QuickBooks Online vs Wave
QuickBooks Online and Wave are both accounting & finance tools. QuickBooks Online is aimed at small businesses, while Wave is aimed at freelancers and small businesses. Wave costs less, from $19/mo versus $38/mo for QuickBooks Online. Both have a free plan.
Small-business accounting standard in the US
Free accounting and invoicing for freelancers
| Pricing | Freemium · $38 | Freemium · $19 |
| Starting price | $38/mo | $19/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses | Freelancers, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2001 | CA · 2010 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose QuickBooks Online if
US small and mid-size businesses that work with an accountant.
- Most accountants in the US know it
- Huge integration ecosystem
- Comprehensive feature set
Look elsewhere if: Businesses outside the US/UK or with local e-invoicing rules (Xero, Paraşüt).
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.
QuickBooks Online vs Wave pricing
QuickBooks Online
- Free$01 user
- Simple Start$38/mo1 user; promo 50% off for 3 months
- Essentials$85/mo3 users
- Plus$140/mo5 users
- Advanced$340/mo25 users
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
QuickBooks Online · Key features
- Invoicing, estimates and online payments
- Bank feeds with rules and AI categorization
- Bills, expenses and receipt capture
- Sales tax tracking and reports
- Inventory and project profitability (Plus)
- Payroll add-on and accountant collaboration
Cons
- Repeated price increases
- User limits per tier
- Support quality is inconsistent
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
QuickBooks Online vs Wave: FAQ
Which is cheaper, QuickBooks Online or Wave?
Wave starts at $19/mo and QuickBooks Online at $38/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do QuickBooks Online and Wave have a free plan?
Yes, both QuickBooks Online and Wave have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.