Invoice generator: make a PDF invoice free, without uploading anything
To make an invoice free and privately, fill in the From and Bill to sections, add a row for each item, set a discount and tax rate if needed, then click Print / Save as PDF and choose โSave as PDFโ in the print dialog. The preview updates as you type, and discount, tax and totals are calculated for you. The invoice is built in your browser, nothing you enter is uploaded, and there is no sign-up.
An invoice is a document that asks a customer to pay for goods or services and records what was sold, to whom, and when payment is due. This invoice generator suits freelancers, small businesses and contractors who need a clean, simple invoice with one tax rate, 25 currencies and their own payment details.
After the invoice is paid, the receipt generator makes the matching receipt.
Table of Use: common invoice situations
| Situation | Settings to use | What the invoice shows |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly freelance work | Qty 1.5, Unit price your hourly rate | Quantity and amount for each line, rounded to the currency's decimals |
| Sale that carries VAT or GST | Tax name VAT or GST, Tax rate (%) 20 | A line such as VAT (20%) with the tax amount, then the Total |
| Percentage discount for a loyal client | Discount 10 with % selected | Discount (10%) deducted from the subtotal before tax |
| Fixed voucher or credit | Change the Discount type from % to the currency code | A Discount line for that amount, never more than the subtotal |
| Client abroad | Pick the Currency and a Number & date format | Amounts and dates written the way the client expects |
| Payment within 30 days | Payment terms Net 30 | Due date filled in from the invoice date; Due on receipt prints โOn receiptโ |
| Payment by bank transfer | Type bank name and IBAN or account number under Payment details | A Payment details block under the totals |
Before the IBAN goes on the invoice, check it with the IBAN validator. To plan a discount first, the discount calculator shows the new price.
Features of this invoice maker
- Live preview. The invoice sits beside the form and changes as you type; on a wide screen it stays in view while you scroll.
- Line items. Add as many rows as you need with Add item, remove one with the cross, and use decimal quantities such as 1.5.
- Discount, tax and totals. A percentage or fixed discount, one named tax (VAT, GST, sales tax) at one rate, and a Total.
- 25 currencies, 5 number formats. Yen amounts have no decimals, and quantities and prices you type are read in the chosen format.
- Payment terms. Choose Custom date, Due on receipt, Net 7, Net 15, Net 30 or Net 60, or edit the due date directly.
- Print-ready. Only the invoice is printed, with no site menu, footer or form, and a PDF saved from the print dialog keeps selectable text. Switch off Headers and footers in the print dialog so the browser adds no page title, web address or date.
How the totals are worked out
Line amount = quantity ร unit price, rounded to the currency's smallest unit. Subtotal = sum of the lines. Discount = subtotal ร discount %, or the fixed amount, capped at the subtotal. Taxable amount = subtotal โ discount. Tax = taxable amount ร tax rate. Total = taxable amount + tax. Example: 3 ร 39.99 = 119.97; a 10% discount of 12.00 leaves 107.97; 20% VAT adds 21.59; the total is 129.56. For prices that already include tax, the VAT calculator and the GST calculator work backwards from the gross amount.
What it does not do
There is no logo upload, automatic invoice numbering, saved clients, recurring invoices, emailing or payment link, and nothing is stored once you leave the page. The only tax handling is one named rate for the whole invoice. For the covering message, the email template builder helps, and to agree terms before work starts, the contract generator.
How to create an invoice, step by step
- Under From (your business), enter your Business name and Address, and optionally Email, Phone and your Tax / VAT / GST number.
- Under Bill to (client), enter the Client name, Address and optional Email.
- Under Invoice details, set the Invoice number, Invoice date, Currency, Number & date format and Payment terms.
- Under Line items, fill in Description, Qty and Unit price, and click + Add item for more rows.
- Enter a Discount and a Tax rate (%), naming the tax in the Tax name box.
- Add Payment details and Notes, check the preview, then click Print / Save as PDF.
Pricing the work in the first place is easier with the markup calculator, and a client in another country may want the amount converted with the currency converter.
Who can use it
- Freelancers and consultants who bill by the hour or project and need a PDF the same day.
- Small shops and tradespeople who add VAT, GST or sales tax to a job.
- Students and first-time business owners who want to see how an invoice is laid out.
- Anyone who dislikes sign-ups, because the form starts straight away.
FAQs
How do I create an invoice online for free?
Fill in the From and Bill to sections, set the invoice number, date, currency and payment terms, add a row for each product or service, then enter a discount and tax rate if you need them. The preview beside the form updates as you type. When it looks right, click Print / Save as PDF. There is no sign-up, and nothing you enter is uploaded.
How do I save the invoice as a PDF?
Click Print / Save as PDF, then pick "Save as PDF" (or "Microsoft Print to PDF" on Windows) as the printer in your browser's print dialog. The form, the site menu and the footer are left out of the printout, and the PDF keeps selectable text. In Chrome or Edge, open More settings and untick Headers and footers (in Firefox, untick Print headers and footers); otherwise the browser adds the page title, web address, date and page numbers in the margins.
How are the discount and tax calculated?
Each line is quantity times unit price, rounded to the currency's smallest unit. The discount, either a percentage or a fixed amount, comes off the subtotal, and tax is then charged on the discounted amount. For example 119.97 with a 10% discount becomes 107.97, and 20% VAT on that adds 21.59, for a total of 129.56.
Which currencies and number formats are supported?
Twenty-five currencies, including the US dollar, euro, pound, Indian rupee, yen, yuan, Canadian and Australian dollars, Swiss franc, UAE dirham and South African rand. Amounts use the currency's own decimals (none for the yen). Five number formats are offered: 1,234.56, the Indian 1,23,456.78, the German 1.234,56, the French 1 234,56 and the Swiss 1โ234.56. What you type is read in the chosen format, so with the German format 0,5 is a half.
Is my invoice data uploaded or saved?
No. The invoice is built in your browser and nothing you type is sent to ZipConvert or anyone else. That also means nothing is saved for you: keep the PDF, because if you reload the page the form starts again from the example values. You can check the Network tab in DevTools while you work to see that no request carries your invoice.
What must an invoice include?
Usually a unique invoice number, the issue date, your business name and address, the client's name and address, a description of each item with quantity and price, the total, and the due date or payment terms. If you are registered for VAT or GST, most countries also require your tax number and the tax rate and amount on the invoice. Rules differ between countries, so check your tax authority's requirements.
Can it add a logo, number invoices automatically or make a GST-compliant invoice?
Not today. There is no logo upload, the invoice number is whatever you type, and the tool applies one named tax at one rate to the whole invoice. It does not split CGST, SGST and IGST, add HSN codes or per-line tax rates, or produce e-invoice file formats. It prints your own tax number as Tax ID, so check local rules before relying on it for a regulated invoice.
Do I need an account, and is there a watermark?
No account is needed. The invoice itself carries no watermark and no ZipConvert branding; the only extra text can come from your browser's Headers and footers option, which you can switch off in the print dialog. The tool does not limit invoices or line items, and nothing is stored, so keep your own copy of each PDF.