Built for developers who freelance
Invoicing built for freelance web developers who bill by the project, hour, or sprint.
You build websites and apps. Your invoicing shouldn't feel like debugging spaghetti code. WaffleInvoice gives freelance developers branded invoices, milestone billing, online payments, and a client portal - free.
No credit card required. Free forever for unlimited invoices.
Sound familiar?
The invoicing problems freelance developers actually face.
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Scope creep with no paper trail
The client approved a 5-page marketing site. Now they want a blog, a contact form with CRM integration, and "just a few animations." The original estimate is buried in a Slack thread and they expect the same price.
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Tracking hours across multiple projects
You're juggling three clients, billing one hourly and two on fixed-price projects. Keeping track of what to invoice, when, and for how much is a spreadsheet nightmare.
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Clients who ghost after launch
The site is live, the client is thrilled, and then they disappear when it's time to pay the final invoice. You have no leverage and no automated follow-up.
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No deposit workflow for big projects
You know you should collect 50% upfront on a $10K build, but your invoicing setup makes it awkward to split a project into deposit and final payment.
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Rebuilding invoices from scratch every time
Every new project means manually creating an invoice, adding your bank details, formatting line items, and attaching a PDF. It takes 20 minutes you could spend coding.
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No professional client-facing portal
You send invoices as email attachments or Google Docs links. Clients can't find old invoices, and you look less professional than your code deserves.
The fix
One tool for estimates, invoices, payments, and client history.
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Branded, professional invoices
Add your logo, customize colors, and send invoices that match the quality of your code. Every invoice reflects your brand - not a generic template.
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Estimates with milestone billing
Send a detailed estimate breaking the project into phases - design, development, QA, launch. When the client approves, convert each milestone into an invoice with one click.
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Recurring billing for retainers
Maintenance contracts, hosting management, or monthly dev retainers - set up a recurring invoice once and it sends automatically. No more first-of-the-month busywork.
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Online payments via Stripe
Accept credit card and ACH bank transfers directly through your invoice. Clients pay in two clicks from the invoice link - no more waiting on checks or chasing wire transfers.
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Client portal
Give every client a branded portal where they can view invoices, download receipts, and check payment history. Self-service, professional, and always available.
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Everything in one dashboard
Clients, estimates, invoices, payments, and billing history. One place instead of five browser tabs, a spreadsheet, and a PayPal account.
Your workflow
From project scope to payment collected.
Scope the project
Create a detailed estimate with milestones - discovery, design, frontend, backend, testing, launch. The client reviews and approves through a shareable link.
Invoice per milestone
Convert approved milestones into invoices as you complete each phase. Line items, rates, and notes carry over automatically from the estimate.
Client pays online
The client receives the invoice by email, clicks through, and pays with a card or bank transfer via Stripe. No check-is-in-the-mail excuses.
Track everything
Payment status, automated reminders, and complete client history visible from your dashboard. Know exactly who owes what at a glance.
Works for every dev specialty
Whether you build sites, apps, or custom integrations.
Freelance full-stack developers
Invoice for complete web builds - frontend, backend, database, and deployment. Break projects into phases and bill per milestone or on completion.
WordPress developers
Bill for theme customization, plugin development, site migrations, and ongoing maintenance. Set up recurring invoices for monthly care plans.
Frontend developers
Invoice for UI builds, responsive redesigns, component libraries, and performance optimization. Track deliverables with clear line items per feature.
Shopify & e-commerce developers
Bill for store setup, theme development, app integrations, and ongoing support. Use estimates to scope custom functionality before development starts.
API & backend developers
Invoice for API development, database architecture, server configuration, and integration work. Document technical deliverables in estimate line items.
Web development agencies
Manage multiple client accounts, project-based billing, and maintenance retainers from one workspace. Track payments across your entire client roster.
Free - $0/month
- Unlimited invoices - no cap, no trial
- Unlimited clients
- Branded invoices with your logo
- Estimates with client approval flow
- Client portal for invoice history
- PDF downloads and shareable links
Pro - when you're ready
Accept credit card and ACH payments directly through your invoices, set up recurring billing for retainer clients, and automate payment reminders.
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Online payments via Stripe (ACH + card)
- Automatic payment reminders
- Recurring invoices for retainer clients
- Email delivery and read tracking
- Automation rules for your workflow
Frequently asked questions
- Can I bill per milestone on a web development project?
- Yes. Create an estimate with multiple milestones - design, development, QA, launch - each with its own price. When the client approves, convert each milestone to an invoice as you complete it. The scope is documented and both sides know exactly what was agreed.
- Can I set up recurring invoices for maintenance retainers?
- Yes. On the Pro plan, create a retainer invoice once and schedule it to send automatically every month, quarter, or on a custom interval. Perfect for hosting management, site maintenance, or monthly development hours.
- Is WaffleInvoice really free for developers?
- Yes. The free plan includes unlimited invoices, unlimited clients, branded invoices, estimates, and a client portal. No trial period, no credit card required, and no limit on how many invoices you send.
- How do clients pay my invoices?
- On the Pro plan, clients can pay directly from the invoice link using a credit card or ACH bank transfer via Stripe. On the free plan, you can include your own payment instructions - PayPal, Wise, bank transfer details - on the invoice.
- Can I collect a deposit before starting a project?
- Absolutely. Send an estimate for the full project, then create a deposit invoice for 50% (or whatever split you prefer) before development begins. The remaining balance gets invoiced on delivery or per milestone.
- Do my clients get a portal to view their invoices?
- Yes. Every client gets a branded portal where they can view all their invoices, download PDFs, and check payment history. It looks professional and saves you from digging up old invoices when clients ask.
Stop chasing payments. Start shipping invoices.
Join thousands of freelancers who use WaffleInvoice to look professional and get paid faster.
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