Free business invoicing platforms Invoice Ninja and Wave differ in terms of features, cost and user experience. Therefore, they should be carefully compared to fit particular business models.
For new businesses and those on a tight budget, Invoice Ninja and Wave both provide free plans. Invoice Ninja offers a tiered structure with reasonably priced upgrades. Wave’s free Starter plan allows for an unlimited number of clients and users while its Pro plan costs $16 per month. Wave offers clear pricing while Invoice Ninja charges different fees depending on the payment gateway.
Invoice Ninja is a comprehensive project management solution with time tracking, project-based billing and custom report creation. On the other hand, Wave prioritizes simplicity and core invoicing functionality, excluding time tracking and project-based billing. It includes mileage tracking and basic tax support.
Invoice Ninja offers moderate to complex interface design for advanced functionality while Wave offers a straightforward, user-friendly invoicing interface for non-technical users.
Invoice Ninja is appropriate for intricate workflow automation because it provides a variety of integration choices via Zapier, Make and Pabbly. Conversely, Wave offers fewer CRM choices and integrations. Wave focuses on small businesses, while Invoice Ninja helps freelancers and medium-sized businesses grow.
Wave provides simplicity for small businesses while Invoice Ninja offers extensive features for growing and project-focused enterprises. The decision hinges on whether you value streamlined simplicity or sophisticated project management in an invoicing solution.
| Invoice Ninja | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features | ||
| Custom Templates | Yes – Multiple customizable invoice templates available | Yes – Multiple customizable invoice templates available |
| Send Estimates/Quotations | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Billing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| Expense Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | No |
| Mileage Tracking | Information is not available | Yes – Available through Driversnote integration |
| Automated Payment Reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Project-Based Billing | Yes | No |
| Tax Handling | Yes | Yes (basic tax support) |
| User Permissions/Role Management | Yes | Yes |
| File Uploads | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing and Plans | ||
| Free Plan Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Range | Free: $0/month Ninja Pro: $12/month Enterprise: $16/month Premium Business+: $20/month |
Starter: $0/month Pro: $16/month |
| Trial Period | No trial (free plan available) | No trial (free plan available) |
| User Limits | Free/Pro: 1 user Enterprise: up to 50 users Premium Business+: Custom |
Unlimited |
| Client Limits | Free: 5 clients Pro/Enterprise/Premium Business+: Unlimited |
Unlimited |
| Storage Limits | Not specified | Yes (via Driversnote integration) |
| Payment Processing Fees | Varies by payment gateway | Starter: 2.9% + $0.60 Pro: 2.9% + $0 (first 10) then 2.9% + $0.60 |
| Ease of Use | ||
| User Interface | Moderate to Complex | Simple |
| Onboarding Experience | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile App Availability | Both iOS and Android | Available for iOS and Android |
| Mobile App Functionality | Full invoicing, time tracking, project management | Invoicing and payment management |
| Integration | ||
| Payment Gateways Supported | Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.Net | Credit card, bank transfer, ACH payments |
| Accounting Software Compatibility | Limited direct integrations, API available | QuickBooks, FreshBooks, spreadsheets, export capabilities for other software |
| CRM Integration | Zapier, Make, Pabbly integrations | BlueCamroo, various CRMs via Zapier, API available for custom integrations |
| API Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting & Analytics | ||
| Bank Connections | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Built Financial Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Report Creation | Yes | No |
| Security & Compliance | ||
| Dashboard Metrics | Yes | Yes |
| Data Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Backup Options | Automatic (cloud), manual (self-hosted) | Automatic |
| Customer Support | ||
| Support Channels | Email, Slack, Discord, Community forums | Email, Chat |
| Help Center/Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Adaptability | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | Yes | Yes |
| Localization | Yes | English |
| Industry-Specific Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Scalability | Freelancers to Medium Businesses | Freelancers to Small Businesses |
| Read Invoice Ninja Review | Read Wave Review |
