Wave vs FreshBooks: which should you actually choose?

Ad slot · DEV-TOP · horizontal

Short answer

Choose Wave if uS/Canada solopreneurs and side-hustles wanting free bookkeeping. Choose FreshBooks if freelancers and consultants who bill by time or project.

Honestly, if US small businesses that work with an outside bookkeeper/accountant — consider QuickBooks Online instead, or start with our free tools below.

Side-by-side

—	Wave	FreshBooks
Starting price🏆 Wave	Free	From 19 USD/mo
Free tier🏆 Wave	Yes	No
Key features	Free unlimited invoicing and accounting Receipt scanning (paid add-on) Bank and credit card connections Double-entry accounting Payroll (paid add-on, US/Canada)	Recurring invoices Time tracking Expense tracking Client portal Online payment acceptance Double-entry accounting reports
Integrations	VERIFY	VERIFY
PlatformsTie	web, ios, android	web, ios, android
Regional fit	US and Canada only — not available or localized for other regions.	US/Canada-centric; limited localized tax support outside North America — VERIFY current international coverage.
Best for	US/Canada solopreneurs and side-hustles wanting free bookkeeping Freelancers who don't need advanced reporting or multi-currency	Freelancers and consultants who bill by time or project Small service agencies wanting a polished client experience

Ad slot · DEV-MID · rectangle

Where Wave wins

Genuinely free core accounting and invoicing, not a time-limited trial
Clean, simple interface for non-accountants
Good fit for very early-stage or side-hustle businesses

Where FreshBooks wins

Polished, easy-to-use interface aimed at non-accountants
Strong time-tracking and project billing for service businesses
Good client-facing invoice and payment experience

Pricing as you grow

Costs diverge as you scale — the cheapest entry plan isn't always the cheapest plan you'll actually need.

Scale	Wave	FreshBooks
Solo / entry plan	Free	From 19 USD/mo
Growing team (highest published tier)	19 USD/mo	—

Exact per-seat and add-on costs vary — always confirm current team pricing directly with Wave and FreshBooks before committing.

Wave

Visit Wave

This is a direct link to Wave— we don't currently earn anything from it.

FreshBooks

Visit FreshBooks

This is a direct link to FreshBooks— we don't currently earn anything from it.

Try free first

Not sure Wave or FreshBooks is worth paying for yet? Start with our free tools — come back when you outgrow them.

Ad slot · DEV-BOTTOM · horizontal

Other comparisons

Wave vs FreshBooks FAQ

Questions about this tool

Is Wave or FreshBooks cheaper?

Free for Wave, versus From 19 USD/mo for FreshBooks. See the pricing table above for the full tier breakdown — the cheapest entry price isn't always the cheapest at the plan you'd actually need.

Which is better for freelancers, Wave or FreshBooks?

US/Canada solopreneurs and side-hustles wanting free bookkeeping. Meanwhile, FreshBooks: Freelancers and consultants who bill by time or project. Check "Where each wins" above for the specific reasoning.

Can I switch from Wave to FreshBooks later, or vice versa?

Most accounting/invoicing tools support exporting your data (clients, invoices, transactions) to CSV, and many accountants can help migrate the books. It's rarely instant or free of friction, though — factor in migration effort when the choice is close, not just the monthly price.

Does Wave or FreshBooks have a better free tier?

Wave: Starter is free forever for manual bookkeeping and invoicing — not a trial. Pro ($19/mo or $190/yr) adds automatic bank feeds and receipt scanning. Payroll is a separate paid add-on. FreshBooks: No permanent free plan — No free tier — 30-day free trial, no card required. Team members cost $11/user/mo extra on every plan.

Which works better outside the US, Wave or FreshBooks?

Wave: US and Canada only — not available or localized for other regions. FreshBooks: US/Canada-centric; limited localized tax support outside North America — VERIFY current international coverage.

What if neither Wave nor FreshBooks is right for me?

Worth a look: QuickBooks Online — The default choice for US small businesses that want their accountant to already know the software — shop the exact plan tier carefully, since it's rarely the cheapest option. Or start with our free tools below and upgrade only once you actually outgrow them.

Side-by-side

—	Wave	FreshBooks
Starting price🏆 Wave	Free	From 19 USD/mo
Free tier🏆 Wave	Yes	No
Key features	Free unlimited invoicing and accounting Receipt scanning (paid add-on) Bank and credit card connections Double-entry accounting Payroll (paid add-on, US/Canada)	Recurring invoices Time tracking Expense tracking Client portal Online payment acceptance Double-entry accounting reports
Integrations	VERIFY	VERIFY
PlatformsTie	web, ios, android	web, ios, android
Regional fit	US and Canada only — not available or localized for other regions.	US/Canada-centric; limited localized tax support outside North America — VERIFY current international coverage.
Best for	US/Canada solopreneurs and side-hustles wanting free bookkeeping Freelancers who don't need advanced reporting or multi-currency	Freelancers and consultants who bill by time or project Small service agencies wanting a polished client experience

Pricing as you grow

Costs diverge as you scale — the cheapest entry plan isn't always the cheapest plan you'll actually need.

Scale	Wave	FreshBooks
Solo / entry plan	Free	From 19 USD/mo
Growing team (highest published tier)	19 USD/mo	—

Exact per-seat and add-on costs vary — always confirm current team pricing directly with Wave and FreshBooks before committing.