Cómo usar Wave: una guía paso a paso en 2026

Inicio rápido

Esta guía abarca todas las funciones de Wave:

• Empezando — Create your account and link a bank
• Cómo utilizar la conciliación de cuentas — Match imported bank transactions against your books so every balance checks out
• Cómo utilizar los planes de cuentas — Organize income and expense accounts so every report reads clearly
• Cómo utilizar las facturas — Create and send professional invoices that clients can pay online in a click
• Cómo utilizar los productos y servicios — Save the items you bill often so new invoices take seconds
• Cómo utilizar la declaración de impuestos — Pull the sales tax and year-end totals your accountant asks for
• Cómo utilizar el seguimiento de gastos — Capture bills and receipts so no deduction slips away at tax time
• Cómo utilizar los informes financieros — View profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet reports any time
• Cómo usar la aplicación móvil — Scan receipts and send invoices from your phone between jobs
• Cómo usar la compatibilidad con múltiples divisas — Invoice international clients and record what actually landed in your account

Tiempo necesario: 5 minutos por función

También en esta guía: Consejos profesionales | Errores comunes | Solución de problemas | Precios | Alternativas

¿Por qué confiar en esta guía?

I have run my own books in Wave for three years and tested every feature here.

Este tutorial se basa en trabajo práctico real, no en capturas de pantalla del proveedor.

Wave lets pequeña empresa owners create beautiful invoices, accept online payments, and make accounting easy.

But most people only ever send an invoice and stop there.

Knowing how to use Wave properly gets rid of hours of manual teneduría de libros.

That frees you to focus on the work that actually pays.

This guide shows you every feature, step by step, with pro tips.

Tutorial de ondas

This How to Use Wave tutorial walks through every feature, from your first login to tax time.

Ola

Send invoices, track bank transactions, and keep negocio finances tidy without paying for software. Wave is free contabilidad built for small business owners and solopreneurs. Add online payments and get paid faster.

PRUEBA WAVE AHORA →

LEER LA RESEÑA COMPLETA →

ALTERNATIVAS DE ONDAS →

Introducción a Wave

Do this one-time setup before touching any feature.

Tarda unos tres minutos.

The setup takes a bit of patience, then Wave keeps running on its own.

Here is what the first few weeks looked like for me:

Ahora vamos a repasar cada paso.

Paso 1: Crea tu cuenta

Go to Wave’s website and click Sign Up.

Use a business email, then set up your company profile with a logo and brand colors.

✓ Control: Comprueba tu bandeja de entrada para el correo electrónico de confirmación.

Paso 2: Acceda al panel de control

Wave runs in the browser.

iOS y Androide apps handle receipts and invoices on the move.

Log in and take a look around.

Así es como se ve el panel de control:

✓ Control: You should see cash flow and unpaid invoices on the home screen.

Step 3: Link Your Bank

Connect your business bank and credit card accounts under Banking.

Wave imports bank transactions automatically, which saves real time on bookkeeping.

Cómo utilizar la conciliación de cuentas de Wave

Conciliación de cuentas lets you match imported bank transactions against your books so every balance checks out.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Paso 1: Conecta tu banco

Open Banking and link your business bank and credit card accounts.

Wave then pulls transactions in automatically instead of manual entry.

Step 2: Review the Imported List

Open Reconciliation and pick the account plus the month you want to close.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Your statement balance and Wave balance should sit side by side.

Step 3: Match and Close the Month

Confirm each match, then adjust the ending balance until the difference reads zero.

How to Use Wave Charts of Account

Planes de Cuentas lets you organize income and expense accounts so every report reads clearly.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Open the Accounting Menu

Ve a Contabilidad y luego a Plan de cuentas.

Step 2: Add a Custom Category

Create custom income and expense categories that match your project types.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: The new account appears under the right section with a running balance.

Step 3: Map Transactions to It

Assign imported bank transactions to the new category as they arrive.

Cómo utilizar las facturas Wave

Facturas lets you create and send professional invoices that clients can pay online in a click.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Start a New Invoice

Click Invoices, then Create a New Invoice.

Add your logo and brand colors once and Wave reuses them.

Step 2: Add Line Items and Terms

Pick saved products, set quantities, and choose a due date.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: The preview shows a Pay Now button above the total.

Step 3: Turn On Wave Payments

Enable credit card, bank transfer, and Apple Pay before you send it.

Cómo utilizar los productos y servicios de Wave

Productos y servicios lets you save the items you bill often so new invoices take seconds.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Open Products and Services

Go to Sales, then Products & Services.

Step 2: Add Your Repeat Items

Enter a name, price, and the income account it should post to.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Your saved item fills in price and category on its own.

Step 3: Reuse Them on Invoices

Select saved items from the dropdown instead of retyping them.

How to Use Wave Tax Filler

Presentación de impuestos lets you pull the sales tax and year-end totals your accountant asks for.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Create Your Tax Rates

Under Sales Taxes, add each rate you charge.

Step 2: Apply Tax to Line Items

Tick the tax box on taxable invoice rows only.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Tax collected and tax paid show as separate totals.

Step 3: Run the Sales Tax Report

Open Reports, then Sales Tax Report, and filter by date range.

How to Use Wave Expense Tracker

Seguimiento de gastos lets you capture bills and receipts so no deduction slips away at tax time.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Record Bills as They Arrive

Enter vendor bills under Purchases so unpaid amounts stay visible.

Step 2: Scan Every Receipt

Snap receipts in the app and attach them to the matching transaction.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Each expense row shows a paperclip icon for its attached receipt.

Step 3: Categorize the Spend

Assign each expense to a category and, if useful, a specific project.

Cómo utilizar los informes financieros de Wave

Informes financieros lets you view profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet reports any time.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Paso 1: Abra la pestaña Informes.

Click Reports to view the full list.

Paso 2: Generar un informe de pérdidas y ganancias

Filter by income and expense categories to see which project actually earned money.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: Your Profit & Loss shows income, expenses, and net profit for the period.

Step 3: Export or Share It

Download as CSV or PDF, or share access with your bookkeeper.

Cómo usar la aplicación móvil Wave

Aplicación móvil lets you scan receipts and send invoices from your phone between jobs.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Install and Sign In

Download the Wave app and log in with the same account.

Step 2: Photograph a Receipt

Tap Receipts and take the photo in decent light.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: The receipt lands in your list with data already populated.

Step 3: Confirm the Scanned Data

Wave uses OCR to fill in vendor, date, and amount for you.

Cómo usar la compatibilidad con múltiples divisas de Wave

Soporte para múltiples divisas lets you invoice international clients and record what actually landed in your account.

Aquí te explicamos cómo usarlo paso a paso.

Step 1: Set Your Home Currency

Confirm your base currency in Business Settings first.

Step 2: Choose a Currency Per Invoice

Pick the client’s currency when you create the invoice.

Así es como se ve:

✓ Control: The invoice shows the foreign amount plus its home-currency value.

Step 3: Record the Received Amount

Log the payment so exchange differences post correctly.

Consejos y atajos de Wave Pro

After three years in Wave, these are the tips I actually use.

Atajos de teclado

Características ocultas que la mayoría de la gente pasa por alto

• Partial refunds: Send either a full or partial refund on any customer payment, straight from the payment record.
• Google Sheets add-on: Import and export customers, products, and invoices in bulk instead of one at a time.
• Estimates that convert: Create a project estimate, then turn it into an invoice once the client approves it.
• Collaborator access: Share view-only or edit access with your accountant without handing over your password.

These small features are where Wave quietly beats pricier accounting solutions.

Errores comunes que debes evitar al usar Wave

Mistake #1: Mixing personal and business money

Mistake #2: Typing in transactions the bank already sent

Mistake #3: Invoicing without online payments turned on

Solución de problemas de ondas

Problem: Bank feed stopped importing transactions

Causa: Your bank changed its login rules or the connection expired.

Arreglar: Go to Banking, reconnect the account, then import the missing period manually.

Problem: Reconciliation will not balance

Causa: A duplicate transaction or a payment recorded on the wrong date.

Arreglar: Sort by amount, delete the duplicate, and check dates near the month boundary.

Problem: A client says the invoice link does not work

Causa: The email landed in spam, or the invoice is still a draft.

Arreglar: Confirm the invoice status is sent, then share the payment link directly.

📌 Nota: If none of these fix your issues, contact Wave support.

¿Qué es Wave?

Ola is a free accounting tool that keeps business finances, invoices, and bills in one place.

Think of it as a bookkeeper that never sends a bill.

Wave está diseñado para propietarios de pequeñas empresas y emprendedores individuales en todas las etapas.

Mira este breve resumen:

Incluye estas características clave:

• Conciliación de cuentas: Match imported bank transactions against your books so every balance checks out
• Plan de cuentas: Organize income and expense accounts so every report reads clearly
• Facturas: Create and send professional invoices that clients can pay online in a click
• Productos y servicios: Save the items you bill often so new invoices take seconds
• Declaración de impuestos: Pull the sales tax and year-end totals your accountant asks for
• Seguimiento de gastos: Capture bills and receipts so no deduction slips away at tax time
• Información financiera: View profit and loss, cash flow, and balance sheet reports any time
• Aplicación móvil: Scan receipts and send invoices from your phone between jobs
• Compatibilidad con múltiples divisas: Invoice international clients and record what actually landed in your account

Para una revisión completa, consulte nuestra Revisión de olas.

It is worth a read before you commit your books to any platform.

Precios por olas

Here is what Wave costs in 2026:

Prueba gratuita: Yes. The Starter Plan is free forever, so you can test Wave with no card.

Garantía de devolución de dinero: None published. You can cancel the Pro Plan at any point.

💰 Mejor relación calidad-precio: Starter Plan — free accounting and invoicing covers most solo businesses.

Move to Pro once manual bank transaction entry starts eating your week.

Ola frente a alternativas

How does Wave compare? Here is the landscape:

Selecciones rápidas:

• Mejor en general: QuickBooks — deepest feature set and every accountant knows it
• Mejor presupuesto: Wave — free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning with no plan limits
• Ideal para principiantes: Wave — plain language and few menus to get lost in
• Ideal para equipos en crecimiento: Xero — payroll, inventory, and a large app marketplace

🎯 Alternativas a las olas

¿Buscas alternativas a Wave? Aquí tienes las mejores opciones:

• 🚀 Rompecabezas IO: Built for startups that want automated accounting and fast close cycles.
• 💰 Destreza: Receipt and bill capture at volume, feeding into your main ledger.
• 🌟 Xero: Full double-entry accounting with a deep app marketplace and payroll.
• 📊 Sínder: Syncs ecommerce and payment platform sales into your books automatically.
• ⚡ Fin de mes fácil: Checklist-driven close process for teams that reconcile every month.
• 🧠 Docyt: AI bookkeeping with automated categorization and back-office support.
• 🏢 Sabio: Established accounting with inventory and industry-specific modules.
• 💼 Libros de Zoho: Strong free tier plus a wide business software suite around it.
• ⭐ Acelerar: Personal and rental property finance tracking with light business tools.
• 🔧 Hubdoc: Fetches bills and statements from vendors and files them for you.
• 💳 Expensificar: Expense reports and corporate cards for teams that viajar.
• 🔥 QuickBooks: The market standard, with payroll, inventory, and accountant familiarity.
• 🎯 Entrada automática: Automated data extraction from invoices, receipts, and statements.
• 🎨 FreshBooks: Facturación y seguimiento del tiempo aimed squarely at service freelancers.
• 👶 NetSuite: Enterprise resource planning for companies that outgrew small business tools.

Para ver la lista completa, consulte nuestra Alternativas de olas guía.

⚔️ Comparación de olas

Here is how Wave stacks up against each competitor:

• Ola contra rompecabezas IO: Wave is free and simpler. Puzzle IO suits venture-backed teams with accrual needs.
• Wave contra Dext: Dext beats Wave on document capture. Wave gives you the whole ledger free.
• Wave frente a Xero: Xero wins on features and integrations. Wave wins on price for small business owners.
• Wave contra Synder: Synder handles Shopify and Stripe volume better. Wave covers service businesses fine.
• Ola vs. Fin de mes fácil: Wave includes reconciliation free. Easy Month End adds structure for larger finance teams.
• Wave vs. Docyt: Docyt automates more. Wave costs nothing and stays easy to learn.
• Wave vs Sage: Sage suits established firms. Wave fits freelancers and one-person shops better.
• Wave frente a Zoho Books: Zoho Books offers more automation. Wave has a friendlier learning curve.
• Wave frente a Quicken: Quicken leans personal. Wave is built for business finances and invoicing.
• Wave frente a Hubdoc: Hubdoc is a document tool, not a ledger. Wave does the actual bookkeeping.
• Wave frente a Expensify: Expensify owns employee reimbursements. Wave handles the full set of books.
• Wave frente a QuickBooks: QuickBooks does more. Wave does the core free, which matters at year one.
• Onda vs. Entrada automática: AutoEntry only extracts data. Wave gives you reporting, invoices, and payments too.
• Wave frente a FreshBooks: FreshBooks has better time tracking. Wave charges nothing for invoices and accounting.
• Wave frente a NetSuite: NetSuite is enterprise scale. Wave is for people running lean, not running departments.

Empiece a usar Wave ahora

Aprendiste a usar todas las funciones principales de Wave:

• ✅ Conciliación de cuentas
• ✅ Planes de cuentas
• ✅ Facturas
• ✅ Productos y servicios
• ✅ Presentación de declaraciones de impuestos
• ✅ Seguimiento de gastos
• ✅ Informes financieros
• ✅ Aplicación móvil
• ✅ Compatibilidad con múltiples divisas

Siguiente paso: Pick one feature and try it today.

La mayoría de la gente empieza con las facturas.

It takes less than five minutes to send your first one.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Cómo funciona la aplicación Wave?

You link your bank and Wave imports transactions automatically. From there you categorize spending, send invoices, accept online payments, and track business finances.

¿Es Wave fácil de usar para principiantes?

Yes. Wave is built for small business owners with no accounting background. Most people send a first invoice within ten minutes of signing up.

¿Cómo usar Wave gratis?

Sign up for the Starter Plan at $0. You get invoicing, accounting, and reports free. You only pay processing fees when clients send payments.

¿Es Wave más fácil de usar que QuickBooks?

For simple books, yes. Wave shows fewer menus and less jargon. QuickBooks offers more depth, which helps once you add inventory, payroll, or staff.

¿La aplicación Wave informa al IRS?

Wave itself does not file your taxes. Payment processing may generate tax forms where thresholds apply. You still report income yourself using Wave’s reports.