Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers in 2026

9 invoicing software compliant with France's 2026 reform: Indy, Pennylane, Tiime, Sellsy, Stripe, Qonto, Wave, QuickBooks, Henrri. Comparison by profile.

Starting September 1, 2026, electronic invoicing becomes mandatory for all French businesses (receipt) — and gradually for issuing based on your size. If you are a freelancer, sole trader, or micro-business, this comparison directly concerns you: your current invoicing software must comply with PDP (Platform of Dematerialization Partner) or connect to the PPF (Public Invoicing Portal).

We tested nine software solutions over eight weeks, targeting freelancers and independents. All tools here are compliant with the 2026 reform. Here is our selection.

TL;DR — Which Tool for Your Profile

• Sole trader < 50 invoices/year → Tiime Free (free) or Indy (accounting + invoicing).
• Freelancer 50–500 invoices/year → Indy (Premium €14/month) or Pennylane (€29).
• Freelancer with an accountant → Pennylane or Sellsy (native gateway).
• Multi-client recurring (subscriptions) → Stripe Invoicing or Pennylane.
• Invoicing in multiple currencies/international → Stripe Invoicing or Wave + PDP compliance module.
• Anglophone, B2B SaaS international → QuickBooks or Xero.

Selection Criteria

Every selected software checks these 6 boxes:

1. ✅ Compliant with the 2026 electronic invoice reform (PDP or connected PPF).
2. ✅ Chronological numbering compliant (General Tax Code).
3. ✅ Legal mentions required (VAT, SIRET, RCS, payment terms, late penalties).
4. ✅ FEC export (Accounting Entry File).
5. ✅ 10-year conservation (anti-fraud VAT law).
6. ✅ EU hosting + GDPR compliance.

1. Indy — The Best Option for French Freelancers

Starting at: €0 (Free, 5 invoices/month). Premium €14/month.
Ideal for: freelancers and BNC who want invoicing + accounting in one tool.

Indy (formerly Georges) is the tool we recommend to 80% of freelancers starting out. Why? Because it handles accounting in addition to invoicing, automatically, from your bank account. You invoice, the client pays, Indy categorizes the entry, and at declaration time, you have everything on hand.

Pros

• Invoicing + automated accounting + URSSAF/VAT declarations in one subscription.
• 2026 reform compliant (confirmed PDP status).
• Hosted in France (Lyon).
• Responsive French support via chat.
• Free plan available for starters (5 invoices/month).

Cons

• Designed for "solo freelancer": not suited for businesses with employees or multi-associate SAS.
• No inventory or detailed purchase management.
• Less comprehensive dashboard than Pennylane for financial management.

Choose if: you are BNC, sole trader, EI, or solo EURL, and want to stop juggling between Excel, your bank, and an accountant.

See Indy profile →

2. Pennylane — The Professional Compromise for Growing Freelancers

Starting at: €29 excl. VAT/month (Solo). Pro at €49.
Ideal for: freelancers with an accountant, or SMBs with 1–5 people.

Pennylane is the preferred tool of French accountants — you will likely find yours on it. If so, sharing Pennylane with them eliminates 90% of emails like "can you send me your November invoice?".

Pros

• Native connection with most French accounting firms.
• PDP compliant (official registration).
• Invoicing + pre-accounting + cash flow tracking + unpaid reminders.
• Multi-bank connection (Crédit Mutuel, BNP, Boursorama, Qonto, Shine, etc.).
• Hosted in France.

Cons

• More expensive than Indy (€29 vs €14).
• The invoicing module UX is decent but less fluid than pure players like Tiime or Sellsy.
• Solo plan limited to one user — switching to Pro costs €49.

Choose if: you want to work hand in hand with your accountant and prepare for growth towards a structured SMB.

See Pennylane profile →

3. Tiime — Free, Simple, and Compliant Invoicing

Starting at: €0 (Unlimited Free). Premium at €19/month.
Ideal for: sole traders and freelancers who just need to issue compliant invoices, without complexity.

Tiime offers one of the only unlimited free invoicing options on the market. Not 5 invoices/month, not a 30-day trial: truly free. It’s viable because Tiime monetizes through ancillary services (pro account, accounting expertise). For a sole trader issuing 30 invoices a year, the Free plan is ample.

Pros

• Truly unlimited free: invoices, quotes, clients.
• Neat mobile app — invoicing from a smartphone well done.
• 2026 reform compliant.
• Hosted in France.

Cons

• No automated accounting in the Free plan (Premium only).
• No large integration ecosystem (no connection to Stripe, Notion, etc.).
• Economic model based on upselling: encouraged to opt for Tiime pro account or accounting services.

Choose if: you are a sole trader or occasional freelancer wanting the bare minimum, free and compliant.

See Tiime profile →

4. Sellsy — The Complete Suite for French SMBs

Starting at: €49 excl. VAT/month (Essentials Pack). Standard at €79.
Ideal for: SMBs 2–10 people who invoice + have commercial activity (CRM).

Sellsy is more than invoicing software: it's a CRM + quotes + invoicing + reminders + accounting suite. If you already have a CRM, you're paying twice; if not, it's all-in-one.

Pros

• PDP compliant (confirmed status).
• Quote → invoice → reminder → automated collection.
• Integrated CRM (lead, deal, opportunity).
• Bank connection and automatic reconciliation.
• Hosted in France (Bordeaux).

Cons

• The most expensive in the comparison for invoicing alone (€49).
• Optional modules increase billing (Marketing, Tracking, Telephony).
• Overkill for a solo freelancer.

Choose if: you are a structured SMB that wants ONE tool for CRM + invoicing + collection, rather than stacking 3 SaaS.

See Sellsy profile →

5. Stripe Invoicing — For Those Billing Internationally

Starting at: 0.4% per invoice sent + Stripe transaction fees.
Ideal for: freelancers/SaaS billing in multiple currencies or already using Stripe for payments.

Stripe Invoicing is not French accounting software. But for some tech freelancers billing UK, US, or European clients in EUR/USD/GBP, it’s by far the best tool: invoice sent by email, integrated payment link, card/SEPA/Apple Pay/local wallet payment in one click.

Pros

• Integrated payment link: client pays in 30 seconds.
• Native multi-currencies (135+ currencies).
• API and webhooks for automation.
• Automatic collection (Smart Retries) on subscriptions.
• International compliance (EU VAT, US sales tax).

Cons

• Non-compliant alone with French reform (no PDP). Must be combined with Indy/Pennylane to re-import invoices.
• Not suitable for local French artisans/stores.
• 0.4% per invoice can be expensive on volume (1,000 invoices at €100 = €400).

Choose if: you invoice internationally in B2B and your clients refuse complicated transfers.

See Stripe profile →

6. Qonto Invoicing — Invoicing Built into Your Business Bank

Starting at: Included in Qonto Smart (€9/month) and above.
Ideal for: independents who already use Qonto as their business bank.

Qonto has turned their invoicing module into a serious tool: quotes, invoices, payment tracking directly in the same interface as your bank account. It's practical daily — you see the invoice, payment, and VAT on the same screen.

Pros

• Included in Qonto (no extra cost).
• Instant "invoice sent → received → paid" tracking.
• 2026 reform compliant (announced PDP status).
• Excellent mobile app.

Cons

• No automated accounting.
• More limited features than Indy or Pennylane on the management side (no purchases, limited reporting).
• Tied to Qonto: if you change banks, you start from scratch.

Choose if: you are already with Qonto and want to test before investing in a dedicated tool.

See Qonto profile →

7. Wave — The Free Compromise for Anglophones

Starting at: $0 (free). Pro at $16/month.
Ideal for: freelancers invoicing mainly internationally and who speak English.

Wave is free (financed by Wave Payments), compliant with North American and international requirements. For a freelancer billing US/UK clients and not needing French accounting, it’s perfect.

Pros

• Unlimited free on invoicing + accounting.
• Multi-currencies and multi-languages.
• Integrated card payment link.
• Basic but functional accounting module.

Cons

• Non-compliant with French reform: to combine with a PDP tool for your French clients.
• Interface 100% English.
• Support in English only.
• Hosted in Canada (GDPR DPA).

Choose if: you invoice 90% internationally and 10% in France (reverse, take Indy or Tiime).

See Wave profile →

8. QuickBooks France — The Global Standard Adapted to France

Starting at: €12/month (Self-Employed). Plus at €28.
Ideal for: freelancers used to QuickBooks abroad who settle in France.

QuickBooks dominates accounting-invoicing in the US and UK. The French version has been adapted to French tax laws and is reform compliant. If you're already familiar with the tool, you gain comfort.

Pros

• Global ecosystem (endless integrations via Zapier).
• Powerful financial reporting.
• EU-hosted.

Cons

• Less entrenched in the French accounting ecosystem than Indy/Pennylane.
• More expensive for equivalent local features.
• UX still feels like an adaptation, not a version tailored for France.

Choose if: you are already a QuickBooks user and migrating would be a pain.

See QuickBooks profile →

9. Henrri — 100% Free Invoicing

Starting at: €0/month (Unlimited Free).
Ideal for: independents wanting a free, French, compliant solution.

Henrri is published by Rivalis (French leader in SMB support). The model is free thanks to monetization of ancillary services (training, support). For an independent not wanting to pay anything, it’s viable.

Pros

• 100% free, unlimited, no credit card required.
• Hosted in France.
• Compliant.

Cons

• UX more dated than newer tools (Indy, Tiime, Pennylane).
• Marketing solicitations for Rivalis services.
• No automated accounting.

Choose if: zero budget and you accept a bit of marketing.

See Henrri profile →

Summary Table

The 2026 Reform Explained in 60 Seconds

Since September 1, 2026:

• All French businesses (including sole traders) must receive electronic invoices.
• Issuing electronically becomes mandatory:
  • Large companies (5,000+ employees): September 1, 2026.
  • Mid-market companies: September 1, 2026.
  • SMBs (< 250 employees): September 1, 2027.
  • Micro-businesses/sole traders: September 1, 2027.
• Invoices pass through the PPF (Public Invoicing Portal) or a PDP (Platform of Dematerialization Partner) registered by the State.

What changes for you: your invoicing software must be a PDP or connected to the PPF. All the French tools in this list (Indy, Pennylane, Tiime, Sellsy, Qonto, QuickBooks, Henrri) have obtained or are in the process of obtaining PDP status. Stripe and Wave are not compliant alone — they must be complemented.

How to Choose: Quick Decision Guide

1. Do you have an accountant? → ask them which tool they use. Most say Pennylane or Tiime.
2. Are you alone, no accountant? → Indy (with accounting) or Tiime Free (without).
3. Do you invoice internationally? → Indy or Pennylane for French clients + Stripe Invoicing for international ones.
4. Are you in an SMB 5+ people? → Sellsy or Pennylane Pro.

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Not confirming PDP status of your tool before September 1, 2026. If the publisher is not registered by this date, you risk non-compliance.
• Forgetting the 10-year archiving: anti-fraud VAT law requires keeping invoices for 10 years in an unalterable format. All tools in this list do it automatically.
• Underestimating unpaid reminders: 30% of invoices are paid late. Prefer a tool with automatic reminders (Indy, Pennylane, Sellsy).
• Mixing personal and professional finances: open a business account (Qonto, Shine, Revolut Business). It's mandatory beyond €10,000 turnover as a sole trader.

Conclusion

For 80% of French freelancers reading this article, the answer is Indy (if you want auto accounting) or Tiime Free (if you're starting or invoicing little). For those with an accountant, Pennylane is the safest bet.

To delve deeper, compare the detailed profiles of each tool on SaaS Radar — all ratings (Radar Score) are editorial, without sponsored reviews.

— Alexis Morain, founder of SaaS Radar

See also: Complete Invoicing Software Guide 2026 — our exhaustive market overview (Top 15, PDP/PPF reform, Factur-X, NF525).