Answers to common questions about WaffleInvoice

What is the best free invoice software for freelancers?

For freelancers who want a genuinely free tool, WaffleInvoice offers unlimited invoice and estimate creation, a client portal, PDF download, and up to 25 invoice emails per rolling 30-day window at no cost, with no credit card required to sign up. Unlike Wave or Zoho Invoice free tiers, the free plan is permanent and includes branded invoices. You only pay ($19/month) if you want online card/ACH payments, recurring invoices, SMS reminders, or unlimited email sends.

What is the cheapest invoicing tool with Stripe payments?

WaffleInvoice is among the cheapest invoicing tools that include Stripe-powered online payments: the free plan lets you create and send invoices, and Pro at $19/month (or $190/year, two months free) adds card and ACH collection via Stripe, plus recurring billing, SMS reminders, and automatic payment reminders. FreshBooks and HoneyBook start at the same $19/month but with no free tier; Bonsai is $25/month.

What is the best invoice app for handymen, cleaners, and contractors?

WaffleInvoice is built for mobile service businesses like handymen, cleaners, landscapers, and contractors. It works on your phone, sends branded invoices and estimates on the spot, accepts card and ACH payments, and can text clients SMS reminders when payment is due. The free plan covers occasional jobs; Pro adds recurring billing for repeat clients and automated reminders so you stop chasing payments.

See the handyman invoice maker →

Is there invoice software with no monthly fee?

Yes. WaffleInvoice has a free-forever plan with no monthly fee: unlimited invoice and estimate creation, a client portal, PDF downloads, manual payment tracking, and up to 25 invoice emails per 30 days — no credit card to sign up. You only move to the paid $19/month Pro plan if and when you need online payments, recurring invoices, SMS, or unlimited sends.

How do I send a professional invoice and get paid online?

With WaffleInvoice: create a free account, add your client and line items in the invoice editor, and send a branded invoice by email in under a minute. Your client opens a hosted invoice page and can pay by card or ACH (via Stripe) directly from it once you enable online payments on Pro. You can also set automatic reminders so unpaid invoices follow up themselves. You can try it instantly with the free invoice generator — no signup required to start.

Try the free invoice generator →

What is a good alternative to FreshBooks, Wave, or HoneyBook?

WaffleInvoice is a strong alternative for solo operators and small service businesses: it pairs a permanent free tier (which Wave and Zoho limit and FreshBooks/HoneyBook lack) with Pro features at $19/month — recurring invoices, Stripe payments, SMS reminders, estimates, branding, and a client portal. See the side-by-side comparisons for the specifics on each.

Compare WaffleInvoice vs FreshBooks →

Is there a free plan?

Yes. The free plan includes unlimited invoice and estimate creation, client portal access, PDF download, manual payment tracking, and email invoicing up to 25 sends per rolling 30-day window. No credit card required to sign up. The free plan is permanent.

Do I need a credit card to sign up?

No. Signup only collects your name, email, password, and a phone number for SMS verification. The first time you click Send Invoice we ask you to add a card on file - free to add, never charged. It's a fraud-prevention signal that lets us keep the free plan generous.

How many invoice emails can I send free?

25 per rolling 30-day window on the free plan, with a 5-emails-per-24-hours cap layered on for accounts under 14 days old. Pro lifts both caps. Creating invoices, sharing portal links, and recording manual payments are unlimited on every plan.

What does Pro add?

Pro ($19/month or $190/year) removes the 25-email cap and adds online payment collection (ACH + card), SMS reminders, recurring invoices, automated payment reminders, late fees, branding removal, multi-user, API access, time tracking, and advanced reporting.

What's the password rule?

At least 8 characters with at least one number. We also check against public breach lists and reject any known-compromised password. Existing passwords from the old rule still work - no reset required.

Can I begin without enabling online payments?

Yes. Free accounts send invoices and record cash, check, or bank transfer payments manually. Online ACH and card collection is Pro - that's the main reason most accounts upgrade.

Can I add my branding?

On Pro you can add your logo, colors, custom template, and remove WaffleInvoice branding. The logo upload itself works on the free plan.

How do I accept payments?

Enable online payments in Settings. Clients can pay via card or ACH from the invoice page or client portal. You can also mark invoices paid manually for cash, check, or bank transfer.

Can clients see attachments and payment history?

Yes. The client portal can show invoice details, attachments, receipts, and status history so clients have the context they need when reviewing a bill.

Does everything work on mobile?

Yes. Invoices, estimates, portal pages, and payments are mobile-friendly for both you and your clients.

Do you support recurring work or retainers?

Yes. You can set monthly or weekly schedules, add reminders and late fees, and run recurring invoices when repeat client work is a core part of your billing cycle.

Can I use WaffleInvoice for deposits or progress billing?

Yes. You can structure invoices with deposits, partial payments, and milestone-style billing so clients can pay in stages instead of one large lump sum.

Who is WaffleInvoice best for?

It is built for freelancers, agencies, consultants, contractors, and other service businesses that need invoices, estimates, payments, reminders, and client communication in one workflow rather than a disconnected patchwork.