Wave Accounting vs QuickBooks Pro

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Our analysts compared Wave Accounting vs QuickBooks Pro based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Wave Accounting Software Tool
QuickBooks Pro Software Tool

Product Basics

Wave Accounting streamlines financial management for small businesses and freelancers. Its intuitive interface simplifies bookkeeping tasks like expense tracking, invoicing, and receipt scanning. Users praise its ease of use and mobile accessibility, making it ideal for entrepreneurs on the go. Wave offers core accounting features like bank reconciliation and income/expense reports, all for free. Premium plans unlock advanced functionalities like payroll, double-entry bookkeeping, and tax filing for an affordable monthly fee. Compared to similar products, Wave shines in user experience. Reviews highlight its intuitive design, helpful tutorials, and responsive customer support. However, its free plan lacks features crucial for larger businesses, requiring an upgrade for robust accounting needs. Ultimately, Wave excels as a beginner-friendly, cost-effective solution for solopreneurs and small teams seeking hassle-free financial management.

Pros
  • Free core features
  • Easy to use interface
  • Mobile-friendly design
  • Excellent customer support
  • Free bank reconciliation
Cons
  • Limited features in free plan
  • No inventory tracking
  • No double-entry accounting
  • Few integrations with other software
  • Limited reporting options
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QuickBooks Pro is a program designed to efficiently execute bookkeeping processes such as invoicing, cost tracking, receipt scanning and more while offering users a third eye on their finances by displaying the most current information in comprehensive dashboards and reports.

Inventory and sales tax tracking, accounts payable management and bill management are some of its quintessential features.
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$20 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$45 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Free: Utilize Wave Accounting's free features forever, making it a great help for entrepreneurs and freelancers who may find themselves in the preliminary stages of launching their business or service.  
  • Easy Setup: Get to work immediately with easy account setup and installation. 
  • Available Anywhere: Access this solution on computers and mobile devices to access and change anything from practically any location. All changes are automatically saved and synced so users always see current information. 
  • Instant Transactions: Connect bank accounts for instant transaction recordings. It also eliminates manually inputting receipts. 
  • Stay Organized for Tax Season: Sort incomes, expenses, payments and invoices in one centralized location for tax time.  
  • Collaborate with Accountants: Share data and collaborate with accountants for smooth financial processing and advice. 
  • Top-Notch Security: Protect financial information with security components such as bank connections with 256-bit encryption in read-only formats and PCI Level-1 security for managing credit cards and bank account information. 
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  • Initiate Payment Reminders: Notify patrons of invoice payment deadlines so users can receive payments sooner with automatic payment reminders. 
  • Attach Purchase Orders: Attach purchase order numbers to invoice emails so clients can swiftly locate and pay them on time without losing them in a sea of emails, thus initiating prompt payments. 
  • Bind Several Invoices to One Email: Amalgamate several invoices into one email, saving time on sending numerous emails and preventing bottlenecks in their customer payment processing. 
  • Detailed Customer Reports: Conceal specific columns in customer reports to analyze straightforward client totals to find the appropriate information in less time. 
  • Ease of Use: Obtain a plethora of features after hitting the F1 key. Features include improved help content, a search engine and access to certified financial experts via messaging and call back options to ensure users always have a helping hand if obstacles arise. 
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  • Link Accounts and Credit Cards: Connect an unlimited amount of bank accounts and credit cards. Users may supervise multiple businesses with one account. 
  • Smooth Integrations: Integrate Shopify transactions and link with PayPal, Shoeboxed and Etsy accounts. 
  • Intricate Dashboards: Elaborate dashboards that display cash balances, invoice statuses, incomes, expenses and payments. This accessory also provides bill and invoice reminders. 
  • Export Various Reports: Export a variety of accounting reports such as profit and loss, sales tax, cash flow, comparative and others. 
  • Automatic Updates: Receive prompt updates and reminders on invoices, payments and payroll details. 
  • Evaluate High Volumes of Transactions: Process a bulk amount of transactions to ensure rapid bookkeeping practices. Users can also perform and accept transactions in foreign currencies and search for transactions based on descriptions. 
  • Double-Entry Accounting: Operate with double-entry accounting—a method that chronicles transactions in two or more accounts — that performs prompt exchange rate calculations and has a flexible sales tax module. 
  • Adaptable Expense and Income Categories: Use account IDs to create adjustable expense and income categories, sometimes called chart of accounts. There's also an unlimited income and expense tracking accessory. 
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  • Inventory Management: Trace products, prices of goods and receive alerts when their inventory is running low with the inventory management accessory. This tool also enables effortless inventory adjustments to chronicle loss, theft and reduction. Users can draft purchase orders to stay in the loop of ordered goods. 
  • Monitor Sales Tax:  Determine which clients and merchandise are taxable and promptly document sales tax throughout the month with the sales tax apparatus. Users may leverage this tool to produce sales tax liability sheets to have an accurate snapshot of how much they owe. 
  • Personalized Invoices: Formulate sophisticated invoices and estimates to bill services, products and billable time and expenses with the invoicing component. This accessory also enables users to approve payments directly from invoices and deliver reminders to patrons about outstanding fees. 
  • Upkeep Bills: Trace bills and purchases in one system with the bill and accounts payable management tool. Users can upkeep cash flow, swiftly respond to unpaid bills and automatically receive early pay discounts. 
  • Monitor Profits and Expenditures: Link banks and credit cards to instantly export transactions with the income and expense tracking module. Users may also arrange their expenditures and profits by a particular customer, vendor or employee center. 
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Product Ranking

#4

among all
Accounting Software

#15

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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87
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Wave Accounting
QuickBooks Pro
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Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 78 92 87 57 98 61 58 50 73 90 65 78 56 70 88 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 2602 reviews
Great User Sentiment 4867 reviews
88%
of users recommend this product

Wave Accounting has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 2602 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

86%
of users recommend this product

QuickBooks Pro has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 4867 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.0 (15)
4.6 (11)
4.4 (203)
4.3 (1495)
4.43 (1298)
4.34 (1503)
4.4 (964)
4.3 (1217)
4.0 (122)
4.2 (641)

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

System Performance: Of the users who mentioned this solution's performance, precisely 65% said it's easy to use, documents all tasks performed and provides accurate information.
Modules: Approximately 57% of users who discussed this program's functionality said it has a variety of capabilities such as an assortment of reports, bank account synching and invoice reminders.
Cost: Of the users who mentioned this application's pricing, approximately 87% of users said they like the free version because it comes with plenty of appliances.
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Interface: Approximately 58% of users who addressed this platform's interface said it's user friendly and easy to learn.
Performance: Of the users who discussed this solution's performance, 63% said it's easy to navigate, reliable, keeps everything organized and is useful for various industries.
Modules: Roughly 72% of users who mentioned this program's features said it has a simple payroll module, its invoices make businesses look more professional and seamlessly reconciles bank accounts.
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Frustrating reconciliation process: Users often describe matching transactions as difficult and time-consuming, leading to delayed reconciliation and potential errors.
Limited reporting options: Users express a desire for more robust and flexible reporting features, including better sorting, exporting, and preset date options for generating customized reports.
Lack of phone support: Wave relies primarily on email and online resources for support, which can be frustrating for users who prefer immediate assistance or have complex issues to resolve.
Occasional glitches and errors: Users have reported occasional software glitches, such as duplicated transactions or difficulties with bank syncing, which can disrupt workflows and create data inconsistencies.
No inventory management: Wave lacks full-fledged inventory tracking and management capabilities, making it unsuitable for businesses with complex inventory needs or those who sell directly through eCommerce platforms.
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Implementation: Of the users who addressed this software's implementation process, 41% said it was difficult and lengthy.
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Wave Accounting users appreciate its simplicity and affordability, making it a popular choice for freelancers and solopreneurs. The free plan covers essential features like invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting, catering to those with straightforward accounting needs. Users praise its intuitive interface and mobile app for on-the-go tracking, highlighting its convenience compared to clunky desktop software. However, Wave's limitations become apparent as businesses grow. Users cite frustrating reconciliation issues, limited reporting options, and the lack of advanced features like inventory management or payroll integrations. Compared to competitors like Quickbooks or Xero, Wave feels less capable of handling complex accounting workflows. While its automatic bank imports save time, the absence of phone support can be a dealbreaker for some users who need immediate help troubleshooting issues. Ultimately, Wave shines for its ease of use and zero-cost entry point, but its lack of scalability and robust features might necessitate switching to more powerful alternatives as businesses evolve. Choosing Wave comes down to prioritizing convenience and affordability over comprehensive functionality and expert support.

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QuickBooks Pro is an effective bookkeeping ERP with a user-friendly interface and is simple to learn. Users swoon over this product's features - such as inventory management, sales tax, invoicing, bill management and more — that provide balance and income sheets, execute double-sided accounting, reconcile bank accounts and are qualified for small businesses. The performance is exceptional because it's reliable, easy to navigate, arranges everything in an orderly fashion and is suitable for numerous industries. Negatively, some users find that the implementation process is challenging and lengthy. Overall, the majority see this program as a handy asset.

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