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Find out the cost of starting a business in Norway as a UK resident. Our guide covers capital rules, legal fees, visa fees, and more.
Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK lose up to £250 billion1 each year to unpaid invoices. That's why choosing the best invoicing software is non-negotiable for any business that wants to maintain a healthy cash flow.
The right invoicing app can help you create invoices, send timely reminders and significantly cut down late payments and unpaid bills.
In this guide, we've reviewed the best invoicing software for UK businesses, comparing their features, fees, integrations and Trustpilot reviews to help you figure out which is best for your business.
We've also highlighted which of these providers integrate with Wise Business to help you sync transactions and streamline reconciliation.
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Note: Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.
Provider features, fees, eligibility checks, integrations and timelines mentioned in this article may vary by customer, business type, application outcome, plan and country. Check each provider's website and terms and conditions for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
| Provider | May suit | Features and costs to check |
|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Freelancers and service businesses that want invoicing alongside expenses and time tracking. | According to FreshBooks' UK pricing information, paid plans include customised invoices and quotes, recurring invoices, late-payment reminders, online card payments and MTD VAT-return filing. Its pricing page also lists optional Advanced Payments and additional team-member charges.1 |
| QuickBooks | Businesses that want invoicing within a broader accounting platform. | According to QuickBooks' UK pricing information, plans include invoicing and payments, recurring invoices and accounting features. Prices are shown excluding VAT and payroll is a paid add-on.2 |
| Sage | Sole traders and businesses that want accounting, invoicing and VAT-related tools in the same provider family. | According to Sage's UK product information, Sage offers a sole-trader product and accounting products for businesses of different sizes. Its page advertises a free plan for sole traders with MTD requirements and promotional pricing for accounting.3 |
| Simplybill | Freelancers and small businesses that mainly need straightforward quotes and invoices. | According to Simplybill's pricing information, its free plan is limited to three invoices a month after a 14-day trial. Paid plans start at USD 5 a month, with invoice limits varying by tier.4 |
| Zoho Books | Businesses that want invoicing, accounting, bills and reporting together. | According to Zoho Books' UK pricing information, a Free plan includes invoices, quotes, payment reminders, recurring invoices and VAT returns. Paid plans add functions such as bank feeds, multi-currency transactions, inventory and user access depending on the tier.5 |
FreshBooks is a cloud accounting and invoicing tool aimed at freelancers, contractors and small service businesses.
According to FreshBooks' UK pricing information, its paid plans include unlimited quotes, customised invoices, recurring invoices, late fees, automated late-payment reminders, deposits, online credit-card payments, Direct Debit payment options, time tracking, bank import, VAT filing for MTD, bank reconciliation and accountant access. The same page lists Advanced Payments at GBP 15 a month and additional team members at GBP 8 a month.1
FreshBooks may suit freelancers, consultants, agencies and professional-services businesses that want time tracking and expenses alongside invoices. Check client limits, payment costs and any add-on charges for the plan you choose.
QuickBooks is an accounting platform with invoicing included. According to QuickBooks' UK pricing information, its plan range includes Sole Trader Plus, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced. The page lists invoicing and payments, recurring invoices, bank feeds, VAT support and accountant access, with additional multi-currency features on Essentials and inventory features on Plus.2
QuickBooks may suit businesses that want invoicing and bookkeeping together, particularly where estimates, expense capture, reports and accountant collaboration are part of the workflow. The advertised prices are exclusive of VAT, and payroll is a paid add-on, so check the plan and any add-on costs before committing.2
Sage offers products for sole traders, small businesses and larger organisations. According to Sage's UK product information, its sole-trader product includes an MTD-focused free-plan option, while Sage Accounting is aimed at businesses with one to 19 employees. Sage's page advertises introductory Accounting pricing from GBP 2, then GBP 20 a month excluding VAT, and identifies invoice creation and late-payment chasing as capabilities of its payments agent.3
Sage may suit a business that wants invoicing close to wider accounting, VAT or payroll workflows. Check the precise product, promotion end date, renewal price and the features included for your business size.
Simplybill is a lighter invoicing tool for businesses that want to create and manage invoices without a full accounting platform.
According to Simplybill's pricing information, all new accounts receive a 14-day trial. After this, the free plan is limited to three invoices a month. Basic costs USD 5 a month and includes up to 25 invoices a month, Enhanced costs USD 15 a month and includes up to 100, and Premium costs USD 25 a month with unlimited invoices. The pricing page also lists unlimited quotes, reminders, customised templates and email alerts across paid plans.4
Simplybill may suit a freelancer or small business that mainly needs straightforward quotes and invoices. Its pricing is in USD, so UK businesses should factor in their own card or currency-conversion costs where relevant.
Zoho Books is part of the wider Zoho business-software suite. According to Zoho Books' UK pricing information, its Free plan includes invoices, quotes, expenses, payment reminders, recurring invoices, bank-transaction reconciliation and VAT returns. Standard is GBP 12 a month, or GBP 10 a month when billed annually; Professional is GBP 24 a month, or GBP 20 billed annually.5
The same pricing page identifies bank feeds, progress invoicing and recurring expenses on Standard. Professional adds vendor bills and payments, purchase and sales orders, multi-currency transactions and inventory features. Higher plans add more advanced inventory and reporting functions.5
Zoho Books may suit a small business that wants invoicing, expenses, bills and reporting in one system. Check the feature limits and user allowance for the specific plan, especially if you need projects, inventory or multi-currency transactions.
The right choice depends on how your business invoices, gets paid and keeps its books. Before comparing providers, map the work the tool needs to handle.
If you send a handful of invoices each month, a basic tool may be enough. If you send dozens or hundreds, look for invoice templates, recurring invoices, automatic reminders, payment-status tracking and a useful dashboard for overdue payments.
If invoicing feeds into your accounts, consider VAT workflows, bank feeds, expense capture, accountant access, payment matching, tax reports and exports. A dedicated invoicing tool can work well for simpler needs, while a full accounting platform can reduce the number of systems you manage.
Some tools let you add card, Direct Debit or payment-link options to invoices. Check the applicable payment fee, settlement timing and whether the route works for the customers you serve.
If customers pay from abroad, check whether the software can issue invoices in the needed currency, give clear payment instructions and reconcile the incoming payment. Also consider what happens after the customer pays: whether you can receive, hold, convert or spend the money in the currency that works for your business.
A sole trader may need one login. A larger business may need different access for directors, finance teams, accountants and sales staff. Check user limits, approval settings and audit trails before committing to a plan.
Your invoicing software can create and track an invoice - but if your business also needs to receive payments from overseas clients or use invoice income in another currency, those related transactions still need to be recorded and reconciled accurately.
This is where Wise Business can support the wider workflow.
Eligible businesses can connect compatible accounting software, create custom invoices, receive payments using local account details in 8+ currencies, hold money in 40+ currencies, and send money to overseas suppliers or contractors - all from one business account.
And that's not all. Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.
With Wise Business, you can:
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There isn't one best option for every small business. FreshBooks may suit service businesses, Simplybill may suit a business that wants basic invoicing, and Zoho Books, QuickBooks and Sage may suit businesses that also need wider accounting features. Compare invoice volume, VAT needs, payment methods, user access and budget before choosing.1,2,3,4,5
It can be enough when invoice volume and reporting needs are low. Check the limits on invoices, users, customers, payment methods, exports, VAT support and recurring invoices before relying on a free plan. For example, Simplybill's free plan is limited to three invoices a month after its trial, while Zoho Books' Free plan includes a broader group of accounting features.4,5
Many tools can, but availability can depend on the plan. FreshBooks lists automated recurring invoices, Zoho Books lists recurring invoices and QuickBooks lists recurring invoices in their plan information.1,2,5
Yes. A dedicated invoicing tool can be a sensible place to start when you mainly need to create, send and track invoices. If you need VAT returns, bank reconciliation, expense management, stock control or more detailed reporting, consider whether an accounting platform or an accountant's support would better fit your needs.
Wise Business can sit alongside an invoicing or accounting tool for eligible businesses that need to receive, hold, convert or send money across currencies. Your chosen setup should match how customers pay and how your business uses the money after an invoice is settled.
Check that you can access or export customer records, open invoices, payment history, recurring invoices, credit notes and the reports you need. Also check what needs to be reconnected, such as payment methods, bank feeds, accounting integrations and customer portals.
Sources:
Sources last checked on 10th September 2026
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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