Wave invoicing is free: the Starter plan costs $0 and includes unlimited invoices and estimates, as of October 2026. What you pay for is getting paid online, because Wave charges a fee on every card or bank payment your customers make through an invoice.
Here's the catch with the Pro plan. Its headline card fee of 2.9% + $0 only applies to the first ten card transactions in each monthly period. After that it goes back to 2.9% + $0.60, the same as Starter. So Pro doesn't get cheaper per payment as you grow. Where it earns its keep is the automation, such as late payment reminders. These are Wave's US dollar rates, and Wave is focused on the US and Canada, so if you're in the UK or Australia, check what's available to you before you set it up.
What Wave's invoices can do
Wave says you can create and send invoices in seconds, add your logo and brand colours using drag-and-drop templates, and have each invoice connect to Wave's accounting so that payments post straight to your books. You don't have to record a paid invoice twice. On the free Starter plan, that sits alongside unlimited estimates, bills and bookkeeping records, so a one-person business can run its whole billing side without paying a plan fee.
You also get notifications. Wave tells you when an invoice has been viewed, when it becomes due and when it's paid, and each customer record keeps their payment and communication history in one place. That's handy when someone swears they never got your invoice.
Recurring billing for repeat customers
If you bill the same client every month, you can set up recurring invoices with automatic credit card payments. Wave lets you switch between automatic and manual billing whenever you want, so you're not locked in if a client would rather pay each invoice by hand.
Late payment reminders at 3, 7 and 14 days
This is the feature most freelancers wish they had sooner. Wave sends late payment reminders automatically when you use its online payments feature or the Pro plan. According to Wave's pricing page, the reminders go out 3, 7 and 14 days after an invoice is due. So you're not the one writing awkward chaser emails.
Estimates and deposits
You can create estimates in Wave too. When online payments are switched on, you can request a deposit through the estimate, which means a client can pay something upfront before you start the work.
Getting paid: the Pay now button and payout timing
Online payments are optional, and they need approval. Wave's FAQ says approval depends on eligibility criteria, including identity verification and a credit review. Once you're approved, your customers pay through a Pay now button on the invoice, and Wave supports Apple Pay as well as cards and bank payments.
Is it worth switching on? Wave's own figure is that customers who enable payments on their invoices get paid 3x faster than those paid by cash or cheque. That's Wave's claim rather than an independent study, but the logic holds: a client who can tap Pay now on their phone has one less excuse to put your invoice at the bottom of the pile.
Wave says credit card payments are deposited in 1 to 2 business days and bank payments in 1 to 7 business days. If cash flow is tight, that gap matters, so card payments are the faster route.
Wave payment fees by plan
Here are the processing fees from Wave's pricing page, as of October 2026, in US dollars:
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| Payment type | Starter fee | Pro fee |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, Discover | 2.9% + $0.60 | 2.9% + $0 for the first 10 a month, then 2.9% + $0.60 |
| American Express | 3.4% + $0.60 | 3.4% + $0 for the first 10 a month, then 3.4% + $0.60 |
| Bank payment (ACH or EFT) | 1%, $1.00 minimum | 1%, $1.00 minimum |
Discover processing is US only. Bank payments cost the same on both plans. For the full plan comparison, including what else Pro adds, see this guide to Wave's plans. Wave lists Pro at $19 a month billed monthly or $190 a year billed annually, as of October 2026.
Sending your first Wave invoice in five steps
- Sign up for the free Starter plan.
- Create a customer, then an invoice with your logo.
- Apply for online payments. Wave runs an identity check and a credit review.
- Send the invoice. Your customer clicks Pay now.
- Card payments land in 1 to 2 business days. If reminders are on, they go out at 3, 7 and 14 days overdue.
Wave also has a free iOS and Android app, so you can send invoices from your phone. Receipts in the app need a paid plan, though.
My verdict
For freelancers and small businesses, Wave is generous here. The invoicing itself is free, it's unlimited, and the reminders and recurring billing save you a lot of chasing. The part to think about is the card fee on every payment. I'd weigh up whether to pass it on to clients or nudge regular clients towards bank payments, which cost 1% with a $1.00 minimum, as of October 2026. And don't upgrade to Pro expecting cheaper fees at volume, because the $0 part stops after ten card payments a month. If Wave doesn't feel right, there are some solid free invoicing tools to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wave invoicing free?
Yes. Wave's Starter plan is $0, as of October 2026, and includes unlimited invoices, estimates, bills and bookkeeping records. You only pay fees when customers pay online.
How much does Wave charge to accept card payments?
As of October 2026, Wave charges 2.9% + $0.60 per Visa, Mastercard or Discover payment and 3.4% + $0.60 per Amex payment on Starter. On Pro, the $0.60 part is dropped for the first ten transactions each month.
How long do Wave payments take?
Wave says credit card payments are deposited in 1 to 2 business days and bank payments in 1 to 7 business days.
Can Wave send recurring invoices?
Yes. You can set up recurring invoices with automatic credit card payments, and switch between automatic and manual billing whenever you want.
Does Wave send late payment reminders?
Yes, with online payments or the Pro plan. Wave's pricing page says reminders go out 3, 7 and 14 days after the invoice is due.
Can Wave do estimates and deposits?
Yes. You can create estimates, and when online payments are enabled you can request deposits through them.
