Abby alternatives: which invoicing tool to pick in France, and how to leave without losing a thing
Six destinations in detail, the real reasons to leave, and an eight-step exit.
Short answer: Indy if you want Abby's approach plus a business account and bookkeeping, Tiime for free e-invoicing and reminders, Freebe for one flat price and time tracking, Henrri if you only need to invoice for free, Pennylane once an accountant is involved, and Evoliz if your business needs real sales management. Abby is a French invoicing app for micro-entrepreneurs and freelancers; it only works for French businesses, so every option here does too. People rarely leave because Abby is bad. They leave because a useful feature sits on a paid tier, or because the business grew. We compared all six and checked their 2026 prices.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored placement is always labelled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why freelancers leave Abby
Abby claims more than 150,000 freelancers, and most public reviews are positive. Its free Basique plan already covers unlimited quotes and invoices, e-invoicing, the income ledger and a contribution estimate. So why look elsewhere? Six reasons keep coming up.
Useful features are spread over four tiers
Urssaf filing and sending invoices by email come with Start, €9 excl. VAT a month. Bank sync (one account), reminders and e-signature with Pro at €15. Income tax filing, multiple users and foreign currencies with Business at €33. Abby advertises up to 20% off on yearly billing. Need one feature from each tier and the bill climbs.
No FEC export for your accountant yet
The FEC is the standard French accounting file your accountant, or a tax auditor, will request. Abby's grid still shows "Bientôt" (coming soon) on that line. Fine for a solo micro-entrepreneur; a problem once you incorporate.
Support without a phone line
The most common complaint in negative reviews targets support: a chatbot that misses the point, a video call to book to reach a human, and no phone line, even on Business. When a bug blocks an invoice, waiting hurts.
Bugs that block invoicing
A few users describe invoices they could not download or send, wrong Urssaf amounts, and payments not matched by the bank sync. Not the majority, but this is what makes people leave.
VAT and renewals catch people out
Some find their case, such as a VAT-registered micro business, needs a paid plan. Others complain about automatic renewal and pro-rata refunds only. Check your renewal date in your account.
Built for the micro-entreprise first
Abby now accepts EI, SASU, EURL and SARL, but its core is the micro regime: contributions, thresholds, income ledger. With an accountant, employees or several people invoicing, tools built around accountant collaboration go further.
You are leaving Abby because… go to…
One line usually fits. Each card links to the full profile.
€0 Essentiel with a business account, approved platform.
You only pay for Pro to get remindersTiimeReminders and e-invoicing in the Free plan.
You are tired of tiers and bill by timeFreebe€150 a year incl. VAT, everything in.
You just want to invoice, nothing elseHenrri€0 Pro plan, online payment on free.
You are incorporating and your accountant wants an FECPennylaneYou and your accountant in one tool, from €7.
Your business needs full sales managementEvolizFrom €29 excl. VAT a month, 15-day trial.
Abby alternatives, tool by tool
For each tool: why move there from Abby, who it fits, its catch, how to switch, and the price the vendor shows for France in 2026, excl. VAT unless stated. These are French tools, priced in euros. None has an official Abby import: you switch with your exports and by recreating clients.
Indy: Abby's logic, plus bookkeeping and a business account
FreelancerWhy move to Indy. If you are leaving Abby because you want invoicing, banking and filings in one place, Indy is the closest match. Its Essentiel plan costs €0 and includes e-invoicing, unlimited quotes and invoices, automatic bookkeeping and a business account with an IBAN and a card. Indy is an approved platform (plateforme agréée) registered with the French tax office, just like Abby, so you lose nothing on the 2026 reform.
Who it fits. A micro-entrepreneur who wants bank transactions read automatically without paying for a Pro tier, and anyone planning to incorporate later: Indy has price grids for micro, EI and companies under the same account.
Who should skip it. If all you want is a light invoice editor, Indy is broader than Abby and takes longer to learn.
The catch. On Abby, the Urssaf filing comes with Start at €9 excl. VAT a month. On Indy, for a micro-entrepreneur, it comes with Autonomie: €180 excl. VAT a year (€15 a month), or €19 if you pay monthly. The Plus plan, €108 a year, adds recurring invoices, automatic reminders and VAT threshold tracking, but not the filing itself.
How to switch. There is no official Abby import. Recreate clients and services, continue your invoice numbering from Abby's last number, and archive your Abby PDFs. Start on the first day of a filing period.
- Free
- Essentiel at €0
- Urssaf filing
- Autonomie, €180/yr excl. VAT
- E-invoicing
- approved platform
- Catch
- broader, slower to learn
Tiime: free e-invoicing and payment reminders, with your accountant plugged in
Free with accountantWhy move to Tiime. Tiime advertises e-invoicing that is "100% free", even on its €0 Free plan, with unlimited invoices and quotes, deposits, credit notes, multiple VAT rates and payment tracking with reminders. Abby keeps unpaid-invoice reminders for its €15 Pro tier. Your accountant also gets free access to your e-invoicing data.
Who it fits. A freelancer or small company that has, or will soon have, a French accountant.
Who should skip it. A micro-entrepreneur without an accountant who wants the software to watch Urssaf contributions, which is Abby's strong point.
The catch. The Free plan requires signing up to Tiime's approved platform. Paid plans (Initial €9.99, Smart €17.99, Business €24.99 excl. VAT a month, billed yearly, for zero or one employee) rise with headcount.
How to switch. Pick Tiime as your receiving platform, recreate clients, and issue your first invoice with the number following your last Abby invoice.
- Free
- Free plan at €0
- Paid
- Initial €9.99/mo yearly
- Reminders
- included free
- Catch
- price follows headcount
Freebe: one flat price and time tracking
Flat priceWhy move to Freebe. Many people leave Abby because of its tiers: one plan for Urssaf, another for the bank, a third for reminders. Freebe charges one price with everything included: €150 incl. VAT a year, or €12.50 a month, no commitment, with 30 days free and no card required. Pre-filled Urssaf filing, connections to more than 450 banks and time tracking are in the box.
Who it fits. A developer, consultant or designer who bills by time and wants to send a timesheet with the invoice. Freebe accepts micro, EI, SASU, EURL and artist-author statuses.
Who should skip it. Anyone who wants to pay nothing. Abby, Tiime, Indy and Henrri have a real free plan; Freebe does not.
The catch. Freebe calls itself a "Solution Compatible" with Factur-X, not an approved platform. You will need an approved platform alongside it for e-invoicing. Check which one Freebe offers before you cancel Abby.
How to switch. Use the 30-day trial to recreate clients, authorize Freebe to file your revenue, and run one filing in parallel with your last Abby month.
- Price
- €150/yr incl. VAT, all in
- Trial
- 30 days, no card
- E-invoicing
- compatible solution, not approved platform
- Catch
- no free plan
Henrri: the free option when you just need to invoice
Simple freeWhy move to Henrri. If Abby feels busy and you only need quotes and invoices, Henrri's Pro plan costs €0, "no hidden fees", with unlimited sales and purchase invoices, unlimited quotes, and sign-up to a partner approved platform included. Online payment works on the free plan at 1.2% + €0.15 per transaction; Abby only opens card payments from Start.
Who it fits. A tradesperson or micro-entrepreneur who files Urssaf returns themselves.
Who should skip it. Anyone relying on Abby to estimate and file contributions: Henrri does not handle Urssaf.
The catch. Reminders are manual on the free plan. Bank sync comes with Expert (€9 a month billed yearly, €12 monthly), configurable accounting exports with Smart (€25 or €29), recurring invoices and automatic dunning with VIP (€49 or €59), all excl. VAT.
How to switch. Rebuild your item catalog, carry on the numbering, and keep Abby on Basique until your last invoices are paid.
- Free
- Pro at €0
- Paid
- Expert €9/mo yearly
- E-invoicing
- partner approved platform
- Catch
- no Urssaf filing
Pennylane: when an accountant joins the picture
With an accountantWhy move to Pennylane. Abby is built for the freelancer who handles things alone. Once an accountant is involved (incorporation, VAT, year-end accounts), they will ask for an FEC, the French audit file, and Abby's pricing grid still lists its FEC export as "coming soon". Pennylane puts you and your accountant in the same tool, and every plan supports e-invoicing.
Who it fits. A freelancer moving to an SASU or EURL, or whose accountant already works in Pennylane.
Who should skip it. A micro-entrepreneur with no accountant.
The catch. The freelancer grid runs from €7 (Starter, which requires the Pennylane business account) to €14, €24 and €79 excl. VAT a month, one user, up to 1,200 invoices a year. Full bookkeeping is in Premium only.
How to switch. Start at the beginning of your financial year; your accountant enters opening balances and you recreate unpaid invoices.
- Price
- from €7/mo excl. VAT
- Cap
- 1,200 invoices/yr
- E-invoicing
- all plans
- Catch
- best with an accountant
Evoliz: when the business needs proper sales management
Sales managementWhy move to Evoliz. Some people outgrow Abby: more clients, purchases to track, several people invoicing. Evoliz is a management and invoicing tool for small businesses, with e-invoicing and e-reporting included through the approved platform Chaintrust by Visma.
Who it fits. A VAT-registered small business that wants a fuller tool and exports its accountant already knows.
Who should skip it. A brand-new micro-entrepreneur: there is no free plan, only a 15-day trial.
The catch. Price. Essentielle is €29 excl. VAT a month or €290 a year (two months free), Avancée €49 or €490. That is above Abby Business at €33.
How to switch. Use the trial to recreate clients and items, set numbering, and have your accountant check an export before paying.
- Price
- €29/mo or €290/yr excl. VAT
- Trial
- 15 days
- E-invoicing
- via Chaintrust by Visma
- Catch
- no free plan
Abby and 6 alternatives side by side
Our default picks: Indy to stay free with a complete tool, Freebe to stop thinking about tiers. Yearly cost for a solo freelancer who wants Urssaf filing included: Abby Start €108 excl. VAT at the monthly rate, Indy Autonomie €180 excl. VAT billed yearly, Freebe €150 incl. VAT.
| Free and first paid plan | E-invoicing and Urssaf | |
|---|---|---|
| AbbyStarting point | Basique €0; Start €9, Pro €15, Business €33/mo | Approved platform; Urssaf filing from Start |
| IndyFreelancer | Essentiel €0; Plus €108/yr | Approved platform; Urssaf filing in Autonomie |
| TiimeFree with accountant | Free €0; Initial €9.99/mo yearly | Tiime approved platform, free e-invoicing |
| FreebeFlat price | No free plan; €150/yr incl. VAT | Compatible solution; pre-filled Urssaf filing |
| HenrriSimple invoicing | Pro €0; Expert €9/mo yearly | Partner approved platform; no Urssaf |
| PennylaneWith accountant | No free plan; Starter €7/mo | All plans compliant; 1,200 invoices/yr |
| EvolizSales management | 15-day trial; €29/mo | Via Chaintrust by Visma |
Prices shown by vendors in 2026, excl. VAT except Freebe (incl. VAT), subject to change.
Leaving Abby in eight steps
Three things matter: keep your invoice numbering intact, do not miss an Urssaf filing, and never be left without an approved e-invoicing platform.
Write down exactly why you are leaving
FirstList the two or three features you miss or overpay for in Abby: Urssaf filing, bank sync, reminders, FEC, price. That list picks your destination. If the only issue is Start's price, drop back to Basique and file on the Urssaf website yourself.
- Output
- 2 or 3 written needs
Switch at the start of a filing period
CalendarMove on the first day of a monthly or quarterly Urssaf period, so one whole period is filed from Abby and the next from the new tool, and your income ledger does not split mid-period.
- Best moment
- start of month or quarter
Download everything Abby holds
DataDownload every quote and invoice as PDF, your income ledger (livre des recettes), your purchase register and your client list. Abby's grid keeps CSV and Excel export for Pro and Business only (neither Basique nor Start has it) and lists FEC export as coming soon. On Basique or Start, upgrade to Pro for one month (€15 excl. VAT) or a 14-day trial to run your exports instead of retyping everything.
- Keep
- PDFs, ledgers
- Tip
- export during a paid trial
Keep invoice numbering continuous
LegalFrench invoices need an unbroken sequence. Note Abby's last number and set the new tool to continue right after it, or start a consistent new yearly prefix. Never issue another invoice from Abby after the switch.
- Note
- last Abby number
Reconnect Urssaf and the immediate advance
FilingIf Abby filed for you, revoke its access and authorize the new tool, or file yourself. If you use the immediate tax-credit advance for home services, check the destination supports it first.
- Risk
- double or missed filing
Move your approved platform for e-invoicing
ComplianceAbby is your receiving platform. Register with the destination's platform (Indy, Tiime, or the partner used by Henrri, Evoliz or Freebe) and confirm your SIREN is attached before you leave Abby. Some users report slow registrations, so start early.
- Check
- SIREN attached
Move payments and reminders
CollectionUpdate the payment link and IBAN on your invoice templates, then recreate reminders. Keep Abby on Basique until invoices issued before the switch are paid.
- Duration
- until last payment
Cancel the paid plan, keep the archives
Wrap-upDowngrade or cancel before your renewal date and put it in your calendar: some users complain about auto-renewal. Keep invoices and ledgers outside Abby for ten years, as French law requires.
- Retention
- ten years
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a move off Abby go wrong
Mistakes rarely come from the destination. They come from timing and from what gets left behind.
Leaving over a feature you could get cheaper
If Start's €9 a month is the only issue, you can declare your turnover yourself for free on autoentrepreneur.urssaf.fr, using the contribution estimate Basique already gives you. Switch for a real gap (FEC, bank, reminders), not a tier.
Cancelling before exporting
Neither Basique nor Start has CSV or Excel export: you need Pro or Business. Download PDFs and ledgers, then export during a month on Pro or a trial before you cancel.
Dropping Abby before joining a new platform
In 2026 every French business must be able to receive e-invoices. Register elsewhere first, then leave.
Picking Freebe without an approved platform
Freebe is a good destination but calls itself a compatible solution. Confirm the platform it pairs you with before leaving Abby.
Forgetting the immediate advance
If your private clients use the immediate tax-credit advance, your destination has to support it, or they pay full price.
Comparing without your legal status
The same tool costs differently for micro and companies: Indy Autonomie is €15 a month yearly for micro and €49 for companies. See our rankings of accounting software for the self-employed and invoicing software for freelancers.
- Reasons for leaving written down
- Switch date at start of a period
- PDFs, ledgers and purchase register downloaded
- CSV and Excel exports done during a month on Pro (or a trial)
- Last invoice number noted
- Urssaf access revoked or moved
- New approved platform registration confirmed
- IBAN and payment link updated
- Abby renewal date noted
- Archives kept ten years
Abby alternatives: frequently asked questions
Is Abby really free?
Yes, Basique is €0 with no commitment: unlimited quotes and invoices, e-invoicing, income ledger, contribution estimate. Sign-up may start a 14-day paid trial; at the end, just stay on Basique.
What is the best free alternative to Abby?
Indy if you also want a business account and bookkeeping, Tiime for reminders, Henrri to just invoice. All three have a €0 plan with e-invoicing.
Is Abby an approved e-invoicing platform?
Yes, Abby says it is registered as a plateforme agréée with the French tax office. So are Indy and Tiime; Henrri and Evoliz go through a partner platform; Freebe calls itself a compatible solution.
Can I export my data from Abby?
Invoice PDFs and your income ledger, yes. CSV and Excel export is on Pro and Business only (not Start), and FEC export is listed as coming soon. Export before you cancel.
Does Abby have an English interface?
No English interface is advertised: Abby is built for the French market, and its site, app and pricing grid are in French. What Business (€33 excl. VAT a month) adds is invoices in foreign languages and currencies, so you can bill English-speaking clients even if you work in French menus.
Abby or Indy for a micro-entrepreneur?
Abby if you want the cheapest Urssaf filing (Start, €9). Indy if you want a free business account and bookkeeping in one place.
How do I cancel Abby?
Downgrade to Basique or cancel from your account before renewal. Reviews say refunds are only pro rata and limited, so note the date.
Should I tell clients I changed software?
Yes, for a new IBAN or payment link, and so they can send e-invoices to your new platform. Our Shine alternatives page covers changing a business IBAN in France.
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One tool to leave, one destination, one exit plan. Nothing else.