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FreshBooks vs Wave
FreshBooks: Built around invoicing and billing clients, with a limit on billable clients per plan. Wave: Free bookkeeping and invoicing. Available in the US and Canada only.
Plans and prices
| Tool | Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| FreshBooks | Lite | $23/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. 5 billable clients |
| FreshBooks | Plus | $43/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. 50 billable clients |
| FreshBooks | Premium | $70/mo | Extra team members $11/mo each. Unlimited billable clients |
| Wave | Starter | Free | See vendor site. Card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction |
| Wave | Pro | $19/mo | See vendor site |
The cheapest paid plan is $23 a month at FreshBooks and $19 a month at Wave, a gap of $48 a year ($144 over three years).
Where each one rates higher
- FreshBooks rates higher on accountant access.
- Wave rates higher on free plan.
| Our fit rating | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Limited | Limited |
| Inventory | Minimal or none | Minimal or none |
| Invoicing | Strong | Strong |
| Accountant access | Good | Limited |
| Several users | Limited | Limited |
| Ease of learning | Strong | Strong |
| Free plan | Minimal or none | Strong |
Ratings are our editorial judgments, published on How we score. They are not vendor claims.
Who wins for four typical setups
Same scoring as the quiz, limited to these two tools, for US businesses.
| Setup | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Solo freelancer, 5 invoices a month, wants free | Wave |
| Product shop, 3 users, works with an accountant | FreshBooks |
| Small team with payroll and an accountant | FreshBooks |
| Invoice-heavy, wants to stay under $30 a month | Wave |
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