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.
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 / |
| Simple Start | $38 /month | $19 / |
| Essentials | $75 /month | $199 / |
| 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
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.