DualEntry vs Wave
DualEntry and Wave are both accounting tools, but they serve very different businesses. DualEntry is a powerful, multi-entity ERP for finance teams. Wave is a simple, free invoicing and bookkeeping tool for solopreneurs.
Best for: Finance teams managing 3+ business entities, Companies closing their books in 20+ days and needing faster close
Best for: Solo entrepreneurs and freelancers needing basic invoicing, Small businesses with 1-5 employees wanting free bookkeeping
Powerful but unproven at scale
We find DualEntry to be a comprehensive, AI-driven ERP solution aimed at simplifying multi-entity financial operations. Overall, it promises significant efficiency gains like faster closes and unified reporting, but the lack of accessible external user reviews prevents us from validating core claims about reliability, support, and real-world performance.
Pros
- Claims to unify multi-entity financials into a single view
- Promises AI-powered automation for tedious tasks like transaction categorization
- Advertises a dramatic reduction in month-end close time
- Offers 13,000+ native integrations to connect with existing tools
Cons
- Pricing is not transparent and requires a custom quote
- No accessible external user reviews to validate claims of reliability or support
- Specific details on implementation complexity or training are not provided
- The platform's actual performance and stability are unverified from user feedback
Free basic tools; costly support risks.
When evaluating Wave, we recognize the immediate value of its free tier for basic invoicing and core bookkeeping functions. However, recent critical failures concerning payroll accuracy and payment processing, combined with nearly non-existent customer support channels, introduce significant operational risk. Overall, we cannot recommend Wave for businesses that rely on the system for payroll until its reliability and customer response dramatically improve.
Pros
- Fully featured free STARTER plan for basic invoicing and bookkeeping.
- Effective automated bank transaction import in the PRO plan.
- Low cost of entry makes it accessible for solopreneurs.
- Historically reliable for simple invoicing before system changes.
Cons
- Customer service is extremely poor, often relying only on ineffective chatbots.
- No direct phone support is available for urgent or complex issues.
- Recent payroll partner switch caused failures, missed deposits, and tax errors.
- Wait times for support replies often extend for weeks or even two months.
AboutDualEntry
DualEntry is a modern, cloud-based ERP system built for finance teams, especially those handling multiple entities. 🧠 It's an all-in-one platform that consolidates your financial operations—from the general ledger and accounts payable to revenue recognition and reporting. It's designed for companies that have outgrown basic accounting software but need a more intuitive, integrated solution than traditional ERPs.
AboutWave
Wave is built specifically for small business owners and solopreneurs at every stage, not accountants. It is a comprehensive web-based system designed to make money management simple. You can create beautiful, professional invoices and estimates quickly for your clients. It conveniently handles secure online payments and makes accounting easy, helping you track income and expenses. The mobile app lets you manage your money even when you are on the go! ✅
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Core Purpose & Audience
DualEntry is an AI-driven ERP for complex finance teams. Wave is simple accounting for solo users.
DualEntry consolidates multi-entity financials into one unified view. It's built for businesses with 20+ entities or those outgrowing basic software. Wave focuses on invoicing, payments, and basic bookkeeping for solopreneurs. It's designed to look professional and keep books tidy with minimal effort. The key difference is scale. DualEntry handles complex, multi-entity operations, while Wave serves individual freelancers and small businesses.
Automation & AI
DualEntry uses AI for smart automation. Wave offers basic auto-import features.
DualEntry automates bank fees, transaction categorization, and expense management. It promises to cut month-end close time from 20 days to 1. Wave's PRO plan auto-imports and categorizes bank transactions. It also sends late payment reminders and tracks digital receipts. DualEntry's automation is enterprise-grade and handles complex workflows. Wave's automation is simpler and geared toward basic efficiency gains.
Integration Ecosystem
DualEntry connects to 13,000+ tools. Wave has limited integrations.
DualEntry boasts 13,000+ native integrations and an open API. This links to banks, payroll, CRMs, and other business tools. Wave's integration capabilities are not detailed in the provided data. It focuses on core accounting and payments. For businesses with an existing tech stack, DualEntry is the clear choice for seamless connectivity.
Pricing Model
Wave is free to start. DualEntry requires a custom quote.
DualEntry's pricing is custom and requires a demo for a quote. All plans include unlimited users and transactions. Wave offers a free STARTER plan. The PRO plan costs $190/year, and Advisors start at $199/month. Wave's free tier is unbeatable for basic needs. DualEntry's model is for businesses ready to invest in a comprehensive ERP.
Customer Support
DualEntry promises dedicated support. Wave's support is widely criticized.
DualEntry offers Slack, phone, video, email, and live chat with dedicated accountant support. Wave's support is available only to PRO/add-on users via chat and email during limited hours. Reviews report weeks-long wait times and useless chatbots. DualEntry's support structure appears robust but unverified. Wave's support is a major pain point for users.
Ease of Use
Wave is simple and beginner-friendly. DualEntry's complexity is unknown.
Wave is built for small business owners, not accountants. It simplifies invoicing and bookkeeping into one spot. DualEntry aims for usability but handles complex multi-entity financials. Its learning curve is not specified. Wave wins for straightforward, low-tech needs. DualEntry is likely better for teams with accounting expertise.
Mobile Experience
Wave has a dedicated mobile app. DualEntry's mobile capabilities aren't detailed.
Wave's mobile app lets you manage invoicing and payments on the go. It's a key feature for busy entrepreneurs. DualEntry's mobile experience is not mentioned in the provided data. It's likely web-based for desktop finance teams. For on-the-go access, Wave is the clear choice for its mobile app.
Payroll Services
Wave offers integrated payroll. DualEntry doesn't specify payroll features.
Wave includes Painless Payroll for employees, owners, and contractors. It handles the legal and compliance aspects. DualEntry's payroll capabilities are not mentioned. Its focus is on multi-entity financials and automation. For businesses needing payroll, Wave is the better fit. DualEntry may integrate with payroll systems but doesn't offer its own.
Security & Compliance
DualEntry emphasizes robust certifications. Wave has basic security.
DualEntry is SOC 2, PCI, CCPA, and SSL certified. It uses AES-256 encryption and supports IFRS/GAAP. Wave uses 256-bit SSL encryption and is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant. It's secure for basic transactions. DualEntry offers more comprehensive security for enterprise needs. Wave's security is sufficient for small businesses.
Reporting & Analytics
DualEntry provides granular, real-time reporting. Wave offers basic cash flow reports.
DualEntry features granular reporting, KPI tracking, and real-time data across entities. It's built for detailed financial analysis. Wave provides helpful reports to clarify cash flow and aid business decisions. It's designed for simplicity. DualEntry is for in-depth financial insights. Wave is for quick, essential reports.
DualEntry pricing: DualEntry provides enterprise-grade accounting software with three distinct tiers designed to scale with your business. While specific rates are available via custom quotes, all plans include unlimited users and transactions to support growth without penalty fees or extra costs for implementation support and training sessions with an accountant team member and more for you and your business and more and more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more more and more and more more more and more more more more more more more more and more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more more and more and more more more and more more more more more more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more more and more and more more more and more more more more more more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more more and more and more more more and more more more more more more more more and more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more and more more more and more more more more more more more more more mo
Wave costs between $0 and $190 per year (for core software) or starting at $199 per month (for advisory services) with three main options: STARTER at $0, PRO Plan at $190/year, and Wave Advisors starting at $199/month.
Here’s a breakdown of the three main options available to help you choose the best fit for your business needs.
STARTER Plan
Price: $0 Best For: Businesses just starting out or needing basic bookkeeping and invoicing tools. Refund Policy: Not applicable (Free plan) Other Features:
- Create unlimited estimates, invoices, and bills.
- Full bookkeeping records.
- Invoice on-the-go with the mobile app.
- Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard.
- Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records
- Invoice on-the-go with the mobile app
- Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard
- Option to accept online payments (with standard transaction fees)
- Everything in Starter, plus discounted online payments (2.9% + $0 for first 10 transactions/mo)
- Auto-import and auto-categorize bank transactions
- Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses
- Automate late payment reminders
- Includes Pro Plan features
- Dedicated bookkeeper and monthly financial statements
- Expert support to answer bookkeeping questions
- Be ready for tax time with clean, organized books
- Onboarding when switching from other accounting software
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
We attempted to gather user feedback from Trustpilot and Capterra, but both sources were currently inaccessible due to security verification errors, preventing the collection of specific review snippets. This means we cannot synthesize external sentiment or identify recurring themes like accuracy, ease of use, or support responsiveness from user reviews. 🤔 Without these concrete data points, our final assessment relies solely on the provided product information from DualEntry's website.
Wave’s external reviews paint a picture of severe recent decline, reflected in its “Bad” 1.1 Trustpilot rating. Users report that while the platform was historically good for simple, inexpensive invoicing and bookkeeping, its reliability has collapsed following recent structural changes, particularly the transition to a new payroll service provider.
This switch has caused major operational failures, including delayed or failed direct deposits, broken functionality for multiple pay periods, and critical tax withholding errors leading to financial penalties. Complaints overwhelmingly centralize on the abysmal customer support infrastructure: users state there is no direct phone number, the chatbot is ineffective, and support tickets often remain unanswered for weeks or months.
Wave messed up my payroll and the tax payments, which resulted in a large state penalty. I had to pay the amount and the penalty myself because support never resolved the issue. This uncertainty causes an unnecessary nightmare for small businesses.
Our Verdict
DualEntry and Wave serve entirely different markets. DualEntry is a powerful, AI-driven ERP for multi-entity finance teams. Wave is a simple, free tool for solo entrepreneurs. DualEntry's superpower is unifying complex financials. It can cut month-end close from 20 days to 1 and connects to 13,000+ tools. It's built for scale. Wave's superpower is its free tier and simplicity. It lets you create professional invoices in clicks and manage payments on your phone. No cost to start. The deciding factor is your business size. If you have multiple entities and need automation, pick DualEntry. If you're a solo founder needing basic invoicing, Wave is perfect. For most small businesses, Wave is the better starting point. But if you're scaling and managing complex finances, DualEntry is the last ERP you'll ever need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: DualEntry or Wave?
Wave is better for small teams of 1-5 people, especially with its free plan. DualEntry is designed for growing or established businesses with multiple entities. Your team size and complexity will determine the right choice.
Does DualEntry have payroll like Wave?
DualEntry's payroll capabilities are not specified in the provided data. Wave offers an integrated Painless Payroll service. If payroll is critical, Wave is the safer choice.
Is Wave worth the extra cost over DualEntry?
Wave's free STARTER plan costs $0, while DualEntry requires a custom quote. Wave is worth it for basic invoicing and bookkeeping. DualEntry's value comes from advanced automation and multi-entity support.
Can I migrate from DualEntry to Wave easily?
DualEntry handles data migration as part of its implementation. Wave offers onboarding support when switching from other software. Migration complexity depends on your specific setup.
Which software has better customer support?
DualEntry offers multiple support channels including Slack, phone, and video. Wave's support is limited to chat and email for paid users. Wave has very poor reviews for support responsiveness.
Is DualEntry secure enough for my business?
DualEntry is SOC 2, PCI, CCPA, and SSL certified with AES-256 encryption. Wave uses 256-bit SSL and is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant. Both are secure, but DualEntry offers more certifications.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.