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Best Wave alternatives
We put Wave head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.
Where Wave can fall short
6 alternatives worth your time
FreshBooks
4.4 out of 54.4Invoicing and accounting designed for freelancers.
FreshBooks edges out Wave in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.
- Beautiful, fast invoicing
- Friendly for non accountants
Xero
4.4 out of 54.4Beautiful cloud accounting loved by small businesses.
Xero edges out Wave in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Zoho Books
4.3 out of 54.3Full-featured accounting at a fair price.
Zoho Books edges out Wave in our testing, scoring 4.3 to 4.2 overall.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
QuickBooks Online
4.2 out of 54.2The accounting standard for small and growing businesses.
QuickBooks Online is the pick when you want small businesses that need full, accountant ready books, and it leads on features.
- Comprehensive, accountant ready features
- Universally supported by bookkeepers
Harvest
4.2 out of 54.2Time tracking and invoicing in one tidy app.
Harvest is the pick when you want time tracking and invoicing in one tidy app., and it leads on ease of use.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Bonsai
4.1 out of 54.1Invoicing, contracts, and taxes for freelancers.
Bonsai is the pick when you want invoicing, contracts, and taxes for freelancers., and it leads on ease of use.
- Well established product with an active user base
- Regular updates and clear roadmap
Wave vs the alternatives
| Tool | Our score | From | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | Free | Yes | Genuinely free accounting and invoicing. | |
| 4.4 | $19/mo | No | Freelancers and service businesses who bill clients | |
| 4.4 | $15/mo | No | Beautiful cloud accounting loved by small businesses. | |
| 4.3 | $15/mo | Yes | Full-featured accounting at a fair price. | |
| 4.2 | $35/mo | No | Small businesses that need full, accountant ready books | |
| 4.2 | $11/mo | Yes | Time tracking and invoicing in one tidy app. | |
| 4.1 | $25/mo | No | Invoicing, contracts, and taxes for freelancers. |
Switch to FreshBooks
FreshBooks edges out Wave in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall. It is the Wave alternative we recommend first for most people.
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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 8 across Accounting & Invoicing.