🏆 Top 5 invoicing tools for freelancers
Here is our selection of the best invoicing tools for freelancers: Abby, Indy, Freebe, Tiime and Qonto.
📊 Detailed comparison
Compare the key features of each tool at a glance.
| Criterion |  Abby Free, then from €9/month excl. VAT (list price, French offer) |  Indy Free Essentiel plan, then from €9/month excl. VAT billed annually (French offer) |  Freebe From €12.50/month on annual billing (micro-entreprise, French offer) |  Qonto From €9/month excl. VAT (solo, French offer, may differ locally) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| DGFiP Accredited Platform | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Automatic late-payment reminders | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Built-in payment link (Stripe) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in native accounting | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| URSSAF auto-declaration (micro) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
- Free plan
- ✓
- DGFiP Accredited Platform
- ✓
- Automatic late-payment reminders
- ✓
- Built-in payment link (Stripe)
- ✓
- Built-in native accounting
- ✗
- URSSAF auto-declaration (micro)
- ✓
- Free plan
- ✓
- DGFiP Accredited Platform
- ✓
- Automatic late-payment reminders
- ✓
- Built-in payment link (Stripe)
- ✓
- Built-in native accounting
- ✓
- URSSAF auto-declaration (micro)
- ✓
- Free plan
- ✗
- DGFiP Accredited Platform
- —
- Automatic late-payment reminders
- —
- Built-in payment link (Stripe)
- ✓
- Built-in native accounting
- ✗
- URSSAF auto-declaration (micro)
- ✓
- Free plan
- ✗
- DGFiP Accredited Platform
- ✓
- Automatic late-payment reminders
- ✓
- Built-in payment link (Stripe)
- ✓
- Built-in native accounting
- ✗
- URSSAF auto-declaration (micro)
- ✗
💡 Why the right invoicing tool changes everything in 2026
Three factors make choosing an invoicing tool more strategic than before. The first is the e-invoicing reform: on 1 September 2026, all French companies must be able to receive electronic invoices, and large companies must issue them. From 1 September 2027, the obligation to issue extends to all very small and small businesses, so to all freelancers. Excel and Word are no longer enough: you need a tool connected to an Accredited Platform (PA).
The second factor is time. The average freelancer spends 4 to 8 hours a month on invoicing: creating a quote, converting it to an invoice, tracking payments, chasing late payers, exporting for accounting. A good tool divides that time by 3 through automation. Over a year, that is the equivalent of a week of work recovered, i.e. €2,000 to €5,000 of extra revenue.
The third is cash flow. Freelancers who use a tool with automatic reminders and a Stripe payment link are paid on average 12 days faster than those who email PDFs. On a volume of €50k a year, that represents several thousand euros of cash advance.
Non-compliance risk
Issuing an invoice that does not meet the 2026 reform (missing mentions, non PDF/A-3 or Factur-X format) exposes you to a €15 fine per invoice, capped at €15,000 a year. A PA tool handles this automatically.
Late-payment risk
Without automatic reminders, 15 to 25% of freelance invoices are paid late. A tool that sends reminders at D+15, D+30 and D+45 halves late payments without you having to think about it.
Accounting risk
Gaps in numbering, a lost PDF or an export incompatible with your accountant can cost you dearly in an audit. A compliant invoicing tool guarantees traceability and legal archiving for 10 years.
🔍 The 4 essential functions of a modern invoicing tool
Not all tools cover the same needs. Here is how to rank them in 2026.
📄Compliant quotes and invoices
- What it covers
- Customisable quotes, one-click conversion to an invoice, automatic continuous numbering, pre-filled legal mentions (SIRET, VAT, payment terms), Factur-X and PDF/A-3 formats required by the 2026 reform.
- Who is it for?
- All freelancers, without exception. It is the basic foundation. Above all, check that the tool is a DGFiP Accredited Platform: the official list is published by the administration and counts around forty players in 2026.
- How much it costs
- Included in all plans, even free ones (Abby, Indy, Tiime have a free tier).
⏰Payment tracking and automatic reminders
- What it covers
- Dashboard of pending invoices, automatic bank reconciliation to mark invoices as paid, email reminder sequences before and after the due date (D-3, D+7, D+15, D+30), action history.
- Who is it for?
- Any freelancer who invoices more than 5 clients a month. It is the function that pays for the subscription fastest: recovering 1 or 2 late payments a year more than covers the cost of the tool.
- How much it costs
- Often reserved for paid plans (Pro tier at Abby at €12/month, Smart at Tiime at €17.99/month).
💳Built-in payment collection (Stripe payment link)
- What it covers
- A “Pay online” button on your invoices, payment by card or instant transfer via Stripe or GoCardless, immediate payment notification, automatic reconciliation. Transaction fees of 1.4 to 2.5% + €0.25 per transaction.
- Who is it for?
- Essential if you invoice individuals, micro-businesses, or any client who can pay by card. Pointless if you work only with large accounts that pay by transfer at 30/60 days.
- How much it costs
- No subscription cost (the margin is taken on transactions), but Stripe fees apply.
🔗Accounting and URSSAF integration
- What it covers
- One-click export in a format compatible with your accountant (Pennylane, Tiime, Indy, FEC). For auto-entrepreneurs: automated URSSAF declaration each month or quarter, with contribution calculation and direct payment from the app.
- Who is it for?
- Mainly auto-entrepreneurs for automatic URSSAF (a major time saver). Companies (SASU/EURL) for exports compatible with the accountant.
- How much it costs
🧭 How to choose your freelance invoicing tool well
Five criteria that make the difference in 2026, beyond the marketing.
- 1
Accredited Platform (PA) certification
The obligation to issue your invoices through an Accredited Platform arrives on 1 September 2027 for freelancers, so you might as well start now. Check that the tool appears on the official list of Accredited Platforms published by the DGFiP. Indy, Tiime, Qonto and Abby are certified. If your current tool is not, you will have to migrate: choose a compliant provider right away.
- 2
Truly useful features vs gadgets
Tools compete on features. In reality, 4 things matter: quotes convertible into invoices, automatic reminders, payment link and accounting exports. Everything else (fancy templates, e-signatures, multi-language) is secondary. Do not pay for what you will not use.
- 3
Mobile ergonomics
You will create invoices on the train, on the sofa, on your lunch break. A smooth mobile app changes everything. Test the app for 1 week before committing. Indy, Tiime and Abby have excellent apps. Qonto and Freebe too, but with a more desktop-oriented UX.
- 4
Integration with your existing tools
If you already use a business account (Qonto, Shine), a CRM or a project management tool, check the native integrations. No need to juggle 5 apps. Qonto has the advantage here if you already hold your business account there: invoicing and banking in the same interface.
- 5
Cancellation terms and data migration
Before signing, check how you can export your invoices and client data if you change tools. Most PAs offer a full export (CSV, JSON). Avoid tools that lock you in. Good tools let you leave with all your archives in one click.
💰 How much does freelance invoicing software cost in 2026?
Three price bands correspond to three different usage profiles.
Invoicing tools for freelancers range from €0/month (free plans) to €25 excl. VAT/month (all-in-one plans with built-in accounting). Most freelancers find what they need in the €9-17/month range: it is the sweet spot that includes automatic reminders, payment link, accounting exports and PA compliance. Beyond €20/month, you are paying for native accounting (an alternative to an accountant). As an auto-entrepreneur (micro), these fees are not individually deductible since the flat-rate allowance already covers them. On the actual-expenses regime or in a company, they are 100% deductible.
Abby Basique or Indy Essentiel are enough. Unlimited quotes/invoices, PA compliance included. No need to pay.
Indy Plus (€9) or Abby Pro (€12) for reminders + payment link. Tiime Smart (€17.99) if you want built-in accounting.
Tiime Business or Indy Premium for advanced tracking, e-signatures, CRM integrations. Pays for itself as soon as one late payment is recovered.
Indy or Tiime with full accounting (2035, 2042-C-PRO, VAT, balance sheet). Saves €500 to €1,500 a year versus a traditional accountant.
🎯 Which invoicing tool should you pick for your profile?
💼New auto-entrepreneur with few invoices
If you issue fewer than 10 invoices a month and want minimum friction, go for a free tool with automated URSSAF declaration. Abby has a genuinely free tier with unlimited quotes/invoices. Indy also offers a free plan with invoicing compliant with the 2026 reform. No need to pay for a subscription while your volume is low and you do not need automatic reminders.
🌱Freelancer with a high invoicing volume
Beyond 20 invoices a month, automatic reminders and bank reconciliation become essential. Indy Plus (€9 excl. VAT/month) or Abby Pro (€12/month) cover the needs. Tiime Smart (€17.99/month) is more complete but also more expensive. The maths is simple: if the tool saves you 3 hours a month and you bill €50 an hour, the subscription pays for itself in 12 minutes.
🚀B2B freelancer with big clients (payment at 30/60 days)
If you work with large accounts or SMEs, your problem is not issuing invoices (that is easy) but getting paid on time. Prefer a tool with customisable automatic reminders, ageing balance tracking and clean accounting exports. Indy and Tiime are the most complete here. The Stripe payment link is less critical: your clients will pay by transfer anyway.
🔧B2C freelancer or coach with direct sales
If you sell to individuals (coaching, courses, one-off services), your number one criterion is the built-in payment link. Abby, Freebe and Indy all include Stripe collection. Expect 1.4 to 2.5% + €0.25 in fees per card transaction, which is still cheaper than a physical terminal for modest volumes.
👨👩👧Freelancer who wants all-in-one (invoicing + accounting)
If you want to avoid having 2 tools (invoicing + accounting), Indy and Tiime combine both functions. Indy does full accounting (tax returns 2035, 2042-C-PRO, VAT) for BNC (non-commercial profits), and Tiime does the same for BIC (commercial profits) and companies. You pay a bit more (€15-25/month) but you replace your accountant, who generally costs €500-1,500 a year.
🏁 Our verdict: which tool for which use?
There is no universal “best tool”. Here is which tool to pick depending on your priority.
Free tier with unlimited quotes and invoices, Accredited Platform compliance, no commitment. To get reminders and the payment link, the Pro plan is €12/month. Ideal to start without risk.
Indy does full accounting (2035 returns, VAT, 2042-C-PRO) on top of invoicing. DGFiP Accredited Platform, automatic reminders, built-in payment link. Starts at €9 excl. VAT/month for the Plus plan, free on the Essentiel plan.
The most complete offer on the market: quotes/invoices, deposits, credit notes, one-click reminders, Stripe and GoCardless integrations, certified PA. More expensive (€17.99/month on Smart) but ideal for established freelancers who invoice B2B.
Invoicing is included in the Qonto subscription (from €9 excl. VAT/month), so no separate tool is needed. Certified PA, automatic reminders, Stripe payment link, native bank reconciliation since it is also your bank. The most integrated combo.
Frequently asked questions
The timetable is set: on 1 September 2026, all French companies must be able to receive electronic invoices. The obligation to issue them applies first to large companies (1 September 2026), then to all very small and small businesses, so all freelancers, from 1 September 2027. On that date, you will have to use an Accredited Platform (PA) certified by the DGFiP to issue your invoices.
A freelance invoice must contain: your details (name, address, SIRET), the client's details (name, address, VAT number if applicable), a unique, continuous invoice number, the issue date and the delivery or service date, a detailed description of the services, amounts excl. VAT and incl. VAT, the applicable VAT rate and amount (or the mention “TVA non applicable, art. 293 B du CGI” for auto-entrepreneurs under the VAT exemption), your payment terms and late-payment penalties.
Free plans (Abby Basique, Indy Essentiel, Tiime Free) are enough to start with unlimited quotes/invoices. Paid plans range from €7 to €18 excl. VAT/month for advanced features (reminders, payment link, accounting exports). All-in-one solutions with built-in accounting (Indy, Tiime) go up to €25-40/month but replace an accountant, who generally costs €500-1,500 a year.
Legally, yes until September 2027 (the date of the e-invoicing issuing obligation for very small and small businesses), provided you respect the mandatory mentions and continuous numbering. In practice, no: Word does not guarantee legal traceability, forces you to do everything manually, and you will have to switch to an Accredited Platform in 2027 anyway. You might as well migrate now.
An Accredited Platform is a tool certified by the DGFiP to issue, receive and transmit electronic invoices compliant with the 2026 reform. The official list is published by the administration and counts around forty players. If your invoicing tool is not a PA (or does not connect to one), your invoices will not be valid once the issuing obligation applies. Abby, Indy, Tiime and Qonto are all PAs.
It depends on your status. Auto-entrepreneurs under the VAT exemption (below €36,800 of revenue for services, €91,900 for sales) do not need VAT handling: the mention “TVA non applicable” is enough. Beyond the thresholds, or if you are in a company, automatic VAT handling becomes essential (rate calculation, CA3 or CA12 returns, export exemptions). All PA tools handle VAT correctly.
Yes, all PA tools offer accounting exports in FEC format (Fichier des Écritures Comptables, the French accounting entries file), CSV, or directly compatible with the main accountant software (Pennylane, Tiime, Indy, Cegid, Sage). Before committing, ask your accountant which formats they accept. Most prefer a monthly FEC export.
Three concrete levers: (1) send the invoice on the very day the service ends, not at month end; (2) shorten your payment terms to 15 or 30 days net (the law allows up to 60 days but nothing forces you to); (3) include a Stripe payment link directly on the invoice to allow immediate card payment. Freelancers who combine these 3 levers are paid on average 12 days faster.
Abby, Indy and Tiime offer a genuinely free plan with unlimited quotes and invoices and Accredited Platform compliance, enough for an auto-entrepreneur who is starting out. The limit: automatic late-payment reminders and the payment link are generally reserved for paid plans (from €7 to €9 excl. VAT/month). While your volume stays low, the free plan does the job; you move to paid the day recovering one late payment pays for the subscription.
Both are Accredited Platforms and do invoicing + accounting. Indy is built for BNC (liberal professions, BNC on actual expenses) with 2035 returns and a start at €9 excl. VAT/month, and keeps a free plan. Tiime is more complete for BIC and companies (deposits, credit notes, Stripe/GoCardless integrations) but starts higher (€17.99 excl. VAT/month on Smart). In short: Indy if you are in BNC or want a free option, Tiime if you invoice B2B with advanced needs.