Zoho Books vs Wave. Which Accounting Tool Fits Your Business?

Last Updated on December 5, 2025

Selecting the right cloud accounting software can feel overwhelming, one wrong pick and you could waste hours fixing errors or struggling with limited features.

Zoho Books and Wave Accounting are two popular contenders, each with its own strengths.

Zoho Books is a robust platform with automation, reporting, and integrations designed for growing small businesses.

Wave Accounting, on the other hand, offers simplicity and free core accounting features, making it appealing for freelancers and micro-businesses.

1. Comparison Table: Zoho Books vs Wave

Feature	Wave	Zoho Books
Ease of Use	Very simple interface; easy for beginners and freelancers	Modern, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
Core Features	Invoicing, expenses, bank connections, basic reporting	Invoicing, expenses, bank connections, basic reporting
Integrations	Limited integrations; mainly payment gateways and bank feeds	Deep Zoho ecosystem + third-party apps (Stripe, PayPal, Zapier)
Automation	Minimal automation; basic recurring invoices	Recurring invoices, workflow rules, AI categorization
Pricing	Free core accounting; paid add-ons for payroll and payments	Tiered plans starting from $20/month; free trial available
Support	Email and help center; limited real-time support	24/5 chat, email, phone, knowledge base, active community
Best For	Freelancers and micro-businesses seeking free, simple accounting	Growing small businesses needing scalable, automated accounting

2. Company Background & Market Fit

Zoho Books

Zoho Books is part of the Zoho suite, a globally recognized software ecosystem founded in 1996.

It’s designed for small to medium-sized businesses that want an all-in-one accounting solution with automation, reporting, and strong integration capabilities.

Zoho Books works well for businesses that anticipate growth and need a system that scales with them, offering multi-currency support, project management, and workflow automation.

Wave

Wave Accounting was founded in 2009 and quickly became popular among freelancers and micro-businesses due to its free core accounting features.

Its focus is on simplicity and affordability, making it ideal for sole proprietors, small service-based businesses, and startups with limited budgets.

Wave offers basic invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting, but it doesn’t have the depth or scalability of Zoho Books.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books is best suited for businesses planning growth and needing a scalable, feature-rich platform.
• Wave Accounting is ideal for freelancers and micro-businesses seeking a simple, no-cost solution.

3. Ease of Use & User Experience

Zoho Books

Zoho Books offers a modern, clean interface designed for small business owners and accountants alike.

The dashboard is intuitive, with clear navigation menus and customizable shortcuts for frequently used tasks.

Its mobile app (iOS or Android) mirrors the desktop experience, allowing users to manage invoices, expenses, and projects on the go.

While new users may need a short learning curve to explore advanced features, Zoho Books balances power with usability.

Wave

Wave Accounting prioritizes simplicity.

Its interface is straightforward and uncluttered, making it easy for freelancers or micro-business owners to start managing finances immediately.

Most actions, like sending invoices or recording expenses, require only a few clicks.

The mobile app (iOS or Android) is basic but functional, mainly covering invoicing and receipt capture.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books offers a slightly steeper learning curve but rewards users with powerful tools and flexibility.
• Wave is extremely easy to use and ideal for those who want a no-frills, quick-start accounting solution.

4. Core Features

Zoho Books

• Invoicing & Billing: Create professional invoices, schedule recurring invoices, send automated payment reminders, and accept multiple payment methods including Stripe, PayPal, and Razorpay. Supports multi-currency invoicing for global clients.

• Expense Tracking & Bank Reconciliation: Automatically syncs bank accounts, categorizes expenses, and simplifies reconciliation with AI-assisted suggestions.

• Reporting & Analytics: Provides detailed reports, customizable dashboards, and project tracking. Forecast cash flow and monitor financial health easily.

• Projects & Time Tracking: Track project expenses, time, and invoices in one system, ideal for service-based businesses.

Wave Accounting

• Invoicing & Billing: Allows professional invoices, recurring billing, and payment reminders. Limited payment gateway integrations.

• Expense Tracking & Bank Reconciliation: Supports bank connections and manual expense entry. Reconciliation is basic and may require more manual oversight.

• Reporting & Analytics: Offers essential reports such as Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow. Reporting is sufficient for freelancers but lacks advanced analytics.

• Projects & Time Tracking: Minimal to no built-in project or time tracking features.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books delivers comprehensive accounting features suitable for growing businesses, including automation and reporting.
• Wave Accounting provides the essentials needed by freelancers and very small teams but lacks advanced functionality.

5. Pricing & Value

Zoho Books

Zoho Books offers tiered subscription plans to suit different business sizes:

• Basic $20/month: includes 2 users, invoicing, expense tracking, and bank feeds.

• Standard $50/month: adds project tracking, sales orders, and additional automation.

• Professional $70/month: includes full automation, workflow rules, and advanced reporting.

• Free Trial: 14-day free trial available for all plans.

Wave

Wave Accounting is primarily free for core accounting features like invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting.

Paid add-ons include:

• Wave Payroll: $20–$35/month per employee (depending on region).

• Payments: Transaction fees apply for credit card and bank payments.

• Free Trial: Core accounting is free; payroll features may have a trial depending on the region.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books provides scalable, value-driven plans with extensive automation and integrations, ideal for businesses that anticipate growth.
• Wave Accounting is free for essential bookkeeping, making it perfect for freelancers and micro-businesses with tight budgets.

6. Integrations & Add-Ons

Zoho Books

Zoho Books integrates seamlessly within the Zoho ecosystem, including Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho Projects.

It also supports third-party apps like PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, Zapier, and more.

Workflow automation, API access, and customizable add-ons make it highly scalable for growing businesses.

Wave

Wave Accounting offers limited integrations, mainly with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, and basic bank connections.

There’s no extensive app marketplace or workflow automation, which keeps things simple but restricts scalability.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books excels in integrations and add-ons, offering flexibility and scalability for growing businesses.
• Wave is straightforward with limited integrations, ideal for small teams or freelancers who need simplicity over complexity.

7. Customer Support & Reliability

Zoho Books

Zoho Books provides multi-channel support designed for businesses that need fast and reliable assistance:

• Channels: Live chat, email, and phone support (24/5).

• Resources: Extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, webinars, and an active user community.

• Reliability: Cloud-hosted on Zoho’s global infrastructure with strong uptime guarantees and automatic backups.

Wave

Wave Accounting focuses on self-service support suitable for freelancers and very small teams:

• Channels: Email support and an in-app help center; no live chat or phone support.

• Resources: Tutorials, guides, and FAQ articles.

• Reliability: Cloud-based with automated backups, but smaller infrastructure means fewer enterprise-level features.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books offers robust, responsive, and professional support, making it ideal for businesses that rely on uptime and quick resolutions.
• Wave provides basic, adequate support for small users comfortable with self-service resources.

8. Pros & Cons

Zoho Books

• Comprehensive accounting features with automation and advanced reporting.

• Strong integrations within the Zoho ecosystem and third-party apps.

• Multi-currency support for international businesses.

• Mobile-friendly with well-designed apps for iOS and Android.

• Reliable customer support via chat, email, and phone.

• Slight learning curve for beginners due to advanced features.

• Some automation and advanced tools require higher-tier plans.

Wave Accounting

• Free core accounting software, ideal for freelancers and micro-businesses.

• Simple, intuitive interface requiring minimal setup.

• Supports essential invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting.

• Bank connection and payment integrations are straightforward.

• Limited integrations beyond payment processors and banks.

• Minimal automation features; no workflow rules.

• Support is mostly self-service, no live chat or phone support.

• Lacks advanced reporting and project management tools.

Takeaway:

• Zoho Books is ideal for businesses seeking feature-rich, scalable, and supported accounting software.
• Wave Accounting is best for freelancers or small teams who want simplicity and affordability.

9. Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

When comparing Zoho Books vs Wave Accounting, your choice depends on your business size, growth plans, and need for automation.

Choose Zoho Books if you want a scalable, feature-rich platform with automation, multi-currency support, detailed reporting, and strong integrations.

It’s ideal for growing small businesses and teams that need robust financial management.

Choose Wave Accounting if you’re a freelancer or micro-business looking for a free, simple, and straightforward accounting solution without advanced features.

Ready to streamline your accounting

10. FAQ