Bonsai vs Wave
Bonsai and Wave are both accounting & finance tools. Bonsai is aimed at freelancers and agencies, while Wave is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Bonsai costs less, from $15/mo versus $19/mo for Wave. Only Wave has a free plan.
Contracts, proposals, invoices and time tracking for freelancers
Free accounting and invoicing for freelancers
| Pricing | Paid · $15 | Freemium · $19 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Built for | Freelancers, Agencies | Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2016 | CA · 2010 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Bonsai if
Freelancers and small agencies.
- All-in-one for freelancers
- Professional templates
- Integrated payments
Look elsewhere if: Larger agencies needing PSA depth.
Choose Wave if
North American freelancers and micro-businesses on a tight budget.
- Free core accounting
- Simple and approachable
- Good for solo founders
Look elsewhere if: Growing companies or businesses outside the US and Canada.
Bonsai vs Wave pricing
Bonsai
- Basic$15/user/mo$9/mo billed annually; time tracking, tasks, CRM
- Essentials$25/user/mo$19/mo billed annually; invoices, proposals, contracts, portal
- Premium$39/user/mo$29/mo billed annually; Gantt, workload, reports, integrations
- Elite$59/user/mo$49/mo billed annually; 3 users minimum, custom permissions
Wave
- Starter$0Unlimited invoices, estimates, bookkeeping
- Pro$19/mo$190/yr billed annually; auto-import bank transactions
- Payments2.9% + $0.60/per cardPer card transaction on Starter; 3.4% + $0.60 Amex
- Wave Advisorsfrom $149/moDedicated bookkeeper, includes Pro features
Bonsai · Key features
- Proposals and contracts
- E-signature
- Projects and tasks
- Time tracking
- Invoices and payments
- Client portal and accounting
Cons
- Jack of all trades
- Accounting basic
- Team features on higher tiers
Wave · Key features
- Free invoicing and estimates
- Double-entry accounting and reports
- Bank connections and transaction import
- Receipt capture (Pro)
- Card and bank payments
- Payroll add-on in US and Canada
Cons
- US and Canada focus
- Limited features and integrations
- Support mostly paid
Bonsai vs Wave: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bonsai or Wave?
Bonsai starts at $15/mo and Wave at $19/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Bonsai and Wave have a free plan?
Bonsai has no free plan, a 7-day free trial. Wave has a free plan.
Which is better for small businesses, Bonsai or Wave?
Wave lists small businesses as a core audience, while Bonsai is aimed more at freelancers and agencies.