--- title: "Wave Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Wave the right Billing and Invoicing solution for you? Explore 1731 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/178021/Wave-Apps/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-28" --- Wave 4.4 (1731) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/178021/Wave-Apps/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated September 28th, 2026 # Reviews of Wave Ease of use 4.5 Customer Service 4.0 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews Ron W Property Management, Development and InvestmentReal Estate, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Love the free version but it’s super basic and limited but upgrading to paid version is very expensive when using it for more than 1 business and offers inadequate features to do the job vis-a-vis other competitors in the market. If … WAVE would add AI, connectivity to banks and credit cards, and features to operate multiple businesses in the paid subscription I’d use it.“ December 7, 2025 ek emir k PrincipalEnvironmental Services, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “My customer paid through Wave by ACH/bank payment, and the funds were withdrawn from the customer, but Wave did not release the payment to my business account.“ June 25, 2026 Amber M OwnerDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The option to create recurring invoices has been amazing, as well as the reports I can pull at the end of each year.“ March 24, 2026 KW Kristyne W Travel AdvisorHospitality, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “I tried to set up a way to send invoices and receive payments through Wave, but even after I was approved, they removed my access due to a blanket assumption around travel agencies. “ February 24, 2026 CB Craig B OwnerAccounting, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Uptime and use are great - I have a few low volume clients and non-profits that cannot afford the other packages - now they are charging for services that were included in the free package - not cool!“ May 7, 2026 ml melissa l Admin siding installerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: I used a free trial. “A major pain point for users is the lack of robust, live customer support for free users, who are generally limited to an online help center and chatbot.“ October 23, 2025 JM Jolly M Data AssociateInformation Technology and Services, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Wave has the visibility and control needed across accounts payable, global payments, procurement and employee expenses to run business more efficiently and drive growth.“ December 2, 2024 BT Brianna T EditorWriting and Editing, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “They messed up our tax reporting and left us with outstanding taxes due.“ June 7, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 1731 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Amanda J. Owner Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wave Recent Changes in Experience" April 19, 2025 3.0 Pros I've used Wave for 5 years. It's very easy to use and can help process payroll, send invoices and keep track of expenses. Cons In the recent past, I've had issue with them processing tax payments on time, and their support has significantly decreased from the past. Alternatives considered [HoneyBook](https://www.capterra.com/p/162588/HoneyBook/) Reason for choosing Wave Best value for the money and easily handled payroll and tax services. Review Source AC Aaron C. Founder and CEO Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best free invoicing and financial management platform in Canada" October 20, 2025 4.0 Pros Wave has very solid web and app platforms. It's easy to navigate and makes the quoting, invoicing, and payment processes very streamlined -- while accepting payments from all major credit cards in Canada. The free version is already very useful for businesses just starting out, or those that are still in the early growth phase, but they also have an affordable paid version that adds a suite of automations and expense / receipt management functions to further boost productivity. Cons The main thing I don't like about Wave is that they don't use standardized "GAAP terminology" for some of their financial management and reporting features. While this may make it more accessible to a certain user base, it actually makes it a bit confusing for me (who has a bit of formal CPA / accounting training). Alternatives considered [BILL Accounts Payable & Receivable](https://www.capterra.com/p/166559/BILL/)[FreshBooks](https://www.capterra.com/p/142390/FreshBooks/)[QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Wave Wave has a much cleaner, more modern interface that doesn't feel overly crowded or cluttered for a small / growing business. It's much easier to navigate vs platforms like Quickbooks. Review Source Tim O. Partner Retail Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wave is free but has limited customer support " March 6, 2026 2.0 If you want a free payroll and accounting provider, Wave fits the bill. If problems arise, you might be on your own and dealing with the consequences for months. Pros The starter edition is free which is awesome, you are able to process payroll, invoice clients and perform monthly accounting at no cost. There is a small fee for accepting credit card payments which is standard amongst other payment providers. Cons Customer support is non existent. Never thought this was a concern until Wave switched payroll processors and caused the system to crash. Wave went silent for weeks, only resolve was to email the company and those went unanswered. Had to turn to Redditt for workarounds, worst part was Wave never took responsibility for their mistake, switched to another provider which I pay for but willing to do so after my experience with Wave. Review Source ML Marsha L. Worker Hospitality Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Wave us for small businesses " July 23, 2026 1.0 Wave is good for small businesses just getting started. It has free accounting and invoicing that helps new business owners. Pros The best thing about Wave is the mobile app. Wave can track income expenses and receipts. The free accounting and invoicing us a good feature sldi. Cons The least favorable thing about Wave is the customer support. At times, it can be slow. I feel Wave us vest used for small business. Review Source JL Joseph L. Principal Public Relations and Communications Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An excellent resource for you and your accountant " April 28, 2026 5.0 Excellent in every way as I have used it for now 3 tax years without complaint from either myself or my accountant who works with what I send over in Wave. Pros Easy to input information and create my own financial Reports, and my accountant has no issues with importing my entries over for his own purposes to prepare my company’s yearly Return Cons Candidly, there is nothing to complain about. Regardless of your level of sophistication, you will find a benefit in using it. Switched from [QuickBooks Enterprise](https://www.capterra.com/p/174984/QuickBooks-Enterprise/) Cost comparison verses competitors made this the best choice Review Source CB Craig B. Owner Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Now Charging for Previously Free Features" May 7, 2026 2.0 Uptime and use are great - I have a few low volume clients and non-profits that cannot afford the other packages - now they are charging for services that were included in the free package - not cool! Pros Accounting software is free - great for small (micro) businesses just starting out or that only have low volume of transactions. Intuitive from an accountant's perspective Cons Accounting is free - but now they are removing features from the "Free Accounting" package and charging for them - auto import of bank transactions. Then, limiting the number of users - NOT COOL! Alternatives considered [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Wave The lure of FREE accounting that allowed for importing bank transactions. However, not any more - importing bank transactions now costs a monthly fee. Review Source WEU William E U. Owner Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wave Accounting App." January 28, 2026 5.0 I've been using WaveApps for several years now and have been very satisfied with the ease and accuracy of the site. I would recommend it to any small business as an excellent and cost-effective accounting site. It has many features that I don't take advantage of, but likely would if I had a larger business. I gave it 5 stars and would definitely recommend it. Pros I use the free Wave App. I bookkeep for two small businesses and the fact that is free is my favorite feature. I have generally had no issues with the program and when I did have one (the only one), the company support was able to resolve the issue for me in only one call and I've never had an issue again. Cons One feature that I would appreciate would be to have an auto-fill feature. For example, I have many entries that are identical except for the date and amount. It would be helpful if it could auto-fill a name or entry after it recognizes the first few letters. Review Source KW Kristyne W. Travel Advisor Hospitality Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Meets most of my needs!" February 24, 2026 4.0 Pros Wave automatically imports my transactions from my financial accounts (bank accounts, credit card, etc.) to streamline my financial reporting. I love that I can see how much income, expenses, and profit I made in each period and compare it prior periods. My monthly subscription is $19, which feels like a great value. Cons I tried to set up a way to send invoices and receive payments through Wave, but even after I was approved, they removed my access due to a blanket assumption around travel agencies. I now need to use an alternative solution for invoicing and collecting payments. Alternatives considered [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Wave I chose Wave primarily for the easy integration with my financial accounts and lower cost compared to other services Review Source VR Verified Reviewer owner and principal linguist Translation and Localization Used the software for: 2+ years ### "For a free version, it sure dots the i's and crosses the t's!" February 23, 2025 5.0 I've been a Wave customer for some years now. Although I've tried a couple of accounting systems simultaneously with using Wave, I always end up coming back to Wave. Pros Its free version comes with everything I need in order to keep accurate and up-to-date accounting books. It even lets me do foreign currency invoices, something that I don't find in other free accounting systems. Cons I can't really say; I think that this free version is quite generous in its offerings. I sure hope that Wave will keep it! Alternatives considered [Zoho Desk](https://www.capterra.com/p/169505/Zoho-Desk/)[QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Wave Wave's free version is just what I need. Switched from [Zoho Desk](https://www.capterra.com/p/169505/Zoho-Desk/)[QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) The Zoho free version didn't fill my needs. Although I liked QuickBooks, the price was too much for what I needed. Review Source KC Kimberly C. Administrative Consultant Executive Office Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Affordable Invoicing Option" December 28, 2025 3.0 Pros I did like that there is a free option available. If you are just starting out as a new business owner and want to get your bookkeeping and invoicing process set up before getting a client, you do have a free option that isn’t a trial. Cons Even though the version I had was free, I didn’t like that I couldn’t take off their logo on my invoices without paying for a higher tier plan. Alternatives considered [QuickBooks Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/190778/QuickBooks-Online/) Reason for choosing Wave It was the only option ai could afford before I had my first client. Review Source PP Perla P. CEO Accounting Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Best software" February 17, 2025 5.0 I have had nothing but good experiences with Wave. Pros I like how easy it is to use and be able to have everything you need in one place Cons I have yet to find anything that i don't like yet Switched from [Square Point of Sale](https://www.capterra.com/p/275802/Square-Point-of-Sale/) more flexibility and easier to use. Also it was better for the money Review Source STE Sai Teja E. Construction Project Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Easy-to-use accounting software for small businesses" May 29, 2026 4.0 Overall, my experience with Wave has been positive. It is a good option for small businesses that need an easy accounting and invoicing system without too much complexity. It helps save time with daily bookkeeping tasks, invoicing, and tracking payments. While it may not have all the advanced features of bigger platforms, it works well for basic business accounting needs. Pros Wave is simple and easy to use for basic accounting, invoicing, and payment tracking. It is helpful for small businesses because the layout is straightforward and it does not take much time to create invoices, record payments, and review financial information. Cons Some features are limited compared to larger accounting software. Reporting and customization options could be better, and customer support response times can sometimes be slower than expected. Review Source CL Christy L. co-founder Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Run the Other Way" July 3, 2025 1.0 Pros I liked the user interface, the dashboard, that they show if an invoice has been viewed, but the negative is horrible. Cons What started out as a promising service quickly turned into a nightmare that I’ll be cleaning up for at least two more months. Wave messed up my June 1–15 payroll, failing to issue direct deposits to my employees — but they did pull the taxes. I had no idea what happened for over a week. My support tickets were canceled without explanation, and no one responded. When I tried to stick with them just long enough to close out Q2 correctly, I couldn’t even select the correct payroll dates for nearly a week. By the time the system finally worked again, they charged me for July — and said I couldn’t cancel because the charge had already gone through, even though support had been nonexistent the entire week before. I was then told that if I wanted my tax reports filed, I had no choice but to keep paying through July. They even warned that if any taxes were collected that weren’t due until after July 31, I’d have to continue into another month to avoid being left with partial filings and no remittance. To make matters worse, you cannot start a new payroll service until they release your business from their system — effectively locking you in. And don’t expect clean exports when you leave: the reports they generate are borderline useless and don’t export in a format that any normal payroll provider can easily work with. Wave Payroll was a complete disaster. Avoid it at all costs. Review Source EE Eric E. IT Consultant Higher Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great for billing and invoice generation" November 27, 2025 5.0 I use the product primarily for one purpose: Invoice generation and billing tracking. At one point I experimented with the payroll, but found it didn't provide me enough education about what my responsibilities were as an employer, so found a different solution for that. But as a tool for creating invoices, creating customers, sending bills, and tracking the received payments, I think it's tremendous. It's intuitive, simple, and reliable. I use only the starter version, and it's sufficient for my needs - I'm sure others with more complex needs would push the system in ways I don't, but it's great for me. It's also got some great year-end reporting, which helps me compare my billings against the 1099 files I receive from my clients. Pros For a small business needing invoice generation and payment tracking, Wave works really well. The ease of creating invoices is great, and having a clear history to refer to is very helpful Cons Like most multi-feature accounting solutions, it can be a bit much to navigate through all of the areas, when you are only interested in one aspect of the site. It's also not always clear what you can and can't do within the free version of the tool, but that's not a deal-breaker. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Accounting clerk Furniture Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wave - where accounting flows as smooth as waves." July 30, 2025 4.0 My overall experience with wave is very good as it is very user friendly and very easy to learn it's functions. The design and graphics are very attractive which provides polished outputs be it invoicing or reporting. Pros The best part about wave is that it is very budget friendly and the user interface is very easy to use and navigate. Cons Customer support is terrible especially if you're a free user which does not serve the purpose of a complete software package. Inventory management is poor which makes reporting difficult. Review Source TO Teage O. Executive Director Primary/Secondary Education Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Avoid Wave, at least until they figure out a solution to current issues" June 25, 2025 1.0 Very negative. I find the new timesheet system to be incredibly cumbersome. we only have 20 employees, but can't imagine how long this must take for larger companies. Pros We started with them many years ago, and it has been good enough during that time. Biggest initial benefit was that the platform was free (at least there was no monthly subscription, just a per employee cost for payroll). Cons Started charging a monthly subscription and recently it has gotten incredibly slow. But more importantly, they recently updated the system and it's been a nightmare. Everything is bogged down and takes even longer to load. When I logged in to run our payroll, I was prompted to update tax info for all our employees. After updating everything, we are unable to process and run our employees. We can't even look at the payroll summary to see what we owe employees so we can write them a check. And there's no way to get in touch with customer support and now we're scrambling to figure out another payroll service to figure this out. You can read multiple threads on Reddit with many other people all experiencing the same issue. Review Source JD Jenna D. Co-founder Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Wave is a good option for those with a small budget" July 10, 2025 4.0 I used it for the marketing agency I owned. We used it to categorize transactions, send invoices, and receive payments. It was fairly easy to use once I figured out where to find my transactions feed. The categories were easy to change. Pros The price point (free if you don't want bank feed) was good for my small business at the time. I like that it's fairly intuitive to use. Cons That it didn't have a bank feed option available for free and that it isn't as robust of a software as some other accounting platforms. Review Source KN Kyle N. Dentist Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Stay Away From Wave" June 24, 2025 1.0 Starting 2025 with the new update/layout. Many issues arose but none was addressed. My local tax liability wasn't paid, one of my employees didn't get paid (Wave just cancelled her direct deposit without any indications why). I brought the issues up, no responses or resolutions provided and it's been going on for two weeks. It's so frustrating to deal with this issue and haven't received any responses from live assistance. Pros Prior to 2025, It was very simple to deal with. It provided me with all the functionality that I needed for my small business. Cons Prior to 2025, I didn't run into any issues with Wave. However since 2025, PDF version of reports were disabled, employees' pay dropped without any indication why, tax liability didn't pay. Review Source BN Baylee N. Talent Partner Telecommunications Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wave Review" October 17, 2025 5.0 It was a positive experience with Wave from the beginning it made accounting easy and saved us so many hours. Pros I like the Wave customer support team is very valuable they are always there to answer your questions and concerns. Cons I cannot say anything negative about Wave except it lacks some integrations. The product could use some more integrations. Review Source JD Jake D. President Hospitality Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Incredible Value Accounting Software" July 8, 2025 4.0 I really liked the software and think it's a great product for small businesses who need an inexpensive solution. Pros The value for the product is incredible. It has features that are typical for much more expensive products. Cons It can feel clunky at times and can be somewhat difficult to navigate. You have to know where items flow to so you can find what you need. Review Source SA Suman A. Owner,Bookkeeper,TAxPreparer Accounting Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The Best Free Accounting Software for Small Businesses" June 4, 2026 5.0 Reliable and cost-effective for invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation. Great value for small businesses. Pros Free core features, clean interface, easy invoicing, and solid financial reports. Perfect for freelancers and small businesses. Cons Limited customer support on free plan, fewer integrations than QuickBooks, and no inventory management. Review Source AD Alex D. Nutritionist Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Simple way to handle money" June 1, 2025 5.0 Pros It’s been handy for invoicing and keeping track of small business stuff. I don’t have an accounting background so this keeps it simple. Cons Some features feel a bit hidden or not super obvious at first, but once got the hang of it, it’s been chill. Also, it being free helps a lot. Review Source KK Kelli K. Founder Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "User friendly platform" September 16, 2025 5.0 I have been very happy with how easy the platform is to use. I have used systems like Quickbooks, and that is way harder to setup that Wave. Pros Love the ease of use and that it is free for what I need. The financial reporting is easy, and you can track accounts very easily. Cons So far, I haven't found anything I don't like. I use it to track spending in different accounts and to pull P&L statements. Review Source EM Eric M. Advisor and CCO Financial Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wave Software " April 16, 2025 5.0 Overall good, it sufficient for a small business and has the essentials like balance sheet and P&L Pros I liked that the price point was much more competitive than say quickbooks. Cons It took a little while for them to get up to speed on all connections to bank accounts. Amex checking took multiple months to compile right Review Source KC Kelsey C. Accountant Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wave is great!" March 7, 2025 5.0 Overall, we are happy with using wave. I like being able to easily create and send send invoices. And finding the payouts by date is nice for keeping track of everything. Pros Easy to create and send invoices to customers. Cons That there is no customer service phone number to talk to someone. They just have a chat on the website, that doesn't always fully answer my questions. 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