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HomeAccountingAkaunting vs Wave
Updated 4 days ago · Independent Analysis

Akaunting vs Wave

Capability Overview
Akaunting logo - software comparison
Akauntingvs Wave
4.2G2-0.2 vs Wave
Only in Akaunting
  • Expenses
  • Reporting
  • Tax Management
✓ Free plan500K+ downloads users · est. 2017
Wave logo - software comparison
Wavevs Akaunting
4.4G2+0.2 vs Akaunting
Only in Wave
  • Accounting
  • Receipt Scanning
  • Financial Reports
✓ Free planFrom $19/mo2M+ small businesses users · est. 2010
Quick VerdictIndependent Analysis

Akaunting and Wave are both Accounting tools. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.


When to Choose Akaunting vs Wave

The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”

Scenario: Record Invoices at Point-of-Issue FX
Akaunting
Record Invoices at Point-of-Issue FX Rates

Multi-currency records invoices at point-of-issue exchange rates and Bank Connections auto-reconciles actual deposits, closing books by the 2nd of each month.

Wave
Embed Payment Links Directly in Invoices

Online Payments embedded in each invoice let clients pay by card or bank transfer from their inbox, improving collection speed by 18-25%.

Akaunting Unique Strength
Track Landed Cost per SKU Automatically

Inventory paired with Expenses tracks per-unit landed costs - shipping, tariffs, restocking fees - and calculates COGS automatically when units sell.

→ Choose Akaunting if this scenario applies to you. Wave doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Akaunting Unique Strength
Export Itemized Ledgers for Tax Auditors

Reporting exports invoice registers and expense reports by vendor, category, and date in one click, cutting audit prep by 8-10 hours per client file.

→ Choose Akaunting if this scenario applies to you. Wave doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Wave Unique Strength
Scan Receipts Across Borders Instantly

Receipt Scanning with Multi-currency support auto-converts foreign expenses by project code, cutting 8 hours of monthly receipt entry down to 90 minutes.

→ Choose Wave if this scenario applies to you. Akaunting doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Wave Unique Strength
Spot Unbilled Work Before Month-End Close

Bank Connections pulls live transaction data; the Accounting module cross-references Invoicing records to surface double payments before month-end close.

→ Choose Wave if this scenario applies to you. Akaunting doesn't offer a comparable solution.

Pricing Comparison & Plans
High· Verified May 30, 2026

Akaunting logo - software comparison

Akaunting Plans

Free tier available

Standard On-Premise

Free

Best for: A free, self-hosted solution perfect for users comfortable with managing their own server

  • Unlimited Companies
  • 1 User + 1 Accountant
  • 1,000 Invoices
  • Forum Support
  • Unlimited Employees
View on vendor site
MOST POPULAR

Standard Cloud

Contact Sales

Best for: Ideal for small businesses needing basic cloud accounting

  • Unlimited Companies
  • 1 User + 1 Accountant
  • 1,000 Invoices
  • Accountant Access
  • Unlimited Bills
View on vendor site

Premium Cloud

Contact Sales

Best for: Suited for growing businesses requiring more advanced cloud features and support

  • Unlimited Companies
  • 10 Users
  • 10,000 Invoices
  • 10 Apps Included
  • Ticket Support
View on vendor site

Elite Cloud

Contact Sales

Best for: Designed for larger enterprises seeking comprehensive cloud accounting solutions

  • Unlimited Companies
  • Unlimited Users
  • 30,000 Invoices
  • Apps Included
  • Ticket Support
View on vendor site

Ultimate Cloud

Contact Sales

Best for: The top-tier cloud offering for complex organizations needing maximum scalability and features

  • Unlimited Companies
  • Unlimited Users
  • Unlimited Invoices
  • All Apps Included (50+ apps)
  • Ticket Support
View on vendor site

Premium On-Premise

$6/mo
billed annually$72/yr

Best for: For businesses needing enhanced on-premise features beyond the free version

  • Unlimited Companies
  • Unlimited Users
  • 10,000 Invoices
  • Ticket Support
  • Unlimited Employees
View on vendor site

Elite On-Premise

$14/mo
billed annually$168/yr

Best for: Offers advanced on-premise capabilities for larger organizations

  • Unlimited Companies
  • Unlimited Users
  • 30,000 Invoices
  • Ticket Support
  • Unlimited Employees
View on vendor site

Ultimate On-Premise

$57/mo
billed annually$684/yr

Best for: The most comprehensive on-premise option for enterprises with specific hosting requirements

  • Unlimited Companies
  • Unlimited Users
  • Unlimited Invoices
  • Ticket Support
  • Unlimited Employees
View on vendor site
Full Akaunting Pricing Breakdown →

Capability Breakdown

6 differences found across 16 standardized features

Feature
Akaunting
Wave
Multi-Currency
Receipt Scanning
Time Tracking
Inventory
Estimates/Quotes
API/Integrations
Total (raw)
42
15
Akaunting Features
  • Invoicing
  • Expenses
  • Bank Connections
  • Multi-currency
  • Reporting
  • Tax Management
  • Inventory
  • Transfer
  • Recurring Transactions
  • Client Portal
  • API
  • App Store
  • Multi-company
  • Multi-language
  • Open Source
  • Expense tracking
  • Double-entry accounting
  • Bank feeds
  • Bank connection
  • Chart of accounts
  • Balance sheet
  • Trial balance
  • General ledger
  • Sales tax calculation
  • Payroll
  • Inventory management
  • CRM
  • Projects
  • Estimates and quotes
  • Point of Sale (POS)
  • Shopify integration
  • Stripe integration
  • Expense claims
  • Receipt scanning
  • Budgeting
  • Sales orders
  • Purchase orders
  • Automations
  • Crypto assets tracking
  • GST/MTD/1099 compliance
  • Custom fields
  • Open source (self-hosted)
Wave Features
  • Accounting
  • Invoicing
  • Receipt Scanning
  • Bank Connections
  • Financial Reports
  • Payroll
  • Online Payments
  • Multi-currency
  • Sales Tax Tracking
  • Recurring Invoicing
  • Customer Management
  • Estimates
  • Mobile App
  • Dashboard
  • Integrations

Strengths & Limitations

Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists

Pros
  • +Open-source core allows for full customization and self-hosting
  • +Completely free on-premise version with core accounting features
  • +App Store with 70+ extensions for specialized functionality
  • +Client portal for customers to view invoices and make payments
  • +Multi-company and multi-currency support on paid cloud plans
Cons
  • Free version requires self-hosting and technical setup knowledge
  • No built-in payroll processing; requires a third-party app integration
  • Limited direct bank feeds, especially outside major regions
  • Mobile app functionality is less robust than desktop version
  • Customer support can be slow on lower-tier and free plans
Pros
  • +Truly free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning
  • +Unlimited users, invoices, and bank connections on the free plan
  • +Built-in payment processing (Wave Payments) for faster invoice payment
  • +Simple, user-friendly interface designed for non-accountants
  • +Mobile app for on-the-go invoicing and receipt capture
Cons
  • No dedicated time tracking or project management features
  • Limited to US and Canadian businesses for bank connections and payroll
  • Lacks advanced inventory management for product-based businesses
  • Customer support is primarily email/chatbot on the free plan
  • No third-party app integrations outside of Zapier

At a Glance

User Rating
4.2/5vs4.4/5
Akaunting
Wave
Starting Price
Free tiervs$19/mo
Akaunting
Wave
Feature Count
42 featuresvs15 features
Akaunting
Wave
User Base
500Kvs2.0M
Akaunting
Wave

Oleh KemOleh KemFounder & Lead AnalystExpert verified·Updated 4 days ago·Our methodology
Akaunting · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 30, 2026 · CE-ACCT-2026W22-8DD104 · ✓ Pricing updated May 30, 2026
Up to date
Wave · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 30, 2026 · CE-ACCT-2026W23-9701BB · ✓ Pricing updated May 30, 2026
Up to date

Recent Price History

Akaunting

Akaunting added a new "Elite On-Premise" plan (Custom pricing)

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Akaunting

Akaunting added a new "Premium On-Premise" plan (Custom pricing)

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Akaunting

Akaunting added a new "Ultimate On-Premise" plan (Custom pricing)

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Akaunting

Akaunting updated "Ultimate Cloud" from $145/mo to Custom

Price change · May 30, 2026

Akaunting

Akaunting updated "Standard Cloud" from $8/mo to Custom

Price change · May 30, 2026

Wave

Wave removed the "Wave Advisors" plan

Plan removed · May 30, 2026

Wave

Wave removed the "Payroll (Full-Service)" plan

Plan removed · May 30, 2026

Wave

Wave added a new "Payroll" plan at $40/user/mo

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Wave

Wave added a new "Receipts" plan at $8/user/mo

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Wave

Wave raised "Pro" from $16/mo to $19/mo (+19%)

Price change · May 30, 2026


Frequently Asked Questions


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