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InvoiceShelf
What it is
InvoiceShelf is a free, open-source application for creating invoices and estimates, tracking payments, and managing expenses. It is self-hosted and accessed through the web, with branded documents, custom fields, tax rules, multiple currencies, and PDF templates. You can schedule recurring invoices for retainers, subscriptions, or repeat customers, then review reports on sales, taxes, overdue balances, and profit. Customers can view invoices, estimates, and payments through a private portal without setting up a separate account. Payment tracking includes partial and full payments, and the product lists Stripe checkout for card payments. The app also provides expense tracking, payment reminders, backups, and integrations for remote storage such as Dropbox, Amazon S3, and DigitalOcean Spaces. A REST API and module system provide extension options; webhooks are marked as coming soon. Hosting requires PHP 8.3 or 8.4, a supported web server, and a listed database. The free plan is free and includes unlimited invoices and customers.
For and against
For
- Free plan includes unlimited invoices and customers
- Supports recurring invoices and payment reminders
- Customers can view documents through a private portal
- Backups can include files, database, or both
Against
- Requires self-hosting and specified server software
- Webhooks are marked as coming soon
- MCP server is off until a super admin enables it
The verdict
InvoiceShelf combines invoicing, expense tracking, payment records, reporting, and customer access in a self-hosted web app. Its free plan has no invoice or customer limit, but setup requires the listed hosting environment.
Who it suits
InvoiceShelf suits individuals and small businesses, including agencies and consultancies, that want to host their own invoicing and expense system. It may also suit users who need recurring invoices, payment tracking, and customer access to documents.
Plans and prices
Free
unlimited invoices and estimates · unlimited customers · recurring billing · expenses
Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
InvoiceShelf
Free forever · open source under AGPL-3.0 · self-hosted · unlimited invoices and customers
Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
On the record
- AI assistant connections
- InvoiceShelf 3 documentation describes MCP connections for Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, and Cursor, with read-only or read-and-write access.docs.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- AI availability
- The MCP server is available in InvoiceShelf 3.0.0-alpha.5 and remains off until a super admin enables it.docs.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- AI extensibility
- The AI assistant uses a customer-supplied OpenRouter key, runs on the user's server, and exposes read-only query tools.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- AlternativeTo listing
- AlternativeTo describes InvoiceShelf as free, open source, and available as a web and mobile invoicing application; its listing showed 3 likes.alternativeto.net · read 21 Oct 2026
- Android app status
- The Google Play app is an unofficial Android client, requires a self-hosted InvoiceShelf server, and says no data is shared or collected.play.google.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- API and extensibility
- InvoiceShelf advertises a full REST API using Sanctum tokens and a module system; webhooks are marked as coming soon.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Backups
- Users can back up files and the database from the UI, choosing a full, database-only, or files-only backup.docs.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Company facts
- LinkedIn describes Ideologix Media DOOEL as privately held, founded in November 2016, headquartered in Skopje, and employing 2–10 people.mk.linkedin.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Customer portal
- Customers can view invoices, estimates, and payments through a private portal without creating separate accounts.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- Documentation covers installation, developers, migration, dashboards, customers, portals, invoices, recurring invoices, payments, expenses, taxes, PDFs, email, backups, and reports; community help is offered through Discord and GitHub Discussions.docs.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Estimates
- Estimates can be sent, acceptance tracked, and converted into invoices.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Expenses and reports
- Users can track expenses and access reports for sales, taxes, overdue balances, and profit.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Expense tracking
- Expenses can be categorized, linked with receipt attachments, and reconciled against invoices.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker advertises Stripe checkout for online card payments and supports SMTP, sendmail, PHP mail, Amazon SES, Mailgun, and Postmark for email delivery.invoiceshelf.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes InvoiceShelf as open-source invoicing for individuals and small businesses, with features aimed at small businesses, agencies, and consultancies.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Invoicing
- It supports branded invoices and estimates, custom fields, tax rules, multi-currency, and PDF templates.invoiceshelf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- InvoiceShelf is released under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0.github.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: ecosystem depth
- Indiebase describes fewer advanced commercial features, including limited payment-gateway integrations, basic recurring payments, and less detailed reporting.indiebase.io · read 21 Oct 2026
