InvoicePlane/InvoicePlane - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/InvoicePlane/InvoicePlane
Stars: 2701 (as of August 2025)

2. Project Description#

InvoicePlane is a self-hosted, open-source invoicing application designed to help freelancers, small businesses, and organizations manage clients, invoices, and payments efficiently. Built with PHP and MySQL, it provides a clean, user-friendly interface for generating professional invoices, tracking payments, and managing client data—all without relying on third-party services.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

InvoicePlane serves as a free and open-source alternative to commercial invoicing solutions such as:

QuickBooks Online
FreshBooks
Zoho Invoice
Wave Apps
Xero

4. Core Functionality#

Key features of InvoicePlane include:

Invoice Management: Create, send, and track invoices with customizable templates.
Client Management: Store client details, payment terms, and transaction history.
Payment Tracking: Record and reconcile payments with support for multiple payment methods.
Recurring Invoices: Automate billing cycles for subscriptions or regular clients.
Tax & Reporting: Calculate taxes and generate financial reports.
Multi-Language Support: Available in multiple languages for global use.
PDF Export: Download invoices as PDFs for offline use.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros:#

✔ Self-Hosted & Private: Full control over your invoicing data.
✔ No Subscription Fees: Unlike SaaS alternatives, InvoicePlane is free to use.
✔ Customizable: Modify templates and workflows to fit your business needs.
✔ Offline Access: Works without an internet connection once installed.

Cons:#

✖ Requires Technical Setup: Needs a web server (Apache/Nginx), PHP, and MySQL.
✖ Limited Mobile Support: No dedicated mobile app (web interface only).
✖ No Built-in Payment Processing: Requires manual integration with gateways like PayPal or Stripe.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host on Ubuntu)#

Prerequisites:#

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (or later)
LAMP Stack (Apache, MySQL, PHP)
Composer (PHP dependency manager)

Step-by-Step Setup:#

Install LAMP Stack

1
sudo apt update && sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

Configure MySQL

1
sudo mysql_secure_installation
2
sudo mysql -u root -p

Inside MySQL, create a database and user for InvoicePlane:

1
CREATE DATABASE invoiceplane;
2
CREATE USER 'ip_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
3
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON invoiceplane.* TO 'ip_user'@'localhost';
4
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Install InvoicePlane

1
cd /var/www/html
2
sudo git clone https://github.com/InvoicePlane/InvoicePlane.git
3
cd InvoicePlane
4
sudo composer install --no-dev

Set Permissions

1
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/InvoicePlane
2
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/InvoicePlane

Configure Apache
Create a virtual host:

1
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/invoiceplane.conf

Paste the following (adjust ServerName as needed):

1
<VirtualHost *:80>
2
    ServerName invoicing.yourdomain.com
3
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/InvoicePlane
4
    <Directory /var/www/html/InvoicePlane>
5
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
6
        AllowOverride All
7
        Require all granted
8
    </Directory>
9
</VirtualHost>

Enable the site and restart Apache:

1
sudo a2ensite invoiceplane.conf
2
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Run the Installer
Visit http://your-server-ip in a browser and follow the setup wizard to configure InvoicePlane.

Post-Installation:#

Secure your installation with HTTPS (use Let’s Encrypt).
Set up automated backups for the MySQL database.

Enjoy your self-hosted invoicing system! 🚀