QuickBooks Online vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of QuickBooks Online 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 | QuickBooks Online | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 7 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 9 |
| Customer support | 5 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Simple Start Tier | $35/mo | — |
| Essentials Tier | $60/mo | — |
| Plus Tier | $90/mo | — |
| Advanced Tier | $200/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 |
QuickBooks Online in one paragraph
The undisputed industry standard that justifies its high price through massive time savings and CPA compatibility.
Skip it if: You are a micro-business with fewer than 10 transactions a month and don't mind manual spreadsheets.
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, QuickBooks Online 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 QuickBooks Online?
You are a micro-business with fewer than 10 transactions a month and don't mind manual spreadsheets.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.