QuickBooks Online vs Wave
QuickBooks Online rates 4.4/5 and starts at $35/mo. Wave rates 4.3/5 and starts at Free. Wave is the cheaper entry point. QuickBooks Online is the higher rated. Only Wave has a free tier.
QuickBooks Online rates higher (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). Wave is cheaper to start (Free vs $35/mo). QuickBooks Online suits Small businesses & accountants, while Wave is aimed at Micro-businesses & freelancers.
QuickBooks Online vs Wave at a glance
| Measure | QuickBooks Online | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 18,900 | 3,900 |
| Starting price | $35/mo | Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | No |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 4 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Starting price | $35/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Small businesses & accountants | Micro-businesses & freelancers |
| Invoicing & payments | ||
| Expense tracking | ||
| Financial reports | ||
| Payroll add-on | ||
| Accountant access | ||
| Free accounting | ||
| Unlimited invoicing | ||
| Receipt scanning | ||
| Paid payments add-on | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
QuickBooks Online
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $35/mo | $420 |
| Essentials | $65/mo | $780 |
| Plus | $99/mo | $1,188 |
Wave
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | — |
| Pro | $16/mo | $192 |
Which should you choose?
Choose QuickBooks Online if…
- Most complete feature set matters to you.
- Huge accountant network matters to you.
- Strong reporting matters to you.
- Limited integrations would be a problem.
Choose Wave if…
- Core features free matters to you.
- Easy for beginners matters to you.
- Good invoicing matters to you.
- Pricey as you add features would be a problem.
QuickBooks Online
Pros
- Most complete feature set
- Huge accountant network
- Strong reporting
Cons
- Pricey as you add features
- Can feel complex
Wave
Pros
- Core features free
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Support paid
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Online better than Wave?+
QuickBooks Online rates higher (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). Wave is cheaper to start (Free vs $35/mo). QuickBooks Online suits Small businesses & accountants, while Wave is aimed at Micro-businesses & freelancers.
Which is cheaper, QuickBooks Online or Wave?+
Wave — it starts at Free, versus $35/mo for QuickBooks Online.
Do QuickBooks Online or Wave have a free plan?+
Wave has a free tier; QuickBooks Online does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, QuickBooks Online or Wave?+
QuickBooks Online, at 4.4/5 across 18,900 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for Wave.
What is QuickBooks Online best for, and what is Wave best for?+
QuickBooks Online is aimed at Small businesses & accountants (small business accounting, working with an accountant). Wave is aimed at Micro-businesses & freelancers (side hustles, micro-businesses).