Wave
£0/mo est.
- Entry plan
- Free (no MTD VAT)
- Users included
- 1 (Free)
- UK payroll
- No
- VAT/MTD
- No
- Bank feeds
- Yes (Pro)
- Est. monthly cost
- £0/mo
Wave
Free core accounting for micro-businesses, but a poor UK fit with no Making Tax Digital, no UK VAT filing, and no UK payroll.
- Entry plan
- Free (no MTD VAT)
- Users
- 1 (Free)
- Payroll
- N/A (US only)
- Bank feeds
- Yes (Pro)
Best for
Micro-businesses and sole traders wanting free invoicing, who do not need UK VAT filing or payroll.
How much does Wave cost per month?
Wave plans cost from Free to N/A in 2026. A free plan is available (Yes). Payroll is an extra N/A (Wave Payroll US and Canada only).
Pricing breakdown
All prices in GBPLast verified 17 June 2026Every fee we track, grouped by where it applies.
Strengths and trade-offs
Pros
- Genuinely free core accounting and invoicing
- Unlimited invoices on the free plan
- Simple and easy to use
- Good for very simple bookkeeping needs
Cons
- Not HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital
- Cannot file UK VAT returns
- No UK payroll (US and Canada only)
- Priced in US dollars with no GBP plans
About Wave
Wave is a Canadian platform offering genuinely free core accounting and invoicing, with a low-cost paid Pro tier priced in US dollars. It suits very small businesses wanting simple invoicing and bookkeeping, but it is a poor fit for the UK: it is not HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital, cannot file UK VAT returns, and its payroll is US and Canada only.
Wave was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
How Wave compares
Side-by-side with the closest alternatives by estimated cost.
Subscription plus payroll add-on, based on the entry plan with no employees. Processing fees not included.
Zoho Books
£0/mo est.
- Entry plan
- Free / £10 Standard
- Users included
- 3 (Standard)
- UK payroll
- No (add-on)
- VAT/MTD
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Yes (Standard)
- Est. monthly cost
- £0/mo
Crunch
£0/mo est.
- Entry plan
- Free (software)
- Users included
- 1 + accountant
- UK payroll
- Yes (add-on)
- VAT/MTD
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Yes
- Est. monthly cost
- £0/mo
QuickFile
£0/mo est.
- Entry plan
- Free (under threshold)
- Users included
- Unlimited
- UK payroll
- No
- VAT/MTD
- Yes
- Bank feeds
- Add-on (£15/yr)
- Est. monthly cost
- £0/mo
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