QuickBooks Online vs Wave
pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated April 2026
QuickBooks Online pricing ranges from $20–$275/month, while Wave ranges from $0–$199/month. These products use different pricing models (Per-seat subscription vs ), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
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What users say
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QuickBooks Online and Wave represent opposite ends of the accounting software market. Wave offers free invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning for freelancers and small businesses — you pay only for payroll and payment processing. QuickBooks Online starts at $20/month and scales to $275/month, with far more features: automated bank feeds, advanced reporting, inventory tracking, and integrations with hundreds of apps.
For very small businesses or freelancers watching every dollar, Wave is a compelling free option. For growing businesses that need more automation and reporting, QuickBooks Online's feature depth typically justifies the cost.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | QuickBooks Online | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Solopreneur | $20 /month | Free /month |
| Simple Start | $38 /month | $19 /month |
| Essentials | $75 /month | $199 /month |
| Plus | $115 /month | — |
| Advanced | $275 /month | — |
Market Intelligence
QuickBooks Online
- Median annual cost
- $900
- Based on
- 309 deals
Wave
- Median annual cost
- $500
- Based on
- 226 deals
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Our Verdict
Wave wins on price — its free tier is genuinely useful and not feature-stripped. QuickBooks Online wins on everything else: depth of features, integrations, reporting, and scalability. For freelancers and micro-businesses who mainly need invoicing and basic bookkeeping, Wave is hard to beat at $0/month. For any business growing beyond the simplest operations — especially those with employees, inventory, or complex reporting needs — QuickBooks Online is worth the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Wave really free?
Yes — Wave's core accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning are genuinely free with no transaction limits. Wave charges for payroll ($20-$35/month + $6/employee) and payment processing (2.9% + 30 cents for cards).
02 Can Wave handle payroll?
Yes. Wave Payroll is available in all US states and most Canadian provinces. Pricing is $20/month for self-service states or $35/month for full-service states, plus $6 per active employee.
03 Is QuickBooks Online overkill for a freelancer?
Possibly. If you primarily need invoicing, expense tracking, and annual tax prep, Wave or even QuickBooks Solopreneur ($20/month) covers the basics. QuickBooks Online Plus/Advanced is overkill for solo operators.
04 Can I migrate from Wave to QuickBooks Online?
Wave allows data export to CSV. QuickBooks Online can import transactions from CSV files, though the migration requires manual mapping. For complex setups, hiring a bookkeeper to handle the migration is recommended.