Wave vs ZipBooks
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Wave offers genuinely free accounting and invoicing software aimed at freelancers and micro-businesses, making money on payments and payroll add-ons. It is a popular starting point for solo operators.
ZipBooks is cloud-based accounting software designed to simplify bookkeeping for small business owners and freelancers who lack formal accounting training. The platform automates invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting through an interface built around simplicity rather than accounting complexity.
Core accounting and invoicing are free; payments and payroll are paid.
- Genuinely free core features
- Easy for beginners
- Good invoicing
- No subscription for basics
- Free Starter plan covers unlimited invoices and basic reporting
- Designed to be approachable for users without accounting backgrounds
- Dedicated Accountant plan for bookkeeping firms managing multiple clients
- Strong customer review rating cited on the company site (4.8 from 344 reviews)
- Fewer advanced features
- Support is limited on free tier
- Payroll/payments cost extra
- Higher-tier pricing not as competitive as some larger accounting platforms
- Free plan limited to one bank account connection
- Smaller integration ecosystem compared to major accounting suites
What reviewers say
Wave Reviews
4.0 (3)Great accounting
Wave has been part of our stack. Easy for beginners. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Good, not perfect
Been using Wave for a while. Upside: no subscription for basics. Downside: support is limited on free tier.
Solid choice
Been using Wave for a while. Genuinely free core features. Minor gripe: payroll/payments cost extra. Would recommend.
ZipBooks Reviews
No reviews yet.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Wave
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Alternatives to ZipBooks
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataWave offers genuinely free core accounting and invoicing with paid add‑ons, while ZipBooks provides a free starter plan but limits bank connections and lacks an API.
Key differences
- •Wave includes an API; ZipBooks does not
- •ZipBooks limits free tier to one bank feed; Wave’s free tier has unlimited
- •Wave’s core features are completely free; ZipBooks free plan is limited but adds paid tiers
- •ZipBooks offers time‑tracking and project billing; Wave does not
- •Wave’s support is limited on free tier; ZipBooks includes standard support for all users
Pricing & value
Wave’s core accounting and invoicing are free; ZipBooks free plan limited to one bank connection and adds paid tiers.
Ease of use / learning curve
ZipBooks is marketed as approachable for users without accounting backgrounds and includes guided features.
Features & depth
ZipBooks provides time tracking, project billing, period locking, and permission controls not present in Wave.
Integrations & ecosystem
Wave offers an API for custom integrations; ZipBooks lists no API and a smaller integration set.
Collaboration
ZipBooks includes configurable permission levels and team collaboration; Wave’s free tier lacks explicit collaboration tools.
Scalability
ZipBooks has a dedicated Accountant plan for bookkeeping firms managing multiple clients; Wave focuses on freelancers/micro‑businesses.
Support
ZipBooks provides standard customer support for all plans; Wave’s support is limited on the free tier.
Choose Wave if…
Freelancers or micro‑businesses needing free core accounting with API access and unlimited invoices.
Choose ZipBooks if…
Small businesses wanting built‑in time tracking, project billing, and team permissions, even if they pay for higher tiers.
Common questions
Can I use Wave completely free for accounting and invoicing?
Yes, Wave’s core accounting and invoicing features are free; payments and payroll require paid add‑ons.
Does ZipBooks allow multiple bank connections on the free plan?
No, the free Starter plan is limited to one bank or credit‑card connection.
Is there an API for integrating custom tools with either product?
Wave provides an API; ZipBooks does not offer an API.