A WooCommerce PDF invoice plugin creates a numbered PDF for each order, attaches it to the order email and lets the customer download it from their account. For most stores the right pick is PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce. Choose Flexible Invoices if you sell in the EU and need VAT handling, or Germanized if you sell into Germany.
This guide covers five plugins that are listed on wordpress.org today, what each one is built for, and how to choose without rebuilding your invoices a second time.
What a WooCommerce invoice plugin has to do
WooCommerce sends an order email with the line items, and that is all. It does not produce a document your customer can hand to an accountant, a tax office or a purchasing department. An invoice plugin fills that gap.
Whatever you install, check it covers these basics:
- A PDF invoice generated for each order, either automatically or on demand from the order screen.
- Automatic attachment to the right order emails, such as the completed-order email.
- A download link in the customer’s My Account area.
- Sequential invoice numbers with a prefix you control.
- Your company name, address and tax number in the header, with a logo.
- Credit notes for refunds, so a refunded order does not leave you with a wrong document.
- A packing slip, if you ship physical goods and want one document type for the warehouse.
Anything beyond that is a bonus. Packing slips, shipping labels, proforma invoices and bulk printing are useful when you need them, and clutter when you do not.
Quick comparison
| Plugin | Best for | Also handles |
|---|---|---|
| PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce | Most stores that want a simple, widely used setup | PDF or XML invoices, packing slips, email attachment |
| WebToffee PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, Delivery Notes & Shipping Labels | Stores that want several shipping documents in one plugin | Customizable templates, bulk printing |
| PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce (Challan) | Stores that sell in several languages | Credit notes, shipping labels, multilingual documents |
| Flexible Invoices | EU sellers dealing with VAT rules | EU VAT validation, reverse charge, proforma invoices, OSS support, bulk invoices |
| Germanized for WooCommerce | Shops selling to customers in Germany | Legal-compliance tooling for the German market |
1. PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce
This plugin is made by WP Overnight and is the one most WooCommerce stores meet first. Its wordpress.org listing describes it as a way to create, print and automatically email PDF or XML invoices and PDF packing slips for WooCommerce orders. You can get it from its wordpress.org page.
It is a sensible default because the free version covers the core job: invoice, packing slip, email attachment and numbering. The developer also sells paid extensions for things like extra templates and more document types, so you can start small and add only what you need.
Pick it if you want a plugin with a large user base and plenty of third-party tutorials, and you do not have unusual tax rules.
Look elsewhere if you need EU VAT validation or reverse charge built in. Check what the free version includes against your requirements before you commit to paid extensions.
2. WebToffee PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, Delivery Notes & Shipping Labels
WebToffee’s plugin auto-generates PDF invoices and packing slips, attaches them to order emails, and offers customizable templates and bulk print options. The full name tells you the scope: delivery notes and shipping labels sit in the same plugin. Find it on its wordpress.org page.
That makes it a good fit for a store that ships a lot of parcels. One plugin produces the customer invoice and the warehouse paperwork, so you keep a single set of settings and a single layout to maintain.
Pick it if you print documents in batches for packing and want the template editor to match your branding.
Look elsewhere if you only sell digital products. Shipping labels and delivery notes add settings you will never touch.
3. PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce by WebAppick (Challan)
This plugin shares a name with the first entry, which causes confusion. It comes from WebAppick, and on wordpress.org it carries the Challan name. The listing describes a WooCommerce PDF invoice generator with automatic email attachment that also creates packing slips, shipping labels and credit notes, with multilingual support. Open its wordpress.org page to confirm you are installing the right one.
Multilingual output is the reason to look at it. If you run a store in more than one language and want the invoice to match the language of the order, test this one first. Credit notes are included, which matters when refunds are common.
Pick it if your customers read different languages and you want one plugin for invoices, credit notes and labels.
Look elsewhere if you want a plugin with an established paid-extension catalogue around it. Compare the free and paid feature lists on the developer’s site.
4. Flexible Invoices
Flexible Invoices is made by WP Desk and is listed as Flexible PDF Invoices for WooCommerce & WordPress. The description lists EU VAT validation, reverse charge invoices, proforma invoices, MOSS and OSS support and bulk invoice generation. See the wordpress.org page for the current feature list.
The VAT features are what set it apart. If you sell to businesses in other EU countries, the invoice has to carry the right tax treatment, and a plugin that understands reverse charge saves you from fixing documents by hand. The plugin also works for WordPress sites beyond WooCommerce, which suits you if some invoices are not tied to a shop order.
Pick it if you sell across EU borders and want VAT rules handled in the invoice itself.
Look elsewhere if you only sell locally with a flat tax rate. A simpler plugin will be easier to live with.
5. Germanized for WooCommerce
Germanized, by vendidero, extends WooCommerce to meet the legal requirements of the German market. Invoices are one part of a wider compliance toolkit, which is why it is on this list at all. Its wordpress.org page describes it as a must-have for German WooCommerce shops.
It is a different kind of plugin from the others. You install it to make a shop legally ready for German customers, and the invoice features come with that. If German law is not your concern, it is more plugin than you need.
Pick it if you sell to customers in Germany and want one toolkit for the legal pages, checkout rules and documents.
Look elsewhere if you sell elsewhere. The settings are built around one country’s rules.
How to choose
Start with where your customers are, not with the feature list.
- Where do you pay tax? If the answer involves EU VAT, start with Flexible Invoices. If it is Germany, start with Germanized. Otherwise any of the general plugins will do.
- Do you ship parcels? If yes, a plugin with packing slips and labels saves you a second tool. If you sell downloads or services, skip those features.
- Do you sell in more than one language? Test the multilingual output on a real order before you go live.
- Is volume high? Look for bulk generation and bulk printing, and check that PDF creation does not slow down the order screen.
- Do refunds happen often? Make sure credit notes are included, not just invoices.
Then run one test order through each finalist. Place an order, mark it complete, refund part of it, and check the email, the My Account download and the PDF itself. This takes ten minutes and tells you more than any feature table.
Setup checklist before you go live
- Enter your legal company name, address and tax or VAT number exactly as they appear on your registration.
- Set the invoice number format and starting number. Once you issue invoices, changing the sequence can create gaps or duplicates that an auditor will question.
- Upload a logo sized for print, not for the web header.
- Choose which order statuses trigger an invoice. Most stores attach it to the completed order email, some to processing.
- Send a test order to yourself and open the PDF on a phone. Customers read invoices on mobile more than you might expect.
- Check fonts if you sell in languages with non-Latin scripts. A PDF library that lacks the glyphs prints empty boxes.
- Confirm the plugin is compatible with High-Performance Order Storage if your store uses it, and with your checkout setup.
Legal requirements differ by country
No plugin can tell you what your invoices must contain. Requirements for invoice numbering, tax identification, language and storage period differ by country, and sometimes by the type of customer. Ask your accountant for the list of required fields, then check that your chosen plugin can print each one. Where the rules are strict, as in some EU countries, pick a plugin built for that region instead of trying to bend a general one.
Common problems and how to avoid them
Missing invoices on old orders. A new plugin generates invoices for new orders. If you need documents for earlier orders, check whether the plugin can create them in bulk and how it numbers them.
Emails with no attachment. Attachments are tied to specific email types. If a custom email from another plugin does not carry the PDF, look for a setting that lists extra email types.
Layout breaks on long orders. Orders with many line items or long product names can push totals onto a second page. Test with a large order before launch.
Two invoice plugins running together. Pick one. Two plugins that both attach PDFs can send duplicates and number invoices twice.
Related guides
Invoices are one part of the order flow. These guides cover the steps around them: WooCommerce checkout plugins for the page that creates the order, WooCommerce subscription plugins for recurring invoices, and WooCommerce reporting plugins for the numbers your accountant will ask about next.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free WooCommerce PDF invoice plugin?
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce is the usual starting point, because its free version covers invoices, packing slips, email attachment and numbering. Compare it against Flexible Invoices if you handle EU VAT.
Can WooCommerce create invoices without a plugin?
No. WooCommerce sends order emails and shows order details, but it does not generate a numbered PDF invoice on its own. You need a plugin or an external accounting tool.
Do customers get the invoice automatically?
Yes, with the plugins in this list you can attach the PDF to order emails and offer a download in My Account. Choose the order status that triggers the attachment in the plugin settings.
Can I issue credit notes for refunds?
Some plugins include credit notes and some leave them to paid extensions. The Challan plugin lists credit notes in its description. Check any other plugin’s feature list for credit notes before you rely on it.
Which plugin handles EU VAT?
Flexible Invoices lists EU VAT validation, reverse charge invoices and OSS support. Confirm that the rules you need are covered, and ask your accountant to review a sample invoice.
Can I change invoice numbers after launch?
You can, but you should not. Gaps or repeated numbers can cause trouble in an audit. Set the format and starting number correctly before you issue the first invoice.
Do I need a separate packing slip plugin?
Usually not. Most of the plugins above create packing slips alongside invoices, so one plugin covers both documents.
Where to go next
If your store sits next to a community, a course library or a multi-vendor marketplace, the theme matters as much as the invoices. You can see Reign running those builds on the live demos, and the multi-vendor marketplace build guide shows the steps for a store with several sellers.