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Microsoft Dynamics 365 vs Wave

Microsoft Dynamics 365 logo

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Software

AI-powered business applications for intelligent enterprise

From
$50/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wave logo

Wave

Software

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: Microsoft Dynamics 365 business Central Essentials is $80 per user per month and Premium is $110 per user per month, both requiring annual billing to get that rate; Wave automatic bank transaction import and receipt scanning require the Pro plan at $19 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Dynamics 365 covers Financial management, Wave covers Double-entry accounting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Wave actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Wave differ
AttributeMicrosoft Dynamics 365Wave
Starting price$50/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19752010

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

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 Microsoft Dynamics 365

  • Financial management
  • Supply chain
  • Manufacturing
  • Project operations
  • Customer service
  • Microsoft 365
  • Power BI
  • Power Apps

Only in Wave

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Dynamics 365

  • Mid-market ERP and CRM suite licensed per named user across separate app modulesnot Wave

Wave

  • Invoicing and bookkeeping for very small businesses and freelancersnot Microsoft Dynamics 365
  • Accepting card payments against issued invoicesnot Microsoft Dynamics 365

Where each one falls short

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

Microsoft Dynamics 365

  • Business Central Essentials is $80 per user per month and Premium is $110 per user per month, both requiring annual billing to get that rate
  • Sales Order Agent and Payables Agent features require separately purchased Copilot Credits on top of the per-user license
  • Agent features additionally require a linked Azure subscription

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

Microsoft Dynamics 365

$50/month
  • Finance$135/month
    • Financial management
    • Accounting
    • Budgeting
  • Supply Chain Management$165/month
    • Supply chain planning
    • Inventory management
    • Demand forecasting

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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 if

  • You need financial management.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want supply chain.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 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 Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Wave better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Dynamics 365 starts at $50/month and Wave at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Wave?
Wave has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/month for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Free for Wave.
Does Microsoft Dynamics 365 or Wave run on more platforms?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 runs on Cloud, Web, Mobile. 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. Microsoft Dynamics 365 starts at $50/month.
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 best used for?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is most often used for mid-market erp and crm suite licensed per named user across separate app modules. Of those, mid-market erp and crm suite licensed per named user across separate app modules is not what Wave is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Dynamics 365 do that Wave cannot?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 covers Financial management, Supply chain, Manufacturing, Project operations. Wave covers Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, Expense tracking, Financial reporting. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

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