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.
ERPNext is an open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed for businesses of all sizes. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing various aspects of a business, including accounting, inventory, sales, and human resources.
Core accounting and invoicing are free; payments and payroll are paid.
- Genuinely free core features
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
- No subscription for basics
- Comprehensive feature set for managing various business functions
- Highly customizable to meet specific business needs
- Open-source and community-driven, ensuring continuous improvement
- Scalable and suitable for businesses of all sizes
- Fewer advanced features
- Support is limited on free tier
- Payroll/payments cost extra
- Steep learning curve due to the complexity of the system
- Limited support options for non-technical users
- Customization requires technical expertise
What reviewers say
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.
ERPNext Reviews
No reviews yet.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Wave
View all →Alternatives to ERPNext
View all →
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataWave offers genuinely free core accounting and invoicing for freelancers, while ERPNext provides a full, open‑source ERP suite but requires more setup and expertise.
Key differences
- •Cost model: Wave is freemium with paid add‑ons; ERPNext is completely free and open‑source.
- •Feature breadth: Wave focuses on basic accounting/invoicing; ERPNext covers accounting, inventory, sales, HR, and more.
- •Complexity: Wave has a simple, beginner‑friendly UI; ERPNext has a steep learning curve and needs technical skill to customize.
- •Open‑source vs proprietary: ERPNext’s source code is available and community‑driven; Wave is closed‑source.
- •Support: Wave offers limited free support; ERPNext provides email, live chat, and community forum support.
Pricing & value
Wave’s core accounting and invoicing are free; ERPNext is free but may incur hidden costs for hosting or customization.
Ease of use / learning curve
Wave’s simple interface is designed for beginners; ERPNext’s comprehensive modules create a steep learning curve.
Features & depth
ERPNext includes accounting, inventory, sales, HR, multi‑currency, and role‑based access, far beyond Wave’s basic set.
Integrations & ecosystem
ERPNext lists native integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, PayPal) and an open API; Wave only mentions a generic API.
Collaboration
ERPNext supports multi‑user access with role‑based controls; Wave’s free tier offers limited collaborative features.
Scalability
ERPNext is built for small to large businesses and can be self‑hosted; Wave targets freelancers and micro‑businesses.
Support
ERPNext provides email, live chat, and community forum; Wave’s free tier has limited support.
Choose Wave if…
Freelancers or micro‑businesses needing simple, free invoicing and accounting.
Choose ERPNext if…
SMBs that require a full ERP with accounting, inventory, HR, and can handle technical setup.
Common questions
Is there any cost to start using either product?
Wave’s core accounting and invoicing are free; only payments and payroll cost extra. ERPNext is completely free.
Can I customize the software without coding?
Wave offers limited customization; ERPNext is highly customizable but typically requires technical expertise.
Which tool supports multiple users with role‑based permissions?
ERPNext includes multi‑user support with role‑based access control; Wave’s free tier does not emphasize this feature.