Wave vs ZenBusiness: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Wave and ZenBusiness — 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 7.2/10).
| Scored on | Wave | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 7 |
| Ease of use | 9 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 9 | 6 |
| Customer support | 5 | 6 |
| Features | 7 | 8 |
| 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 | — |
| Starter Tier | — | $0 + State Fees |
| Pro Tier | — | $199/year |
| Premium Tier | — | $299/year |
| Registered Agent (Standalone) | — | $199/year |
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.
ZenBusiness in one paragraph
ZenBusiness is a top-tier choice for effortless LLC formation, provided you are vigilant about disabling the expensive annual subscription add-ons.
Skip it if: You are comfortable navigating your state's Secretary of State website and want to avoid high-margin recurring compliance fees.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Wave or ZenBusiness?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7.8/10 vs 7.2/10). 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 Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.
Who should skip ZenBusiness?
You are comfortable navigating your state's Secretary of State website and want to avoid high-margin recurring compliance fees.