FreshBooks vs Wave
A side-by-side look at FreshBooks and Wave: what each costs to start, whether there is a free plan, how easy they are to pick up, and which features and integrations they cover.
Which should you choose?
Choose FreshBooks if
- Freelancers and consultants who bill by the hour or by project
- Small agencies and service firms with a modest number of clients
- People who find full accounting packages intimidating
Choose Wave if
- Freelancers and side businesses that need invoices and basic books at no cost
- Very small service businesses in the US or Canada
- Users who prefer transaction fees over a monthly subscription
Cheapest to start
Not confirmed
Free plan
Wave
Highest editor rating
FreshBooks · 4.1
| Compare | FreshBooks |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Starting price | From $21/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.1 |
| Ease of use | Very easy (5/5) |
| Category | Finance & Accounting |
| Pricing model | Lite, Plus and Premium at approximately $21, $38 and $65 per month billed monthly, priced by number of billable clients; additional team members cost about $11 per user per month and introductory promotions are common. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Integrations | Gmail, Make, PayPal, Stripe, Zapier |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| API access | Yes |
| Bank connections | Yes |
| Client portal | Yes |
| Expense tracking | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Multi-currency invoicing | Yes |
| Payment processing | Yes |
| Payroll | No |
| Quotes & invoices | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | Yes |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| Tax reports | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes |
Common questions
- Does FreshBooks or Wave have a free plan?
- Wave has a free plan. FreshBooks does not, though it offers a free trial.
- How long is the FreshBooks and Wave free trial?
- FreshBooks offers a 30-day free trial. Wave does not offer one.