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Yes—Wave’s Starter accounting plan is listed at $0. It includes core bookkeeping and invoicing, but “free” applies to the software subscription, not every Wave service. Payment processing, payroll, receipt scanning, the Pro automation plan, and Wave Advisors can add subscription or transaction charges. Your actual availability and price depend on country, account type, taxes, and the offer shown at checkout.
What “free” means in Wave Accounting
Wave separates its basic accounting software from services that move money, automate data entry, or provide professional help. The current Starter plan is listed at $0 and is intended for businesses that need fundamental bookkeeping and invoicing without a recurring software fee. Wave’s Pro product page summarizes the distinction this way: “Our accounting and invoicing features are currently free.”
That statement does not mean every feature in the Wave ecosystem costs nothing. A business can remain on Starter and pay nothing for the subscription while still incurring fees when it accepts an online card or ACH payment. Upgrading to Pro, adding receipt scanning, running payroll, or hiring bookkeeping help creates separate costs. Treat the $0 figure as the price of the Starter software, not a guarantee that your complete workflow will have no charges.
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The prices below are the public US and Canadian prices listed by Wave and reviewed on October 7, 2026. Prices can change, taxes may apply, and the amount shown for your business profile at checkout controls what you pay.
#1 Best Overall
- Income And Expense Log Book: This Income and Expense Record Book（8.5" x 10.5"） is a necessary item for any small business owner or entrepreneur. It is an essential part of any business - helping you understand your overall earnings to determine if you are profitable.
- Daily Tracking and Weekly Overview: let our log tell you if you are profitable today! There are two pages per week to help you you track your income and expenses. At the end of each day or week, you can note whether you made a profit or a loss for the day.
- Clear P&L Statement For Your Business: This income and expense book makes it easy to see your expenses and how they fluctuate from time to time. This makes it easy for you to decide where you can cut back on expenses and assess your total annual net profit.
- Main Features: Expense Review + Income Review + Weekly Pages + Summary of The Year + Twin-Wire Binding + Waterproof Cover + Rounded corner design + Thicker paper
- Effective Organization: This budget book has a twin-wire binding and you can easily lay it flat at 180°. This effective design can help you work better and bring you great convenience in the process of using.
| Plan | Subscription price | Core accounting and invoicing | Automation and collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | US$0 | Unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records; mobile invoicing; cash-flow and customer dashboard | Basic workflow without the Pro automation set |
| Pro (United States) | US$19 monthly or US$190 annually | Includes the Starter accounting and invoicing foundation | Bank-transaction imports, automatic merging and categorization, receipt capture, additional users, late-payment reminders, and other Pro features |
| Pro (Canada) | CA$25 monthly or CA$250 annually | Includes the Starter accounting and invoicing foundation | Bank-transaction imports, automatic merging and categorization, receipt capture, additional users, late-payment reminders, and other Pro features |
Wave says the Pro charge is per business profile. Annual billing lowers the listed subscription total compared with paying twelve monthly installments, but it is still a paid plan. Pro’s bank connections use Plaid; Wave cautions that a connection cannot be guaranteed for every financial institution. If your bank is unsupported or the connection fails, you may need to enter transactions another way even after paying for Pro.
What you can do on the $0 Starter plan
Starter is enough for a small business that wants to create records, send invoices, and track basic activity without paying a monthly accounting subscription. Wave lists these included capabilities:
- Unlimited estimates.
- Unlimited invoices.
- Unlimited bills.
- Unlimited bookkeeping records.
- Mobile invoicing.
- A dashboard for cash-flow and customers.
Those limits describe the quantity of records, not the cost of collecting money from customers. Sending an invoice can be free while accepting a card payment against that invoice is a paid transaction. Likewise, recording a bill or bookkeeping entry does not require Pro, but importing and automatically organizing bank activity is part of the paid automation offering.
What Pro adds—and when it is worth paying
Pro is aimed at businesses that value less manual data entry or need more people working in the same account. Its listed additions include importing bank transactions, automatically merging and categorizing transactions, capturing receipts, adding account users, and sending late-payment reminders. These features can save time when transaction volume is high, but they are convenience and automation features rather than prerequisites for Starter’s basic accounting.
Rank #2
- Neatly Track & Organize Your Finances: The accounting ledger book is here for you to stay on top of your spendings & income! Clearly & neatly structured, it offers ample space for all crucial information about checks, savings, bills & other expenses or income
- Perfect For Small Business Owners: Keep it simple, yet super effective - the undated income and expense log book is an absolute must-have among small business supplies! Register your financial data and use your debit & credit records to compile a trial balance
- Premium Style With A Sturdy Cover: With the 120-page finance tracker, you can manage your finances conveniently in one place. A solid cover, thick paper and a reliable ring binding ensure maximum durability
- Beautiful Modern Minimalistic Design: A visual highlight just like you can expect from ZICOTO! The sage green cover of the ledger book, look stunning with a modern golden floral on the front - makes bookkeeping simply beautiful!
- Super Handy - Always At Hand: Thanks to its practical size, the 8.6x6.1” ledger book fits into any bag easily and is therefore always by your side. Whether used as a checkbook register or to track other financial flow, with the log book you’ve got it all sorted!
Receipt capture is available with Pro, or as a separate receipt-scan subscription. The standalone prices listed by Wave Help Center are:
| Receipt-scan plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| United States | US$8 | US$72 |
| Canada | CA$11 | CA$96 |
If you only need receipt capture, compare that standalone price with the broader Pro subscription. Do not assume the receipt plan includes every Pro feature; Wave presents receipt scanning as a feature of Pro and also as its own subscription.
Online payments are optional, but they are not free
You can use Starter without enabling online payments. If you do let customers pay invoices through Wave, the payment processor charges per transaction. Wave’s listed Starter schedule gives these rates:
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Payment method | Listed Starter fee | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card | 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction | Discover processing is listed for the United States |
| American Express card | 3.4% + $0.60 per transaction | Per transaction |
| ACH bank payment | 1% with a $1 minimum | Per transaction |
For example, a $100 Visa payment would incur the percentage and fixed component shown above; the accounting subscription would still be $0. The fee schedule is not a monthly Starter charge and applies only when you process a payment.
Wave lists reduced card rates for Pro, but says those rates apply to the first ten transactions in a monthly subscription period. After that, the standard per-transaction charges apply. The reviewed pricing pages do not state the reduced amounts, so check the current payment terms in your account before forecasting savings.
How long payouts take
Wave’s help schedule lists credit-card payout timing of two business days in the United States and one business day in Canada. ACH payouts are listed at two to seven business days in the United States and one to six business days in Canada. Bank holidays can change the timing, and Wave says it cannot expedite these schedules. These are processing timelines, not a promise that every bank will post funds at the same hour.
Other paid options that are separate from Starter
Payroll
The FAQ identifies payroll as a paid option. Payroll pricing and availability vary by country and account offer, so a Starter subscription should not be treated as including payroll processing, tax filings, or employee payments.
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Receipt scanning
Automatic receipt scanning is also identified as a paid option. You can remain on Starter and handle receipts manually, buy the standalone receipt plan, or use receipt capture through Pro. Select the option based on whether you need only image capture or the wider Pro automation set.
Rank #4
- Easy To Track Your Finances: HAUTOCO accounting ledger book keeps you on top of your expenses and income! Help you keep your money organized, spend well, and set and achieve financial goals
- Premium Material: The A5 accounting ledger book has a total of 120 pages and 2040 lines of entries. It is made of 100gsm thick paper to reduce ink leakage; it is equipped with a waterproof and sturdy PP cover to protect the inner pages
- Practical Design: Compact 8.3 x 6.2'' expense tracker notebook is easy to carry and features information pages, 2025 calendar, yearly financial goals page, and PVC pocket for storing important tickets and loose items
- Manage Your Finances Effectively: Undated accounting books with number, date, description, account, payment or deposit amount, and total balance. You will be able to easily analyze your financial activities and quickly prepare accurate financial statements
- Ideal For Small Business or Personal Use: An accounting log journal can track your business or personal financial status. With a clear record of transactions, you can find unnecessary expenses or fraudulent charges
Wave Advisors
Wave’s pricing information includes Wave Advisors for bookkeeping and financial guidance. Professional assistance is a service purchase, not part of the $0 Starter software. If you hire help, confirm the scope, billing terms, and whether the adviser is serving your country.
Country, bank, and account limitations
The published examples above cover the United States and Canada. The official pages reviewed do not establish that every Starter feature, payment method, payroll service, or Pro function is available in every country. Currency, tax treatment, payment eligibility, and regulatory requirements can differ. Confirm your country during account creation and review the final checkout screen before relying on a listed price.
Bank automation has a separate technical limitation: Pro connections use Plaid, and Wave says support cannot be guaranteed for every financial institution. If your bank does not connect, Starter’s manual bookkeeping and Pro’s other features may still be usable, but you should not pay for Pro solely on the assumption that an automatic feed will work.
Why older articles and customers quote different prices
Wave changed its plan arrangement for new and existing businesses. The company’s announcement says the new Starter/Pro model applied to businesses signing up or creating a business under the new model. Beginning June 10, 2024, legacy businesses were moved to Starter with an option to upgrade. Wave defines legacy businesses as those created before January 29, 2024, in Canada and before February 5, 2024, in the United States.
Best Value
- PERFECT LEDGER BOOK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: This accounting ledger book for small businesses will help you organize finances, sort and summarize transactions, create balance summaries and set you up for financial success.
- SWITCH TO EFFICIENT & STRESS-FREE ACCOUNTING: This accounting book is undated and lasts a whole year and has 113 pages, including 53 weekly views, an annual summary, empty note pages, and, at the back, a spacious pocket for receipts.
- TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES & SUCCEED: With this detailed record of all transactions and totals, you will be able to easily analyze your finances and quickly prepare accurate financial statements.
- COMPACT A5 FORMAT & DURABLE DESIGN: This bookkeeping record book comes in A5 format (5.8 by 8.3 inches) and has an eco-leather hardcover, 120gsm no-bleed paper, elastic, pen loop, bookmark, pocket for notes, and a user guide.
- 60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: We will exchange or refund your receipt book for small business if you aren’t satisfied with your expense tracker notebook for any reason. Reach out to us via message to refund your small business supplies.
That history explains why an older help article, screenshot, or customer account may show a different plan name, feature set, or price. Use the current pricing shown for your own business profile rather than assuming a historical offer still applies.
How to keep your Wave cost at $0
- Choose the current Starter offer. During sign-up or business creation, verify that the subscription shown is Starter at $0 for your country.
- Use the included accounting tools. Create estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records within Starter’s listed limits, and use mobile invoicing or the dashboard as needed.
- Leave paid services disabled unless you need them. Do not activate online payments, payroll, receipt scanning, Pro, or adviser services simply because they appear in the product.
- Decide whether payment convenience justifies transaction fees. If customers pay outside Wave, you avoid Wave’s processing charges; if they pay through Wave, budget the card or ACH fee for every transaction.
- Check bank-feed requirements before upgrading. If automatic imports are the reason for considering Pro, confirm that your financial institution is supported through the available Plaid connection.
- Review billing by business profile. Pro is priced per business profile, so separate businesses can create separate subscriptions.
- Recheck checkout and terms. Prices and eligibility are volatile; taxes, country rules, and account-specific offers can alter the amount displayed.
When the free plan is a good fit
Starter fits a freelancer or small business that mainly needs unlimited basic records and invoices, is comfortable entering or reviewing transactions manually, and does not need payroll or automated receipt processing. It can also suit a business that uses another payment processor and wants Wave only for core bookkeeping and invoicing.
Pro becomes easier to justify when bank imports, automatic categorization, receipt capture, reminders, or additional account users remove enough manual work to exceed the subscription cost. The right comparison is not “free versus paid” in the abstract; it is the $0 Starter workflow versus the time and transaction costs your business would otherwise incur.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Bottom line: is Wave accounting really free?
Wave accounting is genuinely free at the Starter subscription level: the listed price is $0 and the plan includes core bookkeeping and invoicing. It is not an all-inclusive free business-finance service. Pro automation, receipt scanning, payroll, advisers, and payment processing can cost extra, with payment fees charged per use. Check your country, bank compatibility, current checkout price, and the terms for any service you activate before treating your Wave budget as settled.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
