7 Best Wave Alternatives in 2026

Wave is genuinely the best free invoicing and accounting combo on the market. Owned by H&R Block, it offers unlimited invoicing, full double-entry bookkeeping, receipt scanning, and financial reporting — all at no cost. For a desktop-oriented business that only needs basic invoicing and bookkeeping, Wave is hard to beat on price.

But “free” comes with trade-offs that grow more visible the longer you use the product.

Based on app store reviews, G2 feedback, and community forums, the most common reasons people look for Wave alternatives include:

• The mobile experience is web-centric, not native. Wave’s mobile app frequently redirects to web views. Users report slow load times, UI bugs, and an experience that feels like a shrunken website rather than a real app.
• Essential features cost $16/month. Automatic payment reminders and recurring invoices require Wave’s Pro plan. The “free” value proposition erodes quickly when you need features most invoicing apps include at lower tiers.
• Payment processing fees are above average. Wave charges 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction and 1% (with a $1 minimum) for ACH bank payments. That $0.60 per-transaction fee is double what many competitors charge.
• No offline mode. You cannot create, edit, or send invoices without an internet connection. For field service professionals working in basements, crawl spaces, or rural job sites, this is a dealbreaker.
• No AI features. Every invoice is built through manual form entry. No smart suggestions, no natural language input, no automation beyond basic templates.
• Customer support complaints. Multiple reviews cite slow response times, difficulty reaching a human, and unresolved billing issues with Wave’s payment processing.
• No QuickBooks integration. If you need to sync with QuickBooks, you’re locked into Wave’s own accounting system with no export path.

We evaluated 7 alternatives based on pricing, mobile experience, AI features, offline support, invoice limits, and integrations. Full disclosure: Pronto Invoice (our product) is on this list. We’ve done our best to give every tool a fair, honest assessment.

Quick Comparison

1. Pronto Invoice --- Best for AI-Powered Mobile Invoicing

Pronto Invoice is a native mobile-first invoicing app built around two ideas: invoicing should take under 60 seconds, and your phone should be the only tool you need. It’s designed for people who create invoices in the field, not at a desk.

Where Wave treats mobile as a secondary channel, Pronto Invoice was built for mobile from day one. It includes an AI assistant that creates invoices from natural language, full offline support, and one-handed operation for job sites.

Standout Features

• Smart AI invoice creation. Type or speak “Invoice John Smith $500 for AC repair” and the AI builds the complete invoice — client matching, item suggestions, tax calculations included. Under 15 seconds for repeat clients.
• 5-step guided workflow. Client > Items > Payment > Document Info > Review & Send. Enforced simplicity that prevents the feature bloat Wave’s interface suffers from.
• Full offline mode. Create invoices, add clients, manage items, and preview PDFs without internet. Everything syncs when you reconnect. Wave requires connectivity for every action.
• One-handed mobile operation. Every critical action is reachable with your thumb. Built for contractors on ladders, not accountants at desks.
• Voice-to-invoice. Speak your invoice details aloud and the app builds it. Useful when your hands are dirty, wet, or gloved.
• 16 industry templates. Tailored for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, photography, consulting, landscaping, and more.
• Zero payment processing markup. Connect your own Stripe or PayPal account. Keep your negotiated rate. No $0.60 per-transaction surcharge like Wave.

Pricing

Pros

• Free plan with 10 invoices/month (no credit card required)
• AI invoice creation is genuinely unique in the invoicing market
• Fully native iOS and Android apps with complete offline support
• No payment processing markup at any tier — use your own Stripe or PayPal
• QuickBooks sync and recurring invoices on Growth ($12/mo) — features Wave charges $16/mo for

Cons

• Newer product with a smaller user base than Wave’s established community
• No in-app client signatures yet (on the roadmap)
• Smart AI requires internet connection (traditional 5-step form works offline)

Best For

Contractors, field service pros, and freelancers who invoice from their phone and want AI to eliminate the manual form-based data entry that Wave requires.

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2. Invoice Simple --- Best for Simple Mobile Invoicing

Invoice Simple is one of the most popular invoicing apps on mobile, with 4.8 stars across 284K app store reviews. It focuses on doing one thing well: creating and sending professional invoices quickly.

If your main complaint with Wave is the mobile experience, Invoice Simple is a straightforward upgrade. The mobile app is polished and reliable. But it comes with trade-offs: no free plan, strict invoice limits on lower tiers, and no accounting features.

Standout Features

• Clean, intuitive mobile interface with strong app store ratings (4.8 stars, 284K+ reviews)
• Client signatures on estimates (Premium tier)
• Multiple invoice templates with customization options
• In-app payment acceptance via credit card and ACH
• Simple expense tracking and mileage logging

Pricing

No free plan. 14-day free trial available. Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Pros

• Massive user base with a proven track record and high app store ratings
• Clean, simple interface that’s easy to learn on day one
• Client signatures on estimates (Premium tier)
• Reliable mobile app that doesn’t redirect to web views like Wave

Cons

• No free plan — the lowest tier costs $4.99/mo for just 3 invoices
• No recurring invoices on any tier
• No QuickBooks integration
• No AI features — manual form entry only
• No offline invoice creation

Best For

Users who want a simple, proven mobile invoicing app and don’t mind paying for it. Good for businesses sending fewer than 10 invoices per month who prioritize ease of use over features.

3. FreshBooks --- Best for Full Accounting

FreshBooks started as an invoicing tool and evolved into a full small business accounting platform. If your concern with Wave isn’t price but rather feature depth and polish, FreshBooks is the most comprehensive upgrade.

It offers everything Wave does — invoicing, accounting, receipt scanning, reporting — but with a more modern interface, better time tracking, and a much larger integration ecosystem. The trade-off is cost. FreshBooks is significantly more expensive.

Standout Features

• Full double-entry accounting with automated bank reconciliation
• Time tracking with billable hours and project profitability tracking
• Expense tracking with receipt capture and categorization
• 100+ integrations (Stripe, Shopify, Gusto, HubSpot, and more)
• Automated late payment reminders (included, not a paid add-on like Wave)
• Team collaboration with accountant access

Pricing

Promotional pricing shown. Regular prices are approximately double. Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30.

Pros

• Comprehensive accounting that goes well beyond Wave’s capabilities
• Excellent time tracking and project management features
• Large ecosystem of integrations (100+)
• Strong brand reputation with years of track record
• Late payment reminders included on all plans (Wave charges $16/mo for this)

Cons

• Significantly more expensive than Wave and most invoicing-only tools
• Feature bloat if you only need invoicing — you’re paying for accounting you may not use
• Client limits on lower tiers (5 on Lite, 50 on Plus)
• No AI invoice creation
• No offline mode
• Promotional pricing obscures what you’ll actually pay long term

Best For

Small businesses that have outgrown Wave’s interface and need a full accounting solution with time tracking, expense management, and a large integration ecosystem. Not ideal if you only need invoicing.

4. Invoice2Go --- Best for Mobile Invoicing with Banking

Invoice2Go (now part of Bill.com) combines invoicing with integrated business banking. It has processed over $24 billion in payments and offers a mobile experience that’s more polished than Wave’s web-centric approach.

The standout feature is the integrated business bank account. If you want invoicing and banking in one app — without juggling Wave plus a separate bank — Invoice2Go simplifies the financial stack.

Standout Features

• Integrated business banking (checking account and debit card through Bill.com)
• Instant bank deposits for processed invoice payments
• Professional invoice templates with logo and brand customization
• Appointment scheduling (basic)
• Client reviews and ratings collection
• Multi-currency support

Pricing

No free plan. Banking services may have additional fees. Payment processing: 2.9% per transaction.

Pros

• Integrated banking eliminates the need for a separate business bank account
• Strong mobile app with a better on-device experience than Wave
• Backed by Bill.com — financial stability and continued development
• Appointment scheduling built in for service-based businesses

Cons

• No free plan (trial only) — a significant step down from Wave’s free tier
• No AI invoice creation
• Banking features may not be available in all regions
• Payment processing fees apply (2.9%)
• Limited offline functionality — some features require connectivity

Best For

Small business owners who want invoicing and banking in one app and are willing to trade Wave’s free pricing for a better mobile experience and financial integration.

5. Zoho Invoice --- Best for Zoho Ecosystem Users

Zoho Invoice is the invoicing module within the larger Zoho suite. It offers a free plan for up to 5 clients with no invoice limits, making it a potential Wave replacement for very small operations.

Where Zoho Invoice shines is ecosystem integration. If you use (or plan to use) Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Projects, or any of Zoho’s 45+ business apps, the invoicing module ties everything together seamlessly.

Standout Features

• Free plan for up to 5 clients (no invoice limits within that cap)
• Deep integration with Zoho CRM, Books, Projects, and Inventory
• Automated payment reminders and follow-up workflows
• Multi-currency invoicing with automatic exchange rates
• Client portal where customers can view and pay invoices
• Time tracking with project-based billing

Pricing

Payment processing available through Zoho’s integrated gateways.

Pros

• Free tier with no invoice limits (5-client cap, but no per-invoice restrictions)
• Excellent value if you already use Zoho products
• Client portal included for self-service invoice viewing and payment
• Strong automation features for payment reminders and recurring invoices
• Competitive pricing on paid tiers

Cons

• Limited value outside the Zoho ecosystem — the real power is in integrations
• No AI invoice creation
• No offline mode
• Mobile app is functional but not mobile-first — feels like a responsive web app
• 5-client limit on free tier is restrictive for growing businesses
• Interface can feel corporate and complex for solopreneurs

Best For

Businesses already using Zoho products (CRM, Books, Projects) that want integrated invoicing within their existing ecosystem. Also a reasonable free option for very small operations with 5 or fewer clients.

6. Invoice Ninja --- Best Open-Source Option

Invoice Ninja is an open-source invoicing platform with a generous free tier and the option to self-host your entire invoicing system. It’s popular with developers and privacy-focused business owners who want full control over their data.

For technical users leaving Wave, Invoice Ninja offers something no other alternative does: the ability to run your invoicing software on your own server, completely free.

Standout Features

• Open-source codebase with self-hosting available (free for all features)
• Free cloud tier with up to 5 clients
• Project management and time tracking with Kanban boards
• 40+ payment gateway integrations (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Braintree, and more)
• Multi-language support (12+ languages)
• Recurring invoices and auto-billing
• API access for custom integrations

Pricing

Self-hosting is free for all features, including unlimited clients and invoices.

Pros

• Self-hosting option gives you complete control over your data
• Generous feature set on the free tier
• 40+ payment gateway integrations — more than almost any competitor
• Active open-source community with regular updates
• Time tracking and project management built in

Cons

• Free cloud tier limited to 5 clients (same restriction as Zoho)
• No AI invoice creation
• No offline mode on the cloud version
• Mobile apps are less polished than dedicated mobile-first tools
• Self-hosting requires technical knowledge to set up, secure, and maintain
• QuickBooks integration is an add-on, not built in

Best For

Developers, tech-savvy freelancers, and privacy-conscious businesses that want open-source control over their invoicing data or need to self-host for compliance reasons.

7. Billdu --- Best for European Businesses

Billdu offers a 4-app ecosystem — invoicing, appointment scheduling, e-commerce, and website builder — with strong multi-language and multi-currency support. With 1.5 million users and a 4.8/5 app store rating, it’s particularly popular in European and international markets.

For Wave users who need multi-currency support, VAT handling, or invoicing in multiple languages, Billdu is purpose-built for international business in a way Wave is not.

Standout Features

• 4-app ecosystem (invoicing, scheduling, e-commerce, website builder)
• Strong multi-currency and multi-language support
• Appointment scheduling with client booking
• OCR receipt scanning for expense management
• E-invoicing compliance for European regulations
• Simple e-commerce features for product-based businesses

Pricing

Payment processing fees apply. Pricing varies by region.

Pros

• Broad feature set spanning 4 integrated apps
• Strong international and European regulatory support (VAT, e-invoicing)
• Appointment scheduling built in — useful for service businesses
• Good mobile app experience with decent ratings (4.8/5)
• Large user base (1.5M users) providing product stability

Cons

• Complex pricing across multiple apps and tiers — hard to compare to Wave’s simplicity
• No AI invoice creation
• No QuickBooks integration
• Limited offline support — some features require connectivity
• Can feel overwhelming if you only need invoicing
• Payment processing fees apply on top of subscription costs

Best For

European-based businesses or international operations needing strong multi-currency, multi-language, and VAT compliance. Also a good fit if you want invoicing, scheduling, and basic e-commerce in one ecosystem.

How We Chose These Alternatives

We evaluated each tool based on the criteria that matter most to users leaving Wave:

• Pricing transparency. Can you understand what you’ll pay without contacting sales? Are there hidden fees?
• Mobile experience. Is the mobile app a native experience or a web wrapper? Wave’s biggest weakness is its web-centric mobile approach.
• AI and automation. Does the tool reduce manual data entry beyond basic templates?
• Offline support. Can you create and manage invoices without internet connectivity?
• Invoice limits. How many invoices can you send at each price tier?
• Integrations. Does it connect to accounting tools like QuickBooks?
• User reviews. What do real users say on the App Store, Google Play, G2, and Capterra?

All pricing and feature information was verified on each product’s official website. Last verified February 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest Wave alternative?

Pronto Invoice, Invoice Ninja, and Zoho Invoice all offer free plans. Pronto Invoice’s free tier includes 10 invoices/month with full mobile app access and AI features. Zoho Invoice is free for up to 5 clients with no invoice limits. Invoice Ninja is free for 5 clients on cloud, or completely free if you self-host. For paid plans, Invoice Simple starts at $4.99/mo and Billdu at $4.99/mo, but neither offers a free tier.

Which Wave alternative has the best mobile app?

Pronto Invoice is the only alternative built mobile-first with fully native iOS and Android apps, one-handed operation, offline mode, and voice input. Invoice Simple (4.8 stars, 284K reviews) also has a well-regarded mobile app. Wave’s mobile app redirects to web views for many tasks — both Pronto Invoice and Invoice Simple provide a significantly better on-device experience.

Is there a free alternative to Wave with offline support?

Pronto Invoice’s free plan is the only free invoicing option that includes offline support. You can create invoices, add clients, and manage items without internet. The free tier includes 10 invoices per month. No other free invoicing tool — including Zoho Invoice and Invoice Ninja — offers offline functionality.

Which Wave alternative works offline?

Pronto Invoice is the only alternative with full offline support. Create invoices, add clients, manage your item catalog, and preview PDFs without any internet connection. Everything syncs automatically when you reconnect. Invoice2Go and Billdu offer limited offline functionality, but neither supports complete offline invoice creation.

Which invoicing app has AI features?

Pronto Invoice is the only invoicing app with conversational AI invoice creation. Type or speak a natural language description like “Invoice Sarah at Greenfield Landscaping $350 for spring cleanup” and the AI builds the complete invoice — matching existing clients, suggesting catalog items, and calculating taxes. No other alternative on this list offers AI-powered invoice creation.

Can I switch from Wave without losing my data?

Your historical invoices and accounting data remain accessible in your Wave account after you switch. Most invoicing apps, including Pronto Invoice, don’t offer a direct data import from Wave. You’ll build your client list and item catalog in your new tool as you go. For businesses with extensive accounting history in Wave, consider exporting your financial reports as PDFs or CSV files before transitioning. If you rely on Wave’s accounting, note that simpler invoicing tools won’t replace that functionality — FreshBooks is the closest full-accounting alternative.

Which alternative is best for contractors?

Pronto Invoice is designed specifically for field service professionals including contractors, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians. AI invoice creation, full offline mode, one-handed mobile operation, voice input, photo attachments, and 16 industry-specific templates make it the strongest choice for anyone who invoices from job sites. Invoice2Go is a secondary option with its appointment scheduling and banking features, though it lacks offline mode and AI.

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All pricing and feature information verified on each product’s official website as of February 2026. Pricing and features may have changed. Visit each product’s website for the most current information.