HoneyBook vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of HoneyBook and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: HoneyBook wins on our scorecard (8/10 vs 7.8/10).
| Scored on | HoneyBook | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Starter Plan (Monthly) | $19 | — |
| Essentials Plan (Monthly) | $39 | — |
| Premium Plan (Monthly) | $79 | — |
| Card Processing (CC) | 2.9% + $0.25 | — |
| ACH Transfers | 1.5% | — |
| Starter Plan | — | $0/mo |
| Pro Plan | — | $16/mo |
| CC Processing (Visa/MC) | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| CC Processing (Amex) | — | 3.4% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% ($1 min) |
| Payroll (Tax Service) | — | $40 + $6/employee |
HoneyBook in one paragraph
HoneyBook is the gold standard for service-based solopreneurs who want to look like a 10-person agency while automating their most tedious tasks.
Skip it if: Skip it if you run a high-volume retail shop or a business with razor-thin margins where a 3% transaction fee is a dealbreaker.
Wave in one paragraph
Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, HoneyBook or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, HoneyBook scores higher (8/10 vs 7.8/10). HoneyBook is the gold standard for service-based solopreneurs who want to look like a 10-person agency while automating their most tedious tasks.
Who should skip HoneyBook?
Skip it if you run a high-volume retail shop or a business with razor-thin margins where a 3% transaction fee is a dealbreaker.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.