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Head-to-head · Salon Accounting Software

Akaunting vs Wave

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Akaunting #6 in Salon Accounting Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 6 features Visit Akaunting
Wave #7 in Salon Accounting Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit Wave

Akaunting leads on 0 checks, Wave on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAkaunting · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresAkaunting · 2 of 6

Akaunting scores higher on our rubric for salon accounting software: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Akaunting is the better fit for salons wanting open-source accounting. Wave is the better fit for small salons prioritizing free invoicing.

  • Akaunting fits best

    Salons wanting open-source accounting

  • Wave fits best

    Small salons prioritizing free invoicing

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Akaunting 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Wave 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #6 in Salon Accounting Software #7 in Salon Accounting Software
Best for Salons wanting open-source accounting Small salons prioritizing free invoicing
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $72/yr $190/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Integrations 100+ integrations 1 integrations
Features Akaunting 2/6 · Wave 0/6
Bank feed sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Receipt capture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Financial reports Not checked yet Not checked yet
Sales tax tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Accountant access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Multi-currency Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free self-hosted edition with invoicing, expenses, and reporting
  • Bank feeds, inventory, receipts, recurring transactions, and permissions
  • Integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce, and HubSpot
  • Free Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records
  • Recurring billing, online payments, expense tracking, and reports cover core needs
  • Web, iOS, and Android access supports mobile invoice creation and sending
Cons
  • Automated reconciliation is not included
  • Mobile platform coverage is web only
  • Advanced capabilities depend on paid tiers or add-on apps
  • Automatic bank imports and transaction categorization require the Pro plan
  • The verified integration set is limited to Plaid
  • Online payments are optional and carry transaction fees
Our verdict

Akaunting is web-based, open-source accounting software for small businesses, freelancers, accountants, and salons that want control over their bookkeeping setup. It covers customer invoicing and online payments, expense and bill tracking,…

Read the review →

Wave is web-based invoicing and financial management software for small business owners, including salon operators, freelancers, and contractors. For salons, its core value is keeping invoicing, recurring payments, customer payment…

Read the review →
  1. AkauntingSalon Accounting Software 8.7Free plan
  2. WaveSalon Accounting Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Akaunting — where it wins

    • Free self-hosted edition with invoicing, expenses, and reporting
    • Bank feeds, inventory, receipts, recurring transactions, and permissions
    • Integrates with PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce, and HubSpot

    Where it doesn't

    • Automated reconciliation is not included
    • Mobile platform coverage is web only
    • Advanced capabilities depend on paid tiers or add-on apps

  • Wave — where it wins

    • Free Starter plan includes unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records
    • Recurring billing, online payments, expense tracking, and reports cover core needs
    • Web, iOS, and Android access supports mobile invoice creation and sending

    Where it doesn't

    • Automatic bank imports and transaction categorization require the Pro plan
    • The verified integration set is limited to Plaid
    • Online payments are optional and carry transaction fees

More comparisons

All salon accounting software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update