# InvoiceShelf review (2026): is it any good? > Open-source invoicing and expense tracking you host yourself Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. InvoiceShelf is open-source invoicing software released under AGPL-3.0 that you run on your own server. It handles invoices, estimates, recurring billing, expenses and payments, and can run several companies from one install. The site says every feature is free, with no seats or subscription. - **Category:** Accounting & Invoicing - **Made by:** InvoiceShelf - **Website:** https://invoiceshelf.com - **Runs on:** Web - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want a full double-entry ledger, as it covers invoicing and expenses only. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, InvoiceShelf is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** Fully free to self-host under AGPL-3.0, with unlimited invoices and estimates and no seat limits. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Self-hosted | $0 | Every feature is free; you install it with Docker or a manual install on your own server. | Read from https://invoiceshelf.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with InvoiceShelf before buying. ## Key features - **Invoices and estimates:** Builds branded invoices and estimates with custom fields, taxes and notes. - **Recurring billing:** Retainers and subscriptions are scheduled once and repeat invoices are generated automatically. - **Expenses and reports:** Tracks expenses, sales, taxes and overdue balances, with multi-currency support listed. - **Customer portal:** Clients get a private place to view, download and pay invoices. - **Multiple companies:** Several businesses can run from one install, each with its own branding, currency and tax rules. - **E-invoicing:** An E-Invoicing module issues ZUGFeRD and Factur-X invoices for EN 16931; the site labels it new in 3.0. ## Good for - Freelancers and small agencies that bill clients regularly - Businesses that want customer records on their own server - German B2B sellers who need ZUGFeRD or Factur-X invoices ## Worth knowing - It covers invoicing, expenses and payments, not a full double-entry ledger. - Self-hosting means you handle PHP and security updates; the 2.4.7 release notes describe a PHP security fix. - Support is through the community on Discord. - Stripe is the online card payment option the site names. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.0 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. InvoiceShelf is open-source invoicing you run on your own server, with estimates, recurring billing, expenses and a customer portal. It isn't a double-entry ledger, support is a Discord community, and you handle PHP and security updates. - **Value for money: C.** Free under AGPL-3.0 with no seat limits, but it only counts as free if you host it, which needs a server. - **Free plan and trial: B.** Every feature is free and unlimited, once you've installed it yourself. - **Features: C.** Invoices, estimates, recurring billing, expenses, multi-company and ZUGFeRD e-invoicing. The listing says it isn't a full ledger. - **Ease of use: D.** Installed with Docker or by hand on your own server, with updates yours to apply. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Web only, and Stripe is the one online payment option named. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from InvoiceShelf's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among accounting and invoicing tools - InvoiceShelf's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 22 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, and level with 20. - It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 93 of 127) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0). - InvoiceShelf has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/accounting ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** InvoiceShelf is free, so making your own would save you nothing. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 85 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools grade higher. - You could make: Invoicing, expense tracking, quotes and estimates and reports: an app builder makes these well. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with Stripe **Tags:** Invoicing, Expense tracking, Quotes and estimates, Open source, Self-hostable, Reports ## Alternatives - [InvoicePlane](https://toolgpa.com/tools/invoiceplane): Free self-hosted invoicing for quotes, invoices and payments. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/invoiceplane-vs-invoiceshelf) - [Invoice Ninja](https://toolgpa.com/tools/invoice-ninja): Invoicing, expenses and time tracking with a free plan. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/invoice-ninja-vs-invoiceshelf) - [Akaunting](https://toolgpa.com/tools/akaunting): Open-source accounting you can host yourself or use in the cloud. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/akaunting-vs-invoiceshelf) - [Bigcapital](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bigcapital): Open-source accounting you host yourself, with a cloud version planned. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bigcapital-vs-invoiceshelf) - [Manager.io](https://toolgpa.com/tools/manager-io): Free offline accounting for Windows, Mac and Linux, with a paid cloud. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/invoiceshelf-vs-manager-io) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://invoiceshelf.com Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/invoiceshelf Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).