Pipedrive vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Pipedrive 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 7.7/10).
| Scored on | Pipedrive | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 7 |
| Essential Plan (Annual) | $14/user/mo | — |
| Advanced Plan (Annual) | $34/user/mo | — |
| Professional Plan (Annual) | $49/user/mo | — |
| LeadBooster Add-on | $32.50/mo | — |
| 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 |
Pipedrive in one paragraph
Pipedrive is the best choice for small teams who want a visual, no-fuss sales tool that emphasizes action over complex data entry.
Skip it if: You need a free-forever CRM or a tool that includes built-in mass email marketing.
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, Pipedrive or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.7/10). 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 Pipedrive?
You need a free-forever CRM or a tool that includes built-in mass email marketing.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.