Wave
Free accounting and invoicing software for US and Canadian micro-businesses, with a paid Pro plan that now holds bank feeds and multi-user access.
- Free plan
- Flat monthly fee
- Cloud
- US and Canada
- Independent sources
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is Wave?
Wave is accounting and invoicing software for freelancers and micro-businesses in the US and Canada, with a free Starter plan and a paid Pro plan.
- Best forFreelancers and micro-businesses that want free invoicing and books
- Team size fitSmall teams
- PricingFree Starter plan; Pro reported at $19 per month or $190 a year.
- Main limitationAutomatic bank feeds and collaborator access moved to Pro on 1 June 2026.
- AlternativesFreshBooks, Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online, Xero · compare all
Wave overview: who it is for and what it does.
Wave is known for free accounting and invoicing aimed at freelancers and very small businesses in the US and Canada. The Starter plan keeps unlimited invoices, estimates, bills and double-entry bookkeeping at no cost.
On 1 June 2026 several features moved behind the Pro plan, which a September 2026 guide prices at $19 a month or $190 a year: automatic bank feeds, collaborator access, receipt scanning and, in most accounts, recurring billing and live support.
Wave makes money from payments and payroll. Cards cost 2.9% plus $0.60 and ACH 1% (minimum $1), and payroll costs $40 a month plus $6 per person. Wave has no inventory management.
Main problem it solves
Gives freelancers and micro-businesses free invoicing and bookkeeping without a monthly fee.
Typical customer segment
Freelancers and micro-businesses in the US and Canada.
Target users
- Freelancers and sole proprietors
- Micro-businesses that mainly send invoices
- Owners who want free double-entry books
Primary use cases
- Invoicing and estimates
- Bookkeeping and reports
- Card and ACH payments
- Payroll (US and Canada, add-on)
What makes it distinct
- Unlimited invoices, estimates and bills on the free plan.
- Revenue from payment and payroll fees rather than plan fees.
- Bank feeds and collaborators moved to Pro in June 2026.
Wave features explained.
Starter (free)
- Unlimited invoices, estimates and bills
- Included on Starter.
- Double-entry accounting and core reports
- Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow.
- Manual bank entry
- Starter users upload statements or enter transactions by hand since June 2026.
Pro
- Automatic bank feeds
- Pro only since 1 June 2026.
- Multi-user access
- Pro only.
- Late payment reminders and custom branding
- Pro, with live chat and email support on weekdays.
Payments and payroll
- Card payments
- 2.9% + $0.60; Pro waives the $0.60 on the first ten transactions a month.
- ACH payments
- 1% with a $1 minimum.
- Payroll
- $40 a month + $6 per person in the US; covers all 50 states.
Wave pricing and plans.
Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 10 Nov 2026 against Ecommerce Platforms · Beancount.io.
Pricing model
Free Starter plan, Pro subscription, and per-transaction payment and payroll fees.
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
Promotional Pro discount reported
Wave plans and prices (USD)
Starter
$0
Free
Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping; single user; manual bank entry.
Pro
$19 per month or $190 per year
Monthly or annual
Bank feeds, multiple users, receipt scanning add-on at $8 a month.
A $9.50 a month promotion for the first three months of Pro was reported. Receipt scanning is $11 a month on Starter. Wave's own pricing page was not reviewed directly.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesWave integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- Wave Payments (card and ACH)
- Wave Payroll (US and Canada)
- Receipt scanning add-on
Supported platforms
- Web
- iOS
- Android
API
Not reviewed for this profile.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check Wave's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.
Wave pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- Freelancers and micro-businesses that want free invoicing and books
- Owners in the US or Canada who mainly bill by invoice
- Businesses that want a flat price for multiple users on Pro
May be less suited to
- Product businesses that need inventory
- Businesses outside the US and Canada
Top Wave alternatives and competitors.
FreshBooks
Invoicing-led accounting software for freelancers and service businesses, with Lite, Plus, Premium and…
Explore →Related productZoho Books
Online accounting software from Zoho with a free plan and five paid plans from $15 a month billed…
Explore →Related productQuickBooks Online
Intuit's cloud accounting software for small businesses, sold in Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and…
Explore →Related productXero
Cloud accounting software for small businesses, sold in the US as Early, Growing and Established plans…
Explore →Wave compared with similar accounting software.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Pricing model | Free plan | Users included | Inventory | Multi-currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wave | Free; flat Pro fee; payment fees | Yes (Starter) | 1 on Starter; multiple on Pro | Not offered | Not reviewed |
| FreshBooks | Monthly by plan; limited by billable clients | No; 30-day trial | Owner; $11 per extra member | Not offered | Not reviewed |
| Odoo Accounting | Per user per month, or free for one app | Yes (one app, unlimited users) | Unlimited on One App Free; paid per user | Yes (Inventory app) | Not reviewed |
| Oracle NetSuite | Annual quote: base, users, modules | No | By licence; Standard edition caps at 30 | Yes (modules) | Yes (OneWorld) |
| QuickBooks Online | Monthly by plan; add-ons extra | Limited free tier only | 1, 3, 5 or 25 by plan | From Plus | From Essentials (reported) |
| Sage Accounting | Monthly by plan (GBP), no contract | Sole Trader Free only | 1, 3 or unlimited | Plus only | Plus only |
Wave vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Each comparison has a feature table, pricing side by side, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios.
Wave discussions and buying questions.
No published discussions mention this product yet.
Wave questions and answers
What is Wave used for?
Wave is accounting and invoicing software for freelancers and micro-businesses in the US and Canada, with a free Starter plan and a paid Pro plan. Typical uses include invoicing and estimates, bookkeeping and reports, card and ACH payments, payroll (US and Canada, add-on).
Is Wave still free in 2026?
The Starter plan is still free, but automatic bank feeds, collaborators and receipt scanning moved to the paid Pro plan on 1 June 2026.
How much does Wave Pro cost?
A September 2026 guide reports $19 a month or $190 a year, with a promotional rate for the first three months.
Does Wave have inventory management?
No. Wave has never offered inventory management, according to the guide reviewed.
How does Wave compare with its competitors?
Stack18 publishes head-to-head comparisons of Wave vs FreshBooks, each with a feature table, pricing and best-fit scenarios.
What are the main alternatives to Wave?
The main alternatives to Wave covered on Stack18 are FreshBooks, Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online and Xero. FreshBooks may suit freelancers and service businesses that bill clients by invoice. Zoho Books may suit small businesses that want low-cost accounting inside the Zoho ecosystem. QuickBooks Online may suit US small businesses that want the most widely used cloud accounting tool. See the Wave alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
What are the pros and cons of Wave?
Strengths: The free Starter plan keeps unlimited invoices, estimates and bookkeeping. Pro costs a flat $19 a month rather than per user. Limitations: Automatic bank feeds and collaborator access moved to Pro on 1 June 2026. Wave has no inventory management.
Who is Wave best for?
Wave may suit freelancers and micro-businesses that want free invoicing and books; owners in the US or Canada who mainly bill by invoice; businesses that want a flat price for multiple users on Pro. It may be less suited to product businesses that need inventory; businesses outside the US and Canada.
What integrations does Wave support?
Documented integrations and ecosystem items include Wave Payments (card and ACH), Wave Payroll (US and Canada), Receipt scanning add-on. API: Not reviewed for this profile.
When was the Wave profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 10 Nov 2026. 2 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- Wave Accounting Review 2026: Is It Still Free? Ecommerce Platforms Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
- Wave accounting bank feeds and collaborator paywall guide Beancount.io (competing tool) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.
Prices and the June 2026 changes come from independent guides dated August to September 2026. Capabilities were not tested.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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