The best free UK invoicing tools are Zoho Invoice and Wave, both free with no subscription, while Invoice Ninja is free and open source. Paid tools run from around £9 a month. From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax reaches sole traders earning over £50,000, so VAT registered and higher earning freelancers need HMRC compatible software.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 1 SEPTEMBER 2026
- Zoho Invoice and Wave are free UK invoicing tools with no subscription.
- Paid invoicing tools run from around £9 a month (Experi) to £21 (Bonsai).
- From April 2026 MTD for Income Tax reaches sole traders earning over £50,000.
UK invoicing software: pricing and free tiers
| Tool | Price | Free tier | Best for |
| Zoho Invoice | Free | Free (up to 1,000 invoices/year) | Freelancers wanting free, multi currency |
| Wave | Free | Free (unlimited invoices) | GBP invoicing with basic accounting bundled |
| Invoice Ninja | Free; Pro from ~£8/mo | Free (up to 100 clients) | Open source, self host option |
| Experi | from £9/mo | No | UK invoicing with compliance built in |
| FreshBooks | from ~£12/mo | No | Service freelancers; time tracking |
| Xero | from £16/mo | No | Invoicing within full MTD accounting |
| Bonsai | from ~£21/mo | No | Invoicing plus CRM and contracts |
| Stripe Invoicing | 0.4 per cent per paid invoice | No subscription | Pay per use payment links |
Source: Provider published pricing, mid-2026
KEY FACTS
- Zoho Invoice and Wave are free UK invoicing tools with no subscription.
- Invoice Ninja is free and open source, with a self host option, free up to 100 clients.
- Paid invoicing tools run from around £9/mo (Experi) to £21/mo (Bonsai).
- From April 2026, MTD for Income Tax reaches sole traders earning over £50,000.
- VAT registered businesses need MTD compatible software; Wave alone cannot file UK VAT.
Choosing invoicing software by need
| If you need | Option | Note |
| Free forever | Zoho Invoice, Wave | No subscription |
| Open source or self host | Invoice Ninja | Full data control |
| UK compliance built in | Experi, Xero | HMRC ready templates and VAT |
| Invoicing plus accounting | Xero, Wave | One tool for both |
| Pay only when paid | Stripe Invoicing | 0.4 per cent per invoice, no monthly fee |
Source: Provider information and GOV.UK, 2026
The free options
Two tools stand out for cost. Zoho Invoice is free with no paid tiers, handling multiple currencies and up to 1,000 invoices a year, while Wave is free with unlimited invoices and adds basic double entry accounting and GBP support. Invoice Ninja is free and open source, covering up to 100 clients, with a self host option for full data control. For a freelancer sending a handful of invoices a month, any of these does the job at no cost. The trade off is fewer UK specific compliance features than a paid tool.
Paid tools and UK compliance
Paid invoicing runs from around £9 a month for Experi, a UK focused tool with HMRC ready templates, up to about £21 for Bonsai, which bundles invoicing with CRM and contracts. FreshBooks, from around £12, suits service freelancers who bill by time or project. Stripe Invoicing charges 0.4 per cent per paid invoice instead of a subscription, which suits low volume senders. What a UK invoice needs is a sequential number, correct VAT treatment, GBP as default and the ability to issue credit notes.
Invoicing versus accounting
Invoicing software creates and chases invoices; accounting software also records income and expenses and files VAT. Wave and Xero blur the line by doing both. A VAT registered business already needs Making Tax Digital compatible accounting software, in which case a separate invoicing tool is often unnecessary. A non VAT freelancer who only needs to get paid can run on a free invoicing tool alone until turnover and tax obligations grow.
Making Tax Digital in 2026
From April 2026, Making Tax Digital for Income Tax begins for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000, who must keep digital records and send quarterly summaries using recognised software. VAT registered businesses are already inside MTD for VAT. Wave is free but not HMRC recognised for MTD VAT, so a VAT registered business cannot rely on it alone. Check the HMRC recognised software list before committing to any invoicing or accounting tool.
DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free invoicing software in the UK
Zoho Invoice and Wave are both free with no subscription, and Invoice Ninja is free and open source up to 100 clients. Wave adds basic accounting; Zoho Invoice handles multi currency.
How much does invoicing software cost
Free tools exist (Zoho Invoice, Wave), and paid tools run from around £9/mo (Experi) to £21/mo (Bonsai). Stripe Invoicing charges 0.4 per cent per paid invoice instead of a subscription.
Do I need invoicing software for VAT
VAT registered businesses need Making Tax Digital compatible software. A free invoicing only tool such as Wave cannot file UK VAT on its own, so pair it with MTD accounting software or use an MTD ready platform.
What must a UK invoice include
A UK invoice needs a unique sequential number, your business and customer details, the date, a clear description, the amount and correct VAT treatment where you are VAT registered.
When does MTD for Income Tax start
From April 2026 for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. They must keep digital records and file quarterly summaries using recognised software.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: MTD-compatible software – accessed 1 September 2026
- GOV.UK: invoicing and taking payment – accessed 1 September 2026
