Tested 10 billing tools across price, features, GST compliance, and ease of use. Here is the honest comparison — including where each tool falls short.
India has over 63 million small and medium businesses. The vast majority are still generating invoices in Excel or on paper. That creates two problems: GST compliance risk and wasted hours. A missed HSN code or wrong tax rate can trigger a notice from the department. Manual invoicing on Excel means no auto-calculations, no GSTR reports, and no audit trail.
The good news is that several genuinely free billing tools have emerged for Indian businesses. We tested all 10 of the most popular options — looking at what is actually free (not just a 7-day trial), GST compliance depth, platform availability, and the critical features small businesses need. We are honest about every tool's weaknesses. This is not a paid rankings list.
If you create GST invoices regularly, use our free invoice generator to see what compliant invoices look like. Or jump straight to the comparison table below to see how all 10 tools stack up on features and pricing.
Key features, free plan limits, and platform availability at a glance
| Feature | Software | Free Plan | GST Compliant | Platforms | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| myBillPlease | Unlimited invoices | Yes — all slabs, HSN | Web + Shopify | E-commerce + GST filing | |
| Vyapar | 14-day trial, then paid | Yes | Android, Windows | Offline retail shops | |
| Zoho Invoice | Free up to 1,000/year | Yes | Web, iOS, Android | Service businesses | |
| Swipe (Instamojo) | Free — limited templates | Yes | Web, Android | Quick invoicing | |
| GimBooks | Free basic plan | Yes | Web, Android | Freelancers | |
| Khata Billing | Free with ads | Partial | Android only | Very small retailers | |
| ClearTax | Free GST filing, not billing | Yes | Web | CA-assisted filing | |
| Sleek Bill | Free — 25 invoices/month | Yes | Windows, Web | Manufacturing SMEs | |
| myBillBook | Free basic | Partial — limited HSN | Android, Windows | Traders and distributors | |
| Refrens | Free — 25 invoices/month | Yes | Web | Freelancers, agencies |
What it does well: myBillPlease is the only billing software on this list with native Shopify integration. If you sell on Shopify, your orders automatically generate GST-compliant invoices without any manual work. The free plan includes unlimited invoices, all GST slabs (0%, 5%, 18%, 40%), HSN/SAC code lookup, GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B reports, and e-invoicing for businesses above the turnover threshold.
GST compliance: Full. All new GST 2.0 rates are built in. The invoice format includes all 16 mandatory fields required by CGST Rules — supplier GSTIN, buyer GSTIN, HSN code, tax breakdowns (CGST, SGST, IGST), place of supply, reverse charge indicator. You can generate IRN (Invoice Reference Number) directly from the dashboard if you are above ₹5 crore turnover.
Limitations: No offline mode. If you are in a low-connectivity area and need to create invoices without internet, myBillPlease does not work. For that specific use case, Vyapar or myBillBook are better options.
Pricing: Free plan is genuinely unlimited for core invoicing. Paid plans add multi-user access and advanced inventory. See full pricing here.
What it does well: Vyapar is the most popular billing app for Android in India and for good reason. It works completely offline — critical for retailers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities with patchy internet. The inventory management is excellent for physical retailers, with barcode scanning, stock alerts, and reorder reminders. The UX is designed for someone who has never used billing software before.
GST compliance: Strong. Supports all GST formats — regular, composition, and reverse charge. GSTR reports are accurate and export to the format accepted by the GST portal.
Limitations: The free version is a 14-day trial, not a permanent free plan. After the trial, you pay ₹3,499/year for the Android app or ₹5,999/year for the desktop version. There is no web version — you are tied to your device. No Shopify or e-commerce integration. If your business moves online, Vyapar does not scale well.
Verdict: Best for brick-and-mortar retailers who need offline billing. Not ideal if you want a free permanent plan or sell online.
What it does well: Zoho Invoice is genuinely free for Indian businesses — they removed the paid tier for India in 2023. It supports multi-currency invoicing, making it the best option for Indian freelancers and agencies billing international clients in USD, EUR, or GBP. The client portal lets customers view invoices and make payments online. Recurring invoices work well for subscription-based services.
GST compliance: Solid. All GST formats supported. Integrates with Zoho Books for full accounting if you need it later.
Limitations: Free up to 1,000 invoices per year (about 83/month). Businesses with higher volume need Zoho Books (paid). The interface is more complex than Vyapar or myBillPlease — there is a learning curve. If you only need simple GST invoices, Zoho Invoice is overkill. Also, you are locked into the Zoho ecosystem — data portability is limited.
Verdict: Ideal for IT service companies, consultants, and agencies with international clients. Over-engineered for a local kirana shop.
Swipe (by Instamojo): Clean web and Android app focused on quick invoice creation. Free plan available with basic GST support. Works well for small service businesses. Main limitation: payment collection features require Instamojo payment gateway, which charges 2% per transaction. If you want truly fee-free invoicing, be aware of this.
GimBooks: A straightforward free billing app for freelancers and solo consultants. Supports GST invoices, expense tracking, and basic reports. The free plan is genuinely free without usage caps for individual users. Lacks inventory management, so not suitable for product sellers.
Khata Billing: Android-only app with a free version supported by ads. Very simple interface — designed for the smallest retailers who just need to send a quick invoice via WhatsApp. GST support is partial — works for basic invoices but advanced features like e-invoicing or GSTR reports are absent. Not suitable for registered businesses with monthly GSTR filing requirements.
ClearTax: Important clarification — ClearTax is a GST filing and return platform, not a billing software. It does not generate invoices. It is free for basic GST returns and paid for advanced features. We include it here because many searches for 'free billing software' surface ClearTax, but it does not replace a billing tool. Use it alongside a billing tool for filing returns.
Sleek Bill: Windows desktop software with a free plan capped at 25 invoices/month. Strong for manufacturing and wholesale businesses that need production-linked billing. The interface feels dated but the feature depth is good. Paid version starts at ₹5,000/year.
myBillBook: Popular Android and Windows app for traders and distributors. Free basic plan available. HSN code support is limited in the free tier — you often need to manually enter codes. Good for businesses that are not yet GST registered (composition scheme sellers). Once you need full GST compliance, the free tier becomes restrictive.
Refrens: Well-designed web-based invoicing tool popular with Indian freelancers and small agencies. Free plan allows 25 invoices/month and supports GST invoices. The proposal-to-invoice workflow is smooth. Paid plans unlock more invoices and client management. Best for project-based freelancers rather than product businesses.
The criteria we used — weighted by what actually matters to small business owners
We only listed tools with a real free plan — not trials. We checked what you get without paying: invoice limits, feature caps, watermarks, and hidden costs.
A billing tool that does not handle all GST slabs, HSN codes, and GSTR report formats is not compliant. We tested each tool with real invoices across different tax scenarios.
Can you use it on Android, web, and desktop? Does it have an offline mode? We checked whether the tool matches how real small business owners actually work.
Creating an invoice should take under 2 minutes. We timed the process from opening the app to sending a GST invoice for each tool — first time, no tutorial.
With India's e-commerce boom, billing tools need to connect with Shopify, Amazon, and Flipkart. We checked native integrations vs manual workarounds.
The real test of a billing tool is whether its GSTR-1 export matches what the GST portal expects. We checked report format, data accuracy, and filing compatibility.
There is no single best billing software for every Indian business. Here is our honest recommendation based on business type:
Shopify or online seller: Use myBillPlease. It is the only tool with native Shopify integration and an unlimited free plan. Your orders auto-generate GST invoices — no manual work.
Offline retail shop in tier-2/3 city: Use Vyapar for its offline capability and strong Android app, but budget ₹3,499/year after the trial ends.
Freelancer or consultant: Use Zoho Invoice (free, unlimited) or Refrens (25 invoices/month free). Both have clean interfaces and multi-currency support.
Manufacturer or wholesale trader: Use Sleek Bill or myBillBook. The inventory depth suits product-heavy businesses better than simple invoice tools.
Not yet GST registered: Any tool works, but plan ahead — when you cross ₹40 lakh turnover (₹20 lakh for services), you will need full GST compliance. Tools like myBillPlease and Zoho Invoice handle the transition seamlessly.
Use our free GST calculator to cross-check tax amounts while you evaluate tools.
myBillPlease is free forever for core GST invoicing. Unlimited invoices, all GST slabs, Shopify integration, and GSTR reports — at zero cost.
Create Free Account