Conta
Free online invoicing software.
Crater
Open-source invoicing and expense tracking for businesses
Self-hosted invoicing platform for creating professional invoices, estimates, and tracking expenses. Built with Laravel, Vue.js, and React Native for web and mobile.
Overview
Modern Invoicing for Independent Businesses
Crater is a self-hosted invoicing and expense management platform designed for freelancers, small businesses, and agencies who need professional billing without recurring SaaS fees. The platform combines a Laravel and Vue.js web application with native React Native mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Core Capabilities
Create and send professional invoices and estimates with customizable templates and branding. Track expenses and payments in real time, manage multiple companies from a single installation, and accept online payments through Stripe integration. The customer portal gives clients self-service access to invoices and payment history. Recurring invoices automate subscription billing, while custom fields adapt documents to industry-specific needs.
Deployment and Extensibility
Crater ships with an installation wizard and is available as a Docker image for streamlined deployment. White-labeling features allow complete theme customization across invoices, emails, and the customer portal. The roadmap includes modules API, inventory management, time tracking, and payroll features. Licensed under AGPL-3.0, Crater offers full control over your billing infrastructure without vendor lock-in.
Highlights
Professional invoice and estimate creation with custom fields and branding
Native mobile apps for iOS and Android alongside web interface
Multi-company support with customer portal and Stripe payment processing
Self-hosted deployment via Docker with white-labeling capabilities
Pros
- No recurring subscription costs; full ownership of billing data
- Cross-platform support with web and native mobile applications
- Stripe integration enables direct online payment acceptance
- Active development with recurring invoices, multi-company, and customization features
Considerations
- Requires self-hosting infrastructure and maintenance expertise
- AGPL-3.0 license mandates source disclosure for modified network services
- Advanced features like inventory and time tracking still in development
- Limited to Stripe for payment processing; no multi-gateway support mentioned
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Fit guide
Great for
- Freelancers and consultants needing branded invoicing without SaaS fees
- Small businesses managing multiple clients with recurring billing needs
- Agencies requiring multi-company support and client self-service portals
- Organizations prioritizing data sovereignty and billing infrastructure control
Not ideal when
- Enterprises requiring advanced ERP integration or multi-currency accounting
- Teams without technical resources for self-hosted application management
- Businesses needing immediate inventory management or payroll features
- Organizations requiring payment gateways beyond Stripe integration
How teams use it
Freelance Consultant Billing
Independent consultants create branded invoices, track project expenses, and accept client payments through Stripe without monthly platform fees.
Agency Multi-Client Management
Design agencies manage separate billing for multiple clients, send recurring retainer invoices, and provide client portals for payment history access.
SaaS Subscription Billing
Small software companies automate recurring invoices for subscription customers while maintaining complete control over billing data and customer information.
Service Business Expense Tracking
Local service providers track job-related expenses, generate professional estimates, and convert approved quotes to invoices within a unified platform.
Tech snapshot
PHP48%
Vue40%
JavaScript8%
Blade4%
Dockerfile1%
Shell1%
Frequently asked questions
What technology stack does Crater use?
The web application is built with Laravel (PHP) and Vue.js, while mobile apps use React Native for cross-platform iOS and Android support.
Can I accept payments directly through Crater?
Yes, Crater integrates with Stripe to accept online payments. Customers can pay invoices directly through the customer portal.
Does Crater support managing multiple businesses?
Yes, multi-company support allows you to manage billing for multiple businesses or entities from a single Crater installation.
How is Crater deployed?
Crater includes an installation wizard and is available as a Docker image. It requires self-hosting on your own infrastructure or cloud provider.
What customization options are available?
Crater offers white-labeling with custom branding, invoice template customization, custom fields, configurable addresses, and default notes for invoices and estimates.
Project at a glance
Dormant- Stars
- 8,247
- Watchers
- 8,247
- Forks
- 1,693
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age6 years old
Last commitlast year
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languagePHP
Last synced 3 hours ago