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InvoiceWren vs Wave
Wave is free accounting software with invoicing built in. InvoiceWren is an estimating and invoicing app built around the job: estimate, approved changes, staged invoices and the final payment.
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The short answer
Choose Wave if you want free bookkeeping and accounting with invoicing, and built-in card payments. Choose InvoiceWren if you run jobs that change and get paid in stages, and you want change orders, progress invoices and client e-signature on estimates.
At a glance
| What you need | Wave | InvoiceWren |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: Starter, unlimited estimates and invoices[1] | Yes: 5 invoices and 5 estimates a month, for good[4] |
| Paid plan | Pro $190 a year billed annually (saves $38 against monthly)[1] | Pro $127 a year, or $12.97 a month[4] |
| Accounting and bookkeeping | Yes, the core of the product[1] | No. Export your data for your accountant[4] |
| Client e-signature on estimates | Not listed on their estimates page[3] | Every plan, including Free[4] |
| Deposits on estimates | Yes, with Pro or online payments[3] | Every plan, including Free[4] |
| Change orders | Not listed on their pricing, invoicing or estimates pages[1][2][3] | Pro, and free on your first job[4] |
| Progress invoices | Not listed on their pricing, invoicing or estimates pages[1][2][3] | Pro, and free on your first job[4] |
| Late payment reminders | With Pro or online payments[2] | Pro (emailed for you until they pay)[4] |
| Card payment fees | 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment; lower on Pro for the first 10 a month[1] | We take no fee. You add your own payment link, Zelle or bank[4] |
| Phone apps | iPhone and Android[2] | Web app now; iPhone and Android in testing, before the end of 2026[4] |
Where Wave is strong
Where InvoiceWren is different
- Jobs hold every document and payment for one piece of work.
- Change orders your client approves before you start the extra work.
- Progress invoices that show what is paid and what is left.
- Client e-signature on estimates, on every plan.
- We never take a fee on your client payments.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Wave if
You want free accounting and bookkeeping in the same place as your invoices, and built-in card payments.
Choose InvoiceWren if
You run jobs from an estimate to a final invoice, the work changes along the way, and you want each change approved and each payment explained.
Questions
Is Wave free?
Wave Starter is $0, and Wave Pro is $190 a year billed annually (checked Nov 09 2026). Card payments have a fee on both plans.[1]
Does InvoiceWren do accounting?
No. InvoiceWren runs estimates, changes, invoices and payments for each job. You can export everything for your accountant.[4]
Does InvoiceWren take card payments?
Your client pays you directly by Zelle, bank transfer or your own payment link, such as a Stripe or PayPal link. We never take a fee.[4]
Can I use both?
Yes. Some businesses keep their books in an accounting tool and run their jobs in InvoiceWren.
Try InvoiceWren on your next job.
Get startedFree plan available. Looking for a Wave alternative?
Sources
- Wave, Pricing. Checked .
- Wave, Invoicing. Checked .
- Wave, Estimates software. Checked .
- InvoiceWren, Pricing. Checked .
Prices and features change. We check these pages before each update. If something here is out of date, tell us at hello@invoicewren.com and we will fix it.
Wave is a trademark of its owner. InvoiceWren is not affiliated with Wave.