Side-by-side comparison
QuickBooks Online Simple Start vs Wave Starter comparison on Luminxo. Compare pricing, features, ratings, and who each product is best for.
Intuit · Starter
QuickBooks Online Simple Start by Intuit starts at $18/mo (billed annually) with invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation. It includes 1 user seat and integrates with 750+ third-party apps.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals.
Wave · Starter
Wave Starter by Wave offers a free plan with invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation. It includes 99 user seats and integrates with 15+ third-party apps.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals looking for a free solution.
| Metric | QuickBooks Online Simple Start | Wave Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $38/mo | Free |
| Annual Price | $18/mo | - |
| Included Users | 1 | 99 |
| Free Trial | 30 days | Free tier |
| Integrations | 750+ | 15+ |
| Rating | 4.2/5.0 | 4.4/5.0 |
| Feature | QuickBooks Online Simple Start | Wave Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expense Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✗ |
| Inventory Management | ✗ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✗ |
| Project Tracking | ✗ | ✗ |
| Multi-Currency | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✗ |
We like QuickBooks Online Simple Start because it connects with 750+ apps, offers a 30-day free trial, has a mobile app for on-the-go access.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals.
We like Wave Starter because it completely free to use, has a mobile app for on-the-go access.
Best for: Best for freelancers and solo professionals looking for a free solution.
The biggest tradeoffs are pricing, included features, and the type of business each product targets. This page compares those factors directly so you can choose the right fit.
Wave Starter has the lowest price in this comparison at free.
QuickBooks Online Simple Start has the most features in this comparison with 6 out of 11 tracked features.