FreshBooks vs Wave
A detailed comparison of FreshBooks and Wave to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✗ No | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing |
| Lowest Paid | $17/mo | Free |
| Enterprise | $55/mo | Paid payroll available |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Time tracking | ✓ | — |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | — |
| Projects | ✓ | — |
| Estimates | ✓ | — |
| Reports | ✓ | — |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank connections | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client portal | ✓ | — |
| Accounting | — | ✓ |
| Receipt scanning | — | ✓ |
| Financial reports | — | ✓ |
| Payroll (paid) | — | ✓ |
| Multi-currency | — | ✓ |
| Dashboard | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.3 | ⭐ 4 |
Pros & Cons
FreshBooks
Pros
- ✓ Very user-friendly
- ✓ Great invoicing
- ✓ Time tracking built-in
- ✓ Beautiful design
Cons
- ✗ Limited for complex accounting
- ✗ Expensive for features
- ✗ Basic inventory
- ✗ Client limits on plans
Wave
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Easy to use
- ✓ Good for basics
- ✓ Receipt scanning
Cons
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No inventory
- ✗ No time tracking
- ✗ Basic reporting
🏆 The Verdict
Choose FreshBooks if: You need freelancers and service businesses. FreshBooks excels with its very user-friendly and great invoicing.
Choose Wave if: You need freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting. Wave stands out with its completely free and easy to use.
Best free option: Wave offers a free tier (Free accounting and invoicing).
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is FreshBooks better than Wave?
It depends on your needs. FreshBooks is better for freelancers and service businesses, while Wave is better for freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting. Both are excellent tools rated 4.3 and 4 respectively.
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Wave?
FreshBooks starts at $17/mo while Wave starts at Free. Wave also has a free tier.
Can I switch from FreshBooks to Wave?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying Wave's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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