Mercury vs Wave
Mercury and Wave are both accounting & finance tools. Mercury is aimed at small businesses and developers, while Wave is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Wave costs less, from $19/mo versus $29.90/mo for Mercury. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $30 | Freemium · $19 |
| Starting price | $29.90/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Developers | Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2017 | CA · 2010 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Mercury if
US-incorporated startups.
- Fast, founder-friendly onboarding
- No monthly fees on core
- Excellent UI
Look elsewhere if: Non-US entities.
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.
Mercury vs Wave pricing
Mercury
- Mercury$0Banking, cards, invoicing, bill pay, expense management
- Plus$29.90/moRecurring invoices, ACH debit invoicing; 15% off annually
- Pro$299/moRelationship manager, NetSuite categorizations
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
Mercury · Key features
- Business checking and savings
- Debit and credit cards
- Treasury and yield
- Invoicing and bill pay
- International wires
- API and integrations
Cons
- US entities only
- Cash deposits limited
- Not a full-service bank
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
Mercury vs Wave: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Mercury or Wave?
Wave starts at $19/mo and Mercury at $29.90/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Mercury and Wave have a free plan?
Yes, both Mercury and Wave have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.