Bonsai vs Wave: compare pricing, features, ratings, and best use cases to pick the right tool for your one-person business.
Bonsai
Paid — from $17/mo (annual, single user)
A freelance OS that ties proposals, contracts, invoicing, time tracking, and quarterly tax estimates into one reporting suite.
Best for
- Full-time freelancers and consultants billing for client work
- Writers, designers, developers, and marketers who want one back-office home
- Small agencies needing shared team billing and client tracking
- Freelancers who dread tax season and want prepared quarterly filings
Pros
- Polished, client-facing proposal and contract experience
- Direct tax preparation and filing that few rivals offer
- Connected workflow that avoids re-entering client and amount data
- Broad coverage including time tracking and CRM in one subscription
Cons
- Pricing climbs fast once e-signature and tax add-ons are required
- CRM and time tracking are thinner than dedicated specialist apps
- Overkill for low-volume or part-time freelancers
Wave
Freemium — free accounting; Payments processing fee, Payroll paid
Genuinely free double-entry accounting, invoicing, and receipt tracking for micro-businesses, with paid payment-processing and payroll add-ons.
Best for
- Micro-businesses, freelancers, and sole traders needing real books at $0
- Solopreneurs who invoice by bank transfer and want clean reporting
- New self-employed users not yet ready for a paid accounting subscription
Pros
- Core accounting and invoicing are genuinely free with no trial timer
- Quick, approachable onboarding for non-accountants
- Usable standard reports for income, expenses, and cash flow
- Receipt scanning reduces manual data entry
Cons
- Payment processing and payroll fees sit on top of the free core
- No advanced inventory or deep job/project costing
- Payroll is a US-only paid add-on
Not sure yet? Browse all AI tools or see Bonsai alternatives and Wave alternatives.