Softwr

Professional Services · head to head

Hiveage vs Wave

Hiveage logo

Hiveage

Professional Services

Simple, all-in-one invoicing and billing software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wave logo

Wave

Professional Services

Financial software for small businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hiveage free plan limited to 5 clients; 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 Hiveage and Wave actually diverge.

Attributes where Hiveage and Wave differ
AttributeHiveageWave
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Hiveage

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.

Hiveage

  • Tracking when clients view and pay invoices remotelynot Wave
  • Managing unlimited recurring billing for subscription retainer servicesnot Wave
  • Creating and sending invoices immediately from job sitesnot Wave
  • Generating financial reports without spreadsheetsnot Wave
  • Coordinating team expenses and billable hours for agenciesnot Wave

Wave

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

Where each one falls short

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

Hiveage

  • Free plan limited to 5 clients
  • Client limits increase with plan tier
  • Custom plans for 1,000+ clients require direct contact

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

Hiveage

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 clients
    • Unlimited invoices/estimates/time tracking/expenses
  • Basic$16/month
    • 50 clients
    • Financial reports
  • Pro$25/month
    • 250 clients
    • 5 team members
    • Custom domain
  • Plus$42/month
    • 1,000 clients
    • 10 team members
    • API access

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 Hiveage if

  • You want to start without paying.
Hiveage 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 Hiveage or Wave better?
Neither clearly leads. Hiveage starts at Free and Wave at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hiveage or Wave?
Hiveage starts at Free and Wave at Free.
Does Hiveage or Wave run on more platforms?
Hiveage runs on Web. Wave runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Hiveage for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hiveage best used for?
Hiveage is most often used for tracking when clients view and pay invoices remotely, managing unlimited recurring billing for subscription retainer services, creating and sending invoices immediately from job sites, generating financial reports without spreadsheets. Of those, tracking when clients view and pay invoices remotely and managing unlimited recurring billing for subscription retainer services are not what Wave is typically brought in for.
What can Hiveage do that Wave cannot?
Wave covers Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, Expense tracking, Financial reporting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hiveage: Does Hiveage offer annual billing discounts?

Hiveage annual plans provide 17% savings compared to monthly billing. Yearly plan prices are lower than monthly equivalents across all tiers.

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
Hiveage: Can I cancel Hiveage anytime?

Yes, Hiveage users can switch between plans or cancel anytime without long-term contracts required.

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
Hiveage: Is there a trial for Hiveage?

Hiveage offers a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan with no credit card required.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Hiveage

More on Wave

Keep looking

Other head to heads