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InvoiceShelf

invoiceshelf.com

Free plan Open source WebAndroidAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.4 #2 of 28 in Accounts Receivable Software

What it is

InvoiceShelf is a free, open-source, self-hosted web application for invoices, estimates, payment tracking, and expense management. It supports branded documents, custom fields, tax rules, multiple currencies, and PDF templates. Recurring invoices can be generated for retainers, subscriptions, and repeat customers, while reports cover sales, taxes, overdue balances, and profit. Customers can view invoices, estimates, and payments in a private portal without creating a separate account. Users can record partial and full payments; the homepage lists Stripe checkout for online card payments. The application also supports payment reminders, remote file storage through listed drivers such as Dropbox, Amazon S3, and DigitalOcean Spaces, and backups from its interface. Backups can include everything, only the database, or only files. It advertises a REST API and module system, while webhooks are marked as coming soon. Hosting requires PHP 8.3 or 8.4, Nginx or Apache, and a supported database. The free plan is listed as free and includes unlimited invoices and customers.

Spec sheet

What it does
InvoiceShelf is a self-hosted web application for invoices, estimates, payment tracking, expenses, and customer records.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Intended users
The maker describes InvoiceShelf as open-source invoicing for individuals and small businesses, with features aimed at small businesses, agencies, and consultancies.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Free plan
YesRead 24 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Integrations
The maker advertises Stripe checkout for online card payments and supports SMTP, sendmail, PHP mail, Amazon SES, Mailgun, and Postmark for email delivery.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Security
The InvoiceShelf 2.4.6 release notes say it fixed two security issues involving file disk selection and saved storage credentials.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Support
The product page lists community support on Discord and links to GitHub Discussions for installation help.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
License
InvoiceShelf is released under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
AI assistant connections
InvoiceShelf 3 documentation describes MCP connections for Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, and Cursor, with read-only or read-and-write access.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
AI availability
The MCP server is available in InvoiceShelf 3.0.0-alpha.5 and remains off until a super admin enables it.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
AI extensibility
The AI assistant uses a customer-supplied OpenRouter key, runs on the user's server, and exposes read-only query tools.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
AlternativeTo listing
AlternativeTo describes InvoiceShelf as free, open source, and available as a web and mobile invoicing application; its listing showed 3 likes.Read 21 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Android app status
The Google Play app is an unofficial Android client, requires a self-hosted InvoiceShelf server, and says no data is shared or collected.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
API and extensibility
InvoiceShelf advertises a full REST API using Sanctum tokens and a module system; webhooks are marked as coming soon.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Backups
Users can back up files and the database from the UI, choosing a full, database-only, or files-only backup.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Company facts
LinkedIn describes Ideologix Media DOOEL as privately held, founded in November 2016, headquartered in Skopje, and employing 2–10 people.Read 21 Oct 2026 · mk.linkedin.com
Customer portal
Customers can view invoices, estimates, and payments through a private portal without creating separate accounts.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Documentation and support
Documentation covers installation, developers, migration, dashboards, customers, portals, invoices, recurring invoices, payments, expenses, taxes, PDFs, email, backups, and reports; community help is offered through Discord and GitHub Discussions.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Estimates
Estimates can be sent, acceptance tracked, and converted into invoices.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Expense tracking
Expenses can be categorized, linked with receipt attachments, and reconciled against invoices.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Expenses and reports
Users can track expenses and access reports for sales, taxes, overdue balances, and profit.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Invoicing
It supports branded invoices and estimates, custom fields, tax rules, multi-currency, and PDF templates.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Limit: ecosystem depth
Indiebase describes fewer advanced commercial features, including limited payment-gateway integrations, basic recurring payments, and less detailed reporting.Read 21 Oct 2026 · indiebase.io
Limit: online payments
The customer-portal documentation explicitly says online payments are currently unsupported, despite other maker material mentioning Stripe checkout.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Limit: operational burden
Indiebase says setup, hosting, maintenance, and manual updates require technical knowledge and increase operational work.Read 21 Oct 2026 · indiebase.io
Limit: webhooks
The feature matrix marks webhooks as coming soon rather than available.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Maker headquarters
Ideologix Media's own site lists Ul. Ilindenska 10, Kicevo, North Macedonia.Read 21 Oct 2026 · ideologix.com
Maker legal operator
The InvoiceShelf site identifies Ideologix Media DOOEL as its operator.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
MCP
The MCP server is available in the 3.0 alpha line, disabled until a super administrator enables it, and supports Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, and Cursor connections.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Module SDK
InvoiceShelf 3 modules use manifests, host contracts, and signed releases, with PHP and Vue available for module development.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Multi-currency
Exchange rates are synchronized automatically from a selected provider for multi-currency billing.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Payments
The application records partial and full payments and tracks outstanding balances.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Praise: control and privacy
Indiebase highlights user control over hosting and financial data as a principal benefit of the self-hosted design.Read 21 Oct 2026 · indiebase.io
Preview limitation
The 3.x line is labeled an alpha preview and the documentation says it should not be used with production data.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Professional invoicing
Users can create, send, and track branded invoices with custom fields, tax rules, multiple currencies, and PDF output.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Public API
A REST API is documented with Sanctum personal access tokens and company-scoped headers.Read 21 Oct 2026 · api-docs.invoiceshelf.com
Rating on Google Play
No numeric rating or review count was displayed on the opened listing.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Indiebase
0 out of 5 from 0 reviews.Read 21 Oct 2026 · indiebase.io
Recurring billing
Recurring invoices automate retainers, subscriptions, and repeat customer billing on schedules.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Recurring invoices
YesRead 24 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Reports
The documentation lists dashboard, tax, expense, payment, and reporting areas as core product sections.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Requirements
The download page lists PHP 8.3 or 8.4, Nginx or Apache, and MySQL 8+, MariaDB 10.4+, PostgreSQL 13+, or SQLite 3.35+.Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Security bulletin
A Singapore government security bulletin reported three SSRF vulnerabilities in pre-2.2.0 PDF generation paths and stated they were patched in version 2.2.0.Read 21 Oct 2026 · isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg
Security release
Release 2.4.6 fixed file-disk security issues and foreign-currency calculation bugs, while release 2.4.7 updated Docker to PHP 8.4.27 for critical PHP vulnerabilities.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Self-hosting
Official deployment options are Docker Compose or manual installation on infrastructure controlled by the user.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
Stable release
The download page lists InvoiceShelf 2.4.7 as the stable release dated October 21, 2026.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
Storage integrations
Remote file storage drivers include Dropbox, Amazon S3, and DigitalOcean Spaces.Read 21 Oct 2026 · docs.invoiceshelf.com
System requirements
The download page specifies PHP 8.3 or 8.4, Nginx or Apache, and MySQL 8+, MariaDB 10.4+, PostgreSQL 13+, or SQLite 3.35+.Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com

Plans and prices

Free Free free forever unlimited invoices and estimates · unlimited customers · recurring billing · expenses · multi-company · customer portal · reports · taxes · multi-currency · community Discord support Read 21 Oct 2026 · invoiceshelf.com
InvoiceShelf Free Free forever · open source under AGPL-3.0 · self-hosted · unlimited invoices and customers · no seats or subscription Read 30 Sep 2026 · invoiceshelf.com

Every InvoiceShelf plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free, open-source plan with unlimited invoices and customers
  • Generates recurring invoices
  • Customer portal needs no separate account setup
  • Tracks partial and full payments
  • Backups can be selected by data type

Limits

  • Requires self-hosting and specified server software
  • Requires PHP 8.3 or 8.4
  • Webhooks are marked as coming soon
  • No free trial is listed

Who it suits

InvoiceShelf is suited to individuals and small businesses, including agencies and consultancies, that can host their own invoicing application. Its self-hosted setup requires a supported server environment and database.

Verdict

InvoiceShelf provides invoicing, payment tracking, expenses, and customer access without a subscription charge. Its self-hosted requirements mean users need to supply a compatible server and database.

Where Specifiction places it

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