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QuickBooks Online vs Wave
QuickBooks Online: The default choice for most US accountants. Payroll, payments and time tracking are separate paid add-ons. Wave: Free bookkeeping and invoicing. Available in the US and Canada only.
Plans and prices
| Tool | Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Simple Start | $38/mo | 1 |
| QuickBooks Online | Essentials | $85/mo | 3 |
| QuickBooks Online | Plus | $140/mo | 5 |
| QuickBooks Online | Advanced | $340/mo | 25 |
| 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 $38 a month at QuickBooks Online and $19 a month at Wave, a gap of $228 a year ($684 over three years).
Where each one rates higher
- QuickBooks Online rates higher on payroll, inventory, accountant access, several users.
- Wave rates higher on invoicing, ease of learning, free plan.
| Our fit rating | QuickBooks Online | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Strong | Limited |
| Inventory | Strong | Minimal or none |
| Invoicing | Good | Strong |
| Accountant access | Strong | Limited |
| Several users | Strong | Limited |
| Ease of learning | Good | 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 | QuickBooks Online |
| Small team with payroll and an accountant | QuickBooks Online |
| Invoice-heavy, wants to stay under $30 a month | Wave |
Visit QuickBooks Online Visit Wave
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