How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Bonsai is the one tool for the whole freelance business, covering proposals, contracts, projects, time, invoices, and payments in one platform.
- Wave is the free start: invoicing and accounting at no cost, with payment processing charged per transaction.
- FreshBooks is the safest all rounder as the business grows, with proper books, time tracking, and invoicing from around 21 to 23 dollars a month.
- Toggl Track is the lowest friction time tracker with a free tier, while Harvest turns tracked hours into invoices most directly.
- Stripe is the collection first pick for retainers and payment links, with no monthly fee and pay as you go transaction fees.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Bonsai | Whole freelance business | $21/month | No |
 Wave | Free invoicing and accounting | Free | Yes |
 FreshBooks | Proper books as you grow | $21/month | No |
 Toggl Track | Frictionless time tracking | Free | Yes |
 Harvest | Hours into invoices | Free | Yes |
 Notion | Clients, notes, projects together | Free | Yes |
 Calendly | Ending scheduling back and forth | Free | Yes |
 Stripe | Taking payment anywhere | Free | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best apps for freelancers
Starting price$21/month
Free planNo
Bonsai is the unified platform for service businesses, consolidating projects, clients, and billing into one integrated, easy to use platform. Client management covers estimating and closing projects, collaborating with clients, and delivering a top notch client experience, while project management organizes delivery with tools teams actually use.
Finance management monitors revenue with detailed reports and puts billing on autopilot with recurring payments and retainers. Users report going from 4 hours to 15 minutes to send proposals, and from digging through reports for an hour to finding them in 5 minutes.
Bonsai fits freelancers and small studios that want one system from proposal to payment. Solo freelancers who only need invoices should start with Wave or Zoho Invoice instead, and hourly billers should compare Harvest first.
What we like- Unified platform for projects, clients, and billing
- Proposals, contracts, forms, and invoices in one flow
- Recurring payments and retainers
- Finance reports
- Used by 10,000 plus firms and freelancers
Watch out for- Trial only, no free tier
- Too much if you only need invoices
- Pricing varies by plan and user count
#2Wave
Best for: Free invoicing and accounting4.3/5 on
G2 (328 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit waveapps.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Wave is the single source of truth for small business finances, keeping accounting, invoicing, payments, and more in one unified system. The pitch is financial clarity and tax readiness year round, with tools designed to work together rather than as separate point solutions.
Invoicing is the standout: users report eight years without a single unpaid invoice thanks to how easy it is to create, send, and follow up. The software is web based with a mobile companion, and Wave Advisors offer one to one coaching from bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll experts for those who want help or a done for them option.
Wave fits freelancers starting with no budget who need professional invoices and tidy books. Growing businesses that need time tracking, project billing, or deeper reporting should compare FreshBooks or Bonsai.
What we like- Free invoicing and accounting
- Web based, no install
- Mobile app for invoices and payments
- 350,000 plus small businesses
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll experts available for coaching
Watch out for- Payment processing charged per transaction
- Limited mature workflow compared to FreshBooks
- Payroll and advisor services cost extra
#3FreshBooks
Best for: Proper books as you grow4.5/5 on
G2 (981 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit freshbooks.com
Starting price$21/month
Free planNo
FreshBooks is invoice and accounting software for small businesses, and it is the safest all rounder for freelancers whose books are getting serious. Time tracking feeds directly into invoices, expenses attach to projects, and payments flow through cards and bank transfer, with reports that show where the business actually stands.
The platform claims users save up to 553 hours each year and up to 7,000 dollars in billable hours, with people in more than 160 countries using it. The AppStore offers more than 100 integrations, from Zapier and Gusto to HubSpot and Square, so FreshBooks connects to the rest of a freelancer's stack.
FreshBooks fits solo service businesses that bill by the hour and want invoicing built in. Free only users should start with Wave, and proposal heavy studios should compare Bonsai.
What we like- Invoicing, expenses, time tracking, and payments in one tool
- Auto populated invoices from tracked time
- 100 plus app integrations
- 500,000 plus small businesses
- Free onboarding support
Watch out for- 30 day trial only, no free tier
- Entry plan covers 5 billable clients
- Team members cost extra
- Less ideal for subscription heavy work
#4Toggl Track
Best for: Frictionless time tracking4.6/5 on
G2 (1,589 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit toggl.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Toggl Track is the time tracker millions trust, built so time data is the foundation rather than an afterthought. Track time across web, desktop, mobile, and browser extensions, with automated background tracking that captures every hour accurately without interrupting focus.
The platform has grown from a simple timer into time intelligence: capacity planning shows who is overbooked, profitability reports show which projects earn, and Toggl AI answers plain language questions about hours, billable versus non billable time, and projects over estimate. Law firms get billable rates with 6 minute increments, and agencies get estimated versus actual time on every project.
Toggl Track fits freelancers who need a free tracker with the option to grow into capacity and profitability reporting. Hourly billers who need full invoicing should pair it with FreshBooks or choose Harvest instead.
What we like- Free tier for up to 3 users
- Paid from 9 dollars per user a month
- Start stop timer with offline tracking
- Idle detection
- Capacity planning and profitability reports
- Integrations with Jira, Asana, Notion, and Slack
- No screenshots or keystroke logging
Watch out for- Invoicing is basic, PDF from a report only
- Billable rates sit on paid plans
- Capacity features concentrate on higher tiers
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Harvest turns hours into profit by helping professional teams track time, bill clients, optimize team time, and measure performance with confidence. Multi tiered billing rates set rates by person, project, or task type, and Harvest picks the right one automatically, so invoices reflect the agreed rate without manual checking.
Profitability reports and budgeting show which projects earn and alert before it is too late, while retainers and estimates track recurring hour banks in real time. Clients pay directly from invoices using multiple payment methods, which reduces follow ups and gets freelancers paid faster.
Harvest fits freelancers and small teams whose product is time. Solo users with simple needs should compare Toggl Track's free tier, and proposal heavy studios should compare Bonsai.
What we like- Free for 1 seat and 2 projects with invoicing included
- Teams from 9 dollars per seat a month billed annually
- Multi tiered billing rates
- Profitability reports and budgeting
- Retainers and estimates
- 40 plus integrations
- Clients pay directly from invoices
Watch out for- Paid plans use Flex or Unlimited billing models that complicate budgeting
- Free tier limited to 1 seat and 2 projects
- Fewer project management features than Bonsai or Notion
#6Notion
Best for: Clients, notes, projects together4.6/5 on
G2 (13,834 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit notion.so
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Notion is the AI workspace that works for you, bringing everything into one system of record. Capture knowledge, find answers instantly with citations, and automate busywork with agents that keep work moving around the clock, from triaging feedback to resolving support tickets and automating weekly reporting.
For freelancers, Notion holds clients, notes, and projects together: a client database links to project pages, meeting notes, deliverables, and invoices tracked elsewhere, with templates for common freelance workflows. The platform is trusted by teams that ship, with 100 million users, more than 50 percent of YC companies, and 62 percent of the Fortune 100 using it.
Notion fits freelancers who want one home for knowledge and projects. It does not invoice or track billable time natively, so pair it with Wave, FreshBooks, or Harvest for money, and with Toggl Track for hours.
What we like- Free for personal use
- Paid from 10 dollars a month
- Docs, databases, and projects in one workspace
- AI search with citations
- Agents that automate busywork
- 100 million users
- G2 number 1 knowledge base for 3 years
Watch out for- Not an invoicing or accounting tool
- Setup takes effort to get right
- AI features sit on paid plans
- Can feel heavy for simple task lists
#7Calendly
Best for: Ending scheduling back and forth4.7/5 on
G2 (2,674 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit calendly.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Calendly is the world's number 1 scheduling tool, handling all the work around meetings so freelancers spend less time on busywork. Connect calendars, set hours, and control exactly when clients can book, from one on one calls to multi host meetings, with pre built event types for every scenario.
Automated email and text workflows reduce no shows, routing forms qualify leads and match them with the right team member, and website embeds let visitors schedule right from a freelancer's site. Newer features include Callie, an AI assistant that finds times from an email thread, actionable meeting recaps, and payment collection when clients book, which gets freelancers paid sooner.
Calendly fits freelancers whose work runs on meetings and discovery calls. It pairs with any invoicing tool on this list, and it is the fastest way to end the back and forth over meeting times.
What we like- Free tier
- Paid from 10 dollars per seat a month
- Used by 20 million professionals
- Booking links, routing forms, and website embeds
- Automated email and text reminders
- Payment collection at booking
- 150 plus integrations
- AI assistant Callie and meeting recaps
Watch out for- Scheduling only, not a full business platform
- Advanced features sit on paid plans
- Payment features newer than Stripe or FreshBooks
#8Stripe
Best for: Taking payment anywhere4.2/5 on
G2 (462 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit stripe.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Stripe is financial infrastructure to grow revenue, covering payments, business banking, and custom revenue models from the first transaction to the billionth. For freelancers, the practical tools are payment links, invoicing, and subscriptions, all available from the dashboard with no code required.
The platform supports more than 135 currencies and payment methods, manages more than 200 million active subscriptions through Stripe Billing, and processes 500 million plus API requests per day. Businesses on Stripe generated 1.9 trillion dollars in 2025, and the infrastructure handles thousands of transactions per second with consistent speed.
Stripe fits freelancers with retainers, subscriptions, or international clients who need reliable payment collection. It does not handle proposals or contracts, so pair it with Bonsai for the full client flow, or with Wave and FreshBooks for simple invoicing plus Stripe payments.
What we like- No monthly fee
- Pay as you go transaction fees around 1.5 to 2.9 percent plus a fixed fee
- Payment links, invoicing, and subscriptions
- 135 plus currencies and payment methods
- 1.9 trillion dollars processed in 2025
- 99.999 percent historical uptime
Watch out for- No proposal or contract workflow
- Setup needs more configuration than Wave or FreshBooks for simple invoicing
- Fees add up at high volume
How we chose
We compared freelancer apps by invoicing depth, time tracking quality, contract and proposal support, scheduling, payment collection, free tier value, and price. We opened every vendor homepage to confirm it loads and belongs to the product described. We favored tools with a free tier or a low entry price, and we excluded tools that only find freelance work without helping run the business.
What to check before you pick freelancer apps
First, name your bottleneck. If it is getting paid, start with Wave or Stripe. If it is tracking hours, start with Toggl Track or Harvest. If it is the whole client flow from proposal to payment, start with Bonsai. If it is scheduling, start with Calendly.
Next, check client caps and seat minimums before committing. FreshBooks entry covers 5 billable clients, Harvest free covers 1 seat and 2 projects, and Toggl Track free covers up to 3 users. The cheapest headline price is rarely the cheapest bill once your client list grows.
Finally, test export early. Make sure invoices, time reports, and client records export cleanly for your accountant or for a future tool switch. A freelancer stack that locks data in is a liability, not an asset.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for freelancers?
Bonsai is the best all in one for the whole freelance business, Wave is the best free start for invoicing and accounting, FreshBooks is the safest all rounder as you grow, Toggl Track is the best free time tracker, and Stripe is the best payment collection tool. Most freelancers use two or three together.
Is there a free app for freelancers?
Yes. Wave offers free invoicing and accounting, Toggl Track is free for up to 3 users, Harvest is free for 1 seat and 2 projects, Notion is free for personal use, Calendly offers a free tier, and Stripe charges no monthly fee. Bonsai and FreshBooks offer trials rather than free tiers.
Which freelancer app handles contracts and proposals?
Bonsai covers proposals, contracts, forms, and invoices in one flow, from estimate to signature to payment. Wave, FreshBooks, and Stripe handle invoicing and payments but not full proposal and contract workflows.
How do I track billable hours as a freelancer?
Toggl Track offers a free start stop timer with offline tracking and reports, while Harvest turns tracked hours into invoices most directly with multi tiered billing rates. FreshBooks also pulls tracked time onto invoices automatically.
Should freelancers use Stripe or an invoicing app?
Use both for different jobs. Stripe collects payments through links, invoicing, and subscriptions with no monthly fee, while Wave or FreshBooks manages the books, estimates, and client records. Pairing Stripe payments with an invoicing app gives the best of both.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://www.hellobonsai.com
- https://www.waveapps.com
- https://www.freshbooks.com
- https://toggl.com/track
- https://www.getharvest.com
- https://www.notion.so
- https://calendly.com
- https://stripe.com
- https://www.flozic.ai/blog/best-freelancer-apps
- https://www.gettimen.com/articles/time-tracking-software-with-invoicing
- https://seojuice.com/blog/best-invoicing-billing-tools-freelancers-2026/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.