Comparison
QuickBooksvsWave Accounting
Feature Comparison
| Feature | QuickBooks | Wave Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Bank reconciliation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expense tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Financial reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free plan | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inventory tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-currency | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tax preparation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Third-party integrations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
QuickBooks Pricing
Simple Start
1 user, 2 accountant seats, 40 class/location tracking
$38.00/mo
Essentials
3 users, 2 accountant seats, unlimited class/location tracking
$75.00/mo
Plus
5 users, 2 accountant seats, project/inventory tracking
$115.00/mo
Advanced
25 users, 3 accountant seats, custom permissions, workflow automation
$275.00/mo
Wave Accounting Pricing
Starter
Free
Pro
$19.00/mo
QuickBooks
Pros
- Simplifies invoicing and automatically records expenses without manual sorting (G2 review)
- Seamless bank integrations and rules save time on repetitive entries (G2)
- Real-time reporting and access from anywhere for informed decisions (G2)
- Integrates with PayPal, payroll, Excel and 300+ apps (G2)
- Automatically chases unpaid invoices and supports estimates/statements (G2)
- Scales well for small businesses with mobile access and reliable performance (Capterra)
Cons
- Steep learning curve initially for new users (G2)
- Laggy performance with large datasets (G2)
- High subscription costs especially for small businesses (G2, Capterra)
- Limited report customization and fewer features than desktop version (G2)
- Inconsistent customer support quality (G2, Capterra)
- Frequent UI changes and glitches (G2, Capterra)
Wave Accounting
Pros
- Free core features
- Unlimited invoicing and users
- Easy to use for beginners
Cons
- No advanced features like inventory
- Limited customer support
The Verdict
QuickBooks and Wave Accounting are neck and neck — both score within a fraction of each other on our DuelStack rating. QuickBooks stands out for its ability to simplifies invoicing and automatically records expenses, while Wave Accounting edges ahead on free core features. On budget alone, Wave Accounting wins (starts at $19/mo). Either is a solid choice — pick the one that fits your workflow.