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Wave Accounting — Features, Reviews & Pricing
Book a demo or request pricing for the small-business accounting and invoicing platform used by millions of entrepreneurs.
Wave Accounting is a cloud accounting, invoicing, and payments platform built for freelancers, contractors, and small service businesses. Tell us about your business and we'll return demo and pricing details matched to how you invoice, get paid, and run payroll.
- Free accounting and invoicing software for small businesses
- Unlimited invoices, estimates, and customer tracking
- Accept credit cards, bank payments, and Apple Pay online
- Optional payroll with automatic tax filing in supported states
What you can do with Wave Accounting
Accounting
Track income, expenses, and cash flow with double-entry accounting built for small business owners.
Invoicing
Send professional, customizable invoices and estimates with recurring billing and automatic reminders.
Get Wave Accounting pricing
Share a few details and we'll return Wave Accounting plan details matched to your bookkeeping needs.
Free · No obligation · Independent guidance
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By submitting, you agree to Software Finder's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and consent to be contacted by Software Finder and one or more matched software vendors (which may include Wave Accounting) about your request. You can opt out at any time.
Key takeaways
Wave Accounting combines free double-entry accounting, unlimited invoicing, and receipt scanning with optional online payments and payroll — a well-rounded toolkit for freelancers and small businesses that want to keep bookkeeping simple.
Overview
What is Wave Accounting?
Wave Accounting is small-business accounting software from Wave (waveapps.com). It brings invoicing, accounting, receipt scanning, online payments, and payroll into a single cloud workspace — with the core accounting and invoicing tools available for free and paid add-ons for payments, payroll, and Wave Pro features.
Best for
Freelancers, contractors, consultants, and small service businesses that want easy-to-learn bookkeeping, professional invoicing, and simple online payments.
Screenshot taken from the official Wave website (waveapps.com).
Accounting Dashboard
See the health of your business at a glance
Wave's dashboard brings your income, expenses, cash flow, and profit & loss together in one view — so you always know where the business stands without opening a spreadsheet.
- Expenses breakdown and cash flow charts
- Connected bank and credit card accounts
- One-click access to key reports
Screenshot taken from the official Wave website (waveapps.com).
Invoicing & Accounts Receivable
Get paid faster with professional invoices
Create and send branded invoices in seconds, then track exactly who has paid, who is overdue, and how much is on the way — all without leaving Wave.
- Recurring billing and automatic payment reminders
- Overdue, paid, and outstanding totals per customer
- Customer profiles with full payment history
Screenshot taken from the official Wave website (waveapps.com).
Payroll & Direct Deposit
Pay employees and contractors without the headache
Wave Payroll handles direct deposit, W-2s, and 1099s, and automatically pays and files state and federal payroll taxes in supported US states.
- Direct deposit for employees and contractors
- Automatic payroll tax payments and filings
- Self-service pay stubs and tax forms
Who is Wave Accounting for?
Use cases
Common ways teams use Wave Accounting
Accounting
Track income, expenses, and cash flow with double-entry accounting built for small business owners.
Invoicing
Send professional, customizable invoices and estimates with recurring billing and automatic reminders.
Online Payments
Accept credit cards, bank payments, and Apple Pay directly from your invoices for faster payouts.
Payroll
Run payroll for employees and contractors with automatic tax filing in supported US states and Canada.
Reports & Cash Flow
Keep track of your business health
Run profit & loss, cash flow, sales tax, and balance sheet reports in a couple of clicks. Compare periods month-over-month or year-over-year to spot trends before they become problems.
Screenshot taken from the official Wave website (waveapps.com).
Bookkeeping
Clean books without the busywork
Connect your bank and credit card accounts and let Wave Accounting categorize transactions for you. Snap receipts on the go with the mobile app so nothing slips through the cracks at tax time.
Screenshot taken from the official Wave website (waveapps.com).
Features
Wave Accounting features
Capabilities commonly available on the Wave Accounting platform. Exact availability may vary by plan.
Pros & cons
Wave Accounting pros and cons
Pros
- Free core accounting and invoicing with no user limits
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface with a short learning curve
- Built-in online payments accepted directly from invoices
- Optional Payroll and Wave Pro add-ons scale with the business
- Solid mobile app for invoicing and receipt scanning on the go
Cons
- Payments and Payroll are paid add-ons with per-transaction fees
- Inventory and project tracking are limited compared to larger ERPs
- Payroll tax filing is fully automated in select US states only
FAQ
Common questions about Wave Accounting
What is Wave Accounting?
Wave Accounting is small-business accounting and invoicing software. The core accounting, invoicing, and receipt-scanning tools are free to use, with paid add-ons for online payments, payroll, and Wave Pro features.
Who is Wave best for?
Wave is a strong fit for freelancers, contractors, consultants, and small service businesses that want simple, easy-to-learn bookkeeping without paying for a full ERP or hiring an in-house accountant.
How much does Wave cost?
Core accounting and invoicing are free. Wave charges per-transaction fees for online payments and a monthly fee for Payroll, plus optional Wave Pro plans. Request pricing above and we'll return current plan details for your setup.
Does Wave handle payroll and taxes?
Yes. Wave Payroll supports direct deposit, W-2s, and 1099s, and automatically files state and federal payroll taxes in supported US states. In other states and in Canada, Wave provides the reports you need to file.
How does Software Finder fit in?
Software Finder is an independent software marketplace. We help you gather Wave demo and pricing details and compare accounting platforms without sales pressure — you stay in control of the decision.
Last step
Ready to see Wave Accounting for your business?
Book a personalized demo and we'll show you how Wave Accounting fits your invoicing, bookkeeping, and payments workflow — free, independent, and no pressure to buy.
- Free accounting and invoicing software for small businesses
- Unlimited invoices, estimates, and customer tracking
- Accept credit cards, bank payments, and Apple Pay online
- Optional payroll with automatic tax filing in supported states
Get a Wave Accounting demo
See Wave Accounting in action with a walkthrough tailored to your business.
Free · No obligation · Independent guidance
Software Finder is an independent software marketplace — not Wave Accounting, and not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
By submitting, you agree to Software Finder's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and consent to be contacted by Software Finder and one or more matched software vendors (which may include Wave Accounting) about your request. You can opt out at any time.