Can a free invoice be legally valid?

Yes. Legal validity comes from the content (unique number, parties, items, totals), not the tool itself.

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Top 10 Free Invoice Generators in 2026 (Compared)

Q: What should I look for in a free invoice generator?

Professional templates, customization, PDF export, and no forced sign-up. Core features should stay free.

Q: Are free invoice generators safe?

Yes—reputable tools are safe and often don’t store your data. Stick to known providers.

Jonathan Di Trapani

Published on Feb 6, 2026 · 5 min read

If you want free invoicing, plenty of tools claim to help—yet not all have great templates, fast PDFs, or a pleasant UX. We reviewed 10 popular options and compared pros and cons for 2026.

The essentials: speed, clarity, and low friction. Ideally no forced sign-up, quick PDF downloads, and multi-language support. Here’s our shortlist.

2026 Rankings

BUQ — 9.5/10
Zoho Invoice (Free Tier) — 9.0/10
Wave — 8.8/10
PayPal Invoicing — 8.6/10
Square Invoices — 8.5/10
Invoicely — 8.4/10
Invoice Ninja (Free Tier) — 8.3/10
FreshBooks (Trial) — 8.2/10
Stripe Invoicing (Starter) — 8.0/10
Google Docs/Sheets — 7.5/10

Quick Comparison

BUQ

Instant, brand-ready invoices with no sign-up and fast PDF export.

9.5/10

Pros: No sign-up, Modern templates, Multilanguage, Fast PDF

Cons: No long-term storage (stateless)

Zoho Invoice (Free Tier)

Solid free plan with contacts and tracking for small teams.

9.0/10

Pros: Strong free plan, Client portal, Time tracking

Cons: Account required, Busy UI

Wave

Forever-free invoicing for small business.

8.8/10

Pros: Unlimited invoices, Payment links, Receipts

Cons: Few templates, Paid add-ons

PayPal Invoicing

Easy sending with built-in payments.

8.6/10

Pros: Quick sending, Customer trust, Built-in payments

Cons: Fees, PayPal branding

Square Invoices

Good for retail/service with payments and reminders.

8.5/10

Pros: Recurring invoices, Inventory integration, Payments

Cons: Fees, Ecosystem-centric

Invoicely

Simple UI with essentials.

8.4/10

Pros: Multi-currency, Mileage/time, Decent templates

Cons: Branding on free plan, Limited customization

Invoice Ninja (Free Tier)

Open-source option with client portal.

8.3/10

Pros: Open source, Client portal, Quotes + invoices

Cons: Learning curve, Branding on free plan

FreshBooks (Trial)

Great UX but free only as trial.

8.2/10

Pros: Great design, Time tracking, Expenses

Cons: Trial only, Paid after

Stripe Invoicing (Starter)

Ideal if you already use Stripe.

8.0/10

Pros: Payments ready, Smart fields, API friendly

Cons: Fees, Account required

Google Docs/Sheets

DIY with templates.

7.5/10

Pros: Free, Familiar, Shareable

Cons: Manual, No automation, Formatting risk

Why BUQ stands out

BUQ is instant and stateless. Modern templates, fast PDF export, and multilingual support make it ideal for frictionless invoicing with a clean look.

Try it via the free invoice generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for in a free invoice generator?

Templates, customization, PDF export, and core features that stay free.

Are free invoice generators safe to use?

Choose reputable providers; many don’t store your data.

Can I make a legally valid invoice for free?

Yes—include a unique number, parties, line items, and totals.

Conclusion

Pick the tool that balances ease, customization, and cost. For fast, beautiful, and sign-up-free invoicing, BUQ is our top pick.