QuickBooks Online vs Wave Accounting: which fits your firm?
QuickBooks Online and Wave Accounting both publish a free plan; QuickBooks Online lists solo, small and mid-size firms where Wave Accounting lists solo and small.
Prices and details verified August 18, 2026 for QuickBooks Online and August 15, 2026 for Wave Accounting. Both records sit in Core ledger and bookkeeping and are compared on vendor-published specifications, the same way across every tool.
QuickBooks Online vs Wave Accounting side by side
7 of 13 dimensions differ. Rows marked "Differs" are where the two records do not match.
| Dimension | QuickBooks Online | Wave Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Pricing modelDiffers | Per entity | Free |
| Free trialDiffers | Yes | Not listed |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Firm size fitDiffers | Solo, Small, Mid-size | Solo, Small |
| Built forDiffers | Firms and their clients | Small businesses |
| Specialisation | Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping |
| Automation profile | High volume, routine work | High volume, routine work |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Geo availabilityDiffers | US, UK, Australia, Canada, Global | US, Canada |
| Integrations listedDiffersBoth list: PayPal, Stripe, Zapier. | 9 listed | 3 listed |
| Certifications | Not published | Not published |
| Support channelsDiffers | Phone, Chat, Email, Knowledge base, Community forum | Email, Chat, Phone, Knowledge base |
Which one fits your firm
Choose QuickBooks Online if
- US-based firms whose clients are sole traders, small businesses, or up to about fifty staff.
- Solo bookkeepers and small practices that want the largest small-business app ecosystem (over 750 integrations).
- ProAdvisor-enrolled firms that want a wholesale-pricing dashboard for managing multiple client files.
Think twice about QuickBooks Online if
- Mid-market clients that have outgrown QBO's reporting depth. Sage Intacct or NetSuite suit them better.
- UK firms that need MTD-leading workflow. Most UK practices default to Xero for that workflow.
- Practices wedded to non-Intuit tax-prep ecosystems where QBO sync is not the primary value.
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 QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online covers the full bookkeeping cycle, from bank feeds and reconciliation through to financial statements. Its large app ecosystem and US market dominance mean most clients your firm onboards will already know it.
Best for US firms whose clients are sole traders, small businesses, or up to about fifty staff.
QuickBooks Online profileQuickBooks Online pricing and plansQuickBooks Online 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, QuickBooks Online or Wave Accounting?
- Their published entry tiers match: both are a free plan. Plan contents and per-user terms differ, so read the published plans before treating the two as equivalent.
- Do QuickBooks Online and Wave Accounting both offer a free trial?
- QuickBooks Online lists a free trial. Wave Accounting does not. Both publish a permanently free plan.
- Which one integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, QuickBooks Online 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, QuickBooks Online or Wave Accounting?
- QuickBooks Online lists solo, small and mid-size firms and Wave Accounting lists solo and small firms. Firm size fit is the vendor's own positioning, so treat it as the starting point rather than a limit.