Head to head
Wave vs Patriot Accounting
Both platforms are scored with the same methodology and the same category rubric. Nothing on this page is influenced by advertising.
56/100Higher score | 51/100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category rank | #5 | #7 |
| Confidence | High confidence | High confidence |
| External Reputation | 69 | 89 |
| AI Authority | 51 | 8 |
| Web Authority | 51 | 47 |
| Expert Assessment | 44 | 53 |
| TOP10 User Score | — | — |
| Pricing | $19 USD/month (or $190 USD/year); $25 CAD/month, $250 CAD/year — promo observed at $9.50 USD/month for first 3 months · free tier: Starter $0: unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, mobile invoicing, cash flow and customer dashboard; documents sent via link or PDF only; Wave branding retained | $20/month (Accounting Basic; shown discounted to $10/month under promo) · free tier: 30 days free trial (promotion live at retrieval, alongside 50% off for 6 months, offer end date 8/31) |
| Pricing model | Freemium subscription plus per-transaction payment fees | Subscription |
| Best for | US and Canadian freelancers and micro-businesses invoicing in USD/CAD at low volume — roughly under 10 card transactions a month, or mostly via 1% ACH — who want free invoicing plus double-entry bookkeeping in one ledger and can tolerate 1–7 day settlement. | US-based owner-operators and small businesses of roughly 1–20 staff doing straightforward service or trade invoicing who want double-entry books, bank feeds, reconciliation and 1099s for $20–$30 a month with unlimited users, no contract, and a US human on the phone during business hours. |
| Avoid if | Your cash flow cannot absorb a payment hold or risk review, you process more than about 10 card transactions a month, you operate outside the US/Canada or need Quebec payroll, or you require weekend, phone or fast-escalation support. | You are outside the US, need multi-currency, inventory or project accounting, require weekend/after-hours support or fast payroll funding, want board-grade custom reporting or a native mobile app, or need firm published pricing for the bookkeeping and e-filing add-ons before you commit. |
| Markets | Freelancers, Sole traders, Micro-business, SMB | Self-employed, SMB, Accountants/Partners |
| Founded | — | 2002 |
| Headquarters | — | Canton, Ohio, United States |
A higher TOP SCORE means more of the evidence favours that platform on this methodology — it is not a recommendation, and it does not account for your specific requirements. Advertisers are never declared the winner of a comparison.