Wave vs QuickBooks Online
Comparing Wave and QuickBooks Online pricing plans, feature limits, and annual savings for 2026.
There is a $0.010000000000001563/mo difference in entry-level pricing.
Wave offers 4 distinct tiers compared to QuickBooks Online's 5 options.
We mapped 30 total feature points across both tools for this evaluation.
Side-by-Side Matrix
Wave starts at $19.99/mo, making it the most cost-effective choice for and scaling agencies.
Free
—
Pro
$19.99/mo
Payroll
$40.00/mo
Bookkeeping
$149.00/mo
QuickBooks Online's pricing structure is designed to grow with your business, offering multiple tiers that cater to different operational needs and scales.
Solopreneur
$20.00/mo
Simple Start
$35.00/mo
Essentials
$65.00/mo
Plus
$99.00/mo
Advanced
$235.00/mo
* Disclaimer: Pricing and availability may vary based on your location, selected billing cycle, or custom enterprise agreements.
Detailed limit-by-limit comparison of all tiers.
| Capabilities | Wave Free | Wave Pro | Wave Payroll | Wave Bookkeeping | QuickBooks Online Solopreneur | QuickBooks Online Simple Start | QuickBooks Online Essentials | QuickBooks Online Plus | QuickBooks Online Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced reporting | |||||||||
| Automatic Bank Transaction Importing | |||||||||
| Basic Reporting | |||||||||
| Basic tax preparation tools | |||||||||
| Bill management | |||||||||
| Bookkeeping Assistance | |||||||||
| Custom user permissions | |||||||||
| Dedicated support | |||||||||
| Income and Expense Tracking | |||||||||
| Income and expense tracking | |||||||||
| Inventory tracking | |||||||||
| Invoicing | |||||||||
| Mobile receipt capture | |||||||||
| Multi-user collaboration | |||||||||
| Payroll Services | |||||||||
| Project profitability analysis | |||||||||
| Remove Wave Branding from Invoices | |||||||||
| Sophisticated workflow automation | |||||||||
| Time tracking | |||||||||
| Transaction Categorization | |||||||||
| Unlimited Invoicing | Unlimited | ||||||||
| Unlimited Receipt Scanning | Unlimited |
The Detailed Breakdown
Choosing between Wave and QuickBooks Online depends heavily on your agency's specific scale and feature requirements. While pricing favors Wave for teams on a budget, the hidden value often lies in the specific limits of their mid-tier plans.
Wave typically caters to teams looking for specific business automation, whereas QuickBooks Online is often the choice for those prioritizing integrated workflow management.
Wave Highlights
- ✓ Unlimited Invoicing: Unlimited
- ✓ Income and Expense Tracking: Included
- ✓ Basic Reporting: Included
QuickBooks Online Highlights
- ✓ Income and expense tracking: Included
- ✓ Invoicing: Included
- ✓ Mobile receipt capture: Included
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Wave and QuickBooks Online pricing.
Which is cheaper: Wave or QuickBooks Online for agencies?!
For agencies on a tight budget, Wave is the clear winner, starting at $19.99/mo compared to QuickBooks Online's entry price of $20.00/mo.
Does Wave offer annual billing discounts?!
While Wave lists various plans, we recommend checking their official checkout for the latest "billed annually" incentives, which are common in the SaaS industry.
Is there a free trial for QuickBooks Online?!
Most tools in this category, including QuickBooks Online, offer either a limited free trial or a money-back guarantee period. We recommend clicking through to their official site to see the current trial terms for 2026.
Does Wave offer custom enterprise pricing?!
No, Wave does not list a custom enterprise tier — all plans have publicly listed prices.