Wave vs QuickBooks vs Xero vs FreshBooks: which should you pick?
A side-by-side look at price, features, quality and value across the leading accounting software options — so you can choose the right one in minutes.
Visit waveapps.comFree core
Free core — lowest sticker price in this comparison.
Limited reporting
- Free core
- Unlimited invoicing
- Simple onboarding
- Limited reporting
- No project management
Wave is a accounting software option built for freelancers starting at Free core. Shoppers pick it for free core, but it's worth comparing against QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks if limited reporting.
Free core. Pricing: Free core.
Pricing: $30-235.
Pricing: $15-80.
Pricing: $19-60.
Wave is positioned for solopreneurs. If your team or volume is materially larger or smaller, one of QuickBooks / Xero / FreshBooks may be cheaper or more capable.
At least one option in this comparison has a free tier — run a 1–2 week pilot before paying. Confirm the must-have feature actually works on free, not just trial.
Look past the headline price: add seats, add-ons, integration fees and transaction fees. The cheapest option rarely stays cheapest at scale.
Known trade-off with Wave: Limited reporting. Confirm it isn't a deal-breaker for your specific use case before signing.
- Limited reportingConfirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Wave to QuickBooks.
- No project managementConfirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Wave to QuickBooks.
For solopreneurs, yes — Free core. For very different use cases, compare against QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks.
Wave pricing is Free core. Competitors in this comparison range from $30-235 / $15-80 / $19-60.
Limited reporting. Most teams work around it, but verify it isn't a deal-breaker for you first.
Pick Wave if you want free core. Pick QuickBooks if you need a broader / cheaper / more established alternative — see the comparison table above for the side-by-side.