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Wave

Wave

Simple money management solutions: Manage your money like a boss.

#7 dans Accounting
2 min read · Updated 11/17/2025
Wave homepage screenshot

At a glance

Quick overview for Wave: rating, pricing summary, key features, and highlights.

Ciroapp review

1.8
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

  • Pro:Fully featured free STARTER plan for basic invoicing and bookkeeping.
  • Pro:Effective automated bank transaction import in the PRO plan.
  • Pro:Low cost of entry makes it accessible for solopreneurs.
  • Pro:Historically reliable for simple invoicing before system changes.

Cons

  • Con:Customer service is extremely poor, often relying only on ineffective chatbots.
  • Con:No direct phone support is available for urgent or complex issues.
  • Con:Recent payroll partner switch caused failures, missed deposits, and tax errors.
  • Con:Wait times for support replies often extend for weeks or even two months.
Free trial
Yes
Range: $0–$190/yearFree plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Per seat pricing, Usage-based pricing
This section is a summary. Detailed sections about features, use cases, pricing, and reviews follow below.
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Wave review, pricing, features, pros & cons

Are you tired of feeling like bookkeeping is all you ever do? You didn't start your business just to stare at spreadsheets until your eyes glaze over. Wave understands this frustration.

It brings everything you need—invoicing, payments, and accounting—into one simple spot ✨. Now you can easily make accounting easy and breathe a sigh of relief.

What is Wave?

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! ✅

Wave Key Features

✨ Create Professional Invoices in Clicks

You need to present a polished image to your clients. Wave helps you create beautiful, professional invoices and estimates quickly. This process takes only a few clicks, saving you valuable time. You can fire off these documents in minutes, ensuring you look organized and competent from the start.

Wave is designed to help small business owners and contractors look their best. You can easily set up recurring invoices for repeat clients. This automation ensures you maintain great cash flow without manually chasing every billing cycle.

✨ Accept Payments Securely and Swiftly

Make it simple for your customers to pay you fast. Wave supports secure online payments right alongside your invoices. Giving customers multiple options means fewer delays in payment.

Your clients can choose to pay using major credit cards, bank transfers, or even Apple Pay. This system greatly improves your cash flow. Plus, the platform ensures secure handling of all transactions, providing peace of mind for both you and your customer.

✨ Keep Your Books Tidy with No Sweat Accounting

Wave brings your invoicing, payments, and accounting into one simple spot. You no longer need to jump between complicated systems or stare at spreadsheets. This unified design helps you keep tabs on your finances consistently.

Use the system to accurately track all your income and expenses. Access helpful reporting that clarifies your overall cash flow. With tidy books, you gain the confidence needed to make smart business decisions and easily manage tax time.

✨ Automate Data Entry and Reminders

Stop wasting hours on tedious transaction entry. Wave offers powerful automation features to streamline your financial process. For example, you can auto-import and auto-categorize bank transactions easily with the PRO plan.

Digital receipt capture is also included to track expenses efficiently. If a client is late paying, Wave can automatically send late payment reminders. These tools are designed to maximize efficiency and free up your focus for growth activities.

✨ Simplify Painless Payroll and Compliance

Reliably pay yourself, your employees, and manage your contractors without stress. The integrated payroll features handle the complicated legal and compliance requirements. You never have to worry about the 'complicated legal stuff' associated with staff payments.

This focused solution lets you ensure everyone is paid on time and correctly. Paying employees, contractors, and yourself moves from a headache to a routine task. It helps maintain a compliant and healthy business operation.

✨ Expert Guidance is Always Available

Sometimes you need more than just software. Wave provides specialized support through its in-house Advisors team. This team includes bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll experts ready to help.

Advisors can coach you 1:1 if you have complex questions. If you prefer a hands-off approach, the experts can handle the bookkeeping work for you. This non-judgmental support offers personalized guidance whenever your business requires it.

Use Cases

💵 Getting Paid Quickly and Looking Professional

Sarah, a freelance photographer, often needs to send custom proposals and collect payments efficiently. Using Wave, she creates professional invoices and estimates in just a few clicks, wowing her customers. When she sends an invoice, clients have flexible options for secure online payment. They can pay instantly using a credit card, bank transfer, or even Apple Pay.

This simple process ensures she collects her fees faster and keeps her cash flow healthy. Because Wave brings invoicing and payments together, she doesn't have to manage multiple disconnected systems just to get paid.

🤖 Streamlining Expense Tracking with Automation

Running a business requires significant time devoted to data entry and organization. With the paid PRO Plan, Wave handles much of this work automatically.

It can auto-import and auto-categorize your bank transactions, reducing manual entry time dramatically. You also get unlimited digital receipt capturing, so you can track expenses immediately, even when you're on the go.

✅ Achieving Peace of Mind for Tax Season

Most small business owners dread tax time because their financial records are messy. Wave helps you keep tidy books throughout the year, so you can truly 'kick tax season's butt.'

🤝 Managing Staff and Contractors Painlessly

As a small business owner, managing payroll and legal compliance can be daunting. Wave offers a Painless Payroll add-on service. This helps you reliably pay both your employees and yourself without worrying about complicated legal requirements.

It is specifically designed to manage contractors, ensuring you handle their payments correctly. This allows you to focus on growing your team while Wave handles the heavy administrative lifting.

💡 Outsourcing or Coaching for Complex Finances

Sometimes, you need more than software; you need expert human help. If financial tasks become overwhelming, or if you need guidance on specific issues, Wave Advisors are available. This non-judgmental, in-house team offers 1:1 coaching to clarify complex financial concepts.

If you prefer a truly hands-off approach, you can hire Advisors to handle your bookkeeping entirely. This ensures your financial records are accurate and keeps your books up-to-date, providing maximum peace of mind.

📱 Managing Your Money on the Go

As a busy entrepreneur, you are not always sitting at your desk. The Wave mobile app serves as a convenient companion to your desktop experience. You can manage your money even when you are away from the office.

This lets you fire off professional invoices and confirm online payments right from your phone. You remain the 'wiz of your biz' no matter where your work takes you.

Pricing Overview for Wave

Pricing range
$0–$190/year
Pricing types
Free plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Per seat pricing, Usage-based pricing

Wave offers a fully featured free plan called STARTER, along with a comprehensive PRO Plan that costs $190 annually. Pricing for the PRO plan is per business and includes reduced transaction rates for online payments.

Plans & Pricing

STARTER Plan

Monthly$0
Yearly$0
Standard transaction fees apply: 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction (3.4% + $0.60 per Amex transaction).
  • 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)
Get started now

PRO Plan (Monthly)

Monthly$19 USD
After the first 10 cumulative transactions monthly, standard transaction fees apply (2.9% + $0.60).
  • 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
Get started now

PRO Plan (Annual)

Yearly$190 USD
After the first 10 cumulative transactions monthly, standard transaction fees apply (2.9% + $0.60).
  • 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
Get started now

Wave Advisors

MonthlyStarting at $199
Price depends on services required (bookkeeping, payroll, coaching).
  • 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
Learn more

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 Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated (per business) 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.

This plan is perfect if you are a solopreneur or a small business needing reliable, foundational accounting functionality without a recurring monthly fee. Keep in mind that payment processing through this plan involves standard transaction fees (2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction).

PRO Plan

Price: $190 USD/year (or $19 USD/month) Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated (per business) Best For: Growing businesses looking to save time and streamline their cash flow management. Refund Policy: You can cancel your subscription at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing period. Other Features:

  • Everything in the STARTER plan, plus immediate access to add-ons.
  • Discounted online payments (2.9% + $0 for the first 10 transactions monthly).
  • Auto-import and auto-categorize bank transactions.
  • Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses.
  • Automate late payment reminders.

Choose the PRO Plan if you want to automate tedious data entry and improve efficiency. The reduced payment processing fees and automated reminders can really help you maximize profitability and save valuable time.

Wave Advisors

Price: Starting at $199/month Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated (per business) Best For: Business owners who want to outsource their financial management entirely or receive expert coaching. Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated. Other Features:

  • Includes all PRO Plan features.
  • A dedicated bookkeeper for accurate, up-to-date books.
  • Monthly financial statements prepared for you.
  • Expert support to answer complex bookkeeping questions.
  • Onboarding support when switching from other accounting software.

If you prefer to focus solely on running your business, the Wave Advisors service offers hands-off bookkeeping and personalized financial guidance from in-house experts. This is the ultimate solution for peace of mind, especially around tax time!

Wave makes it easy to get started for free with the STARTER plan, letting you test out basic invoicing and bookkeeping capabilities right away. While there is no traditional free trial for the paid PRO Plan, you can switch between plans easily and cancel your paid subscription whenever you need to. Your cancellation will simply remain active until the end of your current billing period.

User Reviews

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.

This lack of responsiveness left many small business owners scrambling to manually correct financial errors. While the base software is free, the severe reliability issues combined with non-existent support compromise basic service functions.

The consensus shows that high-stakes features like payroll are currently unreliable and unsupported. 😠

What users say elsewhere

Alex M.
· Trustpilot
1.0 / 5

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.

Jamie P.
· Trustpilot
1.0 / 5

I would give this zero stars if possible. They continually upgraded their payroll system, but it hasn't worked correctly for three pay periods now. They even shut down the direct customer service lines due to the sheer volume of complaints they received.

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Why use Wave?

Stop wrestling with complicated systems designed for much larger corporations. Wave provides the elegant simplicity and reliability required to manage your money like a boss. It helps you look completely polished while keeping your books tidy. Over 350,000 businesses already trust Wave to button-up their books. Here is why you should switch today:

  • Wave is designed to be user-friendly, reducing the technical complexity of traditional bookkeeping.
  • You can create professional invoices and easily accept secure online payments via credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay.
  • The platform assists with effortless payroll, helping you pay staff and manage contractors without worrying about the complicated legal stuff.
  • You gain access to helpful reporting that clarifies your cash flow so you can make smarter business decisions.
  • Tidy books mean you can "kick tax season's butt" and finally achieve peace of mind. 😌
  • If you need extra help, the (non-judgmental) in-house Advisors team is standing by to coach you 1:1 or handle the work for you.

Wave is the ideal solution if you need organized, headache-free finances without technical complications. It empowers freelancers and small business owners to be the "wiz of your biz" and focus on growth. Stop worrying about bookkeeping. Get started for free today! 🚀

Ready to transform your workflow with Wave?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free trial for the paid PRO Plan or optional add-ons?

Wave does not offer a traditional free trial for its paid plans. You can use the fully featured STARTER plan indefinitely to test core bookkeeping and invoicing tools at no cost. You can easily upgrade whenever you're ready.

How secure is my financial data within the Wave platform?

Your financial security is highly protected. Connections between your bank accounts and Wave use strong 256-bit SSL encryption. Wave also meets demanding industry standards as a PCI-DSS Level 1 Service Provider.

If I subscribe to the PRO Plan, is the cost per person or per business?

The subscription fee for the PRO Plan is applied per business, not per individual user. If you manage multiple entities under one account and want coverage for all, you must subscribe separately for each business.

How can I access live customer support and what are the hours?

Customers who purchase any optional paid add-on gain access to live-person chat and email support. This team is available Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern time.

What is included in the discounted payment processing for PRO Plan users?

PRO users get heavily discounted rates ($0 fee) for the first ten cumulative credit card and Amex transactions each month. After you reach ten payments, standard transaction fees will apply for the rest of the billing period.

What are the limitations on data storage or transaction volume?

Wave allows you to create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records across all plans. The PRO Plan, or the optional receipt add-on, also supports unlimited digital receipt capture.

If I need to switch my accounting software, does Wave offer migration help?

Yes, if you choose the Wave Advisors service, the package includes onboarding support. The Advisors team will assist you when you are switching over from other accounting software, like Freshbooks.

Are there specific requirements to qualify for accepting online payments through Wave?

Approval for online payments is not automatic upon signup. You must pass eligibility criteria, including identity verification and credit review, before you can start accepting payments.

Can I manage my books through Wave if I live outside the United States?

Wave's pricing is explicitly detailed in both US Dollars (USD) and Canadian Dollars (CAD). This indicates dedicated support for businesses operating within the US and Canada.

What happens if I cancel my paid PRO Plan subscription?

You can cancel your subscription at any time within your account settings. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current monthly or yearly billing period.

Which specific third-party applications or services can Wave integrate with?

The platform confirms the ability to 'Set up third-party integrations.' However, a comprehensive list detailing all compatible applications is not explicitly stated on the official site.

Is the Wave accounting software installed on my computer?

Wave is a web-based service, so no installation is necessary for the core accounting features. You access the tool easily using any web browser with an internet connection.

Ready to try Wave? Check out the official site or pricing.
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