FreshBooks vs Wave vs Bonsai vs HoneyBook vs Invoice Ninja — which invoicing tool is actually worth paying for?
Wave wins for free invoicing. FreshBooks wins on UX and client experience. Bonsai wins for all-in-one freelance ops (contracts + time + invoices).
| Software | Price/mo | Contracts | Time Tracking | Recurring | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Wave | FREE | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | 4.4/5 |
| 👑 FreshBooks | $19–$55 | ✅ Proposals | ✅ | ✅ | 4.5/5 |
| Bonsai | $24–$79 | ✅ Full | ✅ | ✅ | 4.6/5 |
| HoneyBook | $19–$79 | ✅ Full | ❌ | ✅ | 4.5/5 |
| Invoice Ninja | FREE / $12 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | 4.3/5 |
FreshBooks has the most polished invoicing experience available. Clients receive beautiful, professional invoices with one-click online payment. Built-in time tracking, expense management, and project profitability make it the most complete tool for service-based freelancers.
Best for: Designers, consultants, agencies • Price: $19/mo (5 clients) • Free trial: 30 days
Try FreshBooks Free →Wave's invoicing is genuinely free with no limits on clients or invoices. You can accept credit card payments (2.9% + 60¢ fee) and bank transfers (1% fee). For freelancers who just need to send invoices and get paid without paying a monthly subscription, Wave is the answer.
Best for: Freelancers on a tight budget • Price: FREE forever • Limitation: No contracts or time tracking
Use Wave Free →Bonsai is the most complete freelance business platform: proposals, contracts, invoices, time tracking, and a built-in CRM. If you want to replace multiple tools with one subscription, Bonsai at $24/mo is exceptional value. Especially strong for agencies and retainer-based work.
Best for: Freelancers wanting one platform for everything • Price: $24/mo • Free trial: 14 days
Try Bonsai Free →HoneyBook combines client management, contracts, proposals, and payments into beautiful pipelines. It's especially popular with photographers, event planners, and creative professionals. The automation features (auto-send proposals, reminders) save significant admin time.
Best for: Photographers, event planners, creatives • Price: $19/mo • Free trial: 7 days
Try HoneyBook Free →| Your Situation | Best Pick |
|---|---|
| Budget-conscious; just need invoices | Wave (free) |
| Service freelancer; best client experience | FreshBooks |
| Need contracts + invoices + time tracking | Bonsai |
| Creative / visual professional | HoneyBook |
| Self-hosted or open-source preference | Invoice Ninja |