Akaunting vs Wave
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Akaunting is a web‑based, open‑source accounting platform that helps small businesses and freelancers manage finances without costly licenses. It offers invoicing, expense tracking, and real‑time financial reporting through an intuitive browser interface. The solution integrates with popular payment gateways and cloud storage services, allowing users to automate billing, reconcile transactions, and store documents securely. With a free core offering and community‑driven support, Akaunting provides a scalable foundation for growing enterprises.
Wave offers genuinely free accounting and invoicing software aimed at freelancers and micro-businesses, making money on payments and payroll add-ons. It is a popular starting point for solo operators.
Core accounting and invoicing are free; payments and payroll are paid.
- Completely free core version
- Open‑source with community contributions
- Web‑based, accessible from any browser
- Integrates with major payment gateways
- Genuinely free core features
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
- No subscription for basics
- Advanced modules may require paid add‑ons
- Limited mobile app functionality
- Support primarily community‑driven, no dedicated 24/7 help desk
- Fewer advanced features
- Support is limited on free tier
- Payroll/payments cost extra
What reviewers say
Akaunting Reviews
No reviews yet.
Wave Reviews
4.0 (3)Great accounting
Wave has been part of our stack. Easy for beginners. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Good, not perfect
Been using Wave for a while. Upside: no subscription for basics. Downside: support is limited on free tier.
Solid choice
Been using Wave for a while. Genuinely free core features. Minor gripe: payroll/payments cost extra. Would recommend.
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Open‑source task manager that blends time tracking, kanban and agile planning for freelancers and small teams.
Alternatives to Wave
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataAkaunting offers a fully free, open‑source, self‑hostable solution with strong community support, while Wave provides a cloud SaaS with a beginner‑friendly UI but paid add‑ons for payments and payroll.
Key differences
- •Akaunting can be self‑hosted for full data control; Wave is only cloud SaaS.
- •Akaunting is open‑source (PHP) with community contributions; Wave is proprietary.
- •Wave includes native mobile apps (iOS/Android); Akaunting’s mobile support is limited.
- •Wave’s core invoicing and accounting are free but payments/payroll require extra fees; Akaunting’s core is free, with optional paid modules.
- •Akaunting integrates directly with PayPal, Stripe, Google Drive; Wave’s integration list is not specified.
Pricing & value
Akaunting core version is completely free and open‑source; Wave’s core is free but essential payment/payroll features cost extra.
Ease of use / learning curve
Wave markets a simple, approachable interface for beginners; Akaunting requires self‑hosting setup and may be more technical.
Features & depth
Akaunting offers multi‑currency, real‑time financial reports, and extensive accounting modules; Wave’s free tier lacks many advanced accounting tools.
Integrations & ecosystem
Akaunting lists direct integrations with PayPal, Stripe, Google Drive; Wave’s integration details are not provided.
Collaboration
Wave is cloud‑only, enabling instant multi‑user access; Akaunting requires separate hosting setup for shared access.
Scalability
Self‑hosting lets Akaunting scale with your own infrastructure; Wave is limited to its SaaS environment.
Support
Wave offers dedicated support for paid tiers; Akaunting relies on community forums and email, no 24/7 help desk.
Security & privacy
Akaunting can be hosted on‑premises, giving full control over data privacy; Wave stores data in the cloud.
Migration / lock‑in
Open‑source Akaunting allows data export and self‑hosting, reducing lock‑in; Wave’s proprietary SaaS may make migration harder.
Choose Akaunting if…
Businesses needing full data control, multi‑currency accounting, and open‑source flexibility.
Choose Wave if…
Freelancers or micro‑businesses wanting an easy‑to‑use cloud app with mobile access.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use the core accounting features?
Akaunting’s core is completely free; Wave’s core accounting and invoicing are also free, but payments/payroll cost extra.
Can I host the software on my own server?
Yes, Akaunting offers self‑hosting; Wave is only available as a cloud SaaS.
What mobile options are available?
Wave provides native iOS and Android apps; Akaunting’s mobile functionality is limited and not listed as a dedicated app.