Wave
Free accounting and invoicing for small businesses
Quick verdict
Wave is built for solo founders and small teams who need solid finance & accounting capabilities. It holds its own against competitors like QuickBooks. You can start for free, which makes it low-risk to test.
Wave is a free accounting, invoicing, and payments platform for freelancers and small businesses. It offers unlimited invoicing, expense tracking, and double-entry accounting at no cost — making it a popular alternative to QuickBooks for budget-conscious business owners.
What we like
- Core features are free
- No limits on invoices or clients
- Easy to use
- Good for freelancers
Watch out for
- Payment processing fees
- Less powerful than QuickBooks
- US & Canada focused
- Limited integrations
Key features
Who should use Wave?
If you are a Solo / freelancer...
The free plan covers the basics. You will probably not need to upgrade until you hit the limits of the Free plan.
If you are a 5-person startup...
Start on the free plan and upgrade when collaboration features become essential. Budget around Free/mo for a team of five on the paid plan.
If you are a 50+ person company...
You will likely need the Pro plan or above. At this scale, check the payroll (add-on) and receipt scanning capabilities — they matter more as teams grow.
Pricing: the honest take
The free plan is genuinely useful for invoicing and accounting — not just a teaser. You can run real work on it. When you outgrow it, the jump to Pro at Free/mo is reasonable.
See full Wave pricing breakdown →Top Wave alternatives
Our verdict
Wave is a well-regarded finance & accounting tool with 3 pricing plans. The free plan makes it easy to get started with no upfront cost. If the watch-outs above are dealbreakers, see the alternatives below.
Wave: frequently asked questions
Is Wave free?
Yes — Wave offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Free/mo.
How much does Wave cost?
Wave has 3 plans. There is a free tier. Paid plans start at Free/mo. See full pricing →
What are the best alternatives to Wave?
Top alternatives include QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero. See full comparison →