Are you tired of spending hours manually creating invoices for your auto repair business? Do you often get frustrated with the tedious paperwork involved in managing your finances?

Many auto repair business owners face the same challenges when it comes to invoicing their customers. And that’s not even half of it; not sharing a professional invoice with your customer on time can greatly slow down your business by interrupting your cash flow.

But online invoice-generating software is a game-changing solution that helps you produce customizable invoices in less than half the time. It also has other helpful features, like automatic payment reminders, which improve your financial management.

The only problem is that not all online invoice generators are created equal. In this post, we will break down this year’s 7 best free invoice generators so you can make the best decision for your business. 

Top 7 Best Invoice Generators You Should Invest In

We tested and reviewed different online invoice makers and chose the following seven based on their speed, performance, user-friendliness and, of course, helpful features like allowing customers to pay through a bank transfer or with their credit cards.

1. Autoleap Invoice Generator

The Invoice Generator tool simplifies the invoice creation process with just a single click. By leveraging this tool from AutoLeap, the cutting-edge automotive repair software, you can swiftly send detailed invoices to your customers within minutes.

You can also find some really helpful invoice templates on their website.

Pros:

• Efficiency: The Invoice Generator simplifies and expedites the invoice creation process, making it quick and straightforward for users.
• Speed: With just a single click, users can generate detailed invoices promptly, saving time and enhancing productivity.
• Convenience: Ideal for automotive repair businesses, this tool offers a convenient way to manage and send invoices efficiently.
• Integration: Being a component of AutoLeap, a modern automotive repair software, ensures seamless integration with other business processes and advanced functionalities.

Cons:

• Compatibility Challenges: While integrated with AutoLeap, compatibility issues may arise when attempting to connect with other software.

Verdict

AutoLeap’s invoice generator offers a quick and efficient solution for generating detailed invoices in the automotive repair industry.

It’s one of the best invoice generating platforms out there and will make your life easier. This is one of the main reasons why you should invest in an auto repair invoice software.

2. Invoice Home

Invoice Home, created by Wikilane Inc., is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product designed for freelancers and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It provides a strong invoice generator with good customization options.

Pros:

• Personal Touch: You can add your signature to invoices, giving their invoice template a personal feel.
• Data Saving: Once you log in, your information is saved. The platform also offers invoice management features, such as tracking paid invoices and client profiles.
• Customization Options: Initially, I found the item breakdown limited, but I discovered Basic and Advanced modes for generating invoices. Switching between these modes does not result in data loss.
• Preview Mode: A preview feature would be beneficial to review invoices before finalizing them.

Cons:

• User Interface: The interface of Invoice Home appears outdated, requiring some time to get used to its functions.
• Logo Gallery: While customization is possible, the logo gallery contains basic elements that may not suit professional branding needs.

Final Verdict

Despite some UI design concerns reminiscent of older websites, Invoice Home remains a reliable invoice generator with various customization options.

3. Invoice Generator

The Invoice Generator by Invoiced may seem like an unreliable invoice creator at first due to pop-up ads and banners, but it proves to be a quick and efficient tool for creating invoices.

Pros:

• Intuitive Design: The platform follows a standard invoice format and provides five templates – invoice, credit note, quote, purchase order, and receipt. Users can select their preferred currency.
• Ease of Use: Simply fill in the form, add a thank you note, and choose to send or download the invoice. A free account with Invoiced is required to send invoices to clients. Alternatively, users can download invoices as .pdf or .xml for immediate sending.
• Access History: The platform offers a ‘History’ section to track invoices. However, it’s important to note that invoices are stored locally in the browser, not on the cloud. To prevent data loss, downloading invoices or exporting the history as .csv is recommended.

Cons:

• Limited Customization: Apart from adding a logo, customization options are minimal. The design, though clean and consistent, lacks extensive personalization features.
• Data Storage: Invoices are stored within the browser’s history, which means clearing browsing data can lead to data loss. Saving invoices locally or exporting the history as .csv is advised for secure record-keeping.

Verdict

Invoice Generator meets basic invoicing needs by allowing for discounts, taxes, shipping fees, and easy payment tracking. However, alternative solutions might be more suitable for users seeking more customization options and enhanced data security.

4. Free Invoice Builder

The Free Invoice Builder, in collaboration with Payoneer, aims to provide a simple and intuitive platform for creating invoices.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: The builder features a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) interface. It allows for inline editing and text input under ‘Invoice Settings’ in the right menu. It boasts a pleasant font and a clean aesthetic.
• Clear Invoicing Terms: The platform simplifies invoicing terms, making it accessible even for users with limited knowledge in the field.
• Template Variety: Users can choose from templates tailored to IT and creative industries for swift invoice creation. Notably, the system retains all user information even when switching between templates.
• Interim Payment Option: The feature of interim payments adds flexibility, although initial confusion may arise regarding payment terms.

Cons:

• Language Limitation: Templates are available only in English, neglecting formats for non-English-speaking regions like Japan, India, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
• Technical Issues: Users report glitches within the platform, such as difficulty editing or deleting client information and unresponsive line items. Custom fields may cause duplication of client data, while exporting invoices without logging in can lead to display errors like missing logos and unnecessary blank pages. The inability to modify added logos or custom fields further frustrates users.

Verdict

Despite its user-friendly design, the Free Invoice Builder’s technical instability raises data reliability and user experience concerns. The platform’s glitchy nature may deter users who value efficiency and seamless functionality in their invoicing processes.

5. Zoho Invoice

Zoho Invoice excels in invoice customization and invoicing features, earning a perfect score in these aspects.

The platform offers various functionalities, including creating recurring invoices, setting up payment reminders, and duplicating invoices for recurring client transactions. Moreover, Zoho Invoice received top marks for its mobile invoicing capabilities, allowing users to generate and send personalized invoices through the mobile app conveniently.

However, due to the absence of live chat support and integrated accounting features, the platform received deductions in ease of use and customer support categories. Users seeking accounting capabilities must integrate Zoho Invoice with a paid Zoho Books subscription.

In Zoho Invoice, users can create invoices by importing them from external systems or generating them manually. The platform supports recurring and one-time invoices, with automatic generation and email dispatch of recurring invoices at specified intervals. Nonrecurring invoices can be crafted on the Invoicing tab within the system.

Pros:

• Outstanding customization capabilities
• Ability to create recurring invoices and set up payment reminders
• Mobile app for creating and sending invoices on-the-go
• Seamless integration with other Zoho apps like Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho CRM

Cons:

• Lack of live chat support
• Absence of built-in accounting features, requiring integration with Zoho Books for comprehensive accounting functionality

Verdict:

Zoho Invoice is a top choice for businesses looking for advanced invoicing features and customization options. While it may have limitations in customer support and accounting features, its seamless integration with other Zoho products enhances its overall utility for efficient invoicing processes.

6. Invoice2Go

Invoice2go, a Bill.com product, is a popular choice among small businesses seeking invoicing solutions within a broader suite of products.

Pros:

• Straightforward Inline Editor: Allows for easy data input without navigating multiple pop-ups or tabs.
• Bank Account Integration: Users can include bank account details, BIC/Swift, Reference, and Business ID on their invoices, offering added convenience not found in all invoicing tools.

Cons:

• Limited Template Options: Compared to other generators, this one lacks a variety of templates and offers only a few currency options.
• Export Functionality: Users may encounter challenges with the export function, resulting in unexpected formatting issues such as oversized watermarks and inefficient page utilization.
• Lack of Customization: Inflexibility in modifying invoice formats or layouts may lead to discrepancies between the expected and actual appearance of PDF invoices.

Verdict:

Invoice2go is a straightforward invoice generator for small businesses. While it may lack extensive customization features and face challenges in export functions, its user-friendly inline editor and integration options make it a reliable tool for simplified invoicing tasks. Users must review invoices thoroughly before sending them to clients to ensure accuracy.

7. Referens

Refrens Invoice Generator boasts extensive customization options and promises quick invoice generation in under two minutes, catering to users seeking flexibility and efficiency in their invoicing processes.

Pros:

• Versatile Customization: Users can include numerous custom fields, notes, attachments, and rename fields to tailor invoices to their specific needs.
• Balancing Functionality: Standout features include the ability to add discounts per item or total (percentage or value), incorporate additional charges, and display the total amount in words.
• Editable Fields: Almost all fields are editable, facilitating invoice creation in various languages or specific formats.
• Signature Addition: Similar to Invoice Home, users can add their signature, although background removal is not automatic.

Cons:

• Time Estimation Inaccuracy: The claim of generating invoices in two minutes may not align with user experiences, potentially leading to a mismatch of expectations.
• Account Creation for Download: Users must create an account to download invoices, which may hinder the quick invoice generation process for some users.
• Complexity vs. Simplicity: While offering a dedicated dashboard and numerous features, the platform may be overwhelming for users seeking a quick and straightforward invoice generation tool without additional complexities.

Verdict:

Refrens Invoice Generator’s robust customization features are ideal for users with clear invoice design requirements.

However, newcomers to invoicing may find the platform’s extensive options overwhelming. For those prioritizing simplicity and speed in generating invoices, opting for more straightforward invoice generators may be a more suitable choice.

8. Invoice Ninja

Invoice Ninja stands out as a top choice among free and open-source invoice generators, offering a diverse range of features tailored for users with coding capabilities.

Pros:

• Free open-source self-hosted version suitable for users with coding skills
• Accepts various payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, ACH, and Bitcoin
• Supports multiple currencies and languages for global usability
• Enables automatic payments setup for recurring clients
• One-click pay invoice generation for convenient client transactions
• Android and iOS mobile apps available for invoicing on-the-go

Cons:

• Watermarks present in invoices without upgrading to a paid plan
• Proficiency in coding required for utilizing the self-hosted version
• Limited invoice customization in the free version

Verdict

Invoice Ninja is a great tool for businesses looking to streamline their invoice creation process.

However, the platform’s reliance on coding expertise for advanced customization may pose challenges for users without such skills, making it better suited for tech-savvy individuals or those preferring open-source solutions.

The Bottom Line

paper invoices to clients. Upon exploring these online tools, you will realize the convenience of efficiently managing invoices and payments digitally.