Free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning for small businesses
Visit WebsiteThe 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
What is Wave?
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Core features free
- Easy to use
- Good for startups
Cons
- Limited features
- No inventory management
Ratings Across the Web
Wave holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 72 reviews across G2, Capterra and SourceForge, last checked March 18, 2026.
What people say
“Wave was far easier to use than Quickbooks.”via Capterra
“Disconnects from bank too often, updates crash account, and recently last update messed up all my accounts so badly”via SourceForge
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Aug 22, 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
Is Wave worth the price?
Wave's Starter tier is incredibly generous, offering unlimited invoicing and bookkeeping for free, which is rare in the market.
The Pro tier at $16/month ($170/year) adds valuable automation for a reasonable cost. This pricing is best for freelancers and small businesses looking for robust accounting without high initial investment.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Payroll add-on costs $20-$40/month plus $6/employee.
Bank connections are limited in the free tier.
Priority support is only in the Pro tier.
How Wave Compares to Competitors
Compared to QuickBooks Self-Employed ($15/month) or FreshBooks Lite ($17/month), Wave's free Starter tier offers significantly more features like unlimited invoicing. Its Pro tier at $16/month is competitive, often providing more for the price than entry-level paid plans from competitors.
How Wave's pricing compares
At $16/mo, Wave is mid-range of its 4 direct competitors ($10 to $189/mo across the set).
Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Aug 22, 2026.
Reviews
Review Wave, get a free AI guide
Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.
Across 72 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge
Add your hands-on experience using the offer above to help the next buyer.
Best Wave Alternatives
Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.
Small business accounting software
Cloud accounting for small business. Automate banking, invoicing, and more
Accounting software for small businesses
Comprehensive accounting as part of the Zoho ecosystem
Online bookkeeping service combining software with expert accountants
Still deciding?
Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.
Explore More
Wave FAQ
How does Wave help small businesses manage their finances?
Which teams or users would benefit most from Wave?
How is Wave priced?
What kind of limitations does Wave have compared to other accounting software?
Can Wave integrate with banking to streamline financial tracking?
How does Wave compare to QuickBooks for small business accounting?
Source: waveapps.com