Best Invoicing Software For Small Businesses In 2027

Last updated: November 12, 2026

The best invoicing software for small businesses in 2027 is FreshBooks for service businesses, QuickBooks Online and Xero for invoicing inside full accounting, Zoho Invoice for a free feature-rich option and Wave for free invoicing with low-cost payments. Stripe Invoicing, Invoice Ninja, Bonsai and HoneyBook suit online businesses, open-source fans, freelancers and creative studios.

Invoicing software creates professional invoices, accepts online payments, sends reminders and tracks who owes what. The right tool shortens the time between finishing work and getting paid.

Here are the best options for small businesses and freelancers.

How We Chose

We compared invoice customization, online payment options and fees, automated reminders, recurring billing, time and expense tracking, accounting integration and pricing, including free plans.

Invoicing Software At A Glance

Tool	Best For	Standout Strength
FreshBooks	Agencies, consultants and freelancers	Time tracking, proposals and payments
QuickBooks Online	Businesses that want one system	Invoices flow straight into the books
Xero	Small businesses worldwide	Multi-currency invoicing and payments
Zoho Invoice	Budget-conscious businesses	Free with recurring invoices and portal
Wave	Very small businesses	Free invoices with optional paid features
Stripe Invoicing	Online businesses using Stripe	Hosted invoice pages and automated collection
Invoice Ninja	Technical users and privacy-focused teams	Self-hosted or cloud with many gateways
Bonsai	Freelancers and small agencies	All-in-one client workflow
HoneyBook	Photographers, planners and studios	Smart files combine proposals, contracts and payments

Best Invoicing Software For Small Businesses In 2027

1. FreshBooks — Invoicing Built Around Service Businesses

FreshBooks combines invoicing with time tracking, expenses, proposals and accounting, all designed for service businesses. Clients can pay online, and reminders run automatically.

It is one of the friendliest tools for non-accountants.

2. QuickBooks Online — Invoicing Inside Full Accounting

QuickBooks Online creates invoices, accepts payments and reconciles them in your books automatically. AI helps chase overdue invoices.

It suits businesses that want invoicing and accounting together.

3. Xero — Online Invoicing With Strong Global Support

Xero offers invoicing, payments, quotes and reminders inside its accounting platform, with strong multi-currency support.

It is a popular choice outside the US.

4. Zoho Invoice — A Free, Feature-Rich Invoicing Tool

Zoho Invoice is free and includes recurring invoices, a client portal, time tracking and payment reminders. It upgrades easily to Zoho Books.

It is one of the most capable free tools available.

5. Wave — Free Invoicing With Pay-As-You-Go Payments

Wave offers free invoicing and accounting for small businesses, charging only for card payments and premium features.

It is a simple starting point for solo owners.

6. Stripe Invoicing — Invoicing For Online And Developer-Led Businesses

Stripe Invoicing sends invoices with hosted payment pages, smart retries and automatic reconciliation in Stripe. It suits businesses already using Stripe for payments.

Its API supports custom billing flows.

7. Invoice Ninja — Open-Source Invoicing You Can Self-Host

Invoice Ninja is open source and can be self-hosted or used in the cloud. It supports quotes, recurring invoices, projects and many payment gateways.

It suits teams that want control and low costs.

8. Bonsai — Proposals, Contracts And Invoices For Freelancers

Bonsai covers proposals, contracts, time tracking and invoicing in one workflow, so freelancers can go from pitch to payment in one tool.

It reduces the number of apps a freelancer needs.

9. HoneyBook — Client Management For Creative Businesses

HoneyBook helps creative businesses manage inquiries, proposals, contracts, invoices and payment schedules in one place.

It is very popular with event and creative professionals.

How To Choose Invoicing Software

Do You Need Full Accounting?

If yes, invoice inside QuickBooks, Xero or Zoho Books. If not, a lighter tool like FreshBooks or Zoho Invoice may be enough.

How Will Clients Pay?

Check card, ACH, PayPal and international options, and compare transaction fees.

Do You Bill By Time Or Project?

Service businesses benefit from built-in time tracking and expenses.

Do You Need Recurring Billing?

Retainers and subscriptions need recurring invoices and automatic charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best invoicing software for small business?

FreshBooks is the best overall for service businesses, while QuickBooks Online and Xero are best if you want invoicing inside full accounting.

What is the best free invoicing software?

Zoho Invoice and Wave are the best free options for most small businesses.

Can invoicing software send automatic reminders?

Yes. Most tools on this list can send reminders before and after due dates.

Do I need invoicing software as a freelancer?

It is not required, but it saves time, looks professional and helps you get paid faster.

Conclusion

FreshBooks leads for service businesses, QuickBooks Online and Xero for full accounting and Zoho Invoice or Wave for free invoicing.

Turn on online payments and reminders, which do more to speed up payment than any design choice.

Related on ReVerb: Top SaaS Billing And Invoicing Software, Best AI Accounting Tools For 2027.