Choose Akaunting if you want
Self-hosted accounting with a web interface.
A free self-hosted edition with invoicing, inventory, payroll and double-entry accounts. Its Business Source License is not OSI open source, and self-hosting means running a web server.
Choose Wave if you want
Freelancers and very small businesses on a budget.
Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping on a free Starter plan, with card and bank payments that carry a fee. It does not track inventory, and payroll is a separate paid service.
Side by side
| Score | 79.5 | 88.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in list | #5 of 6 | #3 of 6 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesFree self-hosted edition; paid cloud plans | Free plan, paid upgradesFree Starter plan; paid Pro plan and card payment fees |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WebSelf-hostedWeb, Self-hosted | WebWeb |
| Made by | Akaunting, Inc. | Wave Financial |
| Hosting | Self-hosted or cloud | Vendor cloud |
| Bank feeds | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | Yes | No |
| Best for | Self-hosted accounting with a web interface | Freelancers and very small businesses on a budget |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Akaunting vs Wave
- Is Wave better than Akaunting?
- Wave ranks higher in our list of accounting software (#3 against #5, score 88.5 against 79.5). Akaunting is best for: self-hosted accounting with a web interface. Wave is best for: freelancers and very small businesses on a budget.
- Which is cheaper, Akaunting or Wave?
- Akaunting: Free self-hosted edition; paid cloud plans. Wave: Free Starter plan; paid Pro plan and card payment fees.
- Do Akaunting and Wave run on the same platforms?
- Akaunting supports Web, Self-hosted. Wave supports Web.

