Thinking about how to manage your small business money?
It can feel like a big puzzle.
You need to keep track of sales, bills, and where your money goes.
This is where accounting software like Zoho Books vs Wave comes in.
Both are popular choices for small businesses in 2025, but they offer different things.
Let’s dive in and see which one is the best fit for your business.
Overview
We tested both Zoho Books and Wave.
We used them like real businesses would.
This helped us see their strong points and weak points.
Now, let’s compare them fairly.
Harness the power of your financial data. Unlock key insights with Zoho.
Pricing: It has a free trial. The premium plan starts at $10/month.
Key Features:
- Invoicing
- Expense Tracking
- Customer Portal
Over 4 million small businesses trust Wave to manage their finances.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plan starts at $16/month.
Key Features:
- Unlimited Invoicing
- Expense Tracking
- Basic Reporting
What is Zoho Books?
So, you’re curious about Zoho Books?
It’s like a helpful tool for your business money stuff.
It helps you keep track of your income and expenses.
Think of it as your digital bookkeeper!
Also, explore our favorite Zoho Books alternatives…
Harness the power of your financial data. Unlock key insights with your Zoho Books data today.
Key Benefits
Zoho Books shines with its 5 key strengths:
- It smoothly connects with over 40 other Zoho apps.
- You can send professional invoices in just a few clicks.
- It helps you track all the money coming in and going out.
- Collaborating with your team is super easy.
- Their reports give you clear insights into your business health.
Pricing
Zoho Books has different plans to fit different needs:
- Free: $0/month
- Standard: $10/month
- Professional: $20/month
- Premium: $30/month
Pros
Cons
What is Wave?
Okay, let’s talk about Wave.
Think of it like a helpful friend for your business money.
It lets you do things like send invoices and track what money comes in and goes out.
It can help you see the big picture of your business finances.
Also, explore our favorite Wave alternatives…
Over 4 million small businesses trust Wave to manage their finances. See why 88% of users report saving an average of 5 hours per month on bookkeeping with Wave.
Key Benefits
Wave stands out with:
- A 100% free basic accounting plan.
- Easy to use interface for beginners.
- Seamless integration with its payroll add-on.
- Over 2 million small businesses use it.
Pricing
Free: $0
Pro Plan: $16
Pros
Cons
Feature Comparison
Let’s look closely at what both Zoho Books and Wave offer.
We’ll break down the important features to help you pick.
1. Invoicing
Both let you create and send invoices.
Wave’s invoicing is simple and easy to use.
Zoho Books offers more ways to customize your invoices.
2. Expense Tracking
You can track your spending with both.
Wave lets you connect your bank to pull in transactions.
Zoho Books does this too, but it also has better tools for sorting expenses into categories.
3. Reporting
Both give you reports to see how your business is doing.
Wave’s reports are basic but cover the essentials like profit and loss.
Zoho Books has a wider range of reports.
You can get deeper insights into your finances.
4. Inventory Management
This is where Zoho Books shines.
It has built-in tools to track your products.
You can see what you have in stock and when to reorder.
Wave does not have any inventory management features.
5. Payroll
Wave offers payroll services, but it’s an extra cost.
It’s available in some countries.
Zoho Books also has payroll, often through integrations with other services.
6. Customer Support
Both offer help if you get stuck.
Wave mainly uses online help and a community forum.
Zoho Books offers email, chat, and phone support, especially with its paid plans.
This means faster help if you need it.
7. Integrations
Zoho Books connects with many other apps, especially other Zoho products like Zoho CRM.
It also connects with payment gateways and e-commerce platforms.
Wave has fewer direct integrations, but it can connect to many apps through Zapier.
What to look for when choosing Accounting Software?
- Scalability: Can the software grow with your business?
- Support: What kind of help is available if you have questions?
- Ease of Use: Is it something you and your team can learn quickly?
- Specific Needs: Does it handle the unique things your business does?
- Security: How safe is your financial data with this software?
Final Verdict (Our Pick)
After looking at Zoho Books vs Wave, our pick for most small businesses is Zoho Books.
While Wave is great because it’s free.
Zoho Books offers more.
It has better tools for tracking inventory, more detailed reports, and stronger customer support options.
If your business is growing or you need more than just basic accounting.
Zoho Books will serve you better in the long run.
We’ve dug deep into both, so you can trust our advice on which one will truly help your money matters.
More of Zoho Books
- Zoho Books vs Puzzle IO: Puzzle IO offers automated financials and accruals; Zoho Books provides comprehensive core accounting.
- Zoho Books vs Dext: Dext excels in automated receipt and invoice processing; Zoho Books offers full accounting functionality.
- Zoho Books vs Xero: Xero is popular for its strong bank feeds and integrations; Zoho Books offers a wider ecosystem.
- Zoho Books vs Synder: Synder specializes in e-commerce sales integration; Zoho Books handles complete business accounting.
- Zoho Books vs Easy Month End: Easy Month End streamlines month-end closing; Zoho Books offers daily accounting processes.
- Zoho Books vs RefreshMe: RefreshMe focuses on personal finance and simple expense tracking; Zoho Books is full business accounting.
- Zoho Books vs Sage: Sage offers robust inventory and payroll features; Zoho Books provides a more user-friendly interface.
- Zoho Books vs Quicken: Quicken is primarily for personal finance; Zoho Books is a dedicated business owners accounting solution.
- Zoho Books vs Hubdoc: Hubdoc automates document collection; Zoho Books includes integrated accounting.
- Zoho Books vs Expensify: Expensify is a strong expense reporting tool; Zoho Books offers integrated expense management.
- Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: QuickBooks is highly popular and robust; Zoho Books offers great value and ecosystem.
- Zoho Books vs AutoEntry: AutoEntry focuses on automates data entry from documents; Zoho Books covers all accounting.
- Zoho Books vs FreshBooks: FreshBooks excels in invoicing and time tracking for freelancers; Zoho Books is more comprehensive.
- Zoho Books vs NetSuite: NetSuite is a full ERP for large enterprises; Zoho Books caters to small to medium businesses.
More of Wave
- Wave vs Puzzle IO: Puzzle IO offers robust project management and time tracking for service businesses.
- Wave vs Dext: Dext excels at intelligent document and receipt capture for automated data entry.
- Wave vs Xero: Xero provides comprehensive cloud accounting with extensive integrations for growing businesses.
- Wave vs Synder: Synder specializes in syncing e-commerce and payment platform data directly into accounting software.
- Wave vs Easy Month End: Easy Month End streamlines month-end closing processes with automation and reconciliation tools.
- Wave vs RefreshMe: RefreshMe focuses on simplifying employee expense management and reimbursements for teams.
- Wave vs Sage: Sage offers scalable accounting solutions for various business sizes, from small to enterprise.
- Wave vs Quicken: Quicken is primarily for personal finance management, with some small business tracking.
- Wave vs Hubdoc: Hubdoc automates financial document collection and data extraction for easier bookkeeping.
- Wave vs Expensify: Expensify is a dedicated platform for automating expense reports and corporate card management.
- Wave vs QuickBooks: QuickBooks is a widely used, comprehensive accounting solution for businesses of all sizes.
- Wave vs AutoEntry: AutoEntry specializes in automated data entry from receipts and invoices, reducing manual input.
- Wave vs FreshBooks: FreshBooks is designed for service-based businesses, focusing on invoicing, time tracking, and projects.
- Wave vs NetSuite: NetSuite is a full-fledged cloud ERP system for large businesses, covering all business operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wave truly free for accounting?
Yes, Wave offers its core accounting features for free. This includes invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reports. They make money from payment processing and payroll services, which are extra.
Can Zoho Books handle inventory?
Yes, Zoho Books has strong inventory management tools. You can track your products, manage stock levels, and even set up reorder points. Wave does not offer this feature at all.
Which is better for beginners?
Wave is often easier for beginners because it’s simpler and free. Zoho Books has more features, which might feel like a lot at first. But Zoho Books is still user-friendly once you get used to it.
Do both connect to my bank?
Yes, both Zoho Books and Wave let you connect your bank accounts. This helps you import transactions easily. It saves time and helps keep your records accurate without manual entry.
Can I use these on my phone?
Both Zoho Books and Wave offer mobile apps. You can manage your finances on the go. This means you can send invoices or check expenses from your phone or tablet.
