1 Free & Open-Source FreshBooks Alternatives
FreshBooks prices its plans around how many billable clients you're actively invoicing, which penalizes exactly the growth that makes the tool useful in the first place. Invoice Ninja covers the same invoicing, expense, and time-tracking workflow, self-hosted with no per-client fee.
The best FreshBooks alternatives
Invoice Ninja
Our top pickOpen sourceSelf-hostedA free, open-source invoicing and billing platform.
Invoice Ninja covers invoicing, recurring billing, expense tracking, and time tracking in one tool — self-hosted with no cap on the number of clients or invoices you send.
- Invoicing, quotes, and recurring billing
- Expense and time tracking
- Online payment integration (Stripe, PayPal, and more)
- Self-hosted or Invoice Ninja's own hosted plan
Licensing and pricing models change over time — confirm current terms on each project's own site before making a procurement or compliance decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can clients pay invoices online like they can with FreshBooks?
Yes — Invoice Ninja integrates with Stripe, PayPal, and other payment processors so clients can pay directly from the invoice, matching FreshBooks' online-payment workflow.
Is Invoice Ninja good enough for a growing freelance business?
Yes — since it's self-hosted with no per-client pricing tier, it scales with your client list without the cost climbing the way FreshBooks' plans do.
Does Invoice Ninja handle recurring subscriptions and retainers?
Yes — recurring invoices and scheduled billing are core features, covering the retainer-style billing many service businesses rely on.
More free alternatives
Not sure which way to go?
A free Growth Audit can help you weigh self-hosting against the tool you already pay for.