Wave
The Astronaut's Review
Expert analysis by The Software Astronaut
Astronaut's Score
The Verdict
The free accounting software that proves you can get something for nothing.
Our Take
Wave offers genuinely free accounting for small businesses. Income, expenses, and invoicing cost nothing. Payments and payroll are paid add-ons.
Best For
- Freelancers and solopreneurs
- Very small businesses
- Those wanting free accounting
- Service businesses with simple needs
Consider Alternatives If
- Growing businesses (limited features)
- Inventory management needs
- Advanced reporting requirements
Rating Breakdown
In-Depth Analysis
Overview
Wave provides free accounting software for small businesses. Invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting are free, with payments and payroll as paid services.
Ease of Use
Wave is simple and approachable. Non-accountants can manage books with minimal learning. The interface is clean and modern.
Key Strengths
- Genuinely free accounting
- Clean, modern interface
- Good invoicing
- Receipt scanning
- Financial reports
- Bank connections
Limitations to Consider
- Limited features vs paid tools
- No inventory management
- Fewer integrations
- Support is limited
Pricing Analysis
Accounting is free. Payments at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction. Payroll varies by state.
Final Thoughts
Wave is perfect for freelancers and small businesses wanting free accounting. Growing businesses should plan transition to QuickBooks or Xero.
Top-Rated Alternatives
Explore other highly-rated Accounting & Finance options to find the best fit for your needs.
Popular Integrations
Wave works seamlessly with these popular tools to enhance your workflow.
Note: Integration availability may vary based on your subscription plan. Visit the official Wave website or check our individual product pages for the most up-to-date integration information.
About Wave
Free invoicing & accounting
Key Features
Feature Availability
| Feature | Wave |
|---|---|
Cloud-Based Accessible from any device with internet | |
Mobile App Native mobile applications available | Partial |
API Access Programmatic access for integrations | Partial |
Free Trial Try before you buy | |
Free Tier Permanently free plan available | |
24/7 Support Round-the-clock customer assistance | Partial |
SSO/SAML Enterprise single sign-on | Partial |
Data Export Export your data anytime | |
Integrations Connect with other tools | |
Custom Branding White-label capabilities | Partial |
Pricing Overview
Free accounting & invoicing
Integration & API
- API Supported
- Yes
- API Auth Methods
- OAuth2
- API Protocols
- REST
- Native Integrations
- PayPalStripeEtsyShoeboxed
- Marketplace
- No
- Zapier
- Yes
Security & Compliance
- Certifications
- Not specified
- Encryption
- AES-256TLS 1.2
- Compliance
- GDPR
- Uptime SLA
- 99.9%
Customization
- Custom Objects
- No
- Custom Fields
- Yes
- Custom Workflows
- No
- Custom Reports
- Yes
- Custom Branding
- No
- Coding Capability
- No
Mobile
- Mobile App
- Yes
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Mobile Pricing
- Included
Delivery & Infrastructure
- Deployment Type
- Public Cloud
- Browsers
- ChromeFirefoxSafariEdge
- Data Centers
- Canada
- Languages
- English
Pricing & Licensing
- Contract Duration
- Free
- License Mix
- No
- Trial Days
- Not specified
- Currency
- Free
Support
- Channels
- EmailHelp Center
- Hours
- Business Hours
- Dedicated Manager
- No
- Training
- Yes