FreshBooks vs Wave
FreshBooks and Wave are both accounting & finance tools aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Wave costs less, from $19/mo versus $23/mo for FreshBooks. Only Wave has a free plan.
Invoicing and accounting for service businesses
Free accounting and invoicing for freelancers
| Pricing | Paid · $23 | Freemium · $19 |
| Starting price | $23/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Freelancers, Small businesses | Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | CA · 2003 | CA · 2010 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose FreshBooks if
Freelancers and service businesses that bill clients for time and projects.
- Easiest invoicing experience
- Time tracking built in
- Clean, friendly interface
Look elsewhere if: Product businesses with inventory or companies needing complex accounting.
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.
FreshBooks vs Wave pricing
FreshBooks
- Lite$23/mo5 billable clients; intro promo 80% off for 4 months
- Plus$43/mo50 billable clients, receipt scanning, accountant access
- Premium$70/moUnlimited billable clients, project profitability
- SelectCustomUnlimited clients, 2 team members, Advanced Payments included
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
FreshBooks · Key features
- Invoices, estimates and proposals with branding
- Time tracking linked to projects and invoices
- Expense tracking with receipt capture
- Online payments and recurring billing
- Client portal and project collaboration
- Double-entry accounting and reports
Cons
- Billable client limits per plan
- Weak inventory features
- Pricing rises quickly
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
FreshBooks vs Wave: FAQ
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Wave?
Wave starts at $19/mo and FreshBooks at $23/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do FreshBooks and Wave have a free plan?
FreshBooks has no free plan, a 30-day free trial. Wave has a free plan.