Because of its growing user base of more than 3 million users, Wave is quickly becoming one of the most popular options for small business accounting – and it’s easy to understand why. No limits, gimmicks, or tricks are present in Wave, which is fully free. Wave’s competitive features appeal to small business owners hoping to save a cent or two, but is free always preferable in this case?

When it comes to accounting software, there are a number of alternatives to Wave that are well worth taking into consideration. It doesn’t matter if you’re searching for more advanced features, more users, more integrations, or simply want to explore all of your options before making a decision on Wave; there are lots of excellent alternatives available. We’ve compiled a list of the best paid and free Wave alternatives so you can pick the software that’s right for your company.

Overview of the Wave

 

There are no compromises on features or accounting with Wave, which is a completely free accounting software solution. An incredible variety of functions, a visually appealing user interface, and some unique capabilities are all provided by the software (such as an eCommerce tool). In order to use this service, users must pay just for payment processing fees, payroll, and professional bookkeeping services if they require these add-ons.

Despite the fact that we are big fans of this software, it does have certain drawbacks. The following is a list of Wave’s advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

  • It is simple to use
  • Free
  • Accounting skills that stand out
  • Invoices that are accurate
  • Checkout functionality for online stores
  • Customer feedback that is positive
  • Materials that are of high quality
  • An integration with Etsy

 

Cons

  • There is no project management.
  • tracking with a limited amount of time
  • Integrations are limited.
  • It does not support many users at the same time.
  • Customer service is sluggish.

 

When Should You Discontinue Using Wave and Use a Different Accounting Software?

While many users laud Wave, there comes a point at which this free program simply isn’t up to the task at hand. Here are a few reasons why you should consider leaving Wave and finding a better accounting alternative:

  1. You will require project management.
  2. You require a more sophisticated time monitoring system.
  3. You require a large number of users.
  4. You’re fed up with sluggish customer service.
  5. You require accounting functions and reporting that are more advanced.
  6. You’d want to see more integrations.
  7. You want better mobile applications, don’t you?

For those who fall into this category, there are numerous scalable and capable accounting software alternatives available. Continue reading to learn about the finest Wave alternatives.

Alternatives to Wave Accounting that are the most effective

Despite the fact that Wave is a fantastic free accounting alternative for small firms just getting started, it is not suitable for everyone. Find the finest Wave alternatives, including QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed, Invoice Ninja, and more, in this article.

1. FreshBooks is a Wave alternative that offers the best customer service.

For years, small businesses have relied on FreshBooks to keep track of their finances. With the recent inclusion of double-entry accounting, this cloud-based software is now capable of serving as a complete accounting solution. The program is simple to use, provides excellent customer service, and has powerful mobile applications. Small businesses who are ready to pay a premium for quality mobile apps and customer support will benefit the most from this service.

For small businesses that don’t want or require the sophistication of QuickBooks, FreshBooks is an excellent choice if you’re searching for an easy-to-use basic financial management system.

Pros

It is simple to use
Excellent client service is provided.
Excellent mobile applications with more than 70 integrations

Cons

Expensive Only a few people can afford it
Pricing for FreshBooks

FreshBooks has three different pricing plans that range from $15 to $50 each month. The larger the plan, the greater the number of features you have access to; the smallest plan does not include double-entry accounting, thus only the two most expensive plans function as a complete accounting solution. Payments are done on a monthly basis, and extra users are charged $10 per month.

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FreshBooks’s Advantages

There are some capabilities in FreshBooks that aren’t quite as extensive or well-developed as those in other solutions (like as QuickBooks Online or Zoho Books), but the software still has a lot to offer, including a really well-developed proposals tool. Some of the things you may expect from FreshBooks include the following:

  • Invoicing\sEstimates
  • Proposals
  • Management of contact information
  • Keeping track of expenses
  • Items in the charts of accounts
  • Keeping track of time
  • Project management is the management of projects.
  • Reports

Comparison to Wave and FreshBooks ?

FreshBooks and Wave are both simple-to-use programs that produce professional invoices and provide effective expenditure tracking. They both include contact management, robust client portals, and time monitoring, among other features.

There are a few areas where FreshBooks outperforms Wave, however. FreshBooks features more powerful mobile apps, significantly better customer support, and more than 200 integrations, compared to Wave’s four, among other advantages. FreshBooks also has project management capabilities, as well as the ability to add other users. Of course, you’re paying a premium for these services rather than the free monthly fee that Wave provides.

If you were attracted to Wave because of its ease of use and invoicing, FreshBooks offers similar capabilities while also providing significantly superior customer support and mobile apps, which may more than make up for the higher price. Check out our FreshBooks vs. Wave comparison page for a more in-depth look at the two products.

 

2. QuickBooks Online, which is the best overall Wave alternative:

Small to medium-sized enterprises in need of fully-featured, scalable accounting software with a plethora of functions and built-in loans will benefit the most from this software.

QuickBooks Online is one of the most well-known names in the accounting industry, and for good reason. With an unbelievable number of features, powerful accounting capabilities, excellent payroll and tax support, and numerous integrations, the program is a must-have. It comes as little surprise, then, that QuickBooks Online is the most popular Wave alternative. QBO also provides business capital with its built-in financing solution, QuickBooks Capital, which was previously provided by Wave but is no longer available.

QuickBooks Online is a wonderful alternative for small businesses looking for comprehensive accounting software. It is also an excellent option for firms who have outgrown Wave or require a project management tool, which QuickBooks Online provides.

Pros

  • Accounting skills that stand out
  • Feature set that is cutting-edge
  • Invoicing with a lot of force
  • 650+ integrations with good mobile applications

Cons

  • Customer service is limited.
  • Expensive
  • At times, it seems counterintuitive.

QuickBooks Online Pricing

QuickBooks has three pricing options ranging from $25 to $80 per month, as well as a fourth, more expensive plan called QuickBooks Online Advanced, which costs $180 per month. QuickBooks Online Advanced is the most expensive plan. The larger the plan, the greater the number of services and users that are available to you. Payments are made on a monthly basis, and there are no annual commitments to sign. Payroll adds an additional $45-$125 per month to the total, plus $4 per month each employee.

QuickBooks Online Functionality

 

With an astonishing variety of features, QuickBooks Online is an excellent choice. Several of the more sophisticated functions are only available in the more expensive edition of the software. The following are some of the features available in QuickBooks Online:

  • Invoicing\sEstimates
  • Management of contact information
  • Keeping track of expenses
  • Reconciliation of bank accounts
  • Accounts payable is the term used to describe the process of collecting
  • money from customers.
  • Accounts payable and receivable are listed in the chart of accounts.
  • Inventory
  • Keeping track of time
  • Project management is the management of projects.
  • There are more than 80 reports.
  • Creating a budget Tax assistance

How QuickBooks Online Compares To Wave

QuickBooks Online and Wave are both similar in their functionality. Both companies offer invoicing, contact management, expense monitoring, and accounts payable services to their customers. Accounting software packages such as QuickBooks Online include additional features than traditional accounting software such as better invoice templates and automations; more reports; more developed time tracking; inventory capabilities; a project management function; and even loan services. QuickBooks Online also has a far greater number of integrations than Wave.

Besides a free price plan and a lightweight eCommerce solution called Checkouts, the only things Wave has that QuickBooks does not are these two features. To be fair, Wave is also a lot more user-friendly than QuickBooks Online in terms of functionality.

For business owners who were initially attracted to Wave because of its invoicing capabilities but who want more features and more users without losing ease of use, QBO is a fantastic alternative. However, while it is more expensive than Wave’s $0/month, your money will go a long way in terms of functionality. Check out Wave VS QuickBooks Online for a more in-depth look at the two programs.

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3. Zoho Books is the most effective Wave alternative for invoicing.

Zoho Books is the accounting industry’s unsung hero, operating in the background and without fanfare. Despite the fact that it is not as well-known as QuickBooks or Xero, the program provides practically all of the same functionality at a significantly lower cost. When you combine robust mobile apps with exceptional customer support and some of the best invoicing on the market, Zoho Books offers a compelling option to Wave for businesses seeking for a Wave replacement.. This accounting software is best suited to small firms searching for inexpensive, full-featured accounting software with excellent mobile apps and the ability to invoice internationally.

Zoho Books is an excellent choice for small businesses in need of reasonably priced accounting software that has great accounting capabilities and a broad range of features. In addition, the program is excellent for international invoicing.

Pros

  • Excellent client service is provided.
  • There are numerous features.
  • Accounting skills that stand out
  • Invoicing on a global scale
  • Affordably priced monthly payments

Cons

  • There is no payroll
  • Integration and just a few integrations.

Zoho Books Pricing Information

Zoho Books has three reasonable pricing plans that range from $0 to $70 per month, depending on your needs. With a larger plan, you will have access to a greater number of invoices, features, and user seats. A monthly subscription fee is charged, while there is a discount available for purchasing a yearly subscription.

Zoho Books Offers a Variety of Services

 

The feature set of Zoho Books rivals that of other accounting software applications such as QuickBooks Online and Xero. In addition, the software has the best invoicing capabilities available on the market, as well as other time-saving automations. The following are some of the features you may expect from Zoho Books:

  1. Invoicing\sEstimates
  2. Management of contact information
  3. Keeping track of expenses
  4. Reconciliation of bank accounts
  5. Accounts payable and receivable are listed in the chart of accounts.
  6. Accounts payable is the term used to describe the process of collecting
  7. money from customers.
  8. Inventory
  9. Keeping track of time
  10. Reports on the management of projects
  11. Assistance with taxation
  12. Invoices can be sent in a variety of languages.

How Zoho Books Compares To Wave

When it comes to invoicing, expenditure tracking, contact management, and overall ease of use, Zoho Books and Wave are very comparable in their functionality. Both apps are well-liked by their users, who have provided excellent feedback about them.

Zoho Books, on the other hand, provides more functionality, more robust mobile apps, and superior customer service. When it comes to invoicing, Zoho Books is unsurpassed. It offers 16 different templates to select from, countless customization options, invoice auto-scheduling, and the ability to send invoices in multiple languages. In addition, the software provides improved time tracking and inventory management, as well as a project management capability.

The sole disadvantage of using Zoho Books is that it does not provide payroll assistance. If you want payroll, you can combine Zoho Books with Zoho Payroll, however this would necessitate the purchase of an additional subscription package.

If you’re seeking for more capabilities without the exorbitant cost of QBO, Zoho Books could be a viable Wave alternative if you don’t require payroll and don’t need to use QuickBooks Online. Visit our Zoho Books VS Wave comparison page for a more in-depth look at the two products.

 

4. Qualified QuickBooks Self-Employed is the best Wave alternative for freelancers:

Freelancers have a unique set of requirements when it comes to managing their enterprises, and particularly their tax obligations and obligations. Accounting software for small businesses, QuickBooks Self-Employed (QBSE), was created to meet those demands by offering spending monitoring, tax support, deduction tracking, and even a direct Turbo Tax integration for filing taxes online directly through QBSE. Freelancers and independent contractors who need to keep track of costs, deductions, and self-employment taxes can benefit from using this software.

While QuickBooks Self-Employed is not accounting software, this user-friendly tax software is an excellent choice for freelancers and independent contractors that require economical bookkeeping and tax support on a regular basis.

Pros

  • Designed specifically for independent contractors
  • Estimates the amount of tax due each quarter.
  • Integration with Turbo Tax is simple and straightforward.

Cons

  • invoices with a limited number of features
  • There is no state tax support.

QuickBooks Pricing for Self-Employed Individuals

QuickBooks offers three distinct price plans with monthly fees ranging from $15 to $35. The primary difference between the programs is that the second tier grants you access to Turbo Tax, while the third tier provides you with live tax assistance from a certified public accountant.

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QuickBooks Self-Employed Features:

 

Designed specifically for independent contractors, QuickBooks Self-features Employed’s cover common self-employment difficulties such as tracking spending, recording deductions, and handling anticipated quarterly taxes. The following are the features that QuickBooks Self-Employed provides:

  • Invoicing\sEstimates
  • Expense tracking through the client portal
  • Keep track of your deductions.
  • Reports on the depreciation of fixed assets
  • Checklist for tax preparation
  • Assistance with taxation

How QuickBooks Self-Employed Compares To Wave Accounting Software

QuickBooks Self-Employed and Wave are difficult to compare because they are two very distinct systems designed for two completely different groups of people. Wave is an accounting program that is tailored to the needs of small enterprises. QuickBooks Self-Employed is mostly a tax preparation program with a few bookkeeping and accounting tools thrown in for good measure.

While Wave is a fantastic free program for small businesses, freelancers have their own set of business and accounting demands that are distinct from those of small enterprises. Accounting software QuickBooks Self-Employed has similar functionality to Wave such as invoice creation, estimate creation and spending monitoring. However, it adds additional features such as tax deductions, self-employment tax calculations, and the ability to track deductions.

If you were attracted to Wave due of its low price, QuickBooks Self-Employed and its features are tailored exclusively for you and are available for a low monthly fee. The program is an excellent solution for freelancers who require further assistance in managing their businesses and remaining tax compliant without having to spend a lot of money or time doing it.

5. Invoice Ninja is the best free Wave alternative.

When it comes to invoicing software, Invoice Ninja is a simple-to-use solution with comprehensive invoicing features, more than 40 payment channel connections, and excellent customer care. Although the software was only founded in 2014, it has already made a significant impression because to its extensive feature set and no-cost pricing model. Small businesses looking for free invoicing software with plenty of automations and light eCommerce tools will find it most useful.

Designed for small businesses that require invoicing and basic financial management but aren’t yet ready to commit to a full-fledged accounting application like as Wave, Invoice Ninja is an excellent choice.

Pros

  • It is simple to use
  • Invoice characteristics that are more advanced
  • Exceptional client service
  • Integrations with over 30 different payment processing systems

Cons

  • Features that are limited
  • There are only a few third-party integrations.

 

Pricing for Invoice Ninja

Invoice Ninja provides free, open-source invoicing software for users who want to download and self-host the program on their own computers.

Invoice Ninja, a cloud-based software service, offers a free plan as well as two subscription options with monthly fees starting at $10 and $14, respectively. The free plan allows you to create unlimited invoices for up to 100 different clients. Clients, advanced features, and many users are all included in the premium tiers. A monthly subscription fee is charged, while there is a discount available for purchasing a yearly subscription.

The Benefits of Invoice Ninja

 

Invoice Ninja is an invoicing software that offers a surprising number of functions as well as a plethora of business automations. Several of the more sophisticated functions are only available in the more expensive edition of the software. The following are some of the most significant characteristics:

  • Invoicing\sEstimates
  • Management of contact information
  • Items for expense tracking
  • Reports on the management of projects
  • Commands to pay attention
  • Buttons for online shopping

Exactly How Does Invoice Ninja Differ From Wave?

Due to the fact that Invoice Ninja is just an invoicing program, Wave has Invoice Ninja beat when it comes to accounting. Accounting tools such as double-entry accounting, accounting reports, journal entries, and bank reconciliation are not available with Invoice Ninja.

Invoice Ninja, on the other hand, has Wave beat when it comes to invoicing. Invoice Ninja has many more invoice templates to choose from, all of which are very customizable. In addition, Invoice Ninja offers a basic project management function, which Wave does not offer. In addition, Invoice Ninja offers more payment processing alternatives, improved customer service, and a unique listening instructions function that is worth checking out.

Cost-tracking, client portals, items, and a similar amount of reports are included in both software packages. In addition, Invoice Ninja is the only other software that offers an eCommerce capability equivalent to Wave’s Checkouts, which makes it a compelling alternative to Wave. As opposed to InvoiceNinja’s free plan, Wave does not impose any limitations on the number of invoices that can be created.

With Invoice Ninja, you can copy one of the most enticing parts of Wave — the free plan — while also getting a powerful invoicing solution. This makes it an excellent choice for small businesses seeking for a basic, reasonably priced invoicing solution.

 

Which Wave Alternative Is the Best Fit for Your Needs?

 

It’s no surprise that Wave has been such a huge success in the field of accounting software. The free price system, robust accounting, and extensive feature set make it easy to understand why over 3 million individuals rely on the service. However, this does not imply that Wave is a good fit for you.

Now that you’ve learned more about the top Wave contenders, how can you decide which software is the best fit for your needs?

Take a moment to consider why you’re searching into Wave alternatives to begin with. Existing Wave users who are dissatisfied with a particular component of the software can submit a support ticket. Are you a prospective user who is concerned that Wave will not provide all of the functions you require? If you can pinpoint the difficulty you’re having with Wave, it’ll be much easier to discover a program that fixes the issue you’re having.

You’ll also want to think about the following:

Which characteristics are necessary for you
How many users will you require?
It is within your financial means.

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