QuickBooks Online vs Wave
On the evidence we track, QuickBooks Online leads this comparison with a composite score of 64/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.
Capabilities
Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for accounting software. “-” means undocumented, not absent.
What each one is
The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.
QuickBooks Online
LeaderQuickBooks Online is a web-based accounting system that helps businesses manage invoicing, expenses, and financial reporting. It features AI-powered automation for transaction categorization, invoice creation, and tax planning, along with collaboration tools for accountants and team members.
Wave
Wave enables small business owners to manage their financial operations in one place, including expense and revenue tracking, customer billing, digital payments, and reporting to support financial decision-making.
Pricing
List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.
QuickBooks Online
LeaderFree tier available. Paid plans from $38–$340/month; 50% off for first 3 months.
- FreeFree
- Send up to 2 invoices per month
- Access to profit and loss, balance sheet, and account quick report
- Connect 1 bank account for automatic transaction sync
- Chat support
- No accountant access
- Advanced$340/month regular; $170/month for first 3 months
- Everything in lower tiers
- Access for up to 3 accountants
- Automatic project creation and cost allocation with AI
- Customizable dashboards with KPIs
- Advanced project financial reporting
- +4 more
Wave
Free Starter plan with unlimited invoicing and bookkeeping. Pro from $16/month includes bank automation. Wave Advisors from $149/month for managed bookkeeping. Payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.60 per Visa/Mastercard transaction.
- StarterFree
- Unlimited invoices, estimates, bills
- Unlimited bookkeeping records
- Mobile app access
- Dashboard and reports
- Payment processing available
- Pro$16/month billed monthly, or $190/year billed annually
- Everything in Starter
- Auto-import bank transactions via Plaid
- Auto-merge and auto-categorize transactions
- Unlimited receipt capture and tracking
- Add multiple users/collaborators
- +1 more
- Wave Advisors$149/month or $199/month depending on tier
- Everything in Pro
- Dedicated bookkeeper management
- Monthly financial statements
- Expert bookkeeping support
- Transition assistance from other software
- +1 more
Platform & deployment
Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.
Integrations
What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.
- Shopify
- Square
QuickBooks Online
Leader- Knowify
- Amazon Business
- PayPal
- Mailchimp
- TurboTax
Wave
- Plaid
- Zapier
- ADP
- RBC
- Block Advisors
- Apple Pay
QuickBooks Online or Wave: which one depends on you
A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.
Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works
Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.