# Wave — Free double-entry books for solo owners, with bank imports, receipts and payroll kept behind the paid Pro Plan. > Source: Tick Mark Books — https://tickmarkbooks.com/wave (structured, researched, re-verified) Wave is accounting, invoicing and payments software for very small US and Canadian businesses, built on double-entry bookkeeping. A free Starter plan covers invoices and manual records, while the paid Pro Plan adds automatic bank imports, categorization and receipt scanning. **Best for:** Freelancers and solo owners who want real double-entry books without paying for software | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Website | https://www.waveapps.com/ | | Category | Accounting software, Cheapest accounting software, Freelancers and the self-employed, Free accounting software, Small businesses | | Open source | No | | Price | Free | | Price checked | 28 October 2026 | Screenshot of Wave: https://tickmarkbooks.com/img/1920/screenshots/wave.webp, captured 28 October 2026 **What we checked** - Pages last read: 28 October 2026 - Price on its site: Free plan (From its pricing page) ## Wave in our research **Also named in** - [Freelancer accounting software with bank feeds](https://tickmarkbooks.com/collections/freelancer-accounting-software-with-bank-feeds) · Collection ## What it costs A month of books at 100 transactions: $19 a month at 100 transactions, on Pro ## Wave price and plans Prices excluding tax, as Wave publishes them. | Plan | Price | What's included | | --- | --- | --- | | Starter | Free | Keeps no full set of books; Flat fee | | Pro | $19 a month | Flat fee | | Receipts | $8 a month | Keeps no full set of books; Flat fee | | Wave Advisors bookkeeping support | From $149 a month | Through sales; Flat fee | Pricing page as we captured it: https://tickmarkbooks.com/img/1920/screenshots/wave/pricing.webp, captured 28 October 2026 Read on https://www.waveapps.com/pricing, 28 October 2026. ## What Wave costs at your volume | Transactions | Cost | Plan | | --- | --- | --- | | 100 | $19 a month | Pro | | 500 | $19 a month | Pro | ## What we checked on Wave ### What it costs to keep your books **Cost at 100 transactions a month** · Yes — $19 a month on Pro for 100 transactions. Pro is 50% off for 3 months for new customers ($9.50 a month), on offer until 6 January 2026. The figure is the regular $19, paid after it. > $19USD/month Billed monthly > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Pro Plan column, price cell with the Monthly/Annual tab set to Monthly, checked 28 October 2026 **Cost at 500 transactions a month** · Yes — $19 a month on Pro for 500 transactions. Pro is 50% off for 3 months for new customers ($9.50 a month), on offer until 6 January 2026. The figure is the regular $19, paid after it. > $19USD/month Billed monthly > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Pro Plan column, price cell with the Monthly/Annual tab set to Monthly, checked 28 October 2026 **Cost for a solo freelancer** · Yes — A freelancer who wants bank imports and receipts pays $19 a month for the Pro Plan, which bundles both; the free Starter plan has neither. > $19USD/month Billed monthly ... Everything in Starter, plus…. Auto-import bank transactions*** Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Pro Plan column, monthly billing view, checked 28 October 2026 **Promotion and regular price** · Yes — promotion: the Pro card shows $9.50 for the first three months instead of $19, after which the regular $19 a month is charged. > PROMO: $19 $9.50USD/month† Save $28.50 off your first 3 months > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Pro Plan column, promo block under the monthly price, checked 28 October 2026 **Ledger included** · Yes — Wave is the accounting software itself, so nothing else has to be bought for it to keep your books; it uses double-entry accounting. > Wave uses real, double-entry accounting software. Don’t know what that is? No sweat. Accountants do, and they’ll thank you for it. > — https://www.waveapps.com/accounting · Less mess, less-stress small business bookkeeping section, Accountant-friendly software, checked 28 October 2026 **What the price is based on** · Yes — A flat fee charged once per business, not per owner or per user; a second business means a second subscription at the same rate. > The subscription fee for the Pro Plan is per business, not per owner. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Frequently Asked Questions, "Is the subscription fee for the Pro Plan per owner or per business?", checked 28 October 2026 **Users included** · Yes — The Pro Plan advertises unlimited user access with no stated per-seat charge, and invited people take admin, editor or viewer roles. > Unlimited user access Invite your accountant, bookkeeper, or payroll manager to collaborate securely. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pro · Stay tax-ready with clean books and instant reports section, third card, checked 28 October 2026 **Setup or onboarding fee** · No — The Pro Plan is sold with no setup or hidden charge, and the payroll price list repeats that there are no set-up fees. > No hidden fees. Cancel anytime. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pro · Everything included in Wave Pro section, intro line above the plan card, checked 28 October 2026 ### What the AI does with your books **What the AI does** · Partly — The automation Wave names is importing, merging and categorizing bank transactions and pulling the details off a photographed receipt; its pages never call any of this AI. > Automatically import and categorize bank transactions. Scan and digitize business receipts with OCR technology. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pro · Why choose the Wave Pro Plan? section, Save hours with bookkeeping automation, checked 28 October 2026 **What the AI costs** · Yes — included: the automatic categorization and the receipt reading both come inside the $19 Pro Plan, with no separate credit or add-on charge named. > Everything in Starter, plus…. Auto-import bank transactions*** Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Pro Plan column, feature list, checked 28 October 2026 **Categorizes transactions** · Yes — Connected bank and card transactions are merged and categorized automatically on the Pro Plan; the pages do not say whether it learns from your corrections. > If you connect your bank account(s) to your Wave account, we’ll automatically merge and categorize your transactions, streamlining your bookkeeping. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Compare full plan features, Auto-merge and categorize transactions tooltip, checked 28 October 2026 **Reconciles your accounts** · Yes — Wave reconciles accounts as part of its own workflow, and the paid bookkeeping service does the reconciling for you each month instead. > Wave simplifies transaction uploads, categorization, and reconciliation, so your books stay more accurate. > — https://www.waveapps.com/tax-season · Your roadmap to a stress-free tax season, Avoid costly mistakes, checked 28 October 2026 **Reads receipts and bills** · Yes — You can photograph, upload or email a receipt and Wave reads it and turns it into a bookkeeping record; it is included on Pro or $8 a month on its own. > Stay prepared for tax time with Wave’s receipts feature. Scan or upload receipts from Wave's mobile app, desktop, or email! > — https://www.waveapps.com/receipts · Page header, under "Easily organize your business expenses", checked 28 October 2026 **Pays your bills** · Partly — You can record bills on every plan, but paying them happens in a connected third-party check and payment tool rather than inside Wave, and no approval routing is described. > Import unpaid Wave invoices and vendor payees directly into Online Check Writer to print checks, send eChecks, or trigger ACH and wire payments. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · All apps directory, Online Check Writer card, checked 28 October 2026 **Sends invoices** · Yes — Invoices and estimates are unlimited on the free plan, and customers can pay them by card or bank payment straight from the emailed invoice. > Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Plan cards, Starter Plan column, first feature bullet, checked 28 October 2026 **Accrual books and reports** · Yes — Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow reports are generated on demand from double-entry books; the pages do not say whether those books are kept on an accrual basis. > Generate your profit & loss statement, balance sheet, and cash flow report automatically—no spreadsheets required. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pro · Why choose the Wave Pro Plan? section, Be tax-ready year-round, checked 28 October 2026 ### Who checks the AI’s work **People check the books** · Partly — On Starter and Pro the checking is yours; only the separately priced Wave Advisors bookkeeping service puts an in-house bookkeeper on your books. > A dedicated bookkeeper to keep your books accurate and up to date > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Wave Advisors card, "Includes Pro Plan features*, plus:" list, checked 28 October 2026 **Your own bookkeeper** · Partly — A named in-house bookkeeper based in North America comes with the Advisors bookkeeping package from $149 a month, not with the software plans. > Assigned in-house bookkeeper based in North America > — https://www.waveapps.com/wave-advisors · Have a trusted advisor by your side, Bookkeeping support card, checked 28 October 2026 **Your accountant can sign in** · Yes — You can invite an accountant, bookkeeper or partner as a collaborator, and the Pro Plan describes that user access as unlimited rather than charged per seat. > Grant trusted individuals—like partners, collaborators, or accountants—access to your Wave account as a payroll manager or Block Advisors tax pro (free), or admin, editor, or viewer (Pro). > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Compare full plan features, Add users to your account tooltip, checked 28 October 2026 ### Where your books live and what it connects to **Bank and card feeds** · Yes — The Pro Plan connects to your bank through an outside connection provider and imports transactions by itself; the vendor warns not every institution can be connected. > If your bank allows you to connect to Wave with Plaid*** (the platform we use to facilitate bank connections), you can automatically import your transactions into Wave in seconds. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Compare full plan features, Auto-import bank transactions tooltip, checked 28 October 2026 **Stripe** · Yes — Shopify, Stripe and PayPal reach Wave only through the Make.com automation bridge on Pro > Yes. Wave Accounting integrates with Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal through Make.com, available on the Wave Pro plan. Wave also connects directly with 14 apps, including Etsy, Amazon, GoHighLevel, and Google Sheets. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · Frequently Asked Questions, "Does Wave integrate with third-party apps like Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal?", checked 28 October 2026 **Shopify** · Yes — Shopify, Stripe and PayPal reach Wave only through the Make.com automation bridge on Pro > Yes. Wave Accounting integrates with Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal through Make.com, available on the Wave Pro plan. Wave also connects directly with 14 apps, including Etsy, Amazon, GoHighLevel, and Google Sheets. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · Frequently Asked Questions, "Does Wave integrate with third-party apps like Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal?", checked 28 October 2026 **PayPal** · Yes — Shopify, Stripe and PayPal reach Wave only through the Make.com automation bridge on Pro > Yes. Wave Accounting integrates with Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal through Make.com, available on the Wave Pro plan. Wave also connects directly with 14 apps, including Etsy, Amazon, GoHighLevel, and Google Sheets. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · Frequently Asked Questions, "Does Wave integrate with third-party apps like Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal?", checked 28 October 2026 **Square** · No — the directory and its count of direct apps do not list Square or Gusto. > Yes. Wave Accounting integrates with Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal through Make.com, available on the Wave Pro plan. Wave also connects directly with 14 apps, including Etsy, Amazon, GoHighLevel, and Google Sheets. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · Frequently Asked Questions, "Does Wave integrate with third-party apps like Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal?", checked 28 October 2026 **Gusto payroll** · No — the directory and its count of direct apps do not list Square or Gusto. > Yes. Wave Accounting integrates with Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal through Make.com, available on the Wave Pro plan. Wave also connects directly with 14 apps, including Etsy, Amazon, GoHighLevel, and Google Sheets. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · Frequently Asked Questions, "Does Wave integrate with third-party apps like Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal?", checked 28 October 2026 **Payroll** · Yes — add-on: Wave sells its own payroll beside the plans, from $40 a month in the US plus $6 for each person paid, with tax payments and filings included. > $40 USD base fee + $6 per active employee + $6 per independent contractor paid > — https://www.waveapps.com/payroll · Payroll pricing section, US tab, Monthly fee, checked 28 October 2026 **Moves your history in** · Yes — Wave publishes step-by-step guides for moving in from QuickBooks, FreshBooks or a spreadsheet, and names no charge for doing it yourself. > Yes, switching from other accounting apps or products to Wave is easy! See our step-by-step guide here on how to switch to Wave from Quickbooks. > — https://www.waveapps.com/accounting · Frequently Asked Questions, "Can I import my data from other accounting apps like Quickbooks?", checked 28 October 2026 **Platforms** · Partly — web, ios, android: it runs in a browser with nothing to install, and the mobile app is published for iPhone and Android; no Windows or Mac program is offered. > Wave's tools are web-based, so you just need an Internet connection and browser—no installation is necessary for our online software! > — https://www.waveapps.com/accounting · Frequently Asked Questions, "Is Wave's software something I need to install?", checked 28 October 2026 **Getting your books out** · Partly — A free spreadsheet connection moves customers, products, invoices and transactions in and out of your books, but no full report or trial balance export is described. > Share data between custom sheets and your general ledger, reducing the need for manual uploads. Included free on all Wave plans. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · All apps directory, Google Sheets card, checked 28 October 2026 ### Taxes **Files 1099s** · Partly — The payroll add-on generates 1099-NEC forms for contractors you pay, but Wave's automatic tax filing service explicitly leaves 1099 filings out. > As part of our tax services, Wave will automatically transfer tax payments* and file the paperwork with your state tax agency and the IRS (excluding 1099 filings) > — https://www.waveapps.com/payroll · Payroll pricing section, US tab, Details list, checked 28 October 2026 ### What it keeps track of **Mileage** · Partly — Mileage is recorded in the separate Driversnote app, which syncs trips into Wave on the Pro Plan; Wave itself does not advertise trip tracking. > Record driving trips to help track business mileage and kilometres for your records. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · All apps directory, Driversnote card, checked 28 October 2026 **Billable time** · Partly — Billable hours are logged in connected apps such as MinuteDock and turned into Wave invoices on Pro, rather than being tracked inside Wave. > Convert logged project hours into Wave invoices, with less manual re-entry. > — https://www.waveapps.com/integrations · All apps directory, MinuteDock card, checked 28 October 2026 ### Who it is built for **Several businesses** · Yes — One login can hold several business profiles, but each business that wants the paid plan is subscribed and billed separately at the full rate. > A single Wave account can be used to manage multiple business profiles within it, and if you have e.g. three businesses under one account and want them all on the Pro Plan, you’d sign each business up > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Frequently Asked Questions, "Is the subscription fee for the Pro Plan per owner or per business?", checked 28 October 2026 **Canada** · Yes — Available in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). > Available in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). > — https://www.waveapps.com/wave-advisors · Have a trusted advisor by your side, second footnote under the pricing cards, checked 28 October 2026 **Australia** · No — no UK or Australian terms exist. > Available in the US and Canada (excluding Quebec). > — https://www.waveapps.com/wave-advisors · Have a trusted advisor by your side, second footnote under the pricing cards, checked 28 October 2026 ### Trying it, starting and getting help **Free trial or free plan** · Yes — The Starter plan costs nothing and is offered as the way to try the bookkeeping and invoicing basics on your own books before paying. > Sign up for the Starter Plan to take the bookkeeping and invoicing basics for a spin. Then, whenever you’re ready, upgrade to the Pro Plan to unlock even more money management features. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Frequently Asked Questions, "What if I just want to try Wave to see if it works for my business?", checked 28 October 2026 **Sign up without a sales call** · Yes — You register and upgrade yourself from inside the product with an upgrade button; only the human bookkeeping service needs a booked call. > To upgrade to the Pro Plan, sign into Wave. Visit your dashboard or use your invoicing or accounting features, and click the peach “Upgrade now” button. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Frequently Asked Questions, "Can I change plans easily?", checked 28 October 2026 **Contract and cancelling** · Yes — Month to month with no commitment: you can cancel yourself at any time and keep the plan until the billing period you paid for ends. > Yes, you can unsubscribe at any time! The cancellation of your subscription will take effect at the end of the billing period in which you cancel. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Frequently Asked Questions, "Is it easy to cancel for any reason after I subscribe?", checked 28 October 2026 **Support** · Partly — Chat and email with a person on weekdays only, 9 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern, and on the free plan only if you buy an add-on; no phone line is offered. > Our support team is available through live chat or email Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern. > — https://www.waveapps.com/pricing · Compare full plan features, Access live-person chat and email support tooltip, checked 28 October 2026 ## Wave alternatives - [Zoho Books](https://tickmarkbooks.com/zoho-books) · Free plan, then $20 a month: Cloud accounting ledger with Zia AI, bank feeds, sales tax and 1099 e-filing, from $20 a month. - [FreeAgent](https://tickmarkbooks.com/freeagent) · From £10 a month (about $13): UK cloud accounting with HMRC filing, bank feeds and AI receipt capture, priced per business type. - [Puzzle](https://tickmarkbooks.com/puzzle) · No list price: AI-native accounting software with optional bookkeeper services for startups and small businesses. - [Pilot](https://tickmarkbooks.com/pilot) · No list price: A bookkeeping and tax service for startups that pairs software-driven dashboards with human financial advisors. - [Booke AI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/booke-ai) · No list price: An AI bookkeeper that works inside QuickBooks Online and Xero to categorize transactions and match documents. - [SimpleAI](https://tickmarkbooks.com/simpleai) · From $79 a month: AI agents that extract, classify and reconcile accounting documents, then publish them into Xero or QuickBooks. - [QuickBooks Online](https://tickmarkbooks.com/quickbooks-online) · Free plan, then $38 a month: Intuit's cloud ledger, now with Intuit Intelligence agents that categorize, reconcile and flag errors. - [Digits](https://tickmarkbooks.com/digits) · From $65 a month: AI-native general ledger that books and reconciles itself, replacing QuickBooks or Xero for US businesses. - [Xero](https://tickmarkbooks.com/xero) · From $27 a month: Small-business ledger with a JAX assistant that answers questions in plain language; unlimited users on every plan. 6 of the 9 publish a price. [All 9 alternatives](https://tickmarkbooks.com/wave/alternatives/) ## Sources and changes Last changed 28 October 2026 **Sources on waveapps.com** (8) - https://www.waveapps.com/pricing, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/integrations, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/pro, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/accounting, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/payroll, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/wave-advisors, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/receipts, read 28 October 2026 - https://www.waveapps.com/tax-season, read 28 October 2026 ## Is this yours? Claim Wave: https://tickmarkbooks.com/claim/wave Report an error if a fact is wrong: hello@tickmarkbooks.com, subject "Report an error: Wave (wave)".