Invoice Ninja
Open-source invoicing, payments, and accounting for freelancers and small business.
Open the official app on invoiceninja.com
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Choose how you want to get started.
Use it free
Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.
Self-host it
Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.
What is Invoice Ninja?
Invoice Ninja is an open-source web-based tool designed to streamline invoicing, payments, and project management for small businesses, freelancers, and consultants. It provides a centralized platform for creating professional invoices, tracking time, managing client interactions, and handling recurring billing. The tool addresses the challenge of fragmented financial management by offering integrated features that reduce administrative overhead. Its primary users include independent contractors, small business owners, and agencies needing to automate billing processes. By eliminating the need for multiple tools, Invoice Ninja simplifies cash flow management and ensures consistent communication with clients. The project’s emphasis on affordability and accessibility—through a free, ad-supported plan—makes it a viable solution for startups and solo entrepreneurs seeking to scale operations without upfront costs.
How it works
Invoice Ninja is a web-based invoicing and project management application built with Laravel, hosted on GitHub under the Elastic-2.0 license. It enables users to generate professional invoices, track expenses, and manage client relationships through a unified interface. The tool is designed for businesses and professionals who need to automate billing cycles, reduce manual data entry, and improve financial transparency. Its core purpose is to replace disparate tools with a single platform that handles invoicing, payments, time tracking, and project organization. By centralizing these functions, Invoice Ninja helps users maintain control over their workflows while minimizing errors and delays in financial processes. Invoice Ninja supports customizable invoice templates with branding options, integrates with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal for instant payments, and allows recurring billing for subscriptions. Users can track time spent on projects using Kanban boards and export data for accounting purposes. The tool also includes expense tracking, client management, and automated reminders for overdue invoices.
How to use it
- 1Open the Invoice Ninja page
- 2Use the tool directly in your browser
- 3Results appear instantly — no waiting, no downloads
What it can do
- invoicing
Use cases
Assumptions and limitations
Assumptions
- source: https://github.com/invoiceninja/invoiceninja
- license: Elastic-2.0 — free to use
- privacy: Self-hosted — you control your data
Limitations
- The free plan lacks advanced features like custom domains, multi-currency support, and advanced reporting tools.
- Manual data entry is required for non-integrated systems, increasing the risk of human errors.
- The open-source version requires technical expertise for custom deployments or server configurations.
- Payment gateways like Square or GoCardless may require additional setup steps beyond the basic interface.
- Limited offline functionality means users cannot access invoices or track time without an internet connection.
Understanding the result
Open-source invoicing, payments, and accounting for freelancers and small business.
Tool details
- Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
- No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
- Powered by (MIT).
- Built with
- (invoiceninja/invoiceninja)
- License
- MIT
- Runs locally
- No — requires a network request
- Verification
- Not yet verified
- Input
- Query
- Output
- Text
Built with invoiceninja/invoiceninja. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.
- Built with
- License
- MIT
Open-source project
OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.
References
- / — GitHub Repository
Upstream project · GitHub
- Elastic-2.0 License
Upstream project
Frequently asked
What are the limitations of the free plan?
The free plan offers basic invoicing and payment features but excludes advanced tools like custom domains, multi-currency support, and enterprise-level reporting. Users cannot access premium features such as advanced analytics, custom branding options, or team collaboration tools without upgrading to a paid plan. Additionally, the free version may include advertisements, though it remains fully functional for core operations.
How does Invoice Ninja handle payment processing?
Invoice Ninja integrates with third-party payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and Square through API connections. When a user selects a payment method, the tool generates a secure payment link or redirect that processes transactions on the gateway’s servers. The invoicing platform handles tracking payment statuses and updating invoice records, but actual payment processing occurs externally. This setup ensures compliance with financial regulations while maintaining user control over billing workflows.
How do I create a recurring invoice?
To create a recurring invoice, navigate to the 'Invoices' section, select 'New Invoice,' and enable the 'Recurring' option. Set the frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) and specify the start date. The system will automatically generate new invoices at the defined intervals, applying any updated line items or pricing. Users can pause or cancel recurring cycles at any time through the invoice settings.
How does Invoice Ninja compare to FreshBooks or Wave?
Invoice Ninja differs from FreshBooks and Wave by offering open-source flexibility and self-hosting options, whereas FreshBooks and Wave are proprietary SaaS platforms. Invoice Ninja provides more customization for developers but lacks the polished UI of FreshBooks. Wave is simpler but lacks advanced project management features. Invoice Ninja’s free plan is more feature-rich than Wave’s, but FreshBooks offers better integration with accounting software like QuickBooks.
What should I do if I can’t log in to my account?
If login issues occur, check for typos in your email or password. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the 'Forgot Password' link to reset it. If the problem persists, verify your internet connection and try clearing browser cache. For persistent errors, check the GitHub repository’s issue tracker for known bugs or contact the support team via the website’s contact form. Ensure your browser is up to date and disable ad-blockers temporarily, as they may interfere with login functionality.