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The Best Truly Free Invoicing Software for UK Users in 2025 UPDATED
*** Updated for Autumn 2025 *** The free invoicing app market is rather a shark invested sea at the moment. Lots of players offering free this and that, and lots of sponsored ads offering free plans. Does this actually make any sense?
For freelancers, sole traders, and small businesses in the UK, invoicing software is a vital tool for managing cash flow and maintaining professionalism. While many invoicing platforms advertise "free" tiers, the reality is often different.
The playbook seems to go like this.
- You search for a "free invoicing app for UK small businesses" say.
- You click on one and follow the links. You are suspicions so you head to the pricing page.
- Yep, free tier, you signup
- After a few weeks you find you've exceeded the restrictions of the free tier already. To continue you'll need to upgrade to the "pro tier"
- Gotcha.
Indeed, most large corporate apps restrict key features, limit the number of invoices or clients, or are heavily geared toward North American users and expensive pro subscriptions.
Invoicing apps offering free tiers to their software do so to lure users to cough for expensive subscriptions. Its clear companies are doing this as the avg CPC on google ads for the search term "Free Invoicing App" is over $30.
Why would a company pay $30 dollars to Mr Google for a customer that doesn't pay them anything? It doesn't make economic sense does it?
Maybe, just maybe said company really wants you to pay for their "pro plan" instead
Finding truly free invoicing software that works well in the UK can be tricky, but we've discovered a few options that genuinely deliver.
Envoyce Free Invoicing – 100% Free, UK only
TOP PICK: https://www.envoyce.co.uk/
In 2021, Envoyce made its invoice software completely free for all its users, and this policy continues in 2025. Unlike many others, it’s not a “free tier” with limited access; it’s the full version of the software, including customisable invoices, quotations, multiple users with full products and customer tracking.
For UK users, Envoyce ticks several important boxes: it supports GBP, VAT configuration, and HMRC-compliant invoicing. You can brand your invoices, emailing, WhatsApp support & has a invoice status links, and a special accountant link access.
Pros:
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100% free, full version
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Supports UK tax settings and GBP
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Highly professional template
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Invoice summary including debtor analysis and income trending
Cons:
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No MTD VAT submissions (due winter 2025)
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Lacks built-in full bookkeeping
Invoice Ninja (Self-Hosted Version)
Invoice Ninja offers a cloud-based free plan and a 100% free self-hosted version. While the hosted free version restricts users to 20 clients, the self-hosted option is fully open-source and unlimited in its features. For those with some technical know-how or access to web hosting, this is a powerful and completely free solution.
It supports custom branding, recurring invoices, time tracking, payment gateways (like Stripe), and UK-friendly tax settings. It's ideal for UK freelancers or agencies who want more control over their data.
Pros:
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Fully open-source, no ongoing costs
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Supports GBP and VAT
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Highly customisable with modules and themes
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Advanced features without paywall
Cons:
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Requires self-hosting and significant tech skills
- No as easy to use as others
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Setup may be too complex for casual users
PayPal Invoicing
While PayPal charges transaction fees, the invoicing tool itself is free and available globally. You can generate unlimited invoices, add your logo, set tax rates (including UK VAT), and allow clients to pay instantly online. It lacks full bookkeeping features, but for simple invoicing, it's quick and reliable.
Pros:
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Simple and fast to use
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UK-ready tax settings
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Automatically links with PayPal payments
Cons:
- Heavily tailored for PayPal instant payments
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Not as customisable as others
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Transaction fees apply if customers pay through PayPal
Final Thoughts
TOP PICK: https://www.envoyce.co.uk/
For truly free invoicing in the UK, Envoyce is the most robust and accessible option, offering a full suite of tools without cost or client limits. Invoice Ninja’s self-hosted version is ideal for users comfortable managing their own server. Meanwhile, PayPal Invoicing offers a simple, trusted way to invoice and collect payments, albeit with some limitations.
Free doesn't always mean compromised—if you pick the right tool, you can invoice professionally without spending a penny.