Looking for a Wave Alternative?
Wave's free invoicing and accounting are hard to beat on price, but the lack of proposal features, higher payment processing fees, and limited support leave gaps that matter as your freelance business grows. If you've outgrown Wave or need tools it doesn't offer, here are the best options.
SendScope
Our pickA focused tool that lets freelancers create one shareable link combining a proposal, invoice, and payment. Clients review scope, approve, and pay from a single page with no login required.
Free tier (3 active deals, auto-invoicing, Stripe payments, basic analytics). Pro at $19/mo (unlimited deals, payment reminders, custom branding, templates, full analytics).
Best for: Freelancers who want proposals and payments combined but handle accounting separately.
Pros
- Proposal, invoice, and payment in one shareable link
- Generous free tier with 3 active deals and Stripe payments
- No client login or account required
- Auto-invoicing on approval saves manual steps
- Stripe Connect means lower processing fees than Wave
- Pro plan at $19/mo with unlimited deals
Cons
- No accounting, bookkeeping, or expense tracking
- No bank connections or financial reporting
- No receipt scanning or payroll
- You'll still need an accounting tool alongside it
FreshBooks
A well-established accounting and invoicing platform designed for small businesses and freelancers. Picks up where Wave leaves off with better support, more integrations, and a polished experience.
Lite at $19/mo (5 clients). Plus at $33/mo (50 clients). Premium at $60/mo (unlimited clients).
Best for: Freelancers who've outgrown Wave and want professional accounting with real customer support.
Pros
- Professional invoicing with automatic payment reminders
- Real accounting features including double-entry bookkeeping
- Time tracking and expense management built in
- Bank connections and receipt scanning that work reliably
- Strong customer support on all paid plans
- Much larger integration ecosystem than Wave
Cons
- Not free, starting at $19/mo for just 5 clients
- Client limits on lower plans force upgrades
- No proposal or scope features
- No contracts or e-signatures
Invoice Ninja
An open-source invoicing platform with a generous free tier. The closest free alternative to Wave for pure invoicing, with the added benefit of self-hosting.
Free for up to 20 clients. Ninja Pro at $10/mo. Enterprise at $14/mo.
Best for: Freelancers who want free invoicing with more features and payment options than Wave.
Pros
- Free for up to 20 clients with full invoicing features
- Open-source with a self-hosted option
- Supports recurring invoices and auto-billing
- Multiple payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, and more
- Quotes and purchase orders included
- White-label option on paid plans
Cons
- Accounting features are basic compared to Wave
- No bank connections or receipt scanning on free plan
- Interface takes some time to learn
- Self-hosting requires technical setup and maintenance
Fiverr Workspace (formerly AND.CO)
A free invoicing and contract tool from Fiverr. Covers basic proposals, invoicing, time tracking, and expense management at no cost.
Free.
Best for: Freelancers who want free invoicing with basic proposal features that Wave doesn't offer.
Pros
- Completely free to use with no paid tiers
- Simple, clean interface for invoicing
- Automatic payment reminders included
- Basic proposal and contract features that Wave lacks
- Expense tracking and task management
Cons
- Development has slowed significantly since the Fiverr acquisition
- No real accounting or bookkeeping features
- Limited customization options
- Future of the product is uncertain
- Reporting is basic
HoneyBook
A client management platform for creative freelancers. Goes well beyond invoicing with contracts, scheduling, automations, and a polished client experience.
Starter at $19/mo (annual). Essentials at $39/mo. Premium at $79/mo.
Best for: Freelancers who need client management beyond invoicing and are ready to pay for it.
Pros
- Proposals, contracts, and invoicing in one platform
- Built-in scheduling and calendar integration
- Smart automations for follow-ups and client workflows
- Modern, polished interface clients enjoy using
- E-signatures included
Cons
- Starts at $19/mo, a big jump from Wave's free tier
- No accounting or bookkeeping features
- Can be overkill for freelancers with simple invoicing needs
- Learning curve for automations and workflow setup
PayPal Invoicing
The simplest way to send an invoice and get paid. No frills, no monthly fee, just invoicing backed by the world's most recognized payment platform.
No monthly fee. Transaction fees of 3.49% + $0.49 per invoice payment.
Best for: Freelancers who want the simplest possible invoicing with the widest client payment acceptance.
Pros
- Nearly universal acceptance since most clients have PayPal
- No monthly subscription fee at all
- Very simple to set up and send an invoice
- Partial payments and installments supported
- Automatic payment reminders
Cons
- Transaction fees of 3.49% + $0.49 are the highest on this list
- No accounting, proposals, or project features
- Very limited invoice customization
- Disputes and payment holds can freeze your funds
- No integration with other freelance tools
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