Pricing · Accounting

Wave pricing

What Wave costs, why the core books are genuinely free, and the payments, payroll and receipts fees that make up the real bill.

Wave is the rare accounting tool whose core is genuinely free, with no revenue cap and no trial clock. The Starter plan covers unlimited invoices, estimates and double entry bookkeeping at no charge, which is why it is the default pick for freelancers and the smallest firms. Pro at $19 a month adds automatic bank import, auto categorization, late payment reminders and lower payment rates on the first transactions each month. Wave does not make its money on subscriptions, though, so the figures that matter most are the payment processing, payroll and receipts fees below. Read those before assuming free means free.

Read the full Wave review

        Reviewed by FREDRIK FILIPSSON·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
      

Plans and prices

Per business, per month

Pricing as of June 2026. Pro is $19 a month or $190 a year. The Starter plan is free with no revenue cap. Payments, payroll and the receipts add on are billed separately. Check the vendor for current pricing.

Starter

Free core books and invoicing

+Unlimited invoices, estimates and bills

+Double entry bookkeeping

+One dashboard for cash flow and customers

+Mobile invoicing app

★ Our pick

Pro

$19

Automation and lower payment rates

+Everything in Starter

+Automatic bank import and categorization

+Automated late payment reminders

+Lower card rate on the first transactions each month

What moves the real bill

Free means the books. The fees are where Wave earns.

Wave's subscription is free or close to it, so the real cost lives in the usage based fees. Four things commonly make up the bill. Budget for these before you commit.

→ Payment processing. Accepting cards costs 2.9 percent plus $0.60 per transaction on Starter, with Amex at 3.4 percent plus $0.60, and bank payments at 1 percent. Pro waives the per transaction fee on the first 10 card transactions each month, then the standard rate applies.

→ Payroll. Payroll is a paid add on, from $25 a month in self service states or $40 a month plus $6 per employee in full service states, so any business that pays staff adds that line on top of the plan.

→ Receipts and automation. Auto bank import and categorization sit behind the $19 Pro plan, and unlimited receipt scanning is an add on at roughly $11 a month on Starter or $8 a month on Pro.

→ Wave Advisors. If you want hands off bookkeeping or coaching, Wave Advisors starts from about $149 to $199 a month, which is a service layer well above the software cost.

Pricing questions

Wave pricing FAQ

Is Wave really free?

Yes. Wave's Starter plan is genuinely free for core accounting and invoicing, with no revenue cap and no trial clock. Wave earns through payment processing and payroll fees rather than the subscription. Pricing as of June 2026; check the vendor for current pricing.

How much does Wave Pro cost?

Pro is $19 a month or $190 a year. It adds automatic bank import, auto categorization, late payment reminders and a lower card rate on the first 10 transactions each month over the free Starter plan. Verified June 2026.

What does Wave actually charge for?

The fees that matter are payment processing at 2.9 percent plus $0.60 per card transaction, payroll from $25 to $40 a month plus $6 per employee, and an optional receipts add on. The accounting and invoicing themselves are free on Starter.

Is Starter or Pro better for me?

Starter suits anyone happy to import transactions manually and accept the standard payment rate. Pro is worth $19 a month once automatic bank import, late payment reminders and the lower fee on the first card transactions each month save you more time and money than they cost.

Keep reading

Wave review → Wave alternatives → The Accounting ranking → Zoho Books pricing →