Best Invoicing App for Designers in 2026
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For most freelance designers, FreshBooks ($19/mo) is the best invoicing app — project profitability, time tracking for revision rounds, and milestone-friendly invoices. If you want contracts and proposals bundled in, Bonsai (Essentials, $25/mo) is the all-in-one; for free deposit and milestone invoicing, Wave.
How we picked
This is a research-based comparison. We reviewed each tool’s current pricing, features, and real designer feedback, and verified pricing against each vendor in June 2026. We weighted what design work actually demands: milestone and deposit billing, time tracking for revision rounds, proposals and contracts to protect scope, and clean, on-brand invoices. Full method on the how we review page.
Comparison at a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Time tracking | Proposals & contracts | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | $19/mo (Lite) | 30-day trial | Yes — every plan | Proposals (Plus tier+) | Milestone & project billing |
| Bonsai | $25/mo (Essentials) | Trial only | Yes | Yes — built in | All-in-one design workflow |
| Wave | Free (Pro $16/mo) | Yes — unlimited invoices | No | No | Free deposit/milestone invoicing |
FreshBooks — best overall for designers
FreshBooks fits the way design projects actually run: project-level tracking, milestone and deposit invoices, and time tracking on every plan so extra revision rounds become billable line items instead of unpaid hours. Proposals arrive on the Plus tier. It’s the most polished invoicing experience at the lowest entry price here — the main constraint is Lite’s 5-client cap.
Pros: project profitability + milestones; time tracking for revision rounds on all plans; polished invoices Cons: contracts not built in; proposals need Plus ($38/mo); 5-client cap on Lite
Bonsai — best all-in-one
If you’d rather run proposal → contract → deposit → final invoice in one place, Bonsai bundles all of it plus time tracking and a light CRM. Invoicing, contracts, and proposals require the Essentials plan ($25/mo) — the Basic tier excludes them — and pricing is per user. For designers who win work through proposals and protect it with contracts, that workflow is the draw.
Pros: proposals + contracts + invoicing + time tracking in one flow; strong scope protection Cons: invoicing needs the $25/mo Essentials tier; no free plan; per-user pricing
Wave — best free option
For designers who keep contracts elsewhere, Wave sends unlimited milestone and deposit invoices for free — create a deposit invoice to book the work and a balance invoice on delivery. You lose integrated proposals, contracts, and time tracking, and card fees run a touch higher (2.9% + 60¢; 1% ACH), but at $0 it’s the lean choice (US and Canada only for new accounts).
Pros: genuinely free; unlimited deposit/milestone invoices; simple and fast Cons: no proposals/contracts or time tracking; higher card fees; US/Canada only
Which should you choose?
Bill in milestones and want time tracking for revision rounds without overpaying? FreshBooks is the best all-round fit. Want proposals and contracts in the same tool and will use the whole workflow? Bonsai earns its $25/mo. Keep contracts elsewhere and want zero cost? Wave handles deposits and milestone invoices free.
Related guides
- Best invoicing apps for freelancers
- Best invoicing app for photographers
- Best invoicing app for consultants
- How to get paid faster as a freelancer
Frequently asked questions
How should designers structure invoices for a project?
Most freelance designers bill in milestones — commonly a deposit (25–50%) to book the work, then the balance on delivery, sometimes with a middle milestone for larger projects. All three tools here support deposit and recurring invoices; FreshBooks and Bonsai also tie milestones to a project and track time against it for scope clarity.
How do I bill for extra revision rounds?
Define the included rounds in your proposal/contract, then bill additional rounds hourly. This is where built-in time tracking pays off — FreshBooks (every plan) and Bonsai track billable hours you can drop straight onto an invoice. With Wave you'd track time separately and add a line item.
Is Bonsai or FreshBooks better for designers?
FreshBooks is the better value if your main need is project billing, milestones, and time tracking ($19/mo). Bonsai is better if you want proposals and contracts in the same tool as invoicing and will use the full workflow ($25/mo Essentials). Designers who send a lot of proposals lean Bonsai; those focused on billing lean FreshBooks.