The verdict
It's a dead heat.
Neither pulls ahead on the published figures and review sites, so the decision is in the details this comparison cannot see. Check the current figures on both pages.
Choose Wave if…
- • You want Wave's edge on who runs your payroll
Choose ZipBooks if…
- • You want ZipBooks's edge on what it costs to start
Round by round
- Round 1What it costs to startZipBooks winsWave5/10
$19
Pro plan, per month (the core accounting plan is free)
- $19, against $15
Source: waveapps.com ↗
ZipBooks wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2Who runs your payrollWave winsZipBooks5/10
Via Gusto
Gusto is the preferred payroll partner
- Via Gusto, against Own payroll subscription
Source: zipbooks.com ↗
Wave wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3Trying it before you payTieWave7/10
Free Starter plan
unlimited invoices, bills and bookkeeping records at $0
Source: waveapps.com ↗
ZipBooks7/101 bank account
bank connections
- unlimited invoicing and bank connections at $0
Source: zipbooks.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 4How many invoices you can sendTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5Linking your bank accountTie
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6Invoices that repeat themselvesTie
Nothing to separate them here.
Side by side
- unlimited invoicing and bank connections at $0
- the $15 plan includes unlimited users
- 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
- In-app chat, against Phone support included
- Via Gusto, against Own payroll product
- In-app chat, against Phone and email support
- Via Gusto, against Own payroll subscription