal process for creating a professional invoice:
Include your business name, address, email, phone, and VAT/tax ID if applicable. On Tooly's invoice generator, these fields are clearly laid out at the top.
Enter your client's details, then add each service or product with quantity, rate, and any applicable tax. Most tools auto-calculate the total.
Preview the invoice, make any adjustments, then download as PDF. Send it to your client via email or share a link.
Beyond Invoicing: Building a Complete Business Workflow
Professional invoicing is just one piece of the business puzzle. To truly streamline your operations, consider integrating your invoicing with:
- Bank Reconciliation: Use BankToCSV to convert bank statements to CSV and match payments against outstanding invoices.
- Appointment Scheduling: BookEase from Tooly lets clients book appointments, and you can invoice them immediately after service delivery.
- Expense Tracking: Keep receipts organised and match them against your bank transactions for accurate profit calculation.
- License Management: Use License Tracker to track software subscription renewals and bill them to clients or projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free invoice generators safe?
Yes, reputable free invoice generators are safe to use. Always check that the tool uses HTTPS encryption and has a clear privacy policy. Tooly's invoice generator processes all data client-side where possible and does not store your financial information.
Can I add my logo to invoices?
Yes, most free invoice generators including Tooly's allow you to upload your logo for a professional, branded look.
Do free invoice generators include tax calculations?
Most do, including Tooly's. You can set tax rates (VAT, GST, sales tax) per line item or on the subtotal, and the tool will calculate the total automatically.
Is there any limit on how many invoices I can create?
This varies by tool. Tooly's invoice generator has no limits, while many others restrict you to a certain number of invoices or customers on their free tier.
Finding the best free online invoice generator depends on your specific needs, but for most freelancers and small business owners, Tooly's invoice generator offers the best combination of features, ease of use, and truly unlimited free access. Try it today and see how simple professional invoicing can be.
Try Tooly's Free Invoice Generator Now