Wave vs FreshBooks
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
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.
FreshBooks is accounting software designed around invoicing, time tracking, and expenses for freelancers and small service-based businesses. It emphasizes ease of use over accounting complexity.
Core accounting and invoicing are free; payments and payroll are paid.
Plans from about $19/month.
- Genuinely free core features
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
- No subscription for basics
- Very easy to use
- Great invoicing experience
- Good for freelancers
- Nice mobile app
- Fewer advanced features
- Support is limited on free tier
- Payroll/payments cost extra
- Less full-featured accounting
- Per-client pricing can add up
- Not ideal for inventory-heavy businesses
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.
FreshBooks Reviews
4.0 (4)Great accounting
We rolled out FreshBooks last quarter. Good for freelancers. Minor gripe: not ideal for inventory-heavy businesses. Would recommend.
Solid choice
Been using FreshBooks for a while. Nice mobile app. Minor gripe: not ideal for inventory-heavy businesses. Would recommend.
Recommend FreshBooks
We rolled out FreshBooks last quarter. Very easy to use. No real complaints. Would recommend.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Wave
View all →Alternatives to FreshBooks
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataFreshBooks offers a polished, paid solution ideal for freelancers needing strong invoicing and time tracking, while Wave provides a free core set for very small businesses with basic accounting needs.
Key differences
- •Pricing model – FreshBooks requires a subscription; Wave’s core features are free with optional paid add‑ons.
- •Invoicing experience – FreshBooks delivers a more refined, client‑friendly invoicing UI and mobile app.
- •Time tracking – Built‑in time tracking is native to FreshBooks; Wave does not include it.
- •Support level – FreshBooks includes standard support with paid plans; Wave’s free tier has limited support.
Pricing & value
Wave’s core accounting and invoicing are free; FreshBooks starts at about $19/month per client.
Ease of use / learning curve
FreshBooks is praised for very easy use and a nice mobile app; Wave is easy but less polished.
Features & depth
FreshBooks adds built‑in time tracking and project expense tracking beyond Wave’s basics.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both provide APIs and run on web, iOS, Android; no further integration details given.
Collaboration
Both are cloud SaaS platforms; no specific collaboration features mentioned.
Scalability
FreshBooks supports growing service businesses; Wave targets micro‑businesses and may hit limits sooner.
Support
FreshBooks includes support with its paid plans; Wave’s free tier offers limited support.
Choose Wave if…
Micro‑businesses or freelancers needing basic free accounting and invoicing, with optional paid add‑ons.
Choose FreshBooks if…
Freelancers or small service firms that need robust invoicing, time tracking, and are willing to pay.
Common questions
Is there any cost to start using Wave?
No, core accounting and invoicing are free; you only pay for optional payments or payroll add‑ons.
Does FreshBooks include time tracking?
Yes, FreshBooks has built‑in time tracking as a core feature.
Can I use either tool on mobile devices?
Both FreshBooks and Wave offer iOS and Android apps as cloud SaaS solutions.