❦ Review · Last updated Apr 19, 2026
Wave
Genuinely free. Limited compared to QuickBooks, but enough for pre-revenue and early-revenue solo founders.
❦ Score breakdown
8.5 / 10
Sign up in minutes; first invoice in under 10.
8.4 / 10
Easier than QuickBooks; less to learn.
9.5 / 10
Free is actually free — clear about what costs extra.
5.5 / 10
Limited integrations vs QuickBooks. Bank syncs cover basics.
9.0 / 10
Designed for this exact persona.
Strengths and tradeoffs
Strengths
- ●Free tier is genuinely free, no time limit
- ●Invoicing UX is cleaner than QuickBooks
- ●Receipt scanning works well from mobile
- ●No vendor lock-in — exports to QBO or Xero
Tradeoffs
- ●Reporting is basic — exports needed for board-grade financials
- ●Limited third-party integrations vs QBO
- ●US, Canada, UK only — no international invoicing
What it does
- ●Bookkeeping + invoicing + receipt scanning, no monthly fee
- ●Payments (2.9% + 60¢) only if you accept cards through Wave
- ●Outgrow it around the $100k revenue mark
Features at a glance
| Feature | Wave |
|---|---|
| Invoicing | ● Included |
| Bookkeeping | ● Included |
| Receipt scanning | ● Included |
| Bank sync | Pro tier |
| Recurring invoices | ● Included |
| Payment acceptance | 2.9% + 60¢ |
| Payroll (US) | Payroll add-on |
| Mobile app | ● Included |
| QuickBooks import/export | ● Included |
| Multi-currency | ◐ Partial |
| Project tracking | — Not available |
| Advanced reporting | — Not available |
Pricing
| Tier | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited invoicing + accounting |
| Pro | $16/mo | Automatic categorization, unlimited bank connections |
| Payroll | $40/mo + $6/ee | US only, basic add-on |
Who it's for
| Founder type | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Founder | Strong fit | Free tier covers full pre-revenue and early-revenue stack. |
| Small Team | Workable | Functional but reporting limits hit fast at $250k+ revenue. |
| Agency | Not the right fit | Reporting and project-level tracking aren't there. |
Known limitations
- — Limited reporting — no audit-grade outputs
- — Coverage limited to US/Canada/UK
What founders say
“Used Wave for three years before switching to QuickBooks. Bought me runway.”
“Free is free. No upsell guilt-trips.”
“Invoicing UX is better than QBO. Reporting is way worse.”
What users say
7.8 / 10
Editorial · how we score
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Compared to
All Wave alternatives →Frequently asked
- Is Wave worth it?
- Genuinely free. Limited compared to QuickBooks, but enough for pre-revenue and early-revenue solo founders.
- How much does Wave cost?
- Wave is freemium. There is a Free tier ($0). Paid plans start at $16/mo on the Pro plan.
- Who is Wave best for?
- Wave is best for Solo founders below $100k ARR; Freelancers invoicing 1–20 clients a month.
- What are the best alternatives to Wave?
- Top alternatives include Mercury. FoundersHub publishes side-by-side comparisons of each.