Wave
Free accounting software for freelancers and small businesses
accountingFree planSetup: simple
8.2
Visit Wave →AppAdvize
Score / 10
Overview
Wave offers genuinely free accounting software — invoicing, expense tracking, double-entry bookkeeping, and financial reports with no subscription fee. Revenue comes from optional paid add-ons: payroll (US and Canada only) and payment processing (per-transaction fee). Acquired by H&R Block in 2019. Wave is especially well-suited to self-employed individuals and very small businesses that don't need the complexity of QuickBooks or Xero.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Core accounting (invoicing, expense tracking, reports) is genuinely free
- ✓Double-entry bookkeeping — proper accounting, not just spreadsheets
- ✓Easy bank reconciliation via bank connections
- ✓No seat limits or invoice limits on the free tier
Watch out for
- ✕Payroll only available in US and Canada
- ✕Limited integrations compared to QuickBooks or Xero
- ✕Customer support slower than paid alternatives
- ✕Less suitable as a business grows beyond a few employees
Best for
- Freelancers and self-employed individuals who need real accounting at $0
- Very small businesses that want proper books without a subscription
Not ideal for
- Growing teams needing payroll outside US/Canada
- Businesses whose accountants require QuickBooks or Xero
Alternatives
AppAdvize Scores
Ease of Use8.5/10
Value for Money9.5/10
Support Quality6.5/10
Integrations6.5/10
Scalability7/10
Overall8.2/10
Pricing
✓Free plan available
Free — Free forever — invoicing, accounting, and reports included
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2010
- Users
- 2M+ businesses
- Setup time
- ~30 min
- Complexity
- simple
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01