Wave vs Zoho Books: which is better for a new business? (2026)
7.4/10
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 Wave8.8/10
Zoho Books
Free plan
Choose Zoho Books if: New low-budget businesses wanting full accounting free
Skip it if: You need payroll built in; Zoho Payroll is a separate $39/month app.
Visit Zoho BooksQuick verdict
| Higher OwnerUnlocked score | Zoho Books (7.4 vs 8.8) |
|---|---|
| Lower starting price | Tie (Free plan vs Free plan) |
| Better public ratings | Zoho Books (3.7 vs 4.7 / 5) |
| More Spanish help | Wave (English only vs Not confirmed) |
Side by side
| Best for | Solo owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping | New low-budget businesses wanting full accounting free |
|---|---|---|
| Skip if | You need inventory, time tracking, mileage tracking or a Spanish interface. | You need payroll built in; Zoho Payroll is a separate $39/month app. |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan | Free plan |
| Spanish | English only | Not confirmed |
| Support | Chat, email M-F 9am-4:45pm ET (Pro or any add-on) | Email (Free); phone, chat on paid plans; M-F 9am-9pm ET |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Public rating | 3.3/5 (Google Play, 23,630) | 4.7/5 (Google Play, 30,717) |
| Price | $0 (Starter); Pro $19/mo | $0 (Free); paid from $15/mo billed yearly |
| Free plan | No bank auto-import; receipts $8/mo add-on; no extra users | Revenue under $50K/yr; 1,000 invoices/yr; 1 user + 1 accountant |
| Users | Starter: owner only; Pro: multiple users | Free: 1 + accountant; Standard: 3 |
| Invoicing | Unlimited on all plans | Yes; 1,000/yr on Free, 5,000/yr on Standard |
| Bank connection | Pro only (via Plaid) | Standard and up; manual reconciliation on Free |
| Receipt capture | Pro; $8/mo add-on on Starter | 50 autoscans/mo Free; 200/mo Standard |
| Mileage tracking | No (Driversnote integration on Pro) | Yes, all plans |
| Payroll add-on | $40/mo + $6 per employee or contractor paid | Zoho Payroll: $39/mo + $6/employee (separate app) |
| Sales tax | Manual rates on invoices + sales tax report | Standard and up |
| Time tracking | No | Professional and up |
| Inventory | No | Professional and up |
| Accountant access | Pro (admin, editor or viewer roles) | Yes, all plans (1 accountant on Free) |
| 1099 contractors | 1099-NEC forms via Wave Payroll | Track 1099s on Free; e-file on Standard and up |
| Online payment fees | Cards 2.9% + 60¢ (Amex 3.4% + 60¢); ACH 1% ($1 min) | Cards 2.9% + 30¢; ACH 0.8% (max $5) |
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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.
Zoho Books
- Free plan allows 1,000 invoices per year plus mileage tracking.
- Free plan includes 50 receipt autoscans per month.
- Interface and invoices can be set to Spanish.
- Zoho Payments: cards 2.9% + 30¢, ACH 0.8% capped at $5.
- Free plan lacks automatic bank feeds; they start at Standard ($15-$20/month).
- Free plan only applies while yearly revenue stays under $50,000.
- Free plan support is email only; phone and chat start at Standard.
Also worth a look
Questions
Is Wave or Zoho Books cheaper?
Their published starting prices can't be compared directly (Free plan vs Free plan). Ask both for a quote.
Which has better reviews?
Zoho Books, with 4.7/5 on average across the public ratings we checked.
Which one helps in Spanish?
Wave: English only. Zoho Books: Not confirmed.
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.