Overview

Zoho Invoice is a no-cost invoicing app for small businesses and independent professionals who need billing, payment follow-up, and client access in one place. Its recurring invoices and range of payment methods suit repeat service work; its annual invoice, project, and user caps make it less suitable for a growing team or high-volume billing.

Zoho, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Chennai, makes the product. The free plan adds Zoho branding to invoices, and data is deleted after more than 180 days of inactivity, within the next 20 days, after prior notification. Zoho says it does not show ads or sell user information.

For other options, browse Invoicing software, Accounts Receivable Software, Time Billing Software, Freelance Invoicing Software, and Contractor Invoicing Software.

Key features

Billing and collections

Zoho Invoice supports standard and recurring invoices, invoice tracking, and overdue-balance reports. Automated payment reminders can prompt customers without requiring the business to follow up manually each time. Invoices can be emailed or shared as PDFs through WhatsApp or iMessage, which gives small operators several ways to deliver them.

Customers can pay by UPI, credit or debit card, net banking, or bank payment. For Indian businesses, the ability to create GST-compliant invoices and file GSTR-1 through an API is a specific advantage. It is a focused billing toolkit rather than a reason on its own to adopt a wider accounting workflow.

Client portal and business records

The customer portal lets clients view and pay invoices, respond to quotes, and leave reviews. That consolidates common billing interactions in a self-service space, though the plan's three-project ceiling may constrain agencies or contractors managing multiple engagements.

Expense and time tracking complement invoicing, while reports cover products, receivables aging, customers, taxes, sales, and expenses. Integrations include Zoho CRM, Analytics, and Books. Free email support is available 24/5.

Pricing

Free

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free and is billed Free forever; it is free for all Indian businesses, forever. It includes online invoicing, payment reminders, recurring invoices, a customer portal, and expense and time tracking, with two users, three projects, and 500 invoices per year. Those limits are workable for a solo operator or a small practice with modest billing, but require monitoring as client work and invoice volume increase. The included Powered by Zoho Invoice branding may also be unwelcome when a business wants unbranded client-facing documents.

There is no paid Zoho Invoice tier priced in the plan information, so the listed entry price is 0 /mo and there is no stated upgrade price to weigh against those caps. The inactivity policy matters for businesses that pause work: after more than 180 days without activity, account data is deleted within the following 20 days, with prior notification.

Platforms

Zoho Invoice is available on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. Mobile apps suit professionals who need to manage billing away from a desk, while Windows and Mac support desktop access. No web platform is identified for this product.

Who it's for

Freelancers, consultants, contractors, agencies, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses can use the free plan to send and track invoices, collect payments, and give clients a portal without a subscription charge. It is especially relevant to Indian businesses needing GST-compliant invoices and GSTR-1 filing through an API. Businesses needing more than two users, three projects, or 500 invoices a year should look beyond this plan; the branding and inactivity deletion policy are also poor fits for some client-facing or intermittently active operations.

Pros and cons

Pros: The free plan combines recurring billing, reminders, expense and time tracking, and a client portal, avoiding a subscription for businesses within its caps.
Pros: UPI, cards, net banking, and bank payments, plus GST invoicing and GSTR-1 filing through an API, address Indian billing needs.
Pros: PDF delivery through email, WhatsApp, or iMessage and client self-service can reduce routine invoice handling.
Cons: Two users, three projects, and 500 invoices per year impose clear ceilings on team size and workload.
Cons: Zoho branding appears on free-plan invoices, and prolonged inactivity triggers data deletion after notification.

Alternatives

PayPal Invoicing is worth considering when a business wants to create and send invoices without setup or subscription fees and is prepared for transaction fees when customers pay; it has web, iOS, and Android support.

InvoiceOcean may suit a very low-volume operation: its free plan is 0.00 USD per free, billed monthly, and caps usage at three invoices per month and one user. SumUp Invoices is another free-plan option.

Hiveage is an alternative with a free plan. Zoho Billing is a paid alternative with a Standard plan at 39.00 USD per month, billed annually, for businesses seeking quotes and invoices, up to three users, multi-currency transactions, and automated reminders.

ProfitBooks, Invoicera, and Billbooks are also alternatives to compare.

Verdict

Zoho Invoice is a sensible choice for a small business or independent professional that can stay within two users, three projects, and 500 annual invoices and wants recurring billing, payment follow-up, and client self-service at no subscription cost. Choose another tool if those limits are too tight, invoice branding is unacceptable, or inactivity-related deletion conflicts with how the business operates.

	Clerq	Zoho Invoice
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, self-hosted, Web	Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Invoice generation	Yes	—
Time capture	mixed	—
Billable rates	Yes	—
Recurring invoices	Yes	Yes

Clerq vs Zoho Invoice

Clerq

Zoho Invoice