Top 3 best plugins to generate invoices in WooCommerce

Invoice management is an essential part of any online business. Generating accurate and organized invoices is not only a professional practice but also a legal requirement in many countries, including Spain. Invoices are the foundation of accounting and tax compliance, and their correct generation can save you significant time and effort.

In the world of WooCommerce, the WordPress e-commerce platform, manual invoice creation can be tedious and error-prone. This is where specialized plugins come into play. These add-ons are designed to simplify and automate the billing process, allowing you to focus on growing your business instead of dealing with administrative tasks.

In this article, we will explore the main plugins for generating invoices in WooCommerce and how they can benefit your business by providing an efficient and reliable billing solution. You will discover how these plugins can customize templates, automate sequential numbering, and ensure that your invoices comply with legal requirements. Let’s get started!

Top 3 most used plugins for generating invoices in Woocommerce

1. PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce: This plugin is the market leader with more than 300,000 installations. It facilitates automatic billing and allows template customization, including logos. It is multilingual, with support for Spanish, and offers premium features like proforma invoices. Although it does not have additional extras, its free version and regular updates ensure a reliable and up-to-date billing solution.
2. Sliced Invoices: While not as widely installed, this plugin is flexible and provides three basic customizable templates for quotes and invoices, with the ability to expand through extensions. The availability of languages and premium features are not specified. Unlike the other two, it does not indicate whether it is regularly updated.
3. WooCommerce PDF Invoices: With bulk printing and an intelligent refund system, this plugin stands out for offering complete template customization. It supports RTL and Unicode languages, making it versatile in multilingual environments. It has more than 50,000 active installations, a free version, and receives regular updates, suggesting a commitment to long-term security and functionality.

Mini Tutorial: How to Use “PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce”

As it is the most downloaded plugin par excellence, let’s create some basic steps for its installation and configuration:

1. Plugin Installation: Go to the ‘Plugins’ section in your WordPress panel, search for “PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce”, install and activate the plugin.
2. Basic Configuration: In WooCommerce, you will find a new tab called ‘PDF Invoices’. Here you can configure your store information and the details that will appear on the invoices.
3. Invoice Customization: The plugin offers a basic template that you can customize. Introduce your logo and adjust the store details as needed.
   • Template Configuration:
     • Upload your store logo to Store Logo.
     • In Store Name, add the legal name of your company.
     • Enter the Company Address and tax ID for legal validity.
     • Add a link to the terms and conditions in the Footer.
     • In Number to display on the invoice, select Create sequential invoice numbering.
   • Invoice Number Format:
     • In Prefix, add [order_year][order_month].
     • In Padding, set the number of digits for the invoice number, for example, 000025 for a padding of 6.

4.Tax Configuration: Make sure to activate and configure taxes in WooCommerce so they are correctly displayed on the invoices.

5.Automatic Invoice Generation: Once configured, the plugin will automatically generate invoices every time an order is completed and attach them in the confirmation email to the customer.

6.Test and Verification: Place a test order to ensure that the invoice is correctly generated and sent to the customer’s email.

Include NIF in Invoice

To include the NIF in invoices generated by WooCommerce, follow these steps:

1. Add a new field on the checkout page for customers to enter their NIF. You can do this using a plugin that allows field customization or by adding custom code to your theme.
2. Then, add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file:

   
   // Include NIF on the invoice
   add_filter( 'wpo_wcpdf_billing_address', 'include_nif_on_invoice' );
   function include_nif_on_invoice( $address ) {
       global $wpo_wcpdf;
       echo $address . '<p>';
       $wpo_wcpdf->custom_field( 'NIF', 'NIF: ' );
       echo '</p>';
   }
   

3. This code will insert the NIF that the customer entered on the checkout page right after the billing address on the generated invoice.

If I only sell in Spain, which is the best for me?

Conclusion

In summary, “PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce” stands out as the most complete and versatile choice for businesses operating both nationally and internationally. Its ability to automatically generate proforma PDF invoices and multilingual support are crucial aspects for complying with various tax and international trade regulations. Moreover, the solid user base and regular updates of the plugin ensure its reliability and compatibility with the latest versions of WooCommerce. If you want to continue expanding your online presence, you can also explore the best SEO plugins for WordPress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different VAT rates for different countries with these plugins?

Yes, most of these plugins allow you to configure specific VAT rates for different countries, which is ideal if you sell internationally.

Do the invoice plugins support multiple currencies?

Yes, these plugins generally support billing in multiple currencies, allowing you to create invoices in your customer’s preferred currency.

Is it possible to customize the invoice fields to comply with the specific legal requirements of my country?

Yes, these plugins usually offer customization options that allow you to add specific fields necessary to comply with local legislation.

Can I send recurring invoices automatically with these plugins?

Some plugins offer the ability to send recurring invoices, but you’ll need to check if this functionality is included or available through a premium extension.