What it does
Invoice Ninja combines invoices, quotes, project time and expenses, with hosted accounts and a source-available version for your own server. Its lasting hosted free plan allows five clients and unlimited invoices. Paid plans add larger client lists, reminder automation, integrations and team controls, while self-hosting has separate licensing conditions.
Invoice Ninja gives a small business a choice between a hosted billing account and running the application on its own server. Mobile and desktop clients can also connect to a self-hosted installation. That choice is useful when you want control of the hosting but still need a client portal and everyday invoice tools.
Plan choices
The pricing page displays dollar amounts with a $ symbol:
| Hosted plan | Displayed price | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Five clients, unlimited invoices and recurring billing |
| Ninja Pro | $14 monthly, or $140 paid annually | Unlimited clients, branding removal, reminders and API access |
| Enterprise | From $18 monthly | Additional users, permissions, bank sync and electronic invoicing |
| Premium Business | Custom, from $280 yearly | Priority support and implementation assistance |
Enterprise charges scale with the number of users. The free account requires no credit card. Paid subscriptions renew automatically; downgrade or cancel to stop renewal. Free accounts inactive for three months are scheduled for deletion, so retain access and backups even during quieter periods.
Set up the client before the bill
Use Clients > + Client, then set the customer's currency, contacts and billing preferences. Currency belongs to the client rather than an individual document. Changing it affects existing documents too; a separate client record is the documented option for an occasional invoice in another currency.
An invoice can combine products, recorded tasks and expenses. Set its due date and, if needed, a separate Partial/Deposit amount. The More Actions menu lets you preview the PDF, email the invoice or schedule sending. On desktop, clicking the invoice row opens the overview and history panels; clicking its number opens editing. Once emailed or marked sent, an invoice cannot return to Draft.
The self-hosted code includes the hosted Pro and Enterprise features, but removing client-facing Invoice Ninja branding needs a separate annual licence. Its Elastic License permits use and modification subject to conditions, including a restriction on offering substantial functionality to third parties as a hosted or managed service. Read that licence before planning a resale service.
Strengths
- Hosted and self-hosted installations support mobile and desktop clients
- Invoices can combine products, tracked tasks, expenses and deposits
- Client settings and invoice history help explain billing changes
Watch out for
- The hosted free plan is limited to five clients
- Currency changes apply across a client's existing documents
- Self-hosted branding removal needs a separate annual licence
Best for
- Small service businesses billing a mix of time and expenses
- Teams comparing hosted billing with maintaining their own installation
Sources
- Invoice Ninja hosted pricing (Oct 27, 2026)
- Invoice Ninja official repository (Oct 27, 2026)
- Invoice Ninja Elastic License 2.0 (Oct 27, 2026)
- Invoice Ninja client setup and currencies (Oct 27, 2026)
- Invoice Ninja invoice workflow (Oct 27, 2026)
- Invoice Ninja account and subscription terms (Oct 27, 2026)