A Wave alternative is invoicing software you choose when Wave's free plan does not quite fit: when you want automated payment reminders, your own branding without the Wave footer, or a tool built around invoicing rather than a full accounting ledger, without stepping up to Wave Pro.
This is a focused, one-on-one comparison. For the wider picture, see our guide to simple invoicing software and how it compares to the major accounting tools.
Wave is one of the few genuinely free options in this space, so this is a different comparison from most. Its Starter plan is free and lets you send unlimited invoices, which is excellent value. The catch is that Wave is accounting software first, and several of the features that make invoicing pleasant sit behind its paid Pro plan. This guide covers what Wave does well, what is gated, how Billbooks compares, and when Wave is the right call.
Why people look for a Wave alternative
Wave is accounting-first, invoicing is one piece
Wave is built as accounting software, with double-entry bookkeeping and a general ledger under the hood, and invoicing is one part of it. That is a real strength if you want free books. It is more than you need if your actual weekly task is to send an invoice and see whether it got paid, and it means your invoicing lives inside a bookkeeping tool rather than a tool designed around billing.
The invoicing niceties sit behind Wave Pro
On the free Starter plan you can invoice, but automated late-payment reminders, removing Wave's branding from your invoice footers, logo and brand customization, receipt capture, automatic bank imports, and live chat and email support all require Wave Pro, currently $19/month or $190/year. Those are exactly the touches that make invoicing feel professional and hands-off, so many people who start on free Wave end up weighing the Pro upgrade before long.
What simple invoicing software actually needs to do
Create and send a professional invoice fast
A dedicated invoicing tool should let you build a branded, correctly formatted invoice in a couple of minutes: your logo, your line items, your tax rate, your payment terms, sent as a link or a PDF. If you want to see the format before committing to any software, our free invoice generator creates and downloads one in your browser, no signup needed.
Track who has paid and who has not
You need a clear view of outstanding balances and overdue clients: a straightforward paid or unpaid status tied to each client, without reading a ledger to understand your own numbers.
Handle recurring billing and reminders
Retainer and subscription clients need invoices to go out on a schedule, and reminders to fire automatically when a payment is late. That should be built in, not held back for a higher tier.
Reminders and your branding, included
Send professional invoices with automated reminders and your own logo on Billbooks. Start your free 30-day trial, no credit card required.
Billbooks vs. Wave: where they actually differ
Free-with-branding, or flat pricing with the niceties included
Wave's Starter plan is free and sends unlimited invoices, but it adds Wave's branding and holds automated reminders, brand customization, and live support for Pro at $19/month. Billbooks prices per organization: Basic at $7.95/month (1 user, 5 clients), Standard at $14.95/month (2 users, unlimited invoices and estimates), and Professional at $29.95/month (5 users, unlimited invoices and estimates), each with a 30-day free trial and no credit card to start. If free invoicing with Wave's branding works for you, Wave is hard to beat on price. If you want automated reminders and your own clean branding without moving up to Pro, Billbooks Standard sits just below Wave Pro and includes them. You can see the plans on the Billbooks pricing page.
An accounting ledger vs. a focused invoicing tool
Wave's core is bookkeeping, and it keeps a full set of books whether or not you use them. Billbooks focuses on the billing workflow itself: invoicing, estimates, client and expense management, and estimate follow-ups, without a general ledger to maintain. Neither approach is wrong; they are built for different jobs.
Payments, payroll, and where Wave is strongest
Wave also bundles payment processing and payroll, which is powerful if you need them, though those features are focused on the United States and Canada, so availability depends on your country. Wave charges per transaction for payments rather than a monthly payments fee. Billbooks stays focused on invoicing and billing rather than running payroll, so the comparison really comes down to whether you want an all-in-one accounting-and-payroll platform or a dedicated invoicing tool.
Invoicing built for invoicing
Skip the general ledger and start billing clients in minutes with Billbooks. Start free today.
When Wave is still the right call
There are real situations where Wave is the better pick. If you want genuinely free accounting and invoicing together in one place, Wave is one of the few tools that offers it. If you are based in the United States or Canada and want integrated payment processing or payroll, having it in the same product is a real convenience. And if you do not mind Wave's branding on the free plan, the Starter tier is excellent value. The trade is that the invoicing polish and support live on Pro.
When a focused invoicing tool makes sense
If your main task is to send invoices, get paid, and follow up when a payment is late, and you would rather have reminders and clean branding included than assemble them inside an accounting platform, a tool built specifically for that job usually gets you there with less to manage. For a broader look at choosing the right fit, see our guide on how to choose invoicing software for freelancers, and on knowing when a free tool is no longer enough in free invoice generator vs invoicing software. If you are comparing full accounting suites too, our QuickBooks alternative guide covers the same trade-off.
Two free tools to try before you switch anything:
FAQ
Is Wave really free?
Wave's Starter plan is free and includes unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping. Wave also offers a paid Pro plan at $19 per month that adds automated late-payment reminders, removal of Wave branding from invoices, logo and brand customization, automatic bank imports, receipt capture, and live support. Accepting online payments is a pay-per-use add-on with per-transaction fees rather than a monthly charge.
What does Wave Pro add over the free plan?
Wave Pro, currently $19 per month or $190 per year, adds automatic bank-transaction import, unlimited receipt capture, automated late-payment reminders, invoice logo and brand customization, removal of Wave's branding from invoice footers, and live chat and email support.
How much does Wave charge for payments?
Wave charges per transaction rather than a monthly payments fee: 2.9% plus $0.60 for most cards, with Wave Pro waiving the $0.60 on the first 10 transactions a month, 3.4% plus $0.60 for American Express, and 1% with a $1 minimum for bank (ACH) payments. Availability depends on your country.
Is Billbooks a good Wave alternative?
Billbooks is a focused invoicing tool with flat per-organization pricing (Basic $7.95, Standard $14.95, and Professional $29.95 per month) and a 30-day free trial. It fits if you want automated reminders and your own branding without stepping up to Wave Pro, and prefer an invoicing tool over a full accounting ledger. Wave remains a strong choice if you want free accounting and invoicing together.
Does Wave do accounting as well as invoicing?
Yes. Wave is built as accounting software first, with double-entry bookkeeping and a general ledger, and invoicing is one part of it. That is a strength if you want free books, and more than you need if your main task is sending invoices and getting paid.
