QuickBooks Online vs Wave (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features and real-world ratings to help you choose between QuickBooks Online and Wave.
| Feature | QuickBooks Online | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Accounting | Accounting |
| Starting Price | $35/mo | Free |
| Free Trial | 30-day trial | No |
| G2 Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | Freelancers | Freelancers |
| Reviews | 7,300 | 1,700 |
Key differences between QuickBooks Online and Wave
Wave offers a free plan you can start on today, while QuickBooks Online requires a paid subscription (after its 30-day trial). If budget is the deciding factor, that difference matters more than any feature.
QuickBooks Online leans into invoicing and expense tracking, while Wave puts its weight behind invoicing and accounting — pick based on which of those you will actually use weekly.
🏆 Our Verdict
QuickBooks Online is our overall pick, scoring 4.3/5 across 7300 reviews. That said, Wave remains a great option if you prioritise freelancers. Read the breakdown below before you decide.
Head to head
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is the accounting lingua franca of US small business — the software accountants expect, with the deepest ecosystem of banks, apps and tax integrations. Invoicing, expense capture, mileage and reporting are comprehensive, and the accountant marketplace makes professional help easy to find. Prices have climbed steadily and the interface shows its age in places, but network effects keep it the safe default choice.
The go-to accounting suite for SMBs.
Visit QuickBooks Online →Pros
- ✓Feature-rich
- ✓Accountant-friendly
- ✓Lots of integrations
Cons
- ✗Pricey
- ✗Occasional bugs
Wave
Wave's core promise is radical for the category: real double-entry accounting and unlimited invoicing for exactly zero dollars, funded by payment processing and payroll fees. For freelancers and side businesses with simple books, it covers surprisingly much. The boundaries are clear — US/Canada only, basic reporting, no inventory, and support prioritizes paying users — but as a starting point it is unbeatable on price.
Wave
Free accounting and invoicing for the self-employed.
Visit Wave →Pros
- ✓Free core features
- ✓Simple
- ✓Good for freelancers
Cons
- ✗Paid payments/payroll
- ✗Limited scaling
How we compare tools
Every comparison on SaaS Compare follows the same recipe: we aggregate verified user ratings from G2 and Capterra, track published pricing (including free plans and trial terms), and weigh the practical pros and cons reported by real users. We refresh this data on a regular schedule and never let affiliate partnerships influence a verdict — the same criteria decide every matchup, including this QuickBooks Online vs Wave comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Online better than Wave?
Based on aggregated ratings, QuickBooks Online edges ahead with a 4.3/5 score. The right choice still depends on your budget and use case — QuickBooks Online suits freelancers, while Wave is strong for freelancers.
Which is cheaper, QuickBooks Online or Wave?
QuickBooks Online starts at $35/mo and Wave starts at a free plan.
Does QuickBooks Online or Wave offer a free trial?
QuickBooks Online: 30-day trial. Wave: no free trial.
What do users say about QuickBooks Online and Wave?
QuickBooks Online averages 4.3/5 from 7,300 reviews (G2: 4/5, Capterra: 4.3/5). Wave averages 4.3/5 from 1,700 reviews (G2: 4.3/5, Capterra: 4.4/5). Ratings aggregate thousands of verified users, so small gaps are meaningful at this scale.
When should I pick Wave instead?
Despite the overall verdict, Wave is the better fit when free core features and simple matter most to your workflow, particularly for freelancers.