Wave is a free accounting and financial management platform for freelancers and small businesses — providing invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll, and receipt scanning at no cost for its core features. Unlike QuickBooks and FreshBooks which charge monthly, Wave's base accounting and invoicing are completely free with revenue from payment processing fees and payroll service charges. Serving 2+ million small business owners, Wave is the go-to free alternative for sole proprietors, consultants, and early-stage businesses that need professional accounting without subscription costs.
Finance & Business ServicesVerified listing
Wave
Free accounting, invoicing, and bookkeeping software for freelancers and small businesses, with optional payroll and advisor add-ons.
Best for: Freelancers, sole proprietors, and micro-businesses that need professional invoicing and accounting without a monthly subscription
- Free plan
4.4/5 ratingEditorial score 78/100Last reviewed Oct 4, 2026waveapps.com
Entry plan
Free forever
Get started free
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Editorial score78/100
The editorial note
What to know about Wave
Is it right for you?
Who Wave suits
Choose it if
- Freelancers, sole proprietors, and micro-businesses that need professional invoicing and accounting without a monthly subscription
Look elsewhere if
- Growing businesses needing inventory management, project billing, or multi-currency support — QuickBooks Online or Xero provide more comprehensive small business accounting features for companies that have outgrown Wave's free capabilities
What you get
Key features
- Free double-entry accounting
- Unlimited invoicing
- Bank and credit card connections
- Receipt scanning app
- Financial reporting (P&L, balance sheet)
- Payment processing
- Payroll (paid add-on)
- Tax preparation reports
Works with
Integrations7
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free forever | Unlimited invoices, estimates, bills, and bookkeeping. Online payments at standard rates (2.9% + $0.60/card). |
| Pro | $190/year (billed annually)Billed yearly | Everything in Starter plus auto-import bank transactions, auto-categorization, unlimited receipt capture, late payment reminders, and discounted payment rates. |
| Wave Advisors | From $149/monthBilled monthly | Includes Pro features plus a dedicated human bookkeeper, monthly financial statements, and expert accounting support. |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Core accounting and invoicing are completely free — no subscription required for basic business finances
- Double-entry bookkeeping produces accurate, professional financial statements and reports
- Unlimited invoices with professional templates and payment processing directly from the invoice
- Bank and credit card connections auto-import and categorize transactions for bookkeeping
- Free to use for multiple businesses under a single Wave account
Cons
- Limited inventory management makes it inadequate for product-based businesses with SKUs
- No project-based billing or time tracking — freelancers need separate tools for time management
- Customer support is limited on the free tier — priority support requires paid add-ons
- Payroll is paid and only available in the US and Canada
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Finance & Business Services
- Pricing model
- Freemium
- Entry plan
- Free forever
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Website
- waveapps.com
- Last reviewed
- Oct 4, 2026
The verdict
Our take on Wave
Wave's free Starter plan remains one of the most generous in accounting software—unlimited invoices and bookkeeping at no cost. The move of bank auto-import to the $190/year Pro plan stings for users who relied on that feature for free, but $190/year is still far cheaper than QuickBooks or FreshBooks. For freelancers and very small businesses, Wave is hard to beat on value.
Editorial review
From the journal
Editorial review of Wave
Wave's free Starter plan remains one of the most generous in accounting software—unlimited invoices and bookkeeping at no cost. The move of bank auto-import to the $190/year Pro plan stings for users who relied on that feature for free, but $190/year is still far cheaper than QuickBooks or FreshBooks. For freelancers and very small businesses, Wave is hard to beat on value.
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