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.
Pricing Plans
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
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.
Which Plan Do You Need?
Freelancers needing free invoicing
Small businesses with basic accounting needs
Users wanting payroll integration
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.
Wave Pricing FAQ
How much does Wave cost?
Wave starts at $16/month on the Pro plan. It offers 2 paid tiers ranging from $16/month up to $20/month. A free plan is also available with limited features.
Does Wave have a free plan?
Yes. Wave offers a free plan called "Starter". It includes: Basic accounting, Unlimited invoices, Unlimited bookkeeping.
What is the cheapest Wave paid plan?
The cheapest paid plan for Wave is "Pro" at $16/month. Key features include: All Starter features, Auto transaction import, Priority support.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Wave?
Yes. Popular alternatives to Wave include QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, FreshBooks. Free alternatives include Zoho Books. Compare them side-by-side on Toolradar.
Cheaper alternatives to Wave
1 of 5 direct competitors below offer a free plan. Per-seat pricing varies up to 60% across this set.
