Heard 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 Heard 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 a free plan. 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:
Heard
Bookkeeping, taxes, banking, and payroll built for therapy practices
Best for you if:
- • You want experts understand the unique tax deductions and financial challenges of therapy practices
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Heard | Wave |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $139/mo, billed monthly Lite plan | Free plan, paid from $19/mo flat, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Accounting Tax Software | Accounting Invoicing |
Rating | n/a | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.3 · SourceForge 3.2 2,059 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Heard or Wave?
Choose Heard if
- You want experts understand the unique tax deductions and financial challenges of therapy practices
- You want saves significant time with automated transaction syncing and categorization
Choose Wave if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want core features free
- You want easy to use
In-Depth Analysis
Heard
Bookkeeping, taxes, banking, and payroll built for therapy practices
Heard's pricing is on the higher end for bookkeeping but includes comprehensive tax services, making it fair for therapists who want an all-in-one solution.
Strengths
- Pro: Experts understand the unique tax deductions and financial challenges of therapy practices
- Pro: Saves significant time with automated transaction syncing and categorization
- Pro: Year-round support with quick responses from accounting professionals
Weaknesses
- Con: Only available to mental health and wellness practitioners in private practice, not general small businesses
- Con: Pricing is subscription-based with no free tier and may be costly for low-volume or new practices
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: Heard vs Wave
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Heard |
| joinheard.com/pricing read Oct 27, 2026 |
| 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 Heard pricing and Wave pricing.
Key Takeaways
Heard
- Choose if you want bookkeeping, taxes, banking, and payroll built for therapy practices
Wave
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Wave leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Wave has a published user rating (4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews); Heard has none we can show.
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Heard $139/mo, billed monthly; Wave $19/mo flat, billed monthly.
- Only Wave has 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 Heard and Wave compare in 2026?
On the data below, Wave leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Wave has a published user rating (4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews); Heard has none we can show. Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Heard $139/mo, billed monthly; Wave $19/mo flat, billed monthly. Only Wave has a free plan.
What are Heard and Wave used for?
Heard: Bookkeeping, taxes, banking, and payroll built for therapy practices. Wave: Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses.
What does Heard cost vs Wave?
Heard's cheapest paid plan is Lite at $139/mo, billed monthly. 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 Heard and Wave?
Heard's main strength: experts understand the unique tax deductions and financial challenges of therapy practices. Wave's main strength: core features free.