Crunch vs Wave: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Crunch and Wave side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Wave leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Crunch
Online accounting software and expert advice for UK sole traders and limited companies.
Best for you if:
- • You want combines user-friendly software with unlimited human expert support
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want core features free
| At a Glance | Crunch | Wave |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $19/mo flat, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Accounting Invoicing | Accounting Invoicing |
Rating | 4.0/5 Trustpilot 3.8 · Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.0 1,722 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.3 · SourceForge 3.2 2,059 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Crunch or Wave?
Choose Crunch if
- You want combines user-friendly software with unlimited human expert support
- You want HMRC recognised and MTD compatible, ensuring compliance
Choose Wave if
- You want core features free
- You want easy to use
In-Depth Analysis
Crunch
Online accounting software and expert advice for UK sole traders and limited companies.
Strengths
- Pro: Combines user-friendly software with unlimited human expert support.
- Pro: HMRC recognised and MTD compatible, ensuring compliance.
- Pro: Offers plans specifically tailored for Sole Traders and Limited Companies.
- Pro: Provides proactive tax saving advice and comprehensive tax filing services.
- Pro: Positive customer reviews highlighting stress reduction and good customer service.
Weaknesses
- Con: Some advanced features like Self Assessment filing are add-ons or only available in higher-tier plans.
- Con: The free software tier includes ads.
Key features
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Wave's Starter tier is incredibly generous, offering unlimited invoicing and bookkeeping for free, which is rare in the market.
Strengths
- Pro: Core features free
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Good for startups
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited features
- Con: No inventory management
Key features
Plans and prices: Crunch vs Wave
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crunch | No plan prices on file | crunch.co.uk/pricing |
| Wave |
| waveapps.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Crunch pricing and Wave pricing.
Key Takeaways
Crunch
- Choose if you want online accounting software and expert advice for UK sole traders and limited companies
Wave
- Higher user rating: 4.3/5 vs 4.0/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Wave leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Wave has the higher user rating (4.0/5 from 1,722 reviews for Crunch, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave).
- Wave starts at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; Crunch has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Crunch and Wave compare in 2026?
On the data below, Wave leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Wave has the higher user rating (4.0/5 from 1,722 reviews for Crunch, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave). Wave starts at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; Crunch has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Crunch and Wave used for?
Crunch: Online accounting software and expert advice for UK sole traders and limited companies. Wave: Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses.
What does Crunch cost vs Wave?
Crunch has no public paid-plan price on file. Wave's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $19/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Crunch and Wave?
Crunch's main strength: combines user-friendly software with unlimited human expert support. Wave's main strength: core features free.