Manager vs Wave
A detailed comparison of Manager and Wave to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| 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 Comparison
| 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 |
Pros & Cons
Manager
Pros
- ✓ Free desktop version
- ✓ Multi-currency support
- ✓ Comprehensive features
- ✓ No limits on free version
Cons
- ✗ Desktop UI dated
- ✗ Learning curve
- ✗ Limited cloud features on free
- ✗ Small community
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 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".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manager better than Wave?
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.
Which is cheaper, Manager or Wave?
Manager starts at $20/mo (cloud) while Wave starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Manager 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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