Tired of accounting headaches?
Many small business owners struggle with messy books.
What if you could simplify everything?
This article reveals the 9 best Wave Alternatives for 2025.
Discover tools that automate tasks, clarify finances, and reduce stress.
Find your perfect fit and free up your time. Ready to transform your accounting?
What Are the Best Wave Alternatives?
Choosing the top accounting software can be tricky.
You want something that works for your business, not against it.
We’ve looked at many options to bring you a hand-picked list.
Here are our top 9 recommendations, ranked from best to a close second, to help you make an informed decision.
1. Xero (⭐4.8)
Looking for something modern and easy? Xero is a top choice.
It’s built for small businesses. Think clean design and simple features.
It aims to make accounting less of a chore and more of a breeze.
Xero focuses on collaboration and cloud-based access.
Unlock its potential with our Xero tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Xero comparison!
Our Take
Join 2 million+ businesses using Xero accounting software. Explore its powerful invoicing features now!
Key Benefits
- Automated bank reconciliation
- Online invoicing and payments
- Bill management
- Payroll integration
- Reporting and analytics
Pricing
- Starter: $29/month.
- Standard: $46/month.
- Premium: $69/month.
Pros
Cons
2. Puzzle IO (⭐4.5)
Puzzle IO is a new financial management software for startups and small businesses.
Instead, it gives you a super clear, real-time picture of your money, without all the confusing jargon.
Think of it as your financial dashboard, showing you exactly what’s happening with your cash.
Unlock its potential with our Puzzle IO tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Puzzle IO comparison!
Our Take
Ready to simplify your finances? See how Puzzle io can save you up to 20 hours a month. Experience the difference today!
Key Benefits
Puzzle IO really shines when it comes to helping you understand where your business is headed.
- 92% of users report better financial forecasting accuracy.
- Get real-time insights into your cash flow.
- Easily create different financial scenarios to plan.
- Collaborate seamlessly with your team on financial goals.
- Track key performance indicators (KPIs) in one place.
Pricing
- Accounting basics: $0/month.
- Accounting Plus Insights: $42.50/month.
- Accounting Plus Advanced Automation: $85/month.
- Accounting Plus scale: $255/month.
Pros
Cons
3. Dext (⭐4.0)
Dext (formerly Receipt Bank and GreenVault) is not exactly accounting software.
It’s more of an intelligent automation tool.
It helps you get data from receipts and invoices into your accounting software.
Think of it as a super-efficient data entry assistant. It saves you tons of time on manual data input.
Unlock its potential with our Dext tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Dext comparison!
Our Take
Ready to reclaim 10+ hours a month? See how Dext’s automated data entry, expense tracking, and reporting can streamline your finances.
Key Benefits
Dext really shines when it comes to making expense management a breeze.
- 90% of users report a significant decrease in paper clutter.
- It boasts an accuracy rate of over 98% in extracting data from documents.
- Creating expense reports becomes incredibly quick and easy.
- Integrates smoothly with popular accounting platforms, such as QuickBooks and Xero.
- Helps ensure you never lose track of important financial documents.
Pricing
- Annually Subscription: $24
Pros
Cons
4. Synder (⭐3.8)
Wish your online sales auto-synced to your books?
Synder does just that! It’s not a full accounting alternative.
But it links e-commerce platforms (like Shopify) and payment processors (like Stripe) to your existing accounting software.
It saves online sellers a huge time on data entry.
Unlock its potential with our Synder tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Synder comparison!
Our Take
Synder automates your accounting, syncing sales data seamlessly to QuickBooks, Xero, and more. Businesses using Synder report saving an average of 10+ hours per week.
Key Benefits
- Automatic sales data synchronization
- Multi-channel sales tracking
- Payment reconciliation
- Inventory management integration
- Detailed sales reporting
Pricing
All the plans will be Billed Annually.
- Basic: $52/month.
- Essential: $92/month.
- Pro: $220/month.
- Premium: Custom Pricing.
Pros
Cons
5. Easy Month End (⭐3.6)
Ever dread month-end closing? Easy Month End is built to make that process smooth.
It’s a workflow and reconciliation tool specifically for finance teams.
Think of it as your checklist, task manager, and reconciliation assistant all in one place.
It helps you manage your financial tasks and get things done on time, every time.
Unlock its potential with our Easy Month End tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Easy Month End comparison!
Our Take
Elevate financial accuracy with Easy Month End. Leverage automated reconciliation and audit-ready reporting. Schedule a personalized demo to streamline your month-end process.
Key Benefits
- Automated reconciliation workflows
- Task management and tracking
- Variance analysis
- Document management
- Collaboration tools
Pricing
- Starter: $24/month.
- Small: $45/month.
- Company: $89/month.
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing.
Pros
Cons
6. Sage (⭐️3.4)
So, Sage is a big name in the accounting world. They have been around for a while.
Their software uses AI to help with things like invoicing and bank reconciliation.
From small startups to large enterprises. It helps manage finances, payroll, and operations.
It’s a well-established name in accounting.
Unlock its potential with our Sage tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Sage comparison!
Our Take
Ready to supercharge your finances? Sage users have reported an average of 73% higher productivity and a 75% faster process cycle time.
Key Benefits
- Automated invoicing and payments
- Real-time financial reports
- Strong security to protect data
- Integration with other business tools
- Payroll and HR solutions
Pricing
- Pro Accounting: $66.08/month.
- Premium Accounting: $114.33/month.
- Quantum Accounting: $198.42/month.
- HR and Payroll bundles: Custom Pricing based on your needs.
Pros
Cons
7. RefreshMe (⭐️3.2)
RefreshMe focuses on providing real-time financial insights and analysis using AI.
It aims to give business owners a clear and up-to-date view of their financial health, helping them make informed decisions quickly.
This tool can save you from a lot of headaches and make sure your data is accurate.
It’s a handy addition to your accounting routine.
Unlock its potential with our Refreshme tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs Refreshme comparison!
Our Take
RefreshMe’s strength lies in providing real-time, actionable insights. However, the lack of public pricing and potentially less comprehensive core accounting features might be considerations for some users.
Key Benefits
- Real-time financial dashboards
- AI-powered anomaly detection
- Customizable reporting
- Cash flow forecasting
- Performance benchmarking
Pricing
- Individual (3B): $24.99/month.
- Couple (3B): $44.99/month.
Pros
Cons
8. FreshBooks (⭐3.0)
If you’re a freelancer or a service-based business, FreshBooks might be your perfect match.
It’s built with project-based work in mind.
Think invoicing, time tracking, and expense management.
It simplifies how you bill clients and track your hours and is designed to save you time on admin tasks.
Unlock its potential with our FreshBooks tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs FreshBooks comparison!
Our Take
Tired of complex accounting? 30 million+ businesses trust FreshBooks to create professional invoices. Simplify your accounting software today!
Key Benefits
- Professional invoice creation
- Automated payment reminders
- Time tracking
- Project management tools
- Expense tracking
Pricing
- Lite: $2.10/month.
- Plus: $3.80/month.
- Premium: $6.50/month.
- Select: Custom Pricing.
Pros
Cons
9. QuickBooks (⭐2.8)
QuickBooks is a huge name in accounting software.
Many businesses, especially in the US, use it.
It’s great for managing all your money tasks, like invoicing, tracking costs, and even payroll.
It’s a strong tool that can grow with your business.
Unlock its potential with our QuickBooks tutorial.
Also, explore our Wave vs QuickBooks comparison!
Key Benefits
- Automated transaction categorization
- Invoice creation and tracking
- Expense management
- Payroll services
- Reporting and dashboards
Pricing
- Simple Start: $1.90/month.
- Essential: $2.80/month.
- Plus: $4/month.
- Advanced: $7.60/month.
Pros
Cons
Buyers Guide
We conducted our research with a focus on the accounting software industry and what small business owners need to succeed.
- Defining the Market: We started by understanding the core function of Wave accounting software, which is a free invoicing and bookkeeping solution primarily for freelancers and new users. We then identified a list of Wave alternatives, including those that are completely free and those with two plans or more, to see what was available on the market for businesses of different sizes.
- Establishing Evaluation Factors: We developed a list of key features to evaluate each company and its software. These were:
- Pricing: We analyzed how much each product cost, from the starting price to different pricing plans. We considered if there was an option for unlimited invoicing for an unlimited number of customers, or if there were hidden fees that lead to unnecessary costs as a business grows. We also looked for free invoicing and payment processing options.
- Features: We meticulously reviewed the robust features of each product. This included core accounting tools like double entry accounting, general ledger, and the ability to send invoices, track expenses, and manage transactions. We also looked for advanced features like time tracking capabilities for multiple projects, project management tools, inventory management, contact management, and budgeting tools.
- Negatives: We looked for what was missing from each product, such as a lack of time tracking, limited features for larger businesses, or a more complex user interface for new users. We also identified any security concerns or limitations on the number of users or customers.
- Support or Refund: We investigated the level of customer support, including if they offered better customer support than Wave, and if they had a community or refund policy. We also looked for companies that offered multiple integrations to support business growth and help users get paid faster.
- Data Collection: We gathered information from official company websites, user reviews, and industry articles to get a full picture of each product. This included details on their contracts, bookkeeping methods, and how they handle payments.
- Analysis and Comparison: We used the data to create a side-by-side comparison, analyzing how each product performed based on our factors. We assessed which software was an excellent choice for a limited budget, and which offered the most value for businesses that need more complex features.
- Final Recommendation: Based on our comprehensive analysis, we formulated our final recommendations, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each product and providing clear guidance to small business owners on which Wave alternative is best for their specific needs.
- We considered the software’s ability to support multiple users, which is crucial as a business grows.
- We also evaluated if the following features were included: invoicing estimates, payment reminders to help get you paid faster, and many integrations with other popular business tools.
Wrapping Up
We’ve explored top Wave accounting alternative options.
Hopefully, this guide helped you discover powerful choices beyond Wave accounting, including QuickBooks Online.
We broke down features and pricing for each accounting alternative.
Many even offer a free trial or free account!
Choosing the right online accounting software for the small businesses is crucial.
While Wave is good, solutions with a monthly fee often provide stronger invoicing features.
Wave payroll integrations, avoiding a costly pro plan.
We’ve done the research, so you can pick the perfect management software and simplify your finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main Wave accounting alternatives?
Many options exist, such as QuickBooks, Xero, Zoho Books, and FreshBooks. These offer various features for invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting, often with scalable pricing plans to suit different business sizes.
Are there any free accounting alternatives to Wave?
Yes, some platforms offer free basic plans or trials. Zoho Books has a notable free tier for very small businesses. Other services provide a free trial period to test out their full features before committing to a monthly fee.
Which alternative is best for small businesses?
The “best” depends on your specific needs. FreshBooks excels for freelancers, QuickBooks is robust for growing businesses, and Xero offers excellent cloud collaboration. Consider your invoicing, payroll, and reporting needs.
Can these alternatives handle payroll like Wave Payroll?
Many alternatives offer integrated payroll or seamless integrations with third-party payroll services. QuickBooks and Sage have strong payroll capabilities. Zoho Books and Xero also integrate well with popular payroll solutions.
Do these alternatives offer similar invoicing features to Wave?
Most online accounting software for small businesses provides strong invoicing features. You’ll find options for professional invoices, recurring invoices, and online payment acceptance, often with more customization than Wave.
