Wave vs. FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks

Find a platform that makes accounting as easy as possible for your small business.

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Why Wave?

Wave's invoicing software is fully integrated with our accounting and online payments solutions so you can send recurring invoices, get paid, and organize your books—all in one place.

Everything you need to confidently run your business.

Try Wave for free

Wave vs. FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks

Wave plans

QuickBooks

FreshBooks

Pricing
$0-$20 CAD/month
$5-$75/month
$15-$50/month
Add partners or accountants as collaborators
with Pro
$17.50/month for up to 3 users
$10/month per collaborator
Track income and expenses
✓
✓
✓
Track sales and sales taxes
✓
✓
✓
Manage and pay bills
✓
Some paid plans
✓
Unlimited invoicing
✓
✓
✓
Payment processing
1% per bank payment (ACH/EFT); credit cards starting at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction. Or unlock a 2.9% + $0 rate for the first 10 transactions of every month with Pro.
1% per bank payment (ACH/EFT); 2.9% + 25¢ per transaction for all credit cards
2.9% + 30¢ per transaction for most credit cards; 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction for AMEX, plus monthly fees
Accountant-approved reporting
✓
Some paid plans
✓
Capture and organize receipts
with Pro or a subscription to our receipts feature
✓
✓
Manage 1099 contractors
✓
✓
✓
Connect your bank account
with Pro
✓
✓
Maximize tax deductions
✓
✓
✓

Customers love Wave

4.4 out of 5 stars based on user reviews collected by G2Crowd as of January 2024.

Star iconStar iconStar iconStar iconIcon of half filled star
4.4 out of 5 stars

It is BANANAS how much easier & more intuitive Wave is for human accounting, invoicing, and payroll than Quickbooks.

Ash Ambirge - CEO

Everything you need to confidently run your business.

Try Wave for free

Wave vs. FreshBooks vs. QuickBooks

Here's why we think you'll love Wave.

Unlimited accounting

  • Cloud-based software with robust reporting
  • Easy-to-use functionality, ideal for everyone from artists to small biz CEO’s
  • Backed by certified bank-grade security practices

Unlimited invoicing

  • Create professional invoices unique to your business
  • Send invoices from your mobile device using our free iOS and Android app
  • Set up repeat invoices for any number of clients

Low-fee online payments

  • Accept credit card and bank payments for as little as 1% per transaction.
  • Fully integrated with our powerful set of products and features
  • Send payment reminders and schedule regular bill payments

1 Rates are 1% for bank payments (minimum fee of $1). For information on credit card rates, visit Pricing for details.

Plans to make
your plans happen.

Save $20
Save $22
Monthly
Annual
starter
Plan

Just starting your business or looking for the basics? This is the place.

$0
Get started now

  • Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records

  • Option to accept online payments

  • Invoice on-the-go via the Wave app

  • Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard

pro
Plan
Recommended

Want to look more polished, save more time, and conquer cash flow? It’s Pro time.

$16/month
Billed monthly
$20CAD/month
Billed monthly
Get started now
Everything in Starter, plus….

  • Option to accept online payments at a discounted rate

  • Auto-import bank transactions

  • Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions

  • Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses

  • Automate late payment reminders

  • And more!

starter
Plan
$0
Get started now

  • Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records

  • Option to accept online payments

  • Invoice on-the-go via the Wave app

  • Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard

pro
Plan
Recommended
$16/month
Billed monthly
$20CAD/month
Billed monthly
Get started now
Everything in Starter, plus….

  • Option to accept online payments at a discounted rate

  • Auto-import bank transactions

  • Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions

  • Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses

  • Automate late payment reminders

  • And more!

starter
Plan

Just starting your business or looking for the basics? This is the place.

$0
Get started now

  • Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records

  • Option to accept online payments

  • Invoice on-the-go via the Wave app

  • Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard

pro
Plan
Recommended

Want to look more polished, save more time, and conquer cash flow? It’s Pro time.

$220CAD/year

Billed annually

$170/year

Billed annually

Get started now
Everything in Starter, plus….

  • Option to accept online payments at a discounted rate

  • Auto-import bank transactions

  • Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions

  • Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses

  • Automate late payment reminders

  • And more!

starter
Plan
$0
Get started now

  • Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records

  • Option to accept online payments

  • Invoice on-the-go via the Wave app

  • Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard

pro
Plan
Recommended
$220CAD/year

Billed annually

$170/year

Billed annually

Get started now
Everything in Starter, plus….

  • Option to accept online payments at a discounted rate

  • Auto-import bank transactions

  • Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions

  • Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses

  • Automate late payment reminders

  • And more!

*Active subscription required. While subscribed to Wave’s Pro Plan, get 2.9% + $0 (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) and 3.4% + $0 (Amex) per transaction for an unlimited number of transactions during the offer period. After the offer ends: over 10 transactions per month at 2.9% + $0.60 (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) and 3.4% + $0.60 (Amex) per transaction. Discover processing is only available to US customers. See full terms and conditions

**We use Plaid to facilitate bank connections. Not all financial institutions are supported so we can’t guarantee that you will be able to connect an account. Check Plaid's troubleshooting guide for more information or learn more about how bank connections work at Wave.

Two people high-fiving with hands that are exaggeratedly big.
Do what you love. Leave the rest to us.
Let's do this
4.6
Google logo
4.6
Google logo
4.6
Google logo
QuickBooks vs. Wave

One of the best QuickBooks
alternatives for you

Wave is one of the more affordable, more you-friendly alternatives to QuickBooks. Make tax season easy with simple money management solutions at your fingertips, starting at $0. Choose Wave today!

Get started for free
Illustration of a person with rolled papers in a tote bag, pointing at a cash flow chart that’s available in Wave.
More time for what you love

Sign up in minutes and access the solutions you actually need, all in one place. Don’t waste time building your own tech stack or sifting through complicated tools you’ll never use.

Illustration of a person sitting cross-legged in a meditative pose with documents and folders floating above.
Be the wiz of your biz

Wave's accounting and invoicing features allow you to create professional invoices on-the-go, track expenses, digitally capture receipts, and more, so you can run the numbers just as well as you run your biz.

Illustration of a laptop with a glowing Wave logo on the screen, surrounded by sparkles.
Ditch imposter syndrome

Whether you’re viewing your smart dashboard or accessing key financial reports, you’ll love our simple interface. Wave is made for small biz owners first.

Everything you need to confidently run your business.

Everything you need to confidently run your business.

Get started for free

Why Wave > QuickBooks

Expensive, complicated tools don’t pay off.
Access Wave’s pocket- and small business-friendly solutions today, starting for free.

PROPlan

$16USD/ month
$20CAD/ month

Solopreneur

Self-Employed

$20USD/ month
$20CAD/ month

Simple Start

Easy Start

$35USD/ month
$24CAD/ month
Add partners or accountants as collaborators
Included.
Included.
Included.
Track income and expenses
Included.
Included.
Included.
Send invoices & accept payments
Included.
Included.
Included.
Send estimates
Included.
Included.
Included.
Track sales & sales tax
Included.
Included.
Included.
Customize chart of accounts
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Manage 1099 contractors
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Not included.
Accountant-approved reporting
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Built for businesses with 1-9 employees
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Manage vendors
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Manage bills
Included.
Not included.
Included.
View balance sheets and financial statements
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Create checkout links
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Create recurring invoices and
get paid automatically
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Reconcile accounts
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Run basic reports
Included.
Some reports
Some reports
Built for businesses with 1-9 employees
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage 1099 contractors
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage vendors
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage bills
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
View balance sheets and financial statements
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Add multiple users to your account
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage accounts payable
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage accounts receivable
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
View cash flow dashboard
Included.
Not included.
Not included.

PROPlan

$16USD/ month
$20CAD/ month

Solopreneur

Self-Employed

$20USD/ month
$20CAD/ month

Simple Start

Easy Start

$35USD/ month
$24CAD/ month
Add partners or accountants as collaborators
Included.
Included.
Included.
Track income and expenses
Included.
Included.
Included.
Send invoices & accept payments
Included.
Included.
Included.
Send estimates
Included.
Included.
Included.
Track sales & sales tax
Included.
Included.
Included.
Customize chart of accounts
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Not included.
Manage 1099 contractors
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Not included.
Accountant-approved reporting
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Built for businesses with 1-9 employees
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Manage vendors
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Manage bills
Included.
Not included.
Included.
View balance sheets and financial statements
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Create checkout links
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Create recurring invoices and
get paid automatically
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Reconcile accounts
Included.
Not included.
Included.
Run basic reports
Included.
Some reports
Some reports
Built for businesses with 1-9 employees
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage 1099 contractors
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage vendors
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage bills
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
View balance sheets and financial statements
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Add multiple users to your account
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage accounts payable
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
Manage accounts receivable
Included.
Not included.
Not included.
View cash flow dashboard
Included.
Not included.
Not included.

Over 300,000 small businesses
trust Wave

Over 300,000 small businesses trust Wave

Headshot of Wave customer Tatiyanna.
Tatiyanna W.
TruCreates.com

"Wave invoicing makes your life a whole lot easier and takes that worry off you. I've tried Quickbooks—it's a bit more complicated and technical, and takes more time to set up."

A headshot of Wave customer Don Lam.
Don Lam
Don Lam, DIY Body

“When I signed up with Wave it was a no brainer. It's been one of the best decisions I've made when it comes to making sure my accounting is on point.”

Headshot of Wave customer Robbie Katherine Anthony.
Robbie Katherine Anthony
Euphoria LGBT Inc.
App Development

"It’s not just a cool piece of software, it is giving peace of mind to people.” You deserve to know your taxes aren't something you have to sweat over the entire calendar year."

TRUSTED BY SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS

More reasons to love Wave

More reasons to love Wave

Make bookkeeping and tax time easy with solutions that are affordable, small biz friendly, and—dare we say—fun to use.

Accounting icon

No sweat accounting

Track income and expenses, manage cash flow, and access reporting that’ll help you make smart business decisions.
Invoicing icon

Easy invoicing

Create beautiful, professional invoices and estimates in only a few clicks and wow your customers.
Wallet icon

Secure online payments

Give your customers the choice of quickly paying you using credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay.
Users icon

Painless payroll

Reliably pay employees and yourself and manage contractors without worrying about the complicated legal stuff.
Accounting icon

No sweat accounting

Track income and expenses, manage cash flow, and access reporting that’ll help you make smart business decisions.
Learn more about Accounting
Invoicing icon

Easy invoicing

Create beautiful, professional invoices and estimates in only a few clicks and wow your customers.
Learn more about Invoicing
Wallet icon

Secure online payments

Give your customers the choice of quickly paying you using credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay.
Learn more about Payments
Users icon

Painless payroll

Reliably pay employees and yourself and manage contractors without worrying about the complicated legal stuff.
Learn more about Payroll
Accounting icon

No sweat accounting

Track income and expenses, manage cash flow, and access reporting that’ll help you make smart business decisions.
Invoicing icon

Easy invoicing

Create beautiful, professional invoices and estimates in only a few clicks and wow your customers.
Wallet icon

Secure online payments

Give your customers the choice of quickly paying you using credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay.
Users icon

Painless payroll

Reliably pay employees and yourself and manage contractors without worrying about the complicated legal stuff.
Users icon

Painless payroll

Reliably pay employees and yourself and manage contractors without worrying about the complicated legal stuff.
Ask an expert

Get by with a little 1:1 help

Our (non-judgmental) team of bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll experts is standing by to coach you—or do the work for you.
Learn more about Advisors
Three of our Wave Advisors
Ask an expert

Get by with a little 1:1 help

Our (non-judgmental) team of bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll experts is standing by to coach you—or do the work for you.
Learn more about Advisors
Three of our Wave Advisors

Built for small business owners like you

Built for small business owners like you

Freelancers

Pay your staff (and yourself!) with confidence.
Tru Williams
Tru Williams
Photographer/Videographer

Solopreneurs

Get tidy books for tax time—one less thing to worry about.
Dae the poet
Dae
Dae the poet

Contractors

Fire off professional invoices and estimates in minutes.
Troy Styke
Troy Styke
Crystal Clean Window Cleaning

Consultants

Set up recurring invoices and payments for retainer clients.
Sarah Stockdale
Sarah Stockdale
Growthclass Founder

Built for small business owners like you

Built for small business owners like you

Freelancers

Pay your staff (and yourself!) with confidence.
Tru Williams
Tru Williams
Photographer/Videographer

Solopreneurs

Get tidy books for tax time—one less thing to worry about.
Dae the poet
Dae
Dae the poet

Contractors

Fire off professional invoices and estimates in minutes.
Troy Styke
Troy Styke
Crystal Clean Window Cleaning

Consultants

Set up recurring invoices and payments for retainer clients.
Sarah Stockdale
Sarah Stockdale
Growthclass Founder

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand allCollapse all

Is Wave's software something I need to install?

Wave's tools are web-based, so you just need an Internet connection and browser—no installation is necessary for our online software!

‍

If you're looking for an on-the-go solution, you can install our mobile app to help you manage invoices and payments. Download our mobile app on iOS and Android today!

Is my data secure when I use Wave?

Completely. Our servers are protected physically and electronically. Any connections between you, your bank accounts, and Wave are protected by 256-bit SSL encryption. Wave is a PCI-DSS Level 1 Service Provider.

Do you provide customer support?

We provide different levels of support, depending on the plan and/or the add-on features you choose. Learn more about how Wave support works here.

Are there any other fees for online payments?

With online payments enabled on your invoices, you can accept bank payments for 1% per transaction, Visa and Mastercard payments for 2.9% per transaction, and American Express payments for 3.4% per transaction. Each transaction also has a $0.60 fee, but with the Wave Pro Plan, your first 10 transactions each month have a $0 fee. Learn more here.

Do I need to enter my credit card details to sign up?

If you are signing up for our free Starter Plan, no credit card info is required! If you are signing up for our Pro Plan, you’ll need to provide credit card details during the sign up process.

You didn't start your business to
be a bookkeeper

You didn't start your business to be a bookkeeper

Get started for free

You didn't start your business to be a bookkeeper

Get started for free