FreshBooks vs Wave: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of FreshBooks and Wave. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Wave starts at $16/mo, making it $3/mo cheaper than FreshBooks ($19/mo). Wave offers a free plan.
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Wave — Wave offers a free plan, provides up to 11% annual savings, starts at $3/mo lower ($16/mo vs $19/mo).
FreshBooks vs Wave: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | FreshBooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $19/mo | $16/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 2 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | freemium |
| Annual Discount | N/A | Up to 11% |
Wave is the more affordable option, starting at $16/mo compared to FreshBooks' $19/mo. Both are Accounting tools with 5 combined pricing plans and 20 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $17.
Wave stands out with a free plan for getting started. FreshBooks uses per-seat pricing while Wave uses freemium pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Accounting needs.
| Pricing Plans |  FreshBooks Try it freeAffiliate |  Wave Try it freeAffiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Lite $19/month $228 / year Includes
| Starter $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | PlusPopular $33/month $396 / year Includes
| ProPopular $16/monthCheapest $170 / year(save $22) Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Premium $55/monthCheapest $660 / year Includes
| — |
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FreshBooks
Invoicing and accounting software tailored for freelancers and service-based small businesses
View all FreshBooks plansWave
Free accounting and invoicing software for small businesses, with paid add-ons for payroll and payments
View all Wave plansWave
Wave offers a free plan, provides up to 11% annual savings, starts at $3/mo lower ($16/mo vs $19/mo).
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Wave
Try Wave freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose FreshBooks if:
- •You need 3 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—FreshBooks offers 4 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize FreshBooks's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
Choose Wave if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Wave starts at $16/mo, saving $3/mo compared to FreshBooks at $19/mo
- •You need a free plan with Unlimited invoicing, Unlimited estimates—Wave offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •Annual billing savings matter to your budget—Wave offers up to 11% off with annual commitment
Wave is the more affordable choice [1], starting at $16/mo compared to FreshBooks' $19/mo. For a 50-person team on paid plans, this translates to Wave saving approximately $150/month. Wave offers 2 pricing tiers compared to FreshBooks' 3, giving you more granular control over scaling costs as your team grows. Across all tiers, Wave provides 8 total features versus 12 for FreshBooks, offering a more focused toolset depending on your specific needs. Wave is what we would recommend to a friend asking us "which one should I get?" Not because FreshBooks is bad, but because the price difference buys you very little extra functionality.
Best choice: FreshBooks
Try FreshBooks freeBest choice: Wave
Try Wave freeFrequently Asked Questions: FreshBooks vs Wave
Which is cheaper, FreshBooks or Wave?
How many pricing plans does FreshBooks have vs Wave?
Does FreshBooks or Wave offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for FreshBooks or Wave?
What is the most popular FreshBooks plan?
What is the most popular Wave plan?
What pricing models do FreshBooks and Wave use?
Sources
- FreshBooks Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Wave Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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