What is Wave Accounting?
Wave is a web-based integrated accounting solution exclusively designed for small businesses, freelancers, and consultants. Wave provides features including accounting, invoicing, billing, payment tracking, payroll management, finance management, and receipts.
In 2009 co-founders Kirk Simpson and James Lochrie had a vision which was rooted in the belief that accounting software should be free for small businesses. In 2010, this vision came to fruition, as Wave officially launched, and has since grown to serve over 4 million small business owners and entrepreneurs all over the world.
Wave Accounting Key Features
- Accounting
- Invoicing
- Payroll
Alternatives to Wave Accounting
FreshBooksSpotlightAt FreshBooks, we build cloud-based accounting software designed around the needs of self-employed professionals, freelancers… Learn more about FreshBooks.
Sage Business Cloud AccountingSpotlightSage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll, and payment systems, supporting the ambition of the world’s… Learn more about Sage Business Cloud Accounting.
XeroAt Xero, we build cloud-based accounting software that helps small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers run their finances… Learn more about Xero.
KashFlowEasy to use cloud software for accounting, bookkeeping and payroll, taking the hassle out of small business accounts. Learn more about KashFlow.
Sage IntacctIntacct is the cloud financial management company. Bringing cloud computing to finance and accounting, Intacct's award-winning… Learn more about Sage Intacct.
Arithmo Accounting SolutionsThe value of your business lies in perspective. SimpleBooks focuses a lens on your income, outgoings, cash flow, VAT and more… Learn more about Arithmo Accounting Solutions.
Zoho BooksZoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software designed to help small and mid-sized businesses manage their finances with… Learn more about Zoho Books.
FreeAgentFreeAgent is a multi-award winning online accounting system specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses… Learn more about FreeAgent.
TalibroTalibro.com is a double-entry, cloud accounting solution for Small Business, since 2012. FEATURES - Accounts receivable… Learn more about Talibro.
AqillaAqilla - simple, affordable and smart cloud-based accounting and business software. Our solution is designed to suit the needs… Learn more about Aqilla.
Wave Accounting Reviews (33)
- ★★★★★16
- ★★★★★13
- ★★★★★3
- ★★★★★1
- ★★★★★0
Review Summary
Generated using AI from real user reviews
Wave earns strong marks for its free pricing, intuitive interface, and reliable uptime, but customer support response times consistently frustrate users who need quick help.
Across reviews, users praise the core accounting features—invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and receipt capture all work smoothly for small operations and startups. The dashboard and reporting impress many, especially nonprofits and freelancers who find the standard reports (profit and loss, cash flow, balance sheet) sufficient for their needs. Setup is fast and straightforward. The software integrates cleanly with common tools like Stripe, PayPal, and Zapier, and the browser-based design makes remote work seamless. Reliability is genuinely solid; outages are rare and brief. Multiple users note the platform handles team scaling reasonably well, though permissions and audit trails remain basic compared to enterprise tools.
The consistent complaint is slow customer support. Response times stretch from days to over a week, and users describe escalations as rare and unhelpful documentation as a frequent workaround. The mobile app lags behind the web experience. Advanced users hit hard ceilings: custom reporting is limited, multi-currency and multi-entity workflows are clunky, payroll is US-only, and there's no department-level filtering or budget-to-actual tracking. For solo operators and small nonprofits, Wave's free tier delivers genuine value. Growing teams needing stronger reporting depth, permissions controls, or responsive support will likely outgrow it faster than expected.
★★★★★
Monday, November 3, 2025
“Support is what keeps me coming back to Wave, and…”
Support is what keeps me coming back to Wave, and after two years of managing Wave accounts on behalf of multiple small business clients, that matters more than I expected. Every time I've hit a snag, whether it's a reconciliation issue or a client's invoice settings behaving oddly, their support team has been genuinely helpful. Not scripted. Not copy-paste. They actually read the question and respond to it. One time I submitted a ticket on a Friday afternoon expecting the usual Monday-morning silence, and I had a thorough reply before end of day. That kind of responsiveness is rare.
The accounting and invoicing features do the job well for the client profiles I work with, mostly freelancers and sole traders. The free tier means I can onboard a new client without any awkward pricing conversation. Occasionally the reporting side feels limited compared to what a growing client might need, but for the core use case it's genuinely solid. If you're running books for small clients who need clean invoicing and reliable support when things go sideways, this one earns its spot.
★★★★★
Monday, November 26, 2012
Independent Hydrocarbon Solutions“Perfect for the entry level startup, very powerful software that's…”
Perfect for the entry level startup, very powerful software that's a cinch to use. You can't beat a free product that gives you professional results. Exceeded my expectations from the start and I am very satisfied with my continued use.
★★★★★
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sadie's Sweet's“100% free, and easy to use. Love, love, love it!”
100% free, and easy to use. Love, love, love it!
