QuickBooks vs Wave
Wave comes out ahead of QuickBooks 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 QuickBooks if…
- • You want QuickBooks'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 winsQuickBooks5/10
$38
Simple Start, per month at list price (the introductory offer is half that for three months)
- $38, against $19
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Trying it before you payWave winsQuickBooks5/10
30-day free trial
a free trial, no free plan
- 30-day free trial, against Free Starter plan
Source: quickbooks.intuit.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 3What customers say on TrustpilotQuickBooks 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 ↗
QuickBooks wins this round on independent review-site data, not on its own claims.
- Round 4Who runs your payrollTieQuickBooks7/10
Own payroll product
QuickBooks Payroll is Intuit's own, sold separately
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5Invoices that repeat themselvesWave winsQuickBooks5/10
Recurring invoices is Simple Start+
Simple Start, QuickBooks Online pricing comparison (US/USD)
- Recurring is Essentials+, against Recurring billing on Pro
Source: quickbooks.intuit.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 6How many invoices you can sendTie
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- Simple Start includes one user plus two accountants
- $38, against $27
- 1 user, against Unlimited users
- 3.7 out of 5, against 4.1 out of 5
- $38, against $23
- 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