FreshBooks vs Wave
Wave comes out ahead of FreshBooks on 3 of the 6 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
Wave takes it, 3–1 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, Wave takes 3 of 6 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose FreshBooks if…
- • You want FreshBooks's edge on what customers say on trustpilot
Choose Wave if…
- • You want Wave's edge on what it costs to start and trying it before you pay
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startWave winsFreshBooks5/10
$23
Lite plan, per month at list price (billing limited to 5 clients)
- $23, against $19
Source: freshbooks.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Trying it before you payWave winsFreshBooks5/10
30-day free trial
a free trial on every plan
- 30-day free trial, against Free Starter plan
Source: freshbooks.com ↗
Wave8/10Free Starter plan
unlimited invoices, bills and bookkeeping records at $0
Source: waveapps.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3Who runs your payrollWave winsFreshBooks5/10
Built in, powered by Gusto
embedded payroll run by a partner
- Built in, powered by Gusto, against Own payroll subscription
Source: freshbooks.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 4What customers say on TrustpilotFreshBooks winsWave5/10
3.2 out of 5
TrustScore from 550 reviews on Trustpilot
- 3.2 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
Source: trustpilot.com ↗
FreshBooks wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 5How many invoices you can sendTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6Linking your bank accountTie
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- Built in, powered by Gusto, against Own payroll product
- Receipt scanning is Plus+, against Receipt capture included
- Just you; team members $11 each, against Unlimited users
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
- 3.2 out of 5, against 3.7 out of 5
- 3.2 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
- 3.2 out of 5, against 3.9 out of 5
- 3.2 out of 5, against 4.0 out of 5