The InvoiceShelf Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about InvoiceShelf in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
InvoiceShelf
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source invoicing and expense tracking you host yourself
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among accounting and invoicing tools, read from InvoiceShelf’s own pages.
Made by InvoiceShelf · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from InvoiceShelf’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on InvoiceShelf’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 22 of the 127 other accounting and invoicing tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about InvoiceShelf, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It isn't a double-entry ledger, support is a Discord community, and you handle PHP and security updates.
- 1
Best for self-hosted invoicing and expenses
InvoiceShelf is open-source invoicing you run on your own server, with estimates, recurring billing, expenses and a customer portal.
- 2
It is free
InvoiceShelf has no paid plan at all. Fully free to self-host under AGPL-3.0, with unlimited invoices and estimates and no seat limits.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Invoices and estimates
Builds branded invoices and estimates with custom fields, taxes and notes.
- 5
Recurring billing
Retainers and subscriptions are scheduled once and repeat invoices are generated automatically.
- 6
Expenses and reports
Tracks expenses, sales, taxes and overdue balances, with multi-currency support listed.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 22 of 127
That is against the other accounting and invoicing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
InvoiceShelf is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
InvoiceShelf at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- InvoiceShelf
- Category
- Accounting & Invoicing
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for self-hosted invoicing and expenses
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who InvoiceShelf is for
- Fits if you bill clients regularly and can run your own server
- Works for German B2B sellers who need ZUGFeRD or Factur-X files
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a full double-entry ledger, as it covers invoicing and expenses only
- Not for you if you don't want to run PHP, since security updates are yours
- Watch out: support is a community on Discord, with no paid help
- Tight if you take card payments other than Stripe, the only one named
- Watch out: it needs a server you pay for
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
InvoiceShelf is free to use.
Every feature is free and unlimited, once you've installed it yourself.
Self-hosted
$0
Every feature is free; you install it with Docker or a manual install on your own server.
The free plan
Fully free to self-host under AGPL-3.0, with unlimited invoices and estimates and no seat limits.
Read from invoiceshelf.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open-source invoicing and expense tracking you host yourself. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, invoicing, reports, expense tracking, quotes and estimates.
Invoices, estimates, recurring billing, expenses, multi-company and ZUGFeRD e-invoicing.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
InvoiceShelf is made by InvoiceShelf.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/127
Other accounting and invoicing tools it is graded above
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.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 128 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. InvoiceShelf’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 19 of 127
- BFree plan and trialAbove 93 of 127
- CFeaturesAbove 7 of 127
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 127
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 127
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 101 accounting and invoicing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. InvoiceShelf is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
What you could make
- Invoicing, expense tracking, quotes and estimates and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What this rests on. InvoiceShelf’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
InvoicePlane, Invoice Ninja, Akaunting, Bigcapital and Manager.io
The 5 tools InvoiceShelf is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
InvoicePlane
Free
Free self-hosted invoicing for quotes, invoices and payments.
- InvoiceShelf also covers reports and expense tracking.
- 2.8GPA
Invoice Ninja
Free plan · from $14/mo
Invoicing, expenses and time tracking with a free plan.
- Only Invoice Ninja lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- InvoiceShelf is open source, according to its own site.
- InvoiceShelf also covers reports.
- 2.2GPA
Akaunting
Free plan · from $72/yr
Open-source accounting you can host yourself or use in the cloud.
- InvoiceShelf also covers quotes and estimates.
- Akaunting also covers bookkeeping.
- 2.2GPA
Bigcapital
Free
Open-source accounting you host yourself, with a cloud version planned.
- InvoiceShelf also covers expense tracking and quotes and estimates.
- Bigcapital also covers bookkeeping and inventory.
- 2.8GPA
Manager.io
Free plan · from $59/mo
Free offline accounting for Windows, Mac and Linux, with a paid cloud.
- Only Manager.io lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- InvoiceShelf is open source, according to its own site.
- InvoiceShelf also covers quotes and estimates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is InvoiceShelf free?
Yes. InvoiceShelf is free to use.
How much does InvoiceShelf cost?
InvoiceShelf lists one plan. Self-hosted: $0.
What platforms does InvoiceShelf work on?
InvoiceShelf is available on Web.
Does InvoiceShelf have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. InvoiceShelf is listed for Web.
Does InvoiceShelf have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. InvoiceShelf is listed for Web.
Is InvoiceShelf open source?
Yes. InvoiceShelf is open source, according to its own site.
What does InvoiceShelf integrate with?
InvoiceShelf's listing names Stripe. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes InvoiceShelf?
InvoiceShelf is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to InvoiceShelf?
The closest alternatives to InvoiceShelf in our directory are InvoicePlane, Invoice Ninja, Akaunting, Bigcapital and Manager.io.
How does InvoiceShelf compare with other 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.
Is InvoiceShelf good value for money?
ToolGPA grades InvoiceShelf C for value for money. InvoiceShelf has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of InvoiceShelf?
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.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from InvoiceShelf’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by InvoiceShelf. Prices change, so check invoiceshelf.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- InvoiceShelf, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/invoiceshelf
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "InvoiceShelf: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/invoiceshelf
Know someone choosing between accounting and invoicing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/invoiceshelf/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded accounting and invoicing tools after InvoiceShelf, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Accounting & Invoicing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 129 accounting and invoicing tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Invoice Insider's GuideFree invoicing app from Zoho for freelancers and small businesses3.6 GPA
- Zoho Books Insider's GuideOnline accounting from Zoho, with a free plan and six paid tiers3.4 GPA
- Cash App Taxes Insider's GuideFree federal and state tax filing inside Cash App3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what InvoiceShelf’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. InvoiceShelf is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by InvoiceShelf. Prices and plans change: check invoiceshelf.com before you buy.