Insightly vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Insightly and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Wave wins on our scorecard (7.8/10 vs 7.3/10).
| Scored on | Insightly | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 7 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 7 |
| Plus Tier (Annual) | $29/user/mo | — |
| Professional Tier (Annual) | $49/user/mo | — |
| Enterprise Tier (Annual) | $99/user/mo | — |
| AppConnect Add-on | Varies by usage | — |
| 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 |
Insightly in one paragraph
Insightly is the best choice for businesses that need to bridge the gap between a closed sale and a finished project without switching apps.
Skip it if: Skip it if you only need a simple contact manager and don't plan on using the project management features.
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, Insightly or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.3/10). Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Who should skip Insightly?
Skip it if you only need a simple contact manager and don't plan on using the project management features.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.