Harvest vs Wave: compare pricing, features, ratings, and best use cases to pick the right tool for your one-person business.

Harvest

★ 4.4/5

Freemium — free tier; Pro $11/mo

Time tracking and invoicing that feeds profitability.

Best for

  • Agencies
  • Consultants

Pros

  • Simple + solid
  • Integrations

Cons

  • No full accounting

Wave

★ 4/5

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 Harvest alternatives and Wave alternatives.