Wave Alternatives (2026): 9 Invoicing and Accounting Apps

Wave is an accounting and invoicing app for small businesses, not the ocean kind. Plenty of freelancers and owners start with it because it keeps invoices, receipts and bookkeeping in one place. But it may not suit everyone. You might want features it doesn't offer, a tool built for your country's rules, or simply a different feel to the software you use every week.

This page lists nine Wave alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller, independent apps with a few well-known names. Everything below comes from each tool's own website, so double-check the current details before you move your records. If you're still deciding what type of tool you need, my guide to accounting software for freelancers is a good companion.

Wave alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a permanent free plan or free software. Trial only means a free trial with no ongoing free option. Free access can come with limits, such as a small client list, so read the details on each site.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Akaunting	Open source accounting	Self-hosted bookkeeping you control	Yes
Billdu	Invoice and estimate app	Quick invoices, quotes and receipts on a phone	Trial only
Bonsai	Freelance business suite	Proposals, contracts and invoices together	Trial only
FreeAgent	UK small business accounting	Sole traders and limited companies in the UK	Trial only
FreshBooks	Online accounting	Invoicing with time and expense tracking	Trial only
Invoice Ninja	Open source invoicing	Freelancers who want a free place to start	Yes
Xero	Cloud accounting	Growing businesses working with an accountant	Trial only
Zervant	Simple invoicing app	Sole traders who want quick, tidy invoices	Yes
Zoho Invoice	Free invoicing software	Invoices, quotes and time tracking	Yes

Nine invoicing and bookkeeping apps, A to Z

Akaunting

Best for: Tech-comfortable owners who want open source accounting with invoicing and expense tracking, running on their own hosting.

Billdu

Best for: Freelancers and tradespeople who mostly work from a phone and want invoices, estimates and receipts in one simple app.

Bonsai

Best for: Service businesses and freelancers who want client records, proposals, time tracking and invoicing under one login.

FreeAgent

Best for: UK freelancers, contractors and small firms who want accounting that handles invoicing, expenses and tax returns in one place.

FreshBooks

Best for: Service businesses who want friendly invoicing, expense tracking and reports without needing an accountant's training.

Invoice Ninja

Best for: Freelancers and small studios who want invoicing, quotes, expenses and a client portal, with a free plan for a small client list.

Xero

Best for: Small businesses who want full online accounting, invoices, bills and reports, and a tool that many accountants already know.

Zervant

Best for: Sole traders who want clear estimates and invoices, recurring billing and a mobile app, starting free and upgrading later.

Zoho Invoice

Best for: Freelancers and small firms who want free invoicing with templates, reminders, a client portal and reports across devices.

How to choose invoicing and bookkeeping software like Wave

Start with what you need the software to do on an ordinary Tuesday, not what looks impressive in a demo. Work through these questions.

• Do you need invoices only, or full bookkeeping? Some apps stop at sending invoices. Others record every receipt, reconcile your bank and produce reports.
• Does it fit where you trade? Tax rules, invoice wording and bank connections differ by country, so check the app supports yours.
• Can you send professional documents? Look for your logo, clear numbering, quotes and reminders for late customers.
• How easy is it to hand over to an accountant? Good export options and shared access save awkward conversations later.
• Does it work on your phone? If you create invoices on site or on the move, test the mobile app.
• What happens to your data if you leave? Make sure you can export your invoices, customers and reports.

Which type of Wave alternative suits your business

• Simple invoicing apps suit sole traders and freelancers who only need to send neat invoices and quotes.
• Full online accounting suits businesses that want bank feeds, bills, reports and a smooth route to tax-ready records.
• Open source options suit owners who are happy to host their own software and want control over their data.
• Freelance business suites suit people who want proposals, contracts, time tracking and invoices linked together.
• Country-specific tools suit owners who want software built around their local tax and filing rules.

If you're comparing a wider range of tools, my pages on the best bookkeeping software for small business and cloud-based invoicing for small business cover more ground.

What your invoices and receipts need to show

Whichever app you choose, your invoices should be clear and complete. The details usually include your business name and contact details, the customer's details, a unique invoice number, the date, a description of what you've supplied and the amount due. Rules differ by country and by whether you're registered for sales tax or VAT, so ask your accountant what applies to you. My guide on what details every invoice must include is a handy checklist.

Moving your records out of Wave

1. Export your customers, invoices and reports before you change anything, and keep a safe copy of the files.
2. Pick a clean start date, such as the first day of a month or tax period, so the old and new records don't overlap.
3. Set up your business details, logo, tax settings and invoice numbering in the new tool.
4. Import or re-enter your customer list and any unpaid invoices that are still open.
5. Send one real invoice and check it looks right on a phone and a desktop.
6. Tell your accountant which tool you've moved to and where the historic records are kept.

Mistakes people make when changing accounting software

• Switching in the middle of a tax period, which makes the records harder to follow.
• Choosing an invoicing-only app when they really need bookkeeping, or the reverse.
• Forgetting to check that the app supports their country's tax rules.
• Deleting the old account before they've saved their historic invoices and receipts.
• Not asking an accountant what format they prefer to receive records in.

This page is general information, not accounting or tax advice. Check with a qualified accountant about your own situation before you change how you keep your books.

Do you make invoicing or bookkeeping software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Making your final shortlist of accounting apps

Pick two apps that suit your trade and country. Set up the same pretend customer in each, send yourself an invoice and see which one you'd happily open every week. Check how each handles receipts and reports, and keep the one that makes your records easiest to understand when your accountant asks for them.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wave?

Wave is an accounting and invoicing app for small businesses and freelancers. It's software for invoices, receipts and bookkeeping, and it has nothing to do with ocean waves.

Is there a free alternative to Wave?

Yes. Some apps on this page have a permanent free plan or free software, though limits vary. Read each tool's own website for the current allowance before you rely on it.

Do I need full accounting software or just an invoicing app?

If you only need to send invoices and quotes, a simple invoicing app may be enough. If you want to record receipts, connect a bank and produce reports, look at full accounting software.

Can I move my data from one accounting app to another?

Usually you can export customers, invoices and reports from one tool and import or re-enter them in another. Check what each app can export before you switch, and keep a backup.

Should I ask an accountant before switching?

Yes. An accountant can tell you which formats and tools suit your country's rules and your own situation, and can help you pick a sensible start date.