An honest comparison to help you pick the right finance & accounting tool for your startup.
Go with Wave if you're just starting out. Switch to Xero when you need cloud accounting built for small businesses. clean interface, strong integrations. big in the uk and australia..
Free accounting and invoicing for freelancers and small businesses. Actually free, not freemium.
Cloud accounting built for small businesses. Clean interface, strong integrations. Big in the UK and Australia.
| Feature | Wave | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Best for | ||
| Use when | ||
| Avoid when | ||
| Category | Finance & Accounting | Finance & Accounting |
Both are strong options and it depends on your specific needs. Wave is free and Xero is paid, which may factor into your decision.
Yes, Wave is completely free to use.
Other popular alternatives in this category include QuickBooks, Expensify. Each has different strengths depending on your stage and needs.
Create a shareable card with your favourite tools. Show the world what you build with.
Create your Stack Card →Tell us what you are building and we will pick the right tool for you. Or if you are ready to switch, we can help you move without breaking things.
Free. No signup required.
Want someone to choose for you?
Get a Decision Memo (£29) →Personalised recommendation with rationale, based on your use case.