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Professional Services · head to head

Netsuite OpenAir vs Wave

Netsuite OpenAir logo

Netsuite OpenAir

Professional Services

Oracle's professional services automation product, separate from NetSuite ERP

From
$500/month
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: Netsuite OpenAir openAir is a separate application from NetSuite rather than a module of it, so customers, projects and employees exist in two places and a synchronisation must be configured, monitored and repaired when it drifts.; Wave automatic bank transaction import and receipt scanning require the Pro plan at $19 a month
  • They diverge on capability: Netsuite OpenAir covers Resource management, Wave covers Double-entry accounting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Netsuite OpenAir and Wave actually diverge.

Attributes where Netsuite OpenAir and Wave differ
AttributeNetsuite OpenAirWave
Starting price$500/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, Web, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062010

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 Netsuite OpenAir

  • Resource management
  • Timesheets and expenses
  • Project accounting
  • Billing
  • Project management
  • Utilisation reporting
  • NetSuite integration
  • Multi-currency support

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.

Netsuite OpenAir

  • A consultancy that needs to forecast staffing demand against a pipeline before it commits to delivery datesnot Wave
  • A services firm whose revenue recognition on fixed price work is currently maintained in a spreadsheetnot Wave
  • An organisation already running NetSuite finance whose project module cannot handle its resource planningnot Wave
  • An agency or integrator that needs accurate billable utilisation by consultant, practice and clientnot Wave

Wave

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

Where each one falls short

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

Netsuite OpenAir

  • OpenAir is a separate application from NetSuite rather than a module of it, so customers, projects and employees exist in two places and a synchronisation must be configured, monitored and repaired when it drifts.
  • It overlaps with NetSuite's own project and services capability, so buyers inside the Oracle estate face a choice between two products from the same vendor and rarely get a straight comparison from the sales conversation.
  • The product has been renamed and repositioned more than once, which leaves documentation, training material and community knowledge fragmented across names and makes it harder to establish what applies to your version.
  • Licensing is per user, so a firm with many occasional timesheet submitters pays full seats for people who sign in twice a month, and the model suits billable-heavy organisations far better than mixed ones.
  • The user interface and administration reflect the product's age rather than current design conventions, which raises training effort and makes consultant adoption of timesheet discipline harder than it needs to be.

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

Netsuite OpenAir

$500/month
  • Basic$500/month
    • Project tracking
    • Time tracking
    • Basic reporting
  • Advanced$1200/month
    • Full PSA
    • Resource planning
    • Advanced analytics

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 Netsuite OpenAir if

  • You need resource management.
  • You work on Cloud, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want timesheets and expenses.
Netsuite OpenAir 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 Netsuite OpenAir or Wave better?
Neither clearly leads. Netsuite OpenAir starts at $500/month and Wave at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Netsuite OpenAir or Wave?
Wave has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/month for Netsuite OpenAir and Free for Wave.
Does Netsuite OpenAir or Wave run on more platforms?
Netsuite OpenAir 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. Netsuite OpenAir starts at $500/month.
What is Netsuite OpenAir best used for?
Netsuite OpenAir is most often used for a consultancy that needs to forecast staffing demand against a pipeline before it commits to delivery dates, a services firm whose revenue recognition on fixed price work is currently maintained in a spreadsheet, an organisation already running netsuite finance whose project module cannot handle its resource planning, an agency or integrator that needs accurate billable utilisation by consultant, practice and client. Of those, a consultancy that needs to forecast staffing demand against a pipeline before it commits to delivery dates and a services firm whose revenue recognition on fixed price work is currently maintained in a spreadsheet are not what Wave is typically brought in for.
What can Netsuite OpenAir do that Wave cannot?
Netsuite OpenAir covers Resource management, Timesheets and expenses, Project accounting, Billing. Wave covers Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, Expense tracking, Financial reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Netsuite OpenAir: Is OpenAir part of NetSuite?

No. It is a separate Oracle application that integrates with NetSuite. It is sold alongside NetSuite and often bought by NetSuite customers, but it has its own data model, interface and administration.

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
Netsuite OpenAir: Should I use this or NetSuite's own project modules?

If your problem is invoicing project work and tracking basic costs, NetSuite's own capability may be enough and avoids a second system. If your problem is resource planning, skills-based staffing and utilisation forecasting across a large delivery organisation, that is what OpenAir was built for.

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
Netsuite OpenAir: Can it be used without NetSuite?

Yes, it can run against another finance system, but then you are building and maintaining that integration yourself, which removes the main reason most buyers choose it over an independent professional services automation product.

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
Netsuite OpenAir: What is the hardest part of implementing it?

Getting consultants to submit accurate timesheets on time, and agreeing how revenue recognition should work on fixed price engagements. Neither is a software problem, and both determine whether the reports are trusted.

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