A detailed comparison of Manager and Wave to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
| Plan | Manager | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free desktop version | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing |
| Lowest Paid | $20/mo (cloud) | Free |
| Enterprise | $20/mo per business | Paid payroll available |
| Feature | Manager | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Double-entry bookkeeping | ✓ | — |
| Multi-currency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-business | ✓ | — |
| Custom themes | ✓ | — |
| Reporting | ✓ | — |
| Inventory tracking | ✓ | — |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank reconciliation | ✓ | — |
| Fixed assets | ✓ | — |
| Payroll | ✓ | — |
| Accounting | — | ✓ |
| Receipt scanning | — | ✓ |
| Financial reports | — | ✓ |
| Bank connections | — | ✓ |
| Payments | — | ✓ |
| Payroll (paid) | — | ✓ |
| Dashboard | — | ✓ |
| Mobile app | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✗ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4.1 | ⭐ 4 |
Choose Manager if: You need businesses wanting free comprehensive accounting. Manager excels with its free desktop version and multi-currency support.
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: Both Manager and Wave offer free tiers. Manager offers "Free desktop version" while Wave offers "Free accounting and invoicing".
It depends on your needs. Manager is better for businesses wanting free comprehensive accounting, while Wave is better for freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting. Both are excellent tools rated 4.1 and 4 respectively.
Manager starts at $20/mo (cloud) while Wave starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
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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