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Paid plans start at $15.83/mo. There's also a free plan.
Wave has a $0 Starter plan, while Pro costs $19 monthly or $190 yearly ($15.83 per month). The catch is that some useful pieces are priced separately: digital receipts, payroll and bookkeeping help can add monthly costs, and payment processing has transaction fees. Wave Advisors is listed at $172/month or $134/month†, but the published pricing details do not state the billing terms behind those figures. Check the add-ons you need before comparing totals.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $0 | $0 | Businesses needing basic bookkeeping |
| Pro | $15.83 | $19 | Businesses wanting more automation |
| Wave Advisors | $134 | $172 | Businesses wanting hands-off bookkeeping |
Add-ons and overages
- Online payments: Starter card fee 2.9% + $0.60; Amex fee 3.4% + $0.60; Pro card fee 2.9% + $0 for the first 10 transactions/month
- Digital receipts: Starter $11/month or $96/year; Pro $8/month or $72/year
- Payroll: from $25/month with Starter; from $40/month with Pro
- Bookkeeper: from $199/month with Starter; from $149/month with Pro
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Payment processing
Starter card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60; Amex costs 3.4% + $0.60. Pro lists 2.9% + $0 for its first 10 monthly transactions.
Digital receipts
Digital receipt capture is separately priced at $11/month or $96/year on Starter and $8/month or $72/year on Pro.
Payroll add-on
Payroll starts at $25/month with Starter or $40/month with Pro, on top of the plan price.
Bookkeeping help
Bookkeeper service starts at $199/month with Starter or $149/month with Pro. Advisors is listed at $172/month and $134/month†, but billing terms aren't stated.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses needing basic bookkeeping | Starter | It costs $0 and includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records. Online payments have processing fees. |
| Businesses wanting more automation | Pro | At $19 monthly or $190 yearly, it adds bank transaction automation, receipt capture and late-payment reminders. |
| Businesses wanting hands-off bookkeeping | Wave Advisors | It lists a dedicated bookkeeper, monthly financial statements and bookkeeping support. Billing terms for its listed prices aren't stated. |
04Is Wave worth the money?
Wave is worth considering if a free bookkeeping and invoicing starting point covers the basics: Starter includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records. Pro adds bank transaction automation and receipt capture, but it is not the full cost if you need payroll, digital receipts or a bookkeeper. Against the small-business accounting category, the appeal is a low entry price; the decision turns on processing fees and add-ons. We can’t call it cheaper than QuickBooks from the published pricing data.
Wave pricing FAQ
Does Wave charge a fee?
Starter is free, but online payments carry processing fees: card payments are 2.9% + $0.60 and Amex is 3.4% + $0.60. Pro lists a different card rate for its first 10 transactions each month. Payroll, digital receipts and bookkeeper services also have separate prices.
Is Wave as good as QuickBooks?
The published information doesn't include QuickBooks pricing or feature details, so we can't make a like-for-like verdict. Wave offers accounting, invoicing, payments and payroll, with Starter at $0 and Pro at $19 monthly. Compare the features and add-on costs you need.
What are the customer reviews like for Wave Accounting?
The published materials don't include customer-review ratings or review excerpts, so we can't summarize whether sentiment is positive or negative. Wave describes accounting, invoicing, payments and payroll as parts of its small-business software.
Does Wave make invoices?
Yes. Starter includes unlimited estimates and invoices, plus mobile invoicing. Wave says users can create and send invoices and estimates, collect deposits, and accept online payments. Payment processing fees apply when you take card payments.