Comparison
Wave Accounting Invoices: Starter vs Pro and WaffleInvoice (2026)
Wave is free accounting software with invoicing built in. WaffleInvoice is free invoicing software without the accounting overhead. Both have free plans with different sending, automation and payment requirements.
Quick verdict
Who should pick which?
Pick WaffleInvoice if...
You want free invoice and estimate creation with manual payment tracking, plus Pro for online payments and automatic reminders, without accounting or payroll.
Pick Wave if...
You need accounting alongside invoicing. Starter covers the basics; automatic bank imports require Pro, and payroll is a separate paid option.
The core difference
Wave combines accounting and invoicing. WaffleInvoice focuses on estimates, invoices and a client portal, with online payments and automation on Pro.
Do you need Wave Pro to email an invoice?
Sending an invoice through Wave requires Pro, online-payments acceptance, or payroll; otherwise, send the invoice link or PDF outside Wave using your own email or device sharing menu.
| Action | Eligibility | Exact workaround |
|---|---|---|
| Create an invoice | Starter or Pro | None needed. Create and approve the invoice in Wave. |
| Send through Wave | Pro, accepted online payments, or payroll | If you do not qualify, use the outside-Wave option instead. |
| Send outside Wave | Starter or Pro | Copy the invoice link or download the PDF, then send it from your own email or device. |
Feature comparison
Side-by-side: what each tool offers.
| Feature | WaffleInvoice | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Unlimited invoices and clients, 25 email sends/30 days | Free accounting + invoicing (Starter) |
| Paid plan | Pro at $19/month or $190/year | Pro at $19 USD/month or $190 USD/year |
| Invoice limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Estimates / quotes | Yes, with one-click conversion to invoice | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | Pro | Automatic sending with Pro or accepted online payments |
| Online payments (ACH & card) | Pro (Stripe) | Yes (Wave Payments) |
| Automatic payment reminders | Pro | Pro or accepted online payments |
| Client portal | Yes - full portal with history | Limited |
| Estimate-to-invoice workflow | Yes - seamless conversion | Basic |
| Double-entry accounting | No | Yes |
| Expense tracking | No | Yes |
| Bank connections | No | Yes (Pro plan) |
| Receipt scanning | No | Yes (Pro plan) |
| Financial reports (P&L, balance sheet) | No | Yes |
| Payroll | No | Yes (add-on, US & Canada) |
| Accounting setup | No accounting configuration | Accounting tools available |
WaffleInvoice
Free includes unlimited invoice, estimate and client creation, manual payment tracking and 25 email sends per rolling 30 days. Pro is $19/month or $190/year for unlimited sends, online payments and automation.
- Free: unlimited invoice, estimate and client creation; 25 email sends per rolling 30 days
- New accounts: 5 email sends per 24 hours during the first 14 days
- Estimates that convert to invoices
- Manual payment tracking on Free
- Automatic reminders and recurring invoices on Pro
- Card and ACH collection on Pro; processing charges vary by method, country and processor account
- Branded client portal
- No card to sign up; card on first Send
Wave
Starter is free with invoicing and accounting basics. Wave lists Pro at $19 USD/month or $190 USD/year for new subscriptions; annual billing is paid yearly.
- Starter: Free for invoicing + accounting basics
- Pro: $19 USD/month or $190 USD/year; check current checkout terms
- Payments: per-transaction fees apply; Pro discounts the first 10 card transactions each month
- Payroll: add-on available in US and Canada
- No client or invoice limits
US prices and plan eligibility checked October 13, 2026. Wave's first-10-card discount depends on an active Pro subscription; later card payments and ACH have different fees. Compare your subscription, payment mix and processor terms rather than assuming one service always costs less.
Wave official pricingWave processing feesWave sending eligibilityWave recurring sending
Being honest
Where Wave has more to offer.
Wave includes full accounting out of the box. If you need bookkeeping alongside invoicing, it covers ground WaffleInvoice does not.
Free accounting
Wave includes double-entry accounting, chart of accounts, and financial reports at no cost. If you need a free general ledger with your invoicing, Wave delivers.
Bank connections
The Pro plan connects to your bank for automatic transaction imports. Useful if you want to categorize income and expenses without manual entry.
Receipt scanning
Snap photos of receipts and Wave categorizes them. A genuine time-saver at tax time if you track business expenses regularly.
Financial reporting
Profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and tax-ready summaries. Wave gives your accountant what they need without separate software.
Payroll (US & Canada)
Built-in payroll add-on for US and Canadian businesses. An integrated option if you have employees to pay alongside invoicing.
All-in-one for solopreneurs
If you want invoicing, accounting, and payroll under one roof at no or low cost, Wave covers more ground in a single product.
Where we win
Why service businesses choose WaffleInvoice instead.
Purpose-built invoicing
Create estimates and invoices and track manual payments on Free. Pro adds online collection, recurring invoices and automatic reminders.
Client portal
Clients can view their invoices and billing history in the portal. Online card and ACH collection requires Pro.
Estimate-to-invoice workflow
Create professional estimates, get client approval, and convert to invoices with one click. A tighter workflow than Wave for service businesses that quote before billing.
Cleaner interface
No accounting menus, no chart of accounts, no bank reconciliation screens. Every screen is about invoicing, so there is less to learn and less to ignore.
Start with an invoice
Create an account, add a client and prepare an invoice without configuring accounting or payroll. Review the sending and payment prerequisites before choosing a plan.
No accounting complexity
If accounting features confuse more than help, WaffleInvoice removes that entire layer. You get a billing tool that does one thing well.
Ready to switch?
Try WaffleInvoice free and see if it fits your workflow.
No card to sign up; card on first Send, never charged on Free. Free invoice creation continues after you reach the email-send limit; use a download or copy-link instead.
From the blog
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Read the full guideWave invoice email FAQs
Can Wave Starter create invoices?
Yes. Wave Starter can create unlimited invoices and estimates. The restriction applies to automatic sending through Wave, not to creating the invoice.
Can Wave Starter email invoices?
Wave Starter can send through Wave only when the business accepts online payments or uses payroll. Otherwise, copy the invoice link or download the PDF and email it outside Wave.
How do I send a Wave invoice without Pro?
Open the approved invoice, choose the outside-Wave sending option, then copy its link or download the PDF. Add that link or PDF to an email from your own account and mark the invoice as sent in Wave.
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