Manager 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 Manager and Wave side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Manager 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:
Manager
Free accounting software for small businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free to use
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Best for you if:
- • You want core features free
| At a Glance | Manager | Wave |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $15.83/mo, billed yearly Pro (Annual) plan |
Category | Finance Accounting | Accounting Invoicing |
Rating | 4.6/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.2 91 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.3 · SourceForge 3.2 2,059 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Manager or Wave?
Choose Manager if
- You want completely free to use
- You want offers a wide range of accounting features
- You work in finance, not accounting
Choose Wave if
- You want core features free
- You want easy to use
- You work in accounting, not finance
In-Depth Analysis
Manager
Free accounting software for small businesses.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free to use.
- Pro: Offers a wide range of accounting features.
- Pro: Suitable for small businesses and individuals.
- Pro: Available for desktop and cloud use.
Weaknesses
- Con: May require some accounting knowledge to utilize all features effectively.
- Con: Support might be community-based rather than dedicated premium support.
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: Manager vs Wave
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | No plan prices on file | manager.io |
| Wave |
| waveapps.com/pricingread Oct 13, 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 Manager pricing and Wave pricing.
Key Takeaways
Manager
- 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, Manager leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Manager has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 91 reviews for Manager, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave).
- Wave starts at $15.83/mo, billed yearly; Manager 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 Manager and Wave compare in 2026?
On the data below, Manager leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Manager has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 91 reviews for Manager, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave). Wave starts at $15.83/mo, billed yearly; Manager has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Manager and Wave used for?
Manager: Free accounting software for small businesses. Wave: Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses.
What does Manager cost vs Wave?
Manager has no public paid-plan price on file. Wave's cheapest paid plan is Pro (Annual) at $15.83/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 13, 2026.
What's the main difference between Manager and Wave?
Manager's main strength: completely free to use. Wave's main strength: core features free.