4invoices vs Wave
This comparison is for freelancers and micro-businesses in the US choosing between 4invoices.net and Wave. Wave's Starter plan is free and includes unlimited invoices and bookkeeping, so 4invoices cannot compete on price alone: it has no permanent free plan.
Feature comparison
| Feature | 4invoices.net | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Four plans from about $1 per month (Start: 1 user, 10 invoices per month) to $22 per month (unlimited users and invoices). Prices are per plan, not per user. There is no permanent free plan; plans start with a free trial of up to 12 months and no card is required to start. | Two plans: Starter at $0 (unlimited invoices, estimates and bookkeeping) and Pro at $19 per month ($190 per year). |
| Bookkeeping | Invoicing and billing with a hosted payment page. It is not a full general-ledger accounting suite. | Unlimited bookkeeping on the free Starter plan. |
| Payment collection | Card payments on a hosted page through Stripe Connect; 4invoices keeps a 1.5% application fee on payments collected this way. The merchant must complete Stripe Connect onboarding. | Card payments at 2.9% + $0.60 on Starter (Amex 3.4% + $0.60); Pro lowers the fixed fee for the first 10 transactions per month. The ACH rate was not published on the page we read. |
| Customer reminders | Automatic payment reminders by email. SMS reminders when you connect your own 4notify account. WhatsApp reminders are not sent. | Automated late-payment reminders are on the Pro plan, not on Starter. SMS and WhatsApp are not mentioned. |
| Receipt capture | Not provided. | Listed on Pro; the pricing page also shows an add-on price, so check which applies. |
| Free trial | Free trial of up to 12 months at the start of a plan; no card required. | No trial: Starter is free and Pro is paid. |
| Ecosystem | One 4b2b account for all apps; each app is subscribed to separately. Higher invoicing plans include Documents and MyStaff, and the Unlimited plan also includes CRM, contracts, appointments and expenses. | Paid add-ons for payroll ($25–$40 per month) and bookkeeping services (Wave Advisors, $149–$199 per month). |
Where 4invoices.net wins
- Very low entry price: plans start at about $1 per month, per plan rather than per user.
- Hosted payment page through Stripe Connect with a stated 1.5% application fee.
- Email reminders built in; SMS reminders through your own 4notify account.
- One account that also reaches CRM, contracts, documents, HR and other 4b2b apps.
Where Wave wins
- A permanently free plan with unlimited invoices and bookkeeping.
- Receipt capture and automated reminders on the Pro plan.
- Optional bookkeeping and payroll services from the same vendor.
- A lower card fixed fee on the Pro plan for the first transactions each month.
When to pick 4invoices.net
Pick 4invoices.net when you want a hosted payment page, a plan that includes more than one user, and a path to the other 4b2b apps on one account.
If the only requirement is the cheapest possible invoicing with a basic ledger, Wave Starter at $0 is hard to beat.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free plan on 4invoices?
No permanent free plan. Plans start at about $1 per month and begin with a free trial of up to 12 months; no card is required to start.
Is Wave really free?
The Starter plan costs $0 and includes unlimited invoices, estimates and bookkeeping. Payment processing, payroll and other services are paid.
Does 4invoices include bookkeeping like Wave?
No. 4invoices focuses on invoicing and billing and does not provide a general ledger.
Does 4invoices support US card payments?
Card payments run through Stripe Connect, subject to your Stripe account's availability. Ordering 4invoices is open in the US, but the product has no US sales-tax or 1099 features.
Ready to try 4invoices.net?
See current US plans, prices and included features, and what each plan leaves out.
See 4invoices US pricing
