FreshBooks vs Wave (2026 comparison)
FreshBooks and Wave are both invoicing tools. FreshBooks is best for freelancers and service businesses wanting polished, client-facing invoices with built-in time tracking (no free plan (30-day trial); paid Lite plan from about $20.70 per month billed annually, or $23 per month billed monthly, for up to 5 billable clients). Wave is best for sole traders and very small businesses wanting free invoicing and bookkeeping in one place (free Starter plan (invoicing, accounting and receipt scanning); paid Wave Pro from about $15.83 per month billed annually ($190 a year), or $19 per month billed monthly).
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-08. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Feature | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Pricing from | No free plan (30-day trial); paid Lite plan from about $20.70 per month billed annually, or $23 per month billed monthly, for up to 5 billable clients | Free Starter plan (invoicing, accounting and receipt scanning); paid Wave Pro from about $15.83 per month billed annually ($190 a year), or $19 per month billed monthly |
| Best for | freelancers and service businesses wanting polished, client-facing invoices with built-in time tracking | sole traders and very small businesses wanting free invoicing and bookkeeping in one place |
| Founded | 2003 | 2009 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Quick verdict
Choose FreshBooks for freelancers and service businesses wanting polished, client-facing invoices with built-in time tracking. Choose Wave for sole traders and very small businesses wanting free invoicing and bookkeeping in one place. Both are compared on published information only, so confirm current pricing at each source below.
More options
Sources
FAQ
- Is FreshBooks or Wave cheaper?
- As published, FreshBooks starts at No free plan (30-day trial); paid Lite plan from about $20.70 per month billed annually, or $23 per month billed monthly, for up to 5 billable clients and Wave starts at Free Starter plan (invoicing, accounting and receipt scanning); paid Wave Pro from about $15.83 per month billed annually ($190 a year), or $19 per month billed monthly. Verify current pricing at each vendor.
- Does FreshBooks have a free plan?
- No, FreshBooks does not offer a free plan as of 2026-09-08.