Xero or a simpler invoicing app?

Xero once you have a limited company and an accountant. A lighter invoicing tool is fine while you are sole-trading and sending three invoices a month.

Should I take cards on the invoice?

Yes if it shortens time-to-paid. The fee is cheaper than chasing.

What do I actually need to track?

Who owes you, what you owe, and VAT if you are in it. Everything else is a report you can build later.

Tools / Finance & Invoicing

Best invoicing tools for UK freelancers

Send the invoice, watch the cash, and give your accountant something they will not sigh at.

Who this is for

UK freelancers and limited companies who invoice in sterling. Start lighter if you send three invoices a month; move to a proper ledger when you have an accountant. This page is for getting paid, not for a CFO dashboard.

3 tools below, ordered by quality and recency — not by who paid. Pay to sit on the Leaderboard if you built one of these.

The list

Xero Finance & Invoicing

Cloud bookkeeping your UK accountant already knows how to open.

Open Xero

Paid · 4.4 rating

Stripe Invoicing Finance & Invoicing

Send a card-ready invoice from the payments account you already have.

Open Stripe Invoicing

Paid · 4.5 rating

Contra Finance & Invoicing

Commission-free network to hire independent creatives and get paid for freelance work.

Open Contra

Free

Questions worth asking

Xero or a simpler invoicing app?: Xero once you have a limited company and an accountant. A lighter invoicing tool is fine while you are sole-trading and sending three invoices a month.
Should I take cards on the invoice?: Yes if it shortens time-to-paid. The fee is cheaper than chasing.
What do I actually need to track?: Who owes you, what you owe, and VAT if you are in it. Everything else is a report you can build later.