Wave vs GnuCash
A detailed comparison of Wave and GnuCash to help you choose the right tool for your needs.
💰 Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Wave | GnuCash |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing | ✓ Completely free |
| Lowest Paid | Free | Free |
| Enterprise | Paid payroll available | Free |
⚡ Feature Comparison
| Feature | Wave | GnuCash |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | ✓ | — |
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Receipt scanning | ✓ | — |
| Financial reports | ✓ | — |
| Bank connections | ✓ | — |
| Payments | ✓ | — |
| Payroll (paid) | ✓ | — |
| Multi-currency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dashboard | ✓ | — |
| Mobile app | ✓ | — |
| Double-entry bookkeeping | — | ✓ |
| Reports | — | ✓ |
| Scheduled transactions | — | ✓ |
| Stock tracking | — | ✓ |
| Budgets | — | ✓ |
| Import/export | — | ✓ |
| Tax reports | — | ✓ |
| Cross-platform | — | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rating | ⭐ 4 | ⭐ 3.8 |
Pros & Cons
Wave
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Easy to use
- ✓ Good for basics
- ✓ Receipt scanning
Cons
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No inventory
- ✗ No time tracking
- ✗ Basic reporting
GnuCash
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Double-entry
- ✓ Multi-currency support
Cons
- ✗ Dated interface
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ No cloud sync
- ✗ Desktop only
🏆 The Verdict
Choose Wave if: You need freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting. Wave excels with its completely free and easy to use.
Choose GnuCash if: You need users wanting free desktop accounting software. GnuCash stands out with its completely free and open source.
Best free option: Both Wave and GnuCash offer free tiers. Wave offers "Free accounting and invoicing" while GnuCash offers "Completely free".
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wave better than GnuCash?
It depends on your needs. Wave is better for freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting, while GnuCash is better for users wanting free desktop accounting software. Both are excellent tools rated 4 and 3.8 respectively.
Which is cheaper, Wave or GnuCash?
Wave starts at Free while GnuCash starts at Free. Both offer free tiers.
Can I switch from Wave to GnuCash?
Most tools offer import/export features to help you migrate. We recommend trying GnuCash's free tier before fully committing to a switch.
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