Wave

Name: Wave
Brand: Wave
Price: 16 USD
Rating: 4.5 (72 reviews)

Unclaimed Editor reviewed

Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses

Accounting Invoicing Finance

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4.5(72 across the web)

FreemiumVisit Website

Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge

72 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Core features free

Biggest con

Limited features

TL;DR - Wave

Wave is free accounting software for small businesses
It provides invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost
Free for core features, paid payroll add-on

Pricing: Free plan available

Best for: Growing teams

4.5/5 across review platforms

What is Wave?

Editorial review

Wave is free accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. Invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost. Banking connections categorize transactions automatically. Payroll available as paid add-on. Reports track business health. Real accounting software that's actually free.

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcewaveapps.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Core features free
Easy to use
Good for startups

Cons

Limited features
No inventory management

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(72 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Free accountingInvoicingReceipt scanningPayrollPayment processingFinancial reports

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jun 4, 2026

Starter

Free

Basic accounting
Unlimited invoices
Unlimited bookkeeping
Bank connections (limited)

Pro

$16/month

All Starter features
Auto transaction import
Priority support
$170/year if annual

Payroll Add-on

$20/month

Self Service States: $20/mo
Tax Service States: $40/mo
+$6 per active employee

Calculate your cost View full pricing

How Wave's pricing compares

At $16/mo, Wave is mid-range of its 4 direct competitors ($10 to $189/mo across the set).

Zoho Books

$10

Wave

$16

FreshBooks

$19

QuickBooks

$38

Bench

$189

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jun 4, 2026.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 72 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge

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Best Wave Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

FreshBooksPaid

Accounting software for small businesses

4.5

QuickBooksPaid

Small business accounting software

4.3

XeroPaid

Cloud accounting for small business. Automate banking, invoicing, and more

4.4

Zoho BooksFreemium

Comprehensive accounting as part of the Zoho ecosystem

4.4

BenchPaid

Online bookkeeping service combining software with expert accountants

4.4

See all accounting tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Wave vs FreshBooksHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Wave vs QuickBooksHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Wave vs XeroHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Wave FAQ

How does Wave help small businesses manage their finances?

Wave provides free accounting software that includes invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning. It helps businesses track their financial health through various reports and automatically categorizes transactions when connected to banking accounts.

Which teams or users would benefit most from Wave?

Wave is designed for small businesses and freelancers looking for a cost-effective solution to manage their finances. It is particularly well-suited for startups due to its free core features and ease of use.

How is Wave priced?

Wave operates on a freemium model, offering its core accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning features for free. Additional services, such as payroll, are available as paid add-ons.

What kind of limitations does Wave have compared to other accounting software?

Wave has limited features compared to some other accounting solutions. A notable trade-off is the absence of inventory management capabilities within its core offering.

Can Wave integrate with banking to streamline financial tracking?

Yes, Wave allows for banking connections which automatically categorize transactions. This feature helps to simplify the process of tracking income and expenses for businesses.

How does Wave compare to QuickBooks for small business accounting?

Wave offers its core accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning features completely free, which distinguishes it from QuickBooks. While Wave provides essential tools for startups, QuickBooks typically offers a broader range of features, often at a cost.

Source: waveapps.com

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