FreshBooks vs Wave Accounting: which fits your firm?
FreshBooks starts at $23 per month and Wave Accounting publishes a free plan; both list solo and small firms.
Prices and details verified August 15, 2026. Both records sit in Core ledger and bookkeeping and are compared on vendor-published specifications, the same way across every tool.
FreshBooks vs Wave Accounting side by side
6 of 13 dimensions differ. Rows marked "Differs" are where the two records do not match.
| Dimension | FreshBooks | Wave Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Entry priceDiffers | $23 per month | Free plan |
| Pricing modelDiffers | Per entity | Free |
| Free trialDiffers | Yes | Not listed |
| Free planDiffers | No | Yes |
| Firm size fit | Solo, Small | Solo, Small |
| Built for | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| Specialisation | Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping |
| Automation profile | High volume, routine work | High volume, routine work |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Geo availabilityDiffers | US, UK, Canada, Global | US, Canada |
| Integrations listedDiffersBoth list: PayPal, Stripe, Zapier. | 7 listed | 3 listed |
| Certifications | Not published | Not published |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Knowledge base | Email, Chat, Phone, Knowledge base |
Which one fits your firm
Choose FreshBooks if
- Freelancers and solo service businesses that need invoicing-first accounting with built-in payment collection.
- Small service-based businesses that want time tracking, expense capture, and bookkeeping in one tool.
- Accountants who service-bill clients on Plus or Premium tiers. Accountant access is included from Plus up.
Think twice about FreshBooks if
- Practices whose clients run inventory-heavy or multi-entity businesses. FreshBooks targets service operations.
- Firms that want AI-driven coding or anomaly detection. FreshBooks does not highlight AI features.
- Practices that intend to use FreshBooks to run their own firm. FreshBooks is not a practice management tool.
Choose Wave Accounting if
- Solo traders, freelancers, and micro-businesses that want permanently free bookkeeping with double-entry rigor.
- Accountants that add Wave as a collaborator on micro-client books at no extra license fee.
- US or Canadian clients that want optional managed bookkeeping. Wave Advisors starts at $149 per month.
Think twice about Wave Accounting if
- Firms with mid-market clients. Wave's reporting depth is not built for complex finance functions.
- Practices outside the US or Canada. Wave operates in those two markets only.
- Clients that need NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or QuickBooks-grade integration. Wave's connector list is small.
What each one does
About FreshBooks
FreshBooks is invoicing-first accounting software for freelancers and small service businesses. It covers expense tracking, time logging, and double-entry bookkeeping, with accountant access included on Plus plans and above.
Fits best when freelancers and solo service businesses need invoicing-first accounting with built-in payment collection.
FreshBooks profileFreshBooks pricing and plansFreshBooks vendor site
About Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting is a permanently free bookkeeping, invoicing, and financial reporting platform for small businesses. A paid Pro plan adds automatic bank imports, and an optional managed bookkeeping service is available for clients who want hands-on support.
Best for solo traders, freelancers, and US or Canadian micro-businesses that want permanently free double-entry bookkeeping.
Wave Accounting profileWave Accounting pricing and plansWave Accounting vendor site
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Wave Accounting?
- Wave Accounting has the lower published entry tier, a free plan, against $23 per month for FreshBooks. That covers the cheapest published plan only, not the plan either vendor would put in front of your firm.
- Do FreshBooks and Wave Accounting both offer a free trial?
- FreshBooks lists a free trial. Wave Accounting does not. Wave Accounting publishes a permanently free plan, and FreshBooks does not.
- Which one integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, FreshBooks or Wave Accounting?
- Neither published integration list names QuickBooks or Xero. Both lists do share PayPal, Stripe and Zapier. Check the vendor pages for anything added since these records were last checked.
- Which suits a smaller firm, FreshBooks or Wave Accounting?
- Both records list the same firm sizes: solo and small. The split comes from the rest of the record, including deployment, specialisation and the integrations each vendor lists.