Guide · Compare
Free invoice apps for contractors, and the catch in each
Every free plan pays for itself somewhere. Some cap your documents, some cap your clients, and some make it back on the card fee.
For unlimited invoices at no monthly cost, the main options are Settle (iPhone; Stripe's standard card rate), Square Invoices (3.3% + 30¢ on online payments on the free plan), Wave (2.9% + 60¢ per card payment) and PayPal (2.99% + 49¢ for cards). Zoho Invoice is free with a yearly invoice cap; Invoice Ninja is free for 5 clients; Contractor+ is free for 5 documents a month and Bookipi for 3.
The catch in each free plan
| App | Free plan limit | Card fee on free plan | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settle | No cap on estimates, invoices or customers; 3 AI-written drafts | Stripe's standard 2.9% + 30¢; Settle adds nothing | iPhone |
| Square Invoices | No document limit listed | 3.3% + 30¢ online | iPhone, Android, web |
| Wave | No document limit listed | 2.9% + 60¢ (Amex 3.4% + 60¢) | iPhone, Android, web; US and Canada |
| PayPal Invoicing | No document limit listed | 2.99% + 49¢ for cards; 3.49% + 49¢ via PayPal or Venmo | iPhone, Android, web |
| Zoho Invoice | 500 invoices a year, 2 users, 3 projects (per its FAQ); Zoho branding | Set by the gateway you connect | Web, iPhone, Android, desktop |
| Invoice Ninja | 5 clients; "Created by Invoice Ninja" line | Set by your own gateway | Web, mobile, desktop |
| Contractor+ | 5 estimates or invoices a month; 250 leads and clients | Not listed on its pricing page | iPhone, Android, web |
| Bookipi | 3 documents a month, estimates included | 2.9% + 30¢ via BookiPay; 3.4% + 30¢ via Stripe | Web, iPhone, Android |
From each company's pricing and fee pages, checked October 27 to November 4, 2026. See the full comparison for sources and paid plans.
How to choose
- If you send more than a few documents a month, rule out the capped plans (Bookipi, Contractor+), or plan to pay for them.
- If most customers pay by card, compare the fees: on a $1,500 payment, 2.9% + 30¢ is $43.80, 2.9% + 60¢ is $44.10, 2.99% + 49¢ is $45.34, and 3.3% + 30¢ is $49.80. Try your own numbers in the card fee calculator.
- If you need a computer, Settle is out; it's iPhone only.
- If you need accounting, Wave or Zoho bundle more of it.
- Check where the money goes. Some apps process payments themselves and set their own payout schedules and holds. See why invoice apps hold your money.
What is the best free invoice app for a contractor?
It depends on volume and payments. For unlimited estimates and invoices on an iPhone at Stripe's standard card rate, Settle. For a computer and phone with no document cap, Square, Wave or PayPal, each with its own card fee. Zoho Invoice is free up to 500 invoices a year.
Is there a free invoice app with no limits?
Settle, Square Invoices, Wave and PayPal don't list a document cap on their free plans. Each makes money elsewhere: Square, Wave and PayPal on card fees, Settle on optional AI drafts in Pro.
Which free invoice app has the lowest card fee?
Of these, Settle (Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢ with no added fee) and Bookipi through BookiPay (2.9% + 30¢) are lowest for US cards. Zoho Invoice and Invoice Ninja pass through whatever your connected gateway charges.
Send unlimited estimates and invoices free with Settle.
Free on iPhone. Unlimited estimates and invoices. 7 days of Pro to try the voice drafts, and you cancel in two taps.
Download on the App StoreiPhone, iOS 17 or later. Questions? Text Nina: (818) 945-9686