Crater is a self-hosted invoicing application for freelancers and small businesses, and the foundation of a vendor-managed embedded billing platform. It covers estimates, invoices, recurring billing, expenses, and payments in one business workspace, with a documented REST API and SDKs for embedding those workflows elsewhere.[1][2]
Quick verdict
Freelancers and small businesses that want to own their invoicing data benefit most from Crater. Its self-hosted AGPL-3.0 app covers estimates, invoices, recurring billing, expenses, and payments, with an API and React and Vue SDKs for embedding. The constraint is freshness: the open tree's latest release is 6.0.6 with its last commit in August 2024, while the general ledger and AI copilot live on the managed platform. If you want self-hosted invoicing you control, choose Crater; if you need maintained cloud accounting with support, choose QuickBooks Online instead.[1][2][3]
Key features
Invoices with items and taxes Build invoices from defined items and tax types, send them, and track them against customer histories through the documented invoices resource.[1][2]
Estimates with deposits Prepare estimates and accept deposits on them before converting the agreed work into invoices, as described in the invoicing workflows and estimates resource.[1][2]
Recurring billing and reminders Schedule recurring invoices and configure payment reminders so repeat billing runs without manual chasing.[1]
Expenses and payments Record expenses and log payments against the same customer records, keeping receivables and spend in one workspace.[1][2]
Self-hosted Docker stack Run the PHP, MariaDB, and Nginx codebase with Docker Compose and a scheduled worker on infrastructure you control, under AGPL-3.0.[1][2]
Web, Android, and iOS clients Work from the browser or the documented mobile apps instead of being tied to one device.[1]
API, webhooks, and SDKs Automate users, businesses, invoices, estimates, payments, and reminders through platform and business tokens, with React and Vue SDKs for embedding.[1]
Accounting data exchange Move accounting data between the platform and tools including QuickBooks and Xero instead of retyping it.[1]
Who will love it
Freelancers who want to own billing: the AGPL-3.0 codebase and Docker Compose setup keep estimates, invoices, and payment records on infrastructure they control.[1]
Small firms running repeat billing: recurring invoices, payment reminders, and deposits on estimates cover the standard retainer workflow in one workspace.[1][2]
Platform teams embedding invoicing: the REST API, webhooks, and React and Vue SDKs expose billing primitives without building them from scratch.[1]
Who should avoid it
Teams needing a maintained cloud suite should look elsewhere: the open tree's last commit is from August 2024, so buyers wanting current releases and vendor support should prefer a maintained product.[1]
Buyers wanting managed AI and ledger features should verify the edition split: the general ledger and AI Financial Copilot are described on the managed platform, not in the open-source tree.[1]
Operators avoiding copyleft and self-hosting should pass: AGPL-3.0 carries network-copyleft obligations, and self-hosting means running PHP, MariaDB, Nginx, and a worker themselves.[1]
Compatibility and alternatives
Accounting data moves between the platform and tools including QuickBooks and Xero; QuickBooks Online is the evidenced direct-use alternative for buyers who prefer managed accounting.[1]
Card and ACH payments work with Plaid bank-account connections, so collecting money does not require a separate payments integration.[1]
React and Vue SDKs plus webhooks embed invoicing and bill pay into other products, which is the documented path for platform use rather than standalone adoption.[1]
Questions worth asking
What is the best Crater alternative for non-technical users?
Is Crater really no-code?
How much does Crater cost per month?
The open-source AGPL-3.0 license itself is free, but hosting, operations, and any support cost extra and were not published as a monthly figure. Managed-platform pricing and API access go through vendor contact with sandbox then production keys, so treat managed costs as quote-only; checked October 9, 2026.[1][2]
Can you self-host Crater?
Yes. The open-source app is designed for self-hosting with Docker Compose using PHP, MariaDB, and Nginx plus a scheduled worker, under AGPL-3.0. The newer ledger and AI copilot features are described on the managed site rather than in the open tree, so confirm the edition split before relying on them.[1][2]
Sources and editorial review
Source research. Reviewed on October 9, 2026. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.
We have not run or tested this product.
- Crater - AI-powered Embedded AR/AP Automation
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Vendor homepage: embedded AR/AP positioning, invoicing and bill pay, payments via card/ACH with Plaid bank connections, lending/working-capital tools, accounting automation with QuickBooks/Xero import-export, general ledger, AI Financial Copilot, developer APIs/webhooks/SDKs.
- Crater API Reference
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official API reference: sandbox keys issued after contact, production keys on request; resource coverage for users, roles, businesses, counterparties, estimates, invoices, recurring invoices, payments, tax types, items, notes, payment reminders; React and Vue SDK guides.
- crater-invoice-inc/crater: Open Source Invoicing Solution
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Repository identity and maintenance signal: AGPL-3.0 open-source invoicing solution, about 8,349 stars, release 6.0.6, last commit August 2024; Docker Compose stack (PHP, MariaDB, Nginx, scheduled worker) and web/Android/iOS clients per catalogue baseline.