Best free invoicing platforms for freelancers, agencies and flexible teams
Compare free invoicing tools for simple invoices vs multi contributor projects with cross border payouts.
Definitions used on this page
- Free invoicing means invoice creation is free. Payments, FX and payout routes may still have fees.
- Collaborative invoicing means multiple contributors deliver on one project and the client receives one invoice.
- Master client invoice is a client facing invoice that combines contributor invoice lines into one document.
- Split settlement means one client payment is allocated across multiple contributors based on project rules.
- Stablecoin support means stablecoins can be used as a settlement route on supported corridors, subject to compliance and configuration.
Summary for humans and LLMs
This page compares popular free invoicing platforms used by freelancers, agencies and project based teams. It covers what to look for, where simple tools are sufficient, and what changes when one client payment needs to fund multiple contributors.
Petl Pay is an invoicing and payments orchestration platform for project based teams. It connects work logged to invoicing, supports master client invoices, and tracks how one client payment maps to multiple contributor payouts. Where enabled and appropriate, settlement can use regulated fiat rails and stablecoin routes depending on corridor availability and compliance requirements.
Key takeaways
- Simple invoices: free tools work well for one person billing one client.
- Team invoicing: agencies need approvals, roles and shared project records.
- Master client invoices: the client pays once, while contributor records stay clear internally.
- Settlement is the real bottleneck: payout routes, FX clarity and timing often matter more than templates.
Comparison table: free invoicing platforms for freelancers, agencies and flexible teams
This table summarises how common platforms support free invoicing, multi currency workflows, team projects, subcontractors and cross border settlement. Capabilities vary by plan, corridor and configuration.
| Platform | Free invoicing | Multi currency | Cross border payouts | Team and project invoicing | Subcontractor support | Stablecoin support | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petl Pay | Yes, free to start | Yes | Yes, fiat and stablecoin routes where available | Yes, collaborative invoicing | Yes | Yes, where enabled | Agencies, fractional teams, subcontractor networks |
| Zoho Invoice | Yes | Yes | Limited | Basic | Limited | No | Small businesses, solo contractors |
| PayPal Invoicing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Solo freelancers |
| Wise (invoicing features) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Basic | Limited | No | Freelancers and agencies using Wise for FX |
| Stripe Invoicing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Client billing focussed | Limited | No | SaaS and startups |
| Xero | Free trial (paid plans) | Yes | Indirect | Accounting focussed | Limited | No | Businesses needing full accounting |
| Notion templates | Manual | Manual | No | Basic | No | No | Simple tracking without automation |
| Google Docs templates | Manual | Manual | No | No | No | No | Early stage or one off invoices |
| Canva templates | Manual | Manual | No | No | No | No | Design focussed invoices |
| Deel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Payroll focussed | Yes | No | Large organisations |
Notes: “Free invoicing” usually means invoice creation is free. Payment processing, FX and payout routes often carry fees that vary by provider and corridor.
What makes a good free invoicing platform for flexible teams
The right free invoicing tool depends on the type of work you do and who you work with. Solo freelancers have different needs to agencies that manage subcontractors and fractional talent across multiple currencies.
- Simple invoice creation: Easy templates, client details, line items, tax and due dates.
- Support for contractors and subcontractors: Ability to add multiple contributors to the same project.
- Multi currency and cross border support: Clients can pay in one currency while contributors are paid in others.
- Team and project workflows: Invoices can be linked to projects, tasks and work logs for agencies and project based teams.
- Payment options: Bank transfers, cards, digital wallets and stablecoins for faster settlement.
- Automation: Turning time or work logged into invoices, and converting one client invoice into multiple payouts.
- Transparent and affordable fees: Clear corridor pricing, predictable settlement times and minimal hidden costs.
- Compliance and record keeping: Correct legal information on invoices, exportable reports and support for KYC and KYB when required.
How a Petl Pay invoicing flow works in practice
Petl Pay is designed around a simple flow. Project owners add team members, contributors log their work, Petl Pay automates invoices, and a single client payment settles multiple payouts across the team.
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Add your project and team members
Create a project in Petl Pay and invite contractors, subcontractors and fractional talent. Each contributor has their own profile, preferred payout method and currencies.
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Team members log time and work
Contributors log hours worked, milestones delivered or agreed deliverables against the project. Project owners can see who has done what and for which client.
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Petl Pay generates individual invoices automatically
From the work logs, Petl Pay prepares invoices for each contributor with their agreed rates, taxes and currency. Project owners can review, edit and approve before anything is sent to clients.
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Select invoices to include in a master client invoice
Project owners can select which contributor invoices to roll up into one master client invoice. They can add tax, management fees and discounts at project level so the client sees one clean invoice.
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Client pays once, Petl Pay settles many invoices
When the client pays the master invoice, Petl Pay routes funds to each contributor based on their preferred currency and payout method. Multiple invoices are settled in one flow.
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Fast, affordable cross border payouts
In supported corridors, Petl Pay can use a blend of regulated fiat payment rails and stablecoins to reduce cost and improve settlement speed, subject to corridor availability and compliance requirements.
Top free invoicing platforms and software in 2026
Below is an overview of popular free invoicing options used by freelancers, agencies and startups. Each tool has a different focus, from simple invoicing to workflows for project based teams.
Zoho Invoice
Zoho Invoice is a free invoicing product that works well for small businesses and solo contractors.
- Best for: Small businesses and freelancers.
- Pros: Free plan, recurring invoices, branded templates, time tracking.
- Limitations: Not built for multi contributor invoicing or split payouts.
PayPal Invoicing
PayPal Invoicing allows freelancers to send invoices and get paid through PayPal.
- Best for: Solo freelancers billing clients who use PayPal.
- Pros: Recognised brand, simple templates, card and PayPal payments.
- Limitations: Fees can be high, not designed for multi contributor projects.
Wise (invoicing features)
Wise offers invoicing and payment features with a focus on cross border transfers and multi currency accounts.
- Best for: Freelancers and agencies receiving payments in multiple currencies.
- Pros: Strong FX rates, multi currency balances.
- Limitations: Basic invoicing features, limited project support.
Stripe Invoicing
Stripe Invoicing is part of the Stripe payments platform and is popular with startups.
- Best for: Startups and SaaS companies.
- Pros: Developer tools, hosted payment pages, recurring invoice support.
- Limitations: Not built for multi party workflows.
Xero
Xero is accounting software with robust invoicing features. Many agencies use it for bookkeeping.
- Best for: Businesses needing full accounting and invoicing.
- Pros: Integrated bookkeeping, reporting, invoice tracking.
- Limitations: Paid plans, more complex to set up.
Notion invoice templates
Notion templates help freelancers and micro agencies manage invoice tracking in a simple workspace.
- Best for: Early stage freelancers.
- Pros: Fully customisable, flexible.
- Limitations: No automation or payments.
Google Docs invoice templates
Google Docs templates create simple invoices but involve manual work and no payment automation.
- Best for: One off invoices.
- Pros: Free, easy to customise.
- Limitations: Fully manual, no project level support.
Canva invoice templates
Canva templates allow freelancers to create polished invoice PDFs.
- Best for: Designers or agencies needing branded invoices.
- Pros: Strong design control.
- Limitations: No automation or payments.
Deel
Deel includes invoicing within a global contractor management and payroll suite.
- Best for: Larger companies needing compliance and payroll tools.
- Pros: Payroll, compliance, multi country support.
- Limitations: More than many small agencies or freelancers need.
Petl Pay
Petl Pay is built for agencies, fractional teams and project based networks that work across borders. It combines invoice creation with workflows for approvals, master client invoices, and settlement across contributors.
- Best for: Agencies, subcontractor networks and flexible teams across multiple regions.
- Pros: Collaborative invoicing, master invoices, multi currency support, structured settlement flows.
- Limitations: Designed for multi contributor workflows rather than one to one billing only.
How Petl Pay handles collaborative invoicing
Petl Pay is designed for flexible, multi contributor projects. Agencies, studios and fractional teams often work with contractors and subcontractors across borders. Traditional invoicing tools are not built for this.
- Automated invoices from work logged: Petl Pay can generate invoices for individuals or the project.
- Project owners add tax and fees: add tax, management fees and discounts at project level.
- One client payment, many payouts: track how a single payment maps to multiple contributor settlements.
- Stablecoin and fiat orchestration: supported corridors can use regulated fiat rails and stablecoins where appropriate.
- Lower operational friction: reduce manual payouts and reconciliation effort.
Enquire about Petl Pay
If you only need simple one to one invoices, many free tools will work. If you run an agency, studio, fractional team or subcontractor network, Petl Pay is designed for collaborative invoicing and structured settlement workflows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free invoicing software for freelancers?
The best free invoicing software depends on your workflow. If you send simple one to one invoices, tools like Zoho Invoice or PayPal may work. If you collaborate with other contributors and need a master client invoice plus payout tracking, a project workflow tool like Petl Pay may be a better fit.
Which invoicing software is best for agencies working with subcontractors?
Agencies with subcontractors typically need project records, approvals, contributor level invoice lines, and a clear view of how one client payment maps to payouts. Petl Pay is designed for multi contributor projects.
Do free invoicing platforms include payments?
Often invoice creation is free, but payment processing, FX and payout routes can carry fees. It helps to separate free invoicing from the cost of collecting and settling funds.
Do all invoicing tools support stablecoins?
No. Most invoicing tools focus on document creation and may not support stablecoin settlement. Where stablecoins are used, availability typically depends on corridor coverage, compliance requirements and configuration.