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Professional Services · head to head

Accelo vs Wave

Accelo logo

Accelo

Professional Services

Complete visibility, control and efficiency for client work

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wave logo

Wave

Professional Services

Financial software for small businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wave has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Accelo no published pricing tiers or plan structure; requires custom sales quote; Wave automatic bank transaction import and receipt scanning require the Pro plan at $19 a month
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Accelo and Wave actually diverge.

Attributes where Accelo and Wave differ
AttributeAcceloWave
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Professional Services).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Accelo

Nothing recorded that Wave does not also cover.

Only in Wave

  • Double-entry accounting
  • Invoicing
  • Expense tracking
  • Financial reporting
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Receipt scanning
  • Multi-currency
  • Sales tax tracking

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Accelo

  • Identifying profitable clients across project portfolionot Wave
  • Forecasting capacity gaps before delivery delaysnot Wave
  • Tracking billable hours across client retainersnot Wave
  • Converting project data into revenue forecastsnot Wave

Wave

  • Invoicing and bookkeeping for very small businesses and freelancersnot Accelo
  • Accepting card payments against issued invoicesnot Accelo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Accelo

  • No published pricing tiers or plan structure; requires custom sales quote
  • Pricing based on team size and growth goals with tailored approach for each customer
  • Specific costs and feature breakdowns not disclosed publicly

Wave

  • Automatic bank transaction import and receipt scanning require the Pro plan at $19 a month
  • The free plan pays a $0.60 per transaction fee on card payments on top of 2.9%, which Pro waives only for the first 10 transactions a month
  • Beyond 10 transactions a month the Pro plan pays the same per transaction fee as the free one
  • Amex is charged at 3.4% rather than 2.9% on both plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Accelo

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Accelo review.

Wave

Free
  • AccountingFree
    • Unlimited invoicing
    • Expense tracking
    • Financial reports
  • Payments$undefined/transaction
    • 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction
    • Credit card processing
    • Bank payments (1%)
  • Payroll$35/month
    • $35/month base + $6/employee
    • Tax calculations
    • Direct deposit

Which should you pick?

Choose Accelo if

Nothing in the data separates Accelo from Wave on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Accelo review

Choose Wave if

  • You need double-entry accounting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want invoicing.
Wave review

Questions people ask

Is Accelo or Wave better?
Neither clearly leads. Accelo starts at On request and Wave at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Accelo or Wave?
Wave has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Accelo and Free for Wave.
Does Accelo or Wave run on more platforms?
Accelo runs on Web. Wave runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Wave for free?
Yes. Wave has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Accelo starts at On request.
What is Accelo best used for?
Accelo is most often used for identifying profitable clients across project portfolio, forecasting capacity gaps before delivery delays, tracking billable hours across client retainers, converting project data into revenue forecasts. Of those, identifying profitable clients across project portfolio and forecasting capacity gaps before delivery delays are not what Wave is typically brought in for.
What can Accelo do that Wave cannot?
Wave covers Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, Expense tracking, Financial reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Accelo: How is Accelo priced?

Accelo pricing is customized based on your team size and growth goals. The vendor offers tailored plans designed for individual business needs. Customers must request a custom quote to determine pricing specific to their requirements.

Source
Wave: Can I try Wave before committing to a paid plan?

Sign up for the Starter Plan to take the bookkeeping and invoicing basics for a spin. Then, whenever you're ready, upgrade to the Pro Plan to unlock even more money management features.

Source
Accelo: What is included with Accelo implementation?

All Accelo plans include implementation guidance, onboarding support, and full platform access. Most teams are up and running within a matter of weeks according to the vendor.

Source
Wave: What happens if I want to cancel my subscription?

Yes, you can unsubscribe at any time. The cancellation of your subscription will take effect at the end of the billing period in which you cancel.

Source
Accelo: What ROI can Accelo customers expect?

According to Accelo, customers typically recover 3 to 7 percent of revenue leakage and reduce admin overhead by 30 to 35 percent. Exact results vary by organization and implementation.

Source
Wave: Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan easily?

To upgrade to the Pro Plan, sign into Wave. Visit your dashboard or use your invoicing or accounting features, and click the 'Upgrade now' button.

Source
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