Wave vs Xero
Wave rates 4.3/5 and starts at Free. Xero rates 4.4/5 and starts at $20/mo. Wave is the cheaper entry point. Xero is the higher rated. Only Wave has a free tier.
Xero rates higher (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). Wave is cheaper to start (Free vs $20/mo). Wave suits Micro-businesses & freelancers, while Xero is aimed at Small businesses & startups.
Wave vs Xero at a glance
| Measure | Wave | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 3,900 | 8,700 |
| Starting price | Free | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Public API | No | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 4 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
| Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Starting price | Free | $20/mo |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| API available | ||
| Best for | Micro-businesses & freelancers | Small businesses & startups |
| Free accounting | ||
| Unlimited invoicing | ||
| Receipt scanning | ||
| Paid payments add-on | ||
| Payroll add-on | ||
| Unlimited users | ||
| Bank reconciliation | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| 1000+ app integrations | ||
| Financial reports | ||
| Visit | Visit |
Pricing side by side
Wave
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Free | — |
| Pro | $16/mo | $192 |
Xero
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Early | $20/mo | $240 |
| Growing | $47/mo | $564 |
| Established | $80/mo | $960 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Wave if…
- Core features free matters to you.
- Easy for beginners matters to you.
- Good invoicing matters to you.
- Entry plan caps invoices would be a problem.
Choose Xero if…
- Unlimited users matters to you.
- Clean modern UI matters to you.
- Great app ecosystem matters to you.
- Limited integrations would be a problem.
Wave
Pros
- Core features free
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Support paid
Xero
Pros
- Unlimited users
- Clean modern UI
- Great app ecosystem
Cons
- Entry plan caps invoices
- US payroll via partners
Frequently asked questions
Is Wave better than Xero?+
Xero rates higher (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). Wave is cheaper to start (Free vs $20/mo). Wave suits Micro-businesses & freelancers, while Xero is aimed at Small businesses & startups.
Which is cheaper, Wave or Xero?+
Wave — it starts at Free, versus $20/mo for Xero.
Do Wave or Xero have a free plan?+
Wave has a free tier; Xero does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, Wave or Xero?+
Xero, at 4.4/5 across 8,700 reviews, versus 4.3/5 for Wave.
What is Wave best for, and what is Xero best for?+
Wave is aimed at Micro-businesses & freelancers (side hustles, micro-businesses). Xero is aimed at Small businesses & startups (startups, multi-user teams).