Accounting · 2026 Comparison
Wave vs Xero
Wave vs Xero: Compare pricing, features, ratings, pros, and cons. Which is better for your team in 2026? Unbiased comparison with real data.
Wave
Free tier
VS
Xero
$13/mo
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Quick Verdict
⭐ Better Ratings
Wave
4.4/5 on G2
💰 Better Price
Wave
Free tier available
🛠️ More Features
Xero
8 tracked features
Wave vs Xero — Feature Comparison
| Feature | Wave Recommended | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free tier | $13/user/mo |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| G2 Rating | | |
| Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Free Accounting | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Receipt Scanning | ||
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Payroll Addon | ||
| Payments | ||
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Inventory | ||
| Multi Currency | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Visit Website | Visit site | Visit site |
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Wave — Overview
Free accounting software
Free cloud accounting software for small businesses with invoicing, receipts, and basic financial reporting.
✓ Pros
- ✓Core features completely free
- ✓Good for sole proprietors
- ✓Easy invoicing
- ✓No transaction limits
✗ Cons
- ✗Payroll and payments cost extra
- ✗Limited inventory features
- ✗Less suitable as you grow
- ✗Customer support is limited
✓ Free Accounting
✓ Receipt Scanning
✓ Payroll Addon
✓ Payments
Xero — Overview
Beautiful business
Cloud accounting software for small businesses with bank reconciliation, invoicing, and 800+ integrations.
✓ Pros
- ✓Clean and modern interface
- ✓Excellent bank reconciliation
- ✓Good multi-currency support
- ✓800+ app integrations
✗ Cons
- ✗Can be expensive for basic needs
- ✗Payroll limited by country
- ✗Some features missing for complex businesses
- ✗Customer support response times
✓ Expense Tracking
✓ Payroll
✓ Inventory
✓ Multi Currency
✓ Integrations
Features Both Tools Share
✓ Invoicing
✓ Bank Reconciliation
✓ Reporting
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Free plan available — no credit card required