Zoho Invoice vs InvoiceShelf

Zoho Invoice8.5Visit InvoiceShelf7.0Visit

Higher score Zoho Invoice #6 in Accounts Receivable Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Zoho Invoice

vs

InvoiceShelf #17 in Accounts Receivable Software 7.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit InvoiceShelf

• Zoho Invoice fits best

  Small businesses needing free invoicing

• InvoiceShelf fits best

  Self-hosting users needing free invoicing

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Side by side

Feature	Zoho Invoice 8.5/10 Visit ↗	InvoiceShelf 7.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	7.0
Ranking	#6 in Accounts Receivable Software	#17 in Accounts Receivable Software
Best for	Small businesses needing free invoicing	Self-hosting users needing free invoicing
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Self-hosted, Cloud
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	1 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business
Features Zoho Invoice 5/5 · InvoiceShelf 5/5
Invoice tracking	✓	✓
Overdue balance reports	✓	✓
Payment reminders	✓	✓
Customer payment portal	✓	✓
Recurring invoices	✓	✓
Specs
Invoice limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Payment methods	Both	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free plan includes reminders, recurring invoices, and a customer portal Supports online payments, aging reports, and customer balances Available on web, desktop, mobile, and through an API	Free, open-source deployment with no SaaS subscription or seat charges Recurring invoices, reminders, overdue reporting, and payment tracking Customer portal, multi-currency billing, branded PDFs, and REST API access
Cons	Free plan supports up to two users Limited to up to three projects Capped at up to 500 invoices per year	Web and self-hosted coverage may not suit teams seeking broader platforms Stripe is the only named integration Online payment availability differs between Stripe checkout and portal documentation
Our verdict	Zoho Invoice is cloud-based invoicing software for small businesses, freelancers, consultants, agencies, and entrepreneurs. It covers invoice creation and customization, delivery by email, links, or PDF, online payments, recurring… Read the review →	InvoiceShelf is an open-source, self-hosted web application for individuals, small businesses, agencies, and consultancies that need invoice and accounts receivable management. It supports the full invoice lifecycle, from creation and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Zoho Invoice — where it wins

  • Free plan includes reminders, recurring invoices, and a customer portal
  • Supports online payments, aging reports, and customer balances
  • Available on web, desktop, mobile, and through an API

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan supports up to two users
  • Limited to up to three projects
  • Capped at up to 500 invoices per year

• InvoiceShelf — where it wins

  • Free, open-source deployment with no SaaS subscription or seat charges
  • Recurring invoices, reminders, overdue reporting, and payment tracking
  • Customer portal, multi-currency billing, branded PDFs, and REST API access

  Where it doesn't

  • Web and self-hosted coverage may not suit teams seeking broader platforms
  • Stripe is the only named integration
  • Online payment availability differs between Stripe checkout and portal documentation

• Zoho Invoice8.5/10 · Free plan

  A capable free invoicing tool with payments, reminders, portals, and receivables reports.

  Visit Zoho InvoiceFull verdict →
• InvoiceShelf7.0/10 · Free plan

  Free invoicing with recurring billing, payment tracking, portals, reminders, and REST API access.

  Visit InvoiceShelfFull verdict →