How Much Does
Wave Cost in 2026?
Wave used to be the free accounting software. Now it's the mostly-free accounting software with a $19/mo upsell. Still the cheapest real option if you literally have zero budget, but the free tier isn't what it used to be.
Prices in USD, verified from the United States. Regional pricing may vary.
Plans & Pricing
Features
Our Verdict
Wave's pitch is simple: start free, pay later if you want. And for a solo freelancer who sends a handful of invoices a month, the Starter plan genuinely works. You get invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reports at $0. That's not a gimmick — it's a real product. But here's what changed: the free plan no longer includes automatic bank feeds. You have to manually enter or import transactions. If you've ever used automatic bank feeds (literally every other tool on this list has them), going back to manual entry feels like switching from a dishwasher to hand-washing. It technically works, but you won't enjoy it. Pro at $19/mo ($190/year) unlocks bank feeds, receipt scanning, and late payment reminders. Compare that to Zoho Books Standard at $12/mo with bank feeds included, or Xero's promo at $3.75/mo. Wave Pro isn't the cheapest paid option anymore — it's just the cheapest upgrade from free. The elephant in the room: Wave doesn't do inventory. At all. On any plan. If you sell physical products, stop reading this and look at Xero, QuickBooks, or Zoho Books. Wave also doesn't include payroll — it's a separate paid add-on. Wave Advisors (their bookkeeping service starting at $199/mo) is interesting if you want a human looking at your books, but at that price point you could hire a part-time bookkeeper in many markets. Honest recommendation: start with Wave free, and when the manual bank entry drives you crazy (give it 2-3 months), upgrade to Pro or switch to Zoho Standard. Either path keeps you under $20/mo.
Pros
- The free plan is genuinely free — no trial period, no credit card, no bait-and-switch expiration date
- At $0/mo, it's the only way to get real double-entry accounting without paying anything, period
- Pro at $19/mo is still cheaper annually ($190) than FreshBooks Lite ($276/year) or QuickBooks Simple Start ($456/year)
- Wave Advisors connects you to real human bookkeepers if you want to offload the work entirely
- The interface is clean and simple — you won't need a tutorial to figure out basic invoicing
Cons
- No automatic bank feeds on the free plan is a dealbreaker for anyone processing more than a dozen transactions a month — you'll burn hours on manual entry
- Inventory management doesn't exist on any plan, which rules out Wave for anyone selling physical products
- Payroll is a separate paid add-on, not included — QuickBooks bundles it, and even that's cheaper than running two subscriptions
- The feature set is thin compared to competitors at similar prices: Zoho Standard ($12/mo) gives you bank feeds, a client portal, and automated workflows
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does Wave cost per month?
- Wave plans start at $19/mo. They offer 2 plans total.
- Does Wave have a free plan?
- Yes, Wave offers a free plan. See the feature comparison above for what's included and the limits.
- Is Wave worth the price?
- With a score of 8/10 and plans from $19/mo, Wave delivers strong value for the price.
- What are cheaper alternatives to Wave?
- Cheaper accounting software alternatives include Zoho Books ($12/mo). See all options on our [Accounting Software pricing comparison](/pricing/accounting-software/) page.