Hiveage 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 Hiveage and Wave side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Hiveage 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:
Hiveage
Get paid faster with smart invoicing, estimates, and expense tracking for small businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want free plan available for up to 5 clients
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want core features free
| At a Glance | Hiveage | Wave |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $16/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | Free plan, paid from $19/mo flat, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Invoicing Finance | Accounting Invoicing |
Rating | 4.6/5 Capterra 4.9 · G2 4.4 · Trustpilot 3.7 61 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.3 · SourceForge 3.2 2,059 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | No clear overage pricing for clients/team members | n/a |
Choose Hiveage or Wave?
Choose Hiveage if
- You want free plan available for up to 5 clients
- You want cloud-based and accessible from any device
- You work in invoicing, not accounting
Choose Wave if
- You want core features free
- You want easy to use
- You work in accounting, not invoicing
In-Depth Analysis
Hiveage
Get paid faster with smart invoicing, estimates, and expense tracking for small businesses.
Hiveage offers a fair pricing structure, especially with its generous Free tier and competitive Basic tier at $16/month for 50 clients.
Watch out
No clear overage pricing for clients/team members
Strengths
- Pro: Free plan available for up to 5 clients
- Pro: Cloud-based and accessible from any device
- Pro: Integrates with multiple payment gateways
- Pro: Automates many billing and tracking tasks
- Pro: User-friendly and intuitive design
Weaknesses
- Con: Client limits on lower-tier plans
- Con: Advanced features like custom domains and API access are in higher-tier plans
- Con: No mention of direct accounting software integrations (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero)
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: Hiveage vs Wave
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hiveage |
| hiveage.com/pricing read Oct 20, 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 Hiveage pricing and Wave pricing.
Key Takeaways
Hiveage
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5
Wave
- Choose if you want free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
What the data shows
On the data below, Hiveage leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Hiveage has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 61 reviews for Hiveage, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Hiveage $16/mo, billed monthly; Wave $19/mo flat, billed monthly.
- 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 Hiveage and Wave compare in 2026?
On the data below, Hiveage leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Hiveage has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 61 reviews for Hiveage, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Hiveage $16/mo, billed monthly; Wave $19/mo flat, billed monthly. Both have a free plan.
What are Hiveage and Wave used for?
Hiveage: Get paid faster with smart invoicing, estimates, and expense tracking for small businesses. Wave: Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses.
What does Hiveage cost vs Wave?
Hiveage's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $16/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. 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 Hiveage and Wave?
Hiveage's main strength: free plan available for up to 5 clients. Wave's main strength: core features free.