QuickBooks 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 QuickBooks 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:
QuickBooks
Small business accounting software
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard
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 | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $38/mo, billed monthly Simple Start plan | Free plan, paid from $15.83/mo, billed yearly Pro (Annual) plan |
Category | Accounting Finance | Accounting Invoicing |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 405 reviews | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.3 · SourceForge 3.2 2,059 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | 50% introductory discount expires after 3 months, doubling your bill overnight | n/a |
Choose QuickBooks or Wave?
Choose QuickBooks if
- You want industry standard
- You want easy to use
Choose Wave if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want core features free
- You want easy to use
In-Depth Analysis
QuickBooks
Small business accounting software
Watch out
50% introductory discount expires after 3 months, doubling your bill overnight
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Easy to use
- Pro: Great integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be expensive
- Con: Learning curve for advanced features
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: QuickBooks vs Wave
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks |
| quickbooks.intuit.com read Sep 29, 2026 |
| Wave |
| waveapps.com/pricing read 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 QuickBooks pricing and Wave pricing.
Key Takeaways
QuickBooks
- Choose if you want small business accounting software
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.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 405 reviews for QuickBooks, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: QuickBooks $38/mo, billed monthly; Wave $15.83/mo, billed yearly.
- 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 QuickBooks 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. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.4/5 from 405 reviews for QuickBooks, 4.3/5 from 2,059 reviews for Wave). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: QuickBooks $38/mo, billed monthly; Wave $15.83/mo, billed yearly. Only Wave has a free plan.
What are QuickBooks and Wave used for?
QuickBooks: Small business accounting software. Wave: Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses.
What does QuickBooks cost vs Wave?
QuickBooks's cheapest paid plan is Simple Start at $38/mo, billed monthly. 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 QuickBooks and Wave?
QuickBooks's main strength: industry standard. Wave's main strength: core features free.