FreshBooks vs. Wave Accounting Comparison
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FreshBooks is better for:
Wave is better for:
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FreshBooks pros and cons at a glance
Pros
Can stay in touch with clients via mobile app and see when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.
All plans include time and mileage tracking.
Weekday phone support, regardless of plan.
Cons
Lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.
Entry-level plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.
Wave pros and cons at a glance
Pros
Offers a free plan.
All plans support unlimited invoicing.
Has a simple user interface.
Cons
Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.
No mileage tracking or client portal.
FreshBooks vs. Wave: Head-to-head comparison
| FreshBooks | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Key features | Has a strong invoicing feature; app lets users send invoices on the go, scan receipts and track mileage; basic inventory tracking for billable items; least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports. | Has a strong invoicing feature; app lets users send invoices on the go; offers significantly fewer reports than competitors; no inventory tracking. |
| Ease of use | Auto-categorizes transactions for you, but you can’t set up your own bank rules; has customizable dashboard; least expensive plan lacks bank reconciliation tools. | Includes tools that help automate the reconciliation process; auto-categorizes transactions for you, but you can’t set up your own bank rules. |
| Scalability | Can support freelancers, contractors and small businesses with a handful of employees; highest-tier plan includes two users (additional users can be added for a fee). | Only ideal for very small service-based businesses, freelancers or contractors; paid plan allows an unlimited number of users. |
| Ease of sharing with accountants | Easy accountant access in Plus plan and up. | Accountant access in paid plan, but lacks audit trail. |
| Integrations | Integrates with more than 100 third-party apps; limited choices for direct payroll and point-of-sale integrations. | Only integrates with in-house apps, like Wave Payments and Wave Payroll; does not integrate with card readers for in-person payments. |
| Customer support | Includes phone support in all plans 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET from Monday to Friday, and offers email support and live chat. | Support for non-paying users is limited to the chatbot and self-service Help Center. |
| Cost |
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| Advanced features | Project tracking tools in higher-tier plans; lacks industry-specific reports and transaction tracking tags; users with multiple businesses must pay for separate subscriptions. | Can manage multiple businesses for free under one account; lacks project tracking tools, industry-specific reports and transaction tracking tags. |
NerdWallet Small Business helps you get your business in shape for taxes, loans, and growth. Stop worrying about accounting and speak with a real, human expert from our partner, Xendoo.
When to choose FreshBooks
Extra features
Customer support
Integrations
When to choose Wave
Cost
FreshBooks and Wave alternatives
Starting at $38/monthAdditional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275. | Starting at $25/monthAdditional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90. |
Promotion 50% offfor 3 months or free 30-day trial. | Promotion 90% offfor 6 months. |
Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses
| Product | Starting at | Promotion | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Xero Nerdwallet Rating on Xero's website | $25/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90. | 90% off for 6 months. | on Xero's website |
 QuickBooks Online Nerdwallet Rating on QuickBooks' website | $38/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275. | 50% off for 3 months or free 30-day trial. | on QuickBooks' website |
 FreshBooks Nerdwallet Rating on FreshBooks' website | $23/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $43, $70, custom. | 70% off for 4 months. | on FreshBooks' website |
 Zoho Books Nerdwallet Rating on Zoho Books' website | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | on Zoho Books' website |
via Xendoo's website