They’re more expensive, of course, though they both have entry-level versions that may be affordable for microbusinesses and freelancers. And the more advanced versions we reviewed are well-suited to larger small businesses thanks to their intuitive operations, smart feature sets, and flexibility. If you originally logged in using your Google credentials, log in using that account. Once you have logged in, you should see the data you remember entering. If you have multiple businesses, click your business name in the top right corner to navigate between them. If you created an account directly with Wave (meaning you created a unique Wave password) on the login page, enter the email address that you used to sign up for Wave, and your password.

How to get your transactions into Wave

You have to scroll a bit to see everything, but you’ll get a great overview of your finances with links to deeper details. This page displays cash flow, profit and loss, and expense charts. There are tables of invoices payable to you, bills you owe, and income/expense/net income. There are also links to common tasks, like adding a customer and accepting credit cards.

Import bank transactions

Since my last review, it’s added a fee for scanning and uploading receipts ($8 per month or $72 billed annually), a feature that competitors offer free. The company also offers advisory services from in-house accounting and payroll coaches and bookkeepers for a fee. However, the only software Wave Accounting wave accounting login syncs with is Wave’s own payroll service. Otherwise, users must sync Wave with their favorite business management apps through Zapier, a third-party service. Accounting apps like Wave wouldn’t be useful if they didn’t allow you to import transactions from your bank and credit card accounts.

Transaction Imports

In our Wave Accounting review below, we’ll cover Wave’s features, add-ons, pros and cons to help you decide. Wave’s smart dashboard efficiently organizes your income, expenses, payments, and invoices for fast and accurate tax preparation. You’ll have all the information you need to ensure you don’t miss out on any tax incentives that could grow your business, minimize taxes, and help you keep more of your money. Since you’re self-employed you don’t have the resources of a large company to make sure you’re paid properly and your books are balanced. Wave accounting software is the solution you need to take charge of your business and keep your hard-earned money safe.

• And by enabling Wave’s payments feature, you can accept credit cards and bank payments, and get paid out in as fast as 1-2 business days1.
• In contrast, FreshBooks’ cheapest plan starts at $19 and limits you to billing just five clients a month.
• This connection can’t be used to move money into or out of your account.
• Your customers can pay the invoices you send them instantly by credit card, secure bank payment (ACH/EFT), or Apple Pay.
• Once you’ve started populating Wave with your company’s data, for example, the app’s dashboard is quite useful.
• There are also links to common tasks, like adding a customer and accepting credit cards.

Make tax time work for you

Create beautiful invoices, accept online payments, and make accounting easy—all in one place. To provide you with the highest level of security, we partner with a specialist provider of secure bank data connections, Plaid. Wave’s software is simpler—designed for easy use for freelancers and small businesses—while QuickBooks’ platform is designed to cover complex business needs and grow as your business grows. If you’re a freelancer or other solo service provider, Wave is a better option. Before you commit to accounting software, it’s in your best interest to shop around and compare all your options. Unlike QuickBooks and FreshBooks, Wave Accounting is completely free to use.

• Open the Wave mobile app, tap Dashboard on the bottom menu, then tap More at the top right.
• Learn more about setting up an automatic bank connection, troubleshoot common issues, or how to upload your transactions using statements.
• PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services.
• The app learns as it goes, so it should categorize similar transactions automatically as you use it more.
• You work hard to make your business a success—that’s why Wave uses both physical and digital protection to keep your money safe.
• Wave’s introduction of a second plan on top of its free accounting tool makes it a more scalable solution than its previous one-plan-only structure.

Wave’s invoices are easy to customize with your business’s logo, colors and contact information. If you want professional help to get your business up and running, you can access bookkeeping experts through Wave for $149 per month. If you want more in-depth support, accountants and payroll coaches are available starting at $379 per month.

• Accounting software helps business owners understand how money flows in and out of their businesses.
• You can specify a type (withdrawal, deposit), add sales tax, split the transaction among categories, add customers or vendors, write a note, and upload a receipt.
• Wave’s accounting software is designed for self-employed people and freelancers like you, and can be easily customized for any size business and any type of goods or services you provide.
• If you used a Yahoo account to sign up for Wave but haven’t logged in for a while, you’ll be prompted to create a password for your account.
• If you’re a startup, micro-business or sole proprietor who doesn’t want to invest in accounting software but needs to keep track of your finances, Wave Accounting is a great option.
• With Wave Invoicing, you’ll be able to track, edit, send and pay invoices from any mobile device.
• The company has worked during the last year to make the site more accessible, and it shows.

Keep track of your business health

For instance, Xero and FreshBooks’ native Gusto integrations ensure the accounting and payroll software sync with each other problem-free. Most accounting software was designed with non-accountant business owners in mind, which means setup should be fairly straightforward. Still, some accounting programs https://www.bookstime.com/ are more user-friendly than others, and Wave Accounting is among the easiest for first-time business owners to configure. Along with a free-for-life accounting and invoicing plan, Wave offers a paid plan with unlimited receipt scanning, thorough automation and a below-average starting price.

• Multi-factor authentication is required for bank connections through Plaid, a third-party account aggregator that is a standard in the financial industry.
• Wave is for everyone who manages their business finances without a background in accounting.
• If you’re interested in using payroll software, you can start a free 30-day trial when you sign up for Wave.
• Here, we’ll show you the main actions you need to take on your accounting/bookkeeping to stay up to date.
• And even better, get rid of late payments with Wave’s Pro Plan features like automated reminders and recurring invoices.