My cat is limping. What should I do?

I have a outdoor cat. He sometimes is gone for a day or few but he usually stays in our area (He almost always jumps our fence tho to explore or just to go off in other parts of the neighborhood). Anyways, one day he came home after being gone for a while (He was in heat so that means he's often gone a lot longer) and he was limping on his front left paw. We checked and he had no visible injuries on his leg or paw, so we assumed he just sprained his paw, but it's been almost a week and it hasn't gotten better in any way. Definitely hasn't gotten worse, but not better. 
Now we still acts mostly normal. He even jumps on and off high places (tho we usually don't let him so his paw can heal). He still tries to get outside and jumps our fence to wander off despite his injury tho again, we don't let him because of his paw. Another thing he meows at me a bit more, and when he does meow his meows sound weird, like he's uncomfortable. So what do you think it is? 
At this point we're considering on taking him to the vet but we're not 100% sure yet if he NEEDS a vet (Since vets are way too damn expansive. But if he needs one we'll of course take him). Do you think he'll eventually heal? Anything I can do to help him?
Thank you 

A few things:
You should really have him neutered. He is wandering further than he would because he is looking for someone to mate with. He also doesn't go into heat. Male cats are ready to go whenever. He is contributing to a lot of kittens, likely unwanted.

He is also likely injured because of fighting with other unneutered males. This is dangerous, and how many cat diseases are transmitted.

If he's still limping, he should really see a vet.

Since he's not any better, he needs to go to the vet and make sure nothing is broken, sprained, or otherwise serious going on.

Thank you We plan to hopefully get him neutered soon 

Thank you. We'll take him!

Neknekosama said:

Thank you We plan to hopefully get him neutered soon 

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It will improve/protect his health long term! And also prevent lots of unwanted kittens.

Let us know what the vet says.