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Professional Services · head to head

Kantata vs Wave

Kantata logo

Kantata

Professional Services

AI-powered professional services automation, formerly Mavenlink

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: Kantata no transparent pricing tiers or rates published on the pricing page; 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 Kantata and Wave actually diverge.

Attributes where Kantata and Wave differ
AttributeKantataWave
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 Kantata

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.

Kantata

  • Reducing cost leakage in professional services operationsnot Wave
  • Increasing resource utilization across global operations teamsnot Wave
  • Improving revenue forecasting accuracy for pipeline planningnot Wave
  • Boosting service margins through better project managementnot Wave
  • Automating workflows across connected business toolsnot Wave

Wave

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kantata

  • No transparent pricing tiers or rates published on the pricing page
  • Pricing is entirely custom based on company size, goals, and team structure
  • Customers must complete a form before receiving pricing information from a PSA Advisor

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

Kantata

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Kantata 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 Kantata if

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

Kantata 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 Kantata or Wave better?
Neither clearly leads. Kantata 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, Kantata or Wave?
Wave has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Kantata and Free for Wave.
Does Kantata or Wave run on more platforms?
Kantata 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. Kantata starts at On request.
What is Kantata best used for?
Kantata is most often used for reducing cost leakage in professional services operations, increasing resource utilization across global operations teams, improving revenue forecasting accuracy for pipeline planning, boosting service margins through better project management. Of those, reducing cost leakage in professional services operations and increasing resource utilization across global operations teams are not what Wave is typically brought in for.
What can Kantata do that Wave cannot?
Wave covers Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, Expense tracking, Financial reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kantata: How much does Kantata cost?

Kantata does not publish standard pricing. Pricing is custom-built for each customer based on company size, business goals, and how the team works. Interested customers submit a form to discuss pricing with a PSA Advisor.

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
Kantata: Is Kantata pricing based on per-seat licensing?

Kantata does not use standard per-seat pricing. Each plan is tailored to individual business requirements, company size, and team structure, determined through direct consultation with their sales team.

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
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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