Recurly vs Wave: Which Billing & Invoicing Is Better in 2026?
Compare pricing, features, integrations, verified reviews, AI capabilities, security, and customer satisfaction — side by side, with no marketing spin.
The Short Answer
Recurly vs Wave, in 15 seconds
Choose Recurly if…
- You want to trial before paying
- You depend on a broad integration ecosystem
- You want deeper AI and automation features
- You have strict security & compliance needs
Choose Wave if…
- You want the lower entry price
- You need a genuinely free plan
Head-to-Head Scorecard
How Recurly and Wave score
Recurly leads on 4 of 9 measured dimensions.
- Even
Customer Rating
Average score from verified user reviews
RecurlyNo reviewsWaveNo reviews - Even
Review Volume
Number of verified reviews — a proxy for adoption
Recurly0Wave0 - Wave
Entry Pricing
Lowest published starting price (free plan = lowest)
Recurly$199/moWave$0/mo - Even
Free Access
Availability of a free plan and/or free trial
RecurlyFree trialWaveFree plan - Recurly
Integrations
Number of listed third-party integrations
Recurly10Wave7 - Recurly
Features
Number of listed product capabilities
Recurly12Wave11 - Recurly
AI Features
Capabilities mentioning AI, automation or ML
Recurly2Wave— - Recurly
Security & Compliance
Number of listed compliance certifications
Recurly5Wave3 - Wave
Platforms & Deployment
Supported platforms and deployment options
Recurly3Wave4
Feature Comparison
Recurly vs Wave feature breakdown
Search or filter the full feature matrix — core features, AI, integrations, APIs, security and compliance.
Recurly
WavePricing Comparison
Recurly vs Wave pricing
Entry pricing, plan tiers and the cost factors that shape total cost of ownership.
Recurly
$199/mo to start- Recurring billing engine
- Dunning and retries
- Multi-gateway support
- Subscription analytics
- Everything in Core
- Advanced revenue recovery
- Revenue recognition
- Advanced analytics
- Everything in Professional
- No per-transaction fee
- Custom SLAs
- Dedicated account team
Wave
$0/mo to start- Unlimited invoices & estimates
- Income & expense tracking
- Double-entry accounting
- Financial reports
- Automatic bank imports
- Unlimited collaborators
- Removes Wave branding
- Auto-categorization
- Accept card & bank payments
- Per-transaction pricing
- Faster payment
- Auto-recorded in books
- Run payroll
- Direct deposit
- Tax handling (select regions)
- Employee self-service
Total cost of ownership factors
Beyond list price, factor in implementation, training, add-ons and per-seat scaling when estimating total cost of ownership.
Pros & Cons
Recurly vs Wave: strengths and trade-offs
Recurly
Pros
- Free trial offered
- Broad integration ecosystem (10)
- Compliance: PCI DSS Level 1, SOC 1, SOC 2
- Stronger AI / automation features
- Public API available
Cons
- No free plan
- Higher starting price ($199/mo)
Wave
Pros
- Free plan available
- Lower starting price ($0/mo)
- Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, PCI DSS
Cons
- Fewer native integrations than the alternative
Buyer Fit
Who should use Recurly vs Wave?
Startups
Wave
Wave keeps early-stage costs lowest with its entry tier.
Small businesses
Wave
Wave offers the most accessible pricing for lean teams.
Agencies
Recurly
Recurly connects to more tools for multi-client workflows.
Enterprises
Recurly
Recurly leads on compliance and breadth for complex needs.
Ecommerce
Recurly
Recurly integrates with more of the commerce stack.
SaaS companies
Recurly
Recurly is the more developer- and automation-friendly choice.
Integration overlap
Shared integrations (2)
Only in Recurly (8)
Only in Wave (5)
Keep Exploring
Other alternatives worth considering
Similar billing & invoicing products buyers compare alongside Recurly and Wave.
Ask SIA which solution fits your business
SIA, Saaskart's AI buying assistant, weighs Recurly and Wave against your team size, budget, integrations and compliance needs — then recommends the right fit and the questions to ask each vendor.
Get a personalised recommendationRecurly vs Wave — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Recurly and Wave?
Recurly and Wave are both Billing & Invoicing solutions. Recurly is rated 0.0/5 by 0 users, while Wave is rated 0.0/5 by 0 users. The main differences lie in pricing, features, and target audience.
Which is better, Recurly or Wave?
Based on user ratings, Recurly scores higher at 0.0/5. The best choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific requirements.
Which is cheaper, Recurly or Wave?
Wave is the more affordable option, starting at $0/month.
Does Recurly or Wave have a free plan?
Wave offers a free plan. Recurly does not have a free tier but does offer a free trial.
Can I switch from Recurly to Wave?
Switching between Recurly and Wave is possible. Both support data export. Check integration compatibility and plan for data migration to minimise disruption to your team.
Who should use Recurly vs Wave?
Recurly is best suited for teams that prioritise enterprise features. Wave works well for teams looking to start free and scale.
Our Verdict
The bottom line on Recurly vs Wave
Best Overall
Either
It's a tie balances user satisfaction and proven adoption.
Best for Startups
Wave
Wave has the friendliest entry point for new teams.
Best for Enterprise
Recurly
Recurly leads on compliance and feature breadth.
Best Value
Wave
Wave delivers the lowest cost to get started.
Best AI Features
Recurly
Recurly ships more AI and automation.
Highest Rated
Either
Both earn equal user ratings.