Wave

Wave is accounting software that made its name by being genuinely free for the core essentials: creating and sending unlimited professional invoices, tracking income and expenses, and running double-entry bookkeeping with financial reports. For freelancers, solopreneurs, and very small businesses that cannot justify a monthly accounting subscription, Wave has long been the go-to way to keep organized books without paying anything.

Wave makes money through paid add-ons rather than locking away basic accounting: online payments (customers pay invoices by card or bank transfer for a per-transaction fee), payroll (a monthly base plus per-employee fee), and, since 2024, a paid Pro plan that adds automatic bank imports, removes branding, and unlocks more automation. It covers invoicing, receipts and expense capture, sales tax, and reports like profit and loss — enough for the accounting needs of a small service business.

Wave suits freelancers, contractors, and micro-businesses that want free, simple accounting and invoicing, especially in the US and Canada. Its free Starter plan keeps entry cost at zero, while Pro and the payroll/payments add-ons serve those who want automation and to get paid online.