As a freelancer, you wear many hats: CEO, marketer, worker... and accountant. The last one is usually the most painful. Choosing the right invoice software can save you hours every month.
Quick Comparison Overview
Followio
Best for getting paid fast
FreshBooks
Best for Agencies & Teams
QuickBooks
Best for Advanced Accounting
Wave
Best Basic Free Option
1Followio
Followio is built specifically for freelancers who hate chasing payments. It's not a full accounting suite; it's a "get paid" machine focused entirely on cash flow.
Why we love it:
- Automates polite payment reminders so you never have to ask
- Tracks exactly when the client views the invoice
- Simple, beautiful and highly professional interface
- Affordable ($9/mo) and has a generous completely Free Tier
2FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a classic. It's robust, has time tracking, and integrates with everything. Incredible for growing teams.
- Great for scaling agencies and teams
- Detailed expense tracking and reporting
- Expensive starting price ($19/mo+)
- Can be overkill and complicated for solo freelancers
3QuickBooks
If your main concern is tax season and working closely with CPAs, QuickBooks is the industry standard.
- Tax prep is highly standardized
- Excellent bank reconciliation tools
- The interface is notoriously clunky and slow
4Wave
Wave used to be the go-to completely free option. It's still good, but they are increasingly pushing automated features behind a paywall.
- Solid free invoicing tier
- Higher processing fees on payments
- Very limited customer support for free users
5Excel / Google Sheets
For complete DIYers on a strict $0 budget. Check out our Free Excel Template if you want to go this route.
- 100% free and completely customizable
- Zero automation (you have to remember to follow up)
- Prone to human error when tracking invoice states
The Final Verdict
If you run a large agency and need full accounting and tax help, go with QuickBooks or FreshBooks.
If you are a freelancer or solo-founder who just wants to send professional invoices, track when they are opened, and ensure you get paid on time without the hassle, Followio is the undisputed modern choice.