QuickBooks Online vs Wave: which is better for a new business? (2026)
9.4/10
QuickBooks Online
Free plan
Choose QuickBooks Online if: Businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks
Skip it if: You need a cheap paid plan; Essentials costs $85/mo after the August 2026 increase.
Visit QuickBooks Online7.4/10
Wave
Free plan
Choose Wave if: Solo owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping
Skip it if: You need inventory, time tracking, mileage tracking or a Spanish interface.
Visit WaveQuick verdict
| Higher OwnerUnlocked score | QuickBooks Online (9.4 vs 7.4) |
|---|---|
| Lower starting price | Tie (Free plan vs Free plan) |
| Better public ratings | QuickBooks Online (4.7 vs 3.7 / 5) |
| More Spanish help | QuickBooks Online (Spanish support vs English only) |
Side by side
| Best for | Businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks | Solo owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping |
|---|---|---|
| Skip if | You need a cheap paid plan; Essentials costs $85/mo after the August 2026 increase. | You need inventory, time tracking, mileage tracking or a Spanish interface. |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan | Free plan |
| Spanish | Spanish support | English only |
| Support | Phone callback, chat; M-F 6am-6pm, Sat 6am-3pm PT | Chat, email M-F 9am-4:45pm ET (Pro or any add-on) |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Public rating | 4.7/5 (App Store, 269,626) | 3.3/5 (Google Play, 23,630) |
| Price | $0 (Free); paid from $38/mo | $0 (Starter); Pro $19/mo |
| Free plan | 2 invoices/mo, 1 bank, 1 user, 2 receipts/mo, 5 trips/mo | No bank auto-import; receipts $8/mo add-on; no extra users |
| Users | 1 user + 2 accountants (Simple Start) | Starter: owner only; Pro: multiple users |
| Invoicing | Unlimited on paid plans; 2/mo on Free | Unlimited on all plans |
| Bank connection | Yes; Free plan limited to 1 bank | Pro only (via Plaid) |
| Receipt capture | Yes; 2/mo on Free | Pro; $8/mo add-on on Starter |
| Mileage tracking | Yes, GPS in mobile app; 5 trips/mo on Free | No (Driversnote integration on Pro) |
| Payroll add-on | Bundle from $88/mo + $6.50/employee (with Simple Start) | $40/mo + $6 per employee or contractor paid |
| Sales tax | Automatic on paid plans; manual on Free | Manual rates on invoices + sales tax report |
| Time tracking | Essentials and up | No |
| Inventory | Plus and up | No |
| Accountant access | 2 accountants on paid plans; none on Free | Pro (admin, editor or viewer roles) |
| 1099 contractors | Track and file 1099s; free e-file on Advanced | 1099-NEC forms via Wave Payroll |
| Online payment fees | Cards 2.99%; ACH 1% ($1 min); keyed 3.5% | Cards 2.9% + 60¢ (Amex 3.4% + 60¢); ACH 1% ($1 min) |
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QuickBooks Online
- Free plan includes 1 bank connection and 2 invoices per month.
- Paid plans include automatic sales tax, mileage tracking and receipt capture.
- Simple Start lets 2 accountants access your books at no extra cost.
- Mobile app rated 4.7/5 from about 270,000 App Store ratings.
- Essentials and Plus rose to $85 and $140 per month in August 2026.
- US version has no Spanish interface; Spanish help uses an interpreter.
- Free plan has no accountant access and only 2 receipt scans monthly.
Wave
- Starter is free with unlimited invoices, estimates and bills.
- Pro adds automatic bank imports and unlimited receipt scans for $19/month.
- Pro waives the 60¢ card fee on the first 10 payments monthly.
- Payroll with tax filing in all 50 states: $40/month + $6 per worker.
- Wave is English-only; you can only type Spanish text on invoices.
- No built-in mileage, time tracking or inventory quantity tracking.
- Free Starter needs manual bank entry; automatic import requires Pro.
Also worth a look
Questions
Is QuickBooks Online or Wave cheaper?
Their published starting prices can't be compared directly (Free plan vs Free plan). Ask both for a quote.
Which has better reviews?
QuickBooks Online, with 4.7/5 on average across the public ratings we checked.
Which one helps in Spanish?
QuickBooks Online: Spanish support. Wave: English only.
Can I switch from one to the other later?
Yes, though switching mid-year takes some setup. Export your records before you cancel, and check for annual contracts or cancellation notice periods.
Facts from each company's own pages and public rating sites, checked Oct 4, 2026. How we rate.