Invoice Ninja review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Open source invoicing app available hosted or self hosted, with a free tier limited to 5 clients.
Verdict at a glance
Invoice Ninja is an open source invoicing app available hosted or self hosted. It offers a client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways, with a free tier limited to 5 clients and Pro at $140 per year.
Pros
- Low cost compared with per seat invoicing tools.
- Self hosting gives data control and flexibility.
Cons
- Interface and setup feel technical.
- Limited review base and support depth versus larger vendors.
What is Invoice Ninja?
Open source invoicing app available hosted or self hosted, with a free tier limited to 5 clients. It is built for freelancers and small firms comfortable self hosting to avoid per seat fees and teams wanting client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways at a flat low price. Invoice Ninja was founded in 2014.
Category: Invoicing Software
Invoice Ninja key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Recurring invoices and subscriptions | Supported (Pro) |
| Online payment acceptance | Multiple gateways; not confirmed by the vendor in detail. |
| Branding and templates | Custom branding URL on Pro; client portal branded on all plans. |
Invoice Ninja pricing
Invoice Ninja uses flat pricing rather than per seat or per invoice. The Free plan covers up to 5 clients. Pro is $140 per year, billed annually, with unlimited clients, a custom branding URL and recurring invoices. Self hosting is free and the self host option is listed under Pro. A white label license is reported at about $40 per year, but that is unconfirmed. Some third-party sites list Enterprise tiers by seat count, so check with the vendor.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | up to 5 clients | Unlimited invoicing per Invoice Ninja comparison page via search |
| Pro | $140 | per year ($11.67/month equivalent) | Unlimited clients, custom branding URL, self host option listed under Pro |
Third party sources disagree: some list Pro at $14/month or Enterprise tiers by seat count ($180 for 2 users to $840 for 20 users per year, FitGap). Only the $140/year Pro figure was seen on the vendor compare page. Self hosted white label license about $40/year per search summary, unconfirmed.
Who Invoice Ninja is best for
Best for
- Freelancers and small firms comfortable self hosting to avoid per seat fees.
- Teams wanting client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways at a flat low price.
Not ideal for
- Teams wanting a large vendor with polished support and many reviews (only 22 on G2)
- Users needing a free plan with many clients.
Invoice Ninja alternatives
FreshBooksFreelancers and service businesses billing a limited number of clients.
WaveFreelancers and micro businesses wanting free bookkeeping.
Zoho InvoiceFreelancers and micro businesses that want free invoicing.
QuickBooks OnlineSmall businesses that work with an outside accountant who already uses QuickBooks.
XeroTeams that need unlimited users without per-seat cost.
Bill.comFinance teams that run both bill pay and invoicing in one tool with approval chains.
What Invoice Ninja really costs
Invoice Ninja publishes a starting price but few details about how the bill grows, so the real cost depends on the quote. Use the questions below to turn a sales conversation into a number you can compare.
Add-ons and extras to budget for
- White label license about $40/year (unconfirmed, third party)
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Invoice Ninja worth the price?
Invoice Ninja is good value for freelancers and small firms that want a client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways at a low flat price, especially if they are comfortable self hosting. It is awkward if you have more than 5 clients and do not want to pay, or if you want polished support from a large vendor. Reviewers describe the interface and setup as technical.
Worth it if
- Freelancers and small firms comfortable self hosting to avoid per seat fees.
- Teams wanting client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways at a flat low price.
Look elsewhere if
- Teams wanting a large vendor with polished support and many reviews (only 22 on G2)
- Users needing a free plan with many clients.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Pro is $140/year flat versus per seat pricing at most rivals.
- Self hosting is free and the code is source available, so you pay only server and upkeep.
- Free tier caps at 5 clients.
- Third party listings quote conflicting Enterprise prices, so confirm at purchase.
Our verdict on Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is among the cheapest ways to run invoicing, because it charges a flat fee instead of per seat. The free tier is limited to 5 clients, and Pro is $140 per year, about $11.67 per month, with unlimited clients. You can also self host, since the code is source available, so you pay only for your own server and upkeep.
The caveat is that third-party listings quote conflicting Enterprise prices, and only the $140 Pro figure is confirmed on the vendor page. Confirm the current price before you buy. G2 shows 4.3 out of 5 from 22 reviews, a small base. If you plan to self host, add the cost of a server and the time to maintain it before calling it free.
Invoice Ninja FAQ
What is Invoice Ninja used for?
Invoice Ninja is an open source invoicing app available hosted or self hosted. It offers a client portal, recurring invoices and many payment gateways, with a free tier limited to 5 clients and Pro at $140 per year. It suits freelancers and small firms comfortable self hosting to avoid per seat fees.
Does Invoice Ninja have a free plan?
Yes. The free plan is limited to 5 clients. Beyond that you need Pro at $140 per year, or you can self host the source available code.
How much does Invoice Ninja cost per year?
Pro is $140 per year, about $11.67 per month, billed annually, and it is a flat fee rather than per seat. Third-party sites quote other Enterprise prices, so confirm before purchase.
Is self hosting Invoice Ninja free?
Self hosting is free and the code is source available, so you pay only for server and upkeep. A white label license is reported at about $40 per year, but that figure is unconfirmed.
About Invoice Ninja
- Founded
- 2014.
Listed in: Invoicing Software
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Invoice Ninja's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.