Wave vs Bonsai
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What you'd pay
Entry plan for 10 people, billed yearly where offered. Prices checked Oct 2026.
Wave
Sole proprietors and very small businesses that want free unlimited invoicing plus simple bookkeeping.
Bonsai
Freelancers and small agencies who want proposals, contracts, invoicing and client management in one place.
Side by side
| Wave | Bonsai | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free; Pro $19/month or $190/year | From $9/user/month (billed annually); invoicing from $19/user/month |
| G2 Rating | 4.3 (327 reviews) | 4.3 (101 reviews) |
| Best For | Sole proprietors and very small businesses that want free unlimited invoicing plus simple bookkeeping. | Freelancers and small agencies who want proposals, contracts, invoicing and client management in one place. |
Pros and cons
Wave
Pros
- Unlimited invoices and clients for $0
- Pro is cheap at $190/year
- Bookkeeping included
- Card fixed fee waived on the first 10 Pro transactions each month
Cons
- Higher $0.60 fixed card fee than Stripe-based tools
- ACH costs 1% with no cap
- No time tracking or client portal
- Automated reminders tied to Pro or online payments
Bonsai
Pros
- Proposal to contract to invoice in one tool
- Client portal and scheduling on Essentials
- Multi-currency billing
- You can choose who pays the payment fee
Cons
- Invoicing needs Essentials ($19/user/month annually), not Basic
- Priced per user, so teams pay more
- Only a 7-day free trial
- ACH at 1% with no published cap
Related comparisons
Best Invoicing Software
FreshBooks is the best invoicing software for most freelancers and small service businesses: recurring invoices, reminders, estimates, a client portal, time and expenses on every plan from $23/month. Pick Zoho Invoice if you want all of that free, or Invoice Ninja for $140 a year with unlimited clients.
FreshBooks alternatives
Stay with FreshBooks if you have a small client list and want simple invoicing with time tracking. Switch to QuickBooks Online or Xero for full accounting, or to Wave or Zoho Books to cut costs.