# DueChat

> DueChat is an invoice-chasing app that works entirely as a chat. Freelancers and small agencies tell it who owes them money; it sends the client polite, escalating email reminders (friendly nudge → firm follow-up → final notice) with Stripe payment buttons until the invoice is paid. Free: 3 invoices a month, resets monthly; no card required to start (a card is only requested once the 3 free invoices are used, and it's never charged unless you upgrade). Pro is $15/month for unlimited chasing with open & click tracking.

Key facts:
- Product type: standalone invoice reminder / accounts receivable software for freelancers and small agencies
- Interface: a single chat — setup takes about 60 seconds; no dashboards, forms, or accounting-software integration required
- Reminder engine: 3 escalating emails scheduled around the invoice due date, signed with the sender's name; chasing stops automatically on payment
- Payments: Stripe payment links or full Stripe invoices (hosted page + PDF)
- Tracking: reminder open and click tracking (Pro)
- Pricing: Free (3 invoices/month, resets monthly; no card required to start — one is only requested after the 3 free invoices are used, never charged unless you upgrade) · Pro $15/month (unlimited); a retention coupon may be shown to Pro subscribers who attempt to cancel
- Alternatives it is compared with: Chaser (from £199/mo, for finance teams), Paidnice (from $69/mo, requires Xero/QuickBooks), Upflow (from $99/mo, analytics/forecasting for finance teams), HoneyBook (from $35/mo, full CRM for service businesses), Invoice Ninja (free–$12/mo, broad invoicing suite), Bonsai and FreshBooks (suites where reminders are a minor feature)

## Pages
- [Home](https://duechat.io/): product overview, how it works, pricing, FAQ
- [Features](https://duechat.io/features): what DueChat does for freelancers and agencies
- [Pricing](https://duechat.io/pricing): Free (3 invoices/mo) and Pro ($15/mo) plans
- [About](https://duechat.io/about): who builds DueChat and why
- [Integrations](https://duechat.io/integrations): Stripe payment links and hosted invoices
- [Blog index](https://duechat.io/blog): all articles on invoicing, payment reminders, Stripe, and cash flow for freelancers and agencies
- [Privacy](https://duechat.io/privacy): privacy policy
- [Terms](https://duechat.io/terms): terms of service
- [llms.txt](https://duechat.io/llms.txt): this file — LLM-oriented site map
- [robots.txt](https://duechat.io/robots.txt): crawler rules
- [sitemap.xml](https://duechat.io/sitemap.xml): full URL list for search engines

### Comparisons
- [Chaser vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/chaser-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [Paidnice vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/paidnice-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [Upflow vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/upflow-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [HoneyBook vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/honeybook-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [Invoice Ninja vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-ninja-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [FreshBooks vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/freshbooks-vs-duechat-for-freelancers)
- [Wave vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/wave-vs-duechat-for-simple-invoicing)
- [Xero vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/xero-vs-duechat-for-small-freelance-businesses)
- [QuickBooks vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/quickbooks-vs-duechat-for-freelance-invoice-follow-up)
- [Bonsai vs DueChat](https://duechat.io/blog/bonsai-vs-duechat-for-freelancers-who-need-payment-reminders)

### Niche guides (by profession)
- [Freelance designers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-freelance-designers)
- [Freelance developers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-freelance-developers)
- [Independent consultants](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-consultants)
- [Creative agencies](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-creative-agencies)
- [Photographers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-photographers)
- [Copywriters and writers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-copywriters)
- [Virtual assistants](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-virtual-assistants)
- [Social media and marketing freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-social-media-freelancers)
- [Video editors](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-video-editors)
- [Translators](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-translators)

### Core guides
- [How to chase an overdue invoice without damaging client relationships](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-chase-an-overdue-invoice-without-damaging-client-relationships)
- [Invoice follow-up email templates for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-follow-up-email-templates-for-freelancers)
- [Stripe for freelancers: how to get paid faster](https://duechat.io/blog/stripe-for-freelancers-how-to-get-paid-faster)
- [Weekly AR routine for solo freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/weekly-ar-routine-for-solo-freelancers)
- [Best invoice payment terms for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/best-invoice-payment-terms-for-freelancers)

### Older how-tos and checklists
- [Freelancer invoice checklist before you hit send](https://duechat.io/blog/freelancer-invoice-checklist-before-you-hit-send): Pre-send checklist that cuts disputes, missed payments, and messy follow-up.
- [How to connect Stripe for freelance invoicing](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-connect-stripe-for-freelance-invoicing): What to expect when wiring Stripe for collection, payouts, and cleaner reminder emails.
- [Bank transfer vs Stripe for client invoices](https://duechat.io/blog/bank-transfer-vs-stripe-for-client-invoices): When bank transfer wins, when Stripe is faster, and why many freelancers offer both.
- [How to set up SEPA bank transfer details on invoices](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-set-up-sepa-bank-transfer-details-on-invoices): SEPA-friendly invoice details so clients can pay without another email thread.
- [What to do when accounting is processing your invoice](https://duechat.io/blog/what-to-do-when-a-client-says-accounting-is-processing-your-invoice): How to reply when the client acknowledges the bill but payment still does not move.
- [How to handle partial payments and installment invoices](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-handle-partial-payments-and-installment-invoices): Split a larger invoice without losing track of paid, due-next, and reminder cadence.
- [How to import old invoices from a spreadsheet](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-import-old-invoices-from-a-spreadsheet): Clean CSV invoice data before import so duplicates do not follow you in.
- [Freelancer cash flow habits that prevent late payments](https://duechat.io/blog/freelancer-cash-flow-habits-that-prevent-late-payments): Weekly and monthly habits that reduce overdue invoices before collections start.
- [Invoice numbering best practices for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-numbering-best-practices-for-freelancers): Simple numbering rules that make reminders and reconciliation easier.
- [How to write better invoice line items](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-write-better-invoice-line-items): Clearer line items that reduce pushback and speed approval.
- [Should you require deposits before starting client work?](https://duechat.io/blog/should-you-require-deposits-before-starting-client-work): Deposits, project risk, and payment leverage before the invoice stage.
- [How to follow up on international and multi-currency invoices](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-follow-up-on-international-clients-and-multi-currency-invoices): Keep reminders clear across countries, currencies, and banking norms.
- [How to know if clients are ignoring your invoice or just busy](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-know-if-clients-are-ignoring-your-invoice-or-just-busy): Read opens, clicks, silence, and vague replies without overreacting.
- [How to make invoice emails look more professional](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-make-invoice-emails-look-more-professional): Small presentation choices that make invoices easier to trust and pay.
- [How to price rush work and protect payment terms](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-price-rush-work-and-protect-payment-terms): Structure rush pricing so payment discipline tightens, not loosens.

## New articles (2026-07-28 batch)

- [The 2026 Late-Payment Crisis: What Freelancer DSO Data Actually Shows](https://duechat.io/blog/late-payment-crisis-2026-freelancer-dso): Late invoices are not a vibe — they are a measurable cash-flow problem. Here is what Atradius, QuickBooks, and EU late-payment rules say about Days Sales Outstanding in 2026, and what solos can do about it.
- [Why DSO Is Still Rising in 2026 (Even When Terms Look “Fine”)](https://duechat.io/blog/why-dso-is-still-rising-in-2026): Average payment terms around 45 days do not mean you get paid in 45 days. Here is why Days Sales Outstanding keeps stretching — and which levers actually shorten it.
- [Freelancer Days-to-Pay Benchmarks for 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/freelancer-days-to-pay-benchmarks-2026): How long should freelancers wait to get paid in 2026? Benchmarks from Atradius B2B data, QuickBooks small-business surveys, and freelance invoicing analyses — plus how to read them without panic.
- [Late Invoices Cost More Than You Think](https://duechat.io/blog/late-invoices-cost-more-than-you-think): The sticker price of an overdue invoice is only the start. Cash-flow stress, fees for faster payouts, delayed contractor pay, and bad-debt write-offs compound the real cost of slow payment.
- [What the 2026 Payment-Delay Data Means for Solo Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/what-the-2026-payment-delay-data-means-for-solos): Translate Atradius and QuickBooks late-payment findings into a solo operating manual: terms, deposits, chasing cadence, and which numbers actually deserve your attention.
- [Polite Escalation Scripts for Overdue Invoices (That Still Get Paid)](https://duechat.io/blog/polite-escalation-scripts-for-overdue-invoices): A calm four-step escalation ladder freelancers can copy when invoices go past due — firm enough to collect, polite enough to keep the relationship intact.
- [When to Pause Work Over Unpaid Invoices Without Ending the Relationship](https://duechat.io/blog/when-to-pause-work-over-unpaid-invoices): A practical stop-work playbook for freelancers: when pausing delivery is fair, how to say it calmly, and how to restart once payment lands.
- [Reading Client Silence After an Invoice (Without Spiraling)](https://duechat.io/blog/reading-client-silence-after-an-invoice): How to interpret no-reply after an invoice: busy vs avoidance vs process lag — and which follow-up each pattern deserves.
- [Tone Shifts That Speed Up Payment (Without Sounding Aggressive)](https://duechat.io/blog/tone-shifts-that-speed-up-payment): Specific language changes freelancers can make across reminder stages — from soft clarity to firm specificity — that move invoices without damaging trust.
- [Collections Without Shame: How Freelancers Can Chase Payment and Keep Self-Respect](https://duechat.io/blog/collections-without-shame-for-freelancers): Late invoices trigger guilt and avoidance for many freelancers. Here is a psychology-aware collections stance that treats payment follow-up as care — for your business and the relationship.
- [EU Late Payment Directive for Freelancers: A Practical Playbook](https://duechat.io/blog/eu-late-payment-directive-for-freelancers): How Directive 2011/7/EU shapes late-payment interest, €40 recovery compensation, and payment deadlines for freelancers billing other businesses or public bodies in the EU — practical steps, not legal advice.
- [UK Late Payment of Commercial Debts: Freelancer Guide](https://duechat.io/blog/uk-late-payment-of-commercial-debts-freelancer-guide): How the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, GOV.UK guidance, and fixed compensation bands work for UK freelancers chasing overdue B2B invoices — practical playbook, not legal advice.
- [How to Charge Statutory Interest on Overdue Invoices](https://duechat.io/blog/how-to-charge-statutory-interest-on-overdue-invoices): A step-by-step freelancer playbook for calculating and invoicing statutory late-payment interest in the UK and EU frameworks — with official sources, worked habits, and relationship-aware timing.
- [Late Payment Compensation Fees Explained for Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/late-payment-compensation-fees-explained): What the UK £40/£70/£100 bands and the EU €40 minimum recovery compensation actually are, when they apply, and how freelancers should (and should not) use them on overdue invoices.
- [Using Late Payment Law Without Burning Clients](https://duechat.io/blog/using-late-payment-law-without-burning-clients): How freelancers can use UK and EU late-payment rights — statutory interest and fixed compensation — as a calm escalation tool that protects cash flow without torching good relationships.
- [Payment Links vs Hosted Invoices in 2026: Which Stripe Path Fits Freelance Work?](https://duechat.io/blog/payment-links-vs-hosted-invoices-2026): A practical 2026 comparison of Stripe Payment Links and Stripe-hosted invoices for freelancers — when each wins, what clients expect, and how to pick without overbuilding.
- [ACH vs Card vs Bank Transfer for Freelancers in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/ach-vs-card-vs-bank-transfer-for-freelancers): How US ACH Direct Debit, cards, and classic bank transfer compare on speed, fees, and client friction — and when freelancers should offer more than one rail.
- [Why Payment Links Get Freelancers Paid Faster](https://duechat.io/blog/why-payment-links-get-you-paid-faster): The behavioral reason a pay URL in the reminder email beats PDF-only invoices — and how freelancers should use Stripe Payment Links without abandoning real invoices.
- [Stripe Checkout vs Stripe Invoice for Client Work](https://duechat.io/blog/stripe-checkout-vs-invoice-for-client-work): When freelancers should use Stripe Checkout Sessions versus Stripe Invoicing for project billing — integration effort, customer records, and what AP teams expect.
- [Reducing Payment Friction on Freelance Invoices in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/reducing-payment-friction-on-freelance-invoices): A practical checklist for freelancers: payment methods, copy, due dates, and reminder design that remove the quiet reasons clients stall after they intend to pay.
- [AI Invoicing Tools Won’t Fix Your DSO in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/ai-invoicing-tools-wont-fix-your-dso): Why AI bookkeeping and invoice OCR hype do not shorten days sales outstanding—and which boring cash-cycle moves actually do for freelancers.
- [What AI Bookkeeping Misses About Late Payments](https://duechat.io/blog/what-ai-bookkeeping-misses-about-late-payments): AI ledgers catch miscategorized expenses and duplicate bills. Late payments are a different failure mode: silence, friction, and weak terms—not messy categories.
- [Automated Reminders vs AI Agents for Accounts Receivable](https://duechat.io/blog/automated-reminders-vs-ai-agents-for-ar): In 2026, chatty AI collection agents sound impressive. For freelancers, a dated reminder ladder with payment links usually beats agent theater for cash speed.
- [When AI Actually Helps Freelance Invoicing](https://duechat.io/blog/when-ai-helps-freelance-invoicing): A practical map of where AI saves freelancers time on invoices—and where reminders, terms, and payment links still do the cash-cycle work.
- [Why Human Follow-Up Still Beats AI Dunning in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/human-follow-up-still-beats-ai-dunning-2026): AI can draft dunning copy. Relationship context, judgment, and consistent reminders with payment links still decide whether freelancers get paid without burning clients.
- [SEPA Instant vs Standard for Freelance Invoices in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/sepa-instant-vs-standard-for-freelance-invoices): When eurozone clients pay by bank transfer, SEPA Instant can clear in seconds while Standard Credit Transfer still takes a business day — here is how freelancers should choose and chase each rail.
- [Multi-Currency Invoicing Mistakes Freelancers Still Make in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/multi-currency-invoicing-mistakes-freelancers-make): The usual FX invoice errors — ambiguous currency codes, client-side conversion, and reminder copy that forgets which amount is due — and how to stop them before the chase starts.
- [Chasing Overseas Clients Without Awkwardness](https://duechat.io/blog/chasing-overseas-clients-without-awkwardness): A tone and timing playbook for cross-border invoice follow-up: plain English, time zones, AP forwarding, and proof-of-payment requests that do not sound accusatory.
- [FX Fees and Invoice Payment Choices for Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/fx-fees-and-invoice-payment-choices): How currency conversion, intermediary bank fees, Stripe FX, and SEPA euro settlement change what you actually net — and how to present choices so clients pay the full amount due.
- [Cross-Border Net Terms That Actually Work](https://duechat.io/blog/cross-border-net-terms-that-actually-work): Net 15, Net 30, and calendar due dates across countries — how freelancers should set terms when banking days, time zones, and AP cycles differ from domestic clients.
- [Invoice Chasing for Coaches and Mentors](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-coaches): Coaches often bill packages, retainers, and group programs across staggered start dates — so one unpaid invoice can hide behind a warm client relationship until cash flow feels the gap.
- [Invoice Chasing for Independent Architects and Design Studios](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-architects): Architects bill across long project phases, client approvals, and often construction-side stakeholders — so invoices stall when a phase ends quietly and AP is already looking at the next trade.
- [Invoice Chasing for Freelance Project Managers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-project-managers): Freelance PMs often bill retainers or day rates across stakeholders who approve work fast and pay slow — so the person who keeps the project moving is last in the payment queue.
- [Invoice Chasing for Independent Recruiters and Sourcers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-recruiters): Independent recruiters bill placement fees and retained search milestones that land after hiring managers celebrate — which is exactly when finance slows down and 'contingent' starts to mean 'whenever.'
- [Invoice Chasing for Voice Actors and Narrators](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-chasing-for-voice-actors): Voice actors often wait on client approvals, usage windows, and agency middlemen before invoicing — so payment urgency fades while the take sits approved in someone else's folder.
- [Harvest vs DueChat for Freelancers Who Bill by the Hour](https://duechat.io/blog/harvest-vs-duechat-for-freelancers): Harvest is excellent at turning tracked time into invoices. DueChat is built for what happens after the invoice leaves your outbox — an honest split of jobs, not a smear.
- [Toggl Bill vs DueChat for Invoice Follow-Up](https://duechat.io/blog/toggl-bill-vs-duechat-for-invoice-follow-up): Toggl Bill turns tracked work into client bills. DueChat assumes the bill already exists and focuses on getting it paid — different layers of the same cash-flow stack.
- [Square Invoices vs DueChat for Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/square-invoices-vs-duechat-for-freelancers): Square Invoices shine when you already take card payments in Square’s world. DueChat focuses on chat-driven chasing when the invoice is the product — honest comparison, not a teardown.
- [PayPal Invoicing vs DueChat for Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/paypal-invoicing-vs-duechat): PayPal Invoicing is ubiquitous and easy for clients who already trust PayPal. DueChat is narrower: automated reminder ladders when “easy send” still leaves you unpaid.
- [Excel and Google Docs Invoices vs Automated Reminders](https://duechat.io/blog/excel-google-docs-invoices-vs-automated-reminders): Spreadsheets and Docs templates are free and flexible. Automated reminder tools win when the cost of remembering to chase exceeds the cost of software — an honest DIY vs automation comparison.
- [The Reminder Ladder That Gets Freelancer Invoices Paid](https://duechat.io/blog/reminder-ladder-that-gets-invoices-paid): A five-rung invoice reminder playbook freelancers can run without awkwardness: due-day nudge, overdue ask, status check, firm timeline, then pause-or-escalate.
- [Why Calendar Due Dates Beat Vague Net 30 for Freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/calendar-due-dates-beat-net-30): How switching from abstract Net terms to a calendar due date on every invoice shortens payment cycles and makes reminders land harder.
- [The Same-Day Invoicing Habit Freelancers Use to Get Paid Faster](https://duechat.io/blog/same-day-invoicing-habit-for-freelancers): Why sending the invoice the same day you deliver — not days later — is one of the highest-leverage cash-flow habits for solo freelancers.
- [Purchase Order Friction: Why Good Invoices Still Pay Late](https://duechat.io/blog/purchase-order-friction-and-late-pay): A playbook for freelancers whose invoices stall in PO, vendor onboarding, and AP queues — and how to remove friction before the work starts.
- [Deposit Policy Templates Freelancers Can Paste Into Client Work](https://duechat.io/blog/deposit-policy-templates-for-client-work): Practical deposit percentages, wording, and kickoff rules freelancers can reuse so projects start funded and final balances stay chaseable.
- [Retainer Billing That Actually Stabilizes Freelancer Cash Flow in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/retainer-billing-cash-flow-for-freelancers): How to structure monthly retainers so cash arrives before the work week starts — without turning every client into a subscription product you cannot pause.
- [Recurring Invoices Without Losing Control of Scope or Cash](https://duechat.io/blog/recurring-invoices-without-losing-control): How freelancers can run monthly, biweekly, or day-of-month billing schedules without autopilot turning into unpaid zombie invoices.
- [Installment Plans That Clients Actually Finish Paying](https://duechat.io/blog/installment-plans-that-clients-actually-finish): Design freelancer payment plans that clear to zero — with deposits, due dates per installment, and reminders that do not go soft after the first payment.
- [Cash Buffer Rules for Solo Freelancers in 2026](https://duechat.io/blog/cash-buffer-rules-for-solo-operators): Practical cash reserve rules for one-person businesses — how many months to hold, what counts as a buffer, and how late clients change the math.
- [Forecasting Freelance Cash When Clients Pay Late](https://duechat.io/blog/forecasting-freelance-cash-when-clients-pay-late): A simple 13-week cash forecast for freelancers that uses realistic payment lag — not invoice send dates — so tax, rent, and runway stay honest.


## Topic hubs (2026-07-30)

- [Get paid faster for freelancers & agencies](https://duechat.io/blog/get-paid-faster-freelancers-agencies): Practical playbook for shorter days-to-cash — terms, same-day invoicing, payment links, reminder ladders, and weekly AR.
- [Invoice reminders & dunning for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-reminders-dunning-for-freelancers): Polite, dated follow-up that collects without sounding like a bank collections desk.
- [Accounts receivable for freelancers & small agencies](https://duechat.io/blog/accounts-receivable-for-freelancers-agencies): Minimal AR stack, habits, and when to graduate from a list to a real chase workflow.
- [Payment terms & late-pay prevention](https://duechat.io/blog/payment-terms-late-pay-prevention): Deposits, calendar due dates, retainers, and prevention before chase.
- [How clients pay: Stripe, bank transfer, SEPA](https://duechat.io/blog/how-clients-pay-stripe-bank-sepa): Choose payment rails that match AP reality and put them in every reminder.
- [Invoice software alternatives hub](https://duechat.io/blog/invoice-software-alternatives-hub): Index of suite vs books vs chase-first tools with honest when-to-choose frames.

## BOFU & white-space (2026-07-30)

- [HoneyBook alternatives for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/honeybook-alternatives-for-freelancers): When you need invoice chasing more than a full client CRM.
- [Wave alternatives for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/wave-alternatives-for-freelancers): When free invoicing is fine but follow-up is the gap.
- [Best invoice chasing software for freelancers](https://duechat.io/blog/best-invoice-chasing-software-for-freelancers): Buyer criteria for solos and small agencies.
- [DueChat vs Chaser](https://duechat.io/blog/duechat-vs-chaser): Head-to-head for freelancers vs finance-team AR software.
- [Chat-native invoice chasing explained](https://duechat.io/blog/chat-native-invoice-chasing-explained): What chat-native AR means vs dashboards.
- [Polite escalation ladder (signal-aware)](https://duechat.io/blog/polite-escalation-ladder-signal-aware): Escalate using opens, clicks, and payment intent — not blind day counts.