Free invoicing and accounting platform with optional paid add-ons for payments and payroll.
Billstride vs. Wave
Wave is free to use but charges 2.9% + $0.60 per online payment. Billstride charges a flat $0.30 per invoice — no percentage-based fees, no hidden costs.
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TL;DR
Wave's free tier is hard to beat for basic bookkeeping. But the "free" comes with trade-offs: no e-invoicing, no multi-currency tax rules, and 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment. If you invoice internationally or need ZUGFeRD/XRechnung compliance, Billstride is the better fit at $0.30 per invoice.
Feature comparison
Invoicing
| Billstride | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Create invoices | ||
| Recurring invoices | ||
| Auto-send recurring invoices | ||
| E-invoicing (ZUGFeRD) | ||
| E-invoicing (XRechnung) | ||
| AI PDF import | ||
| 3 invoice designs | ||
| 150+ currencies | ||
| Tax rules for 25+ countries | ||
| DATEV export |
Accounting
| Billstride | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Expense tracking | ||
| Financial reports | ||
| Bank connections | Pro plan ($16/mo) | |
| Receipt scanning | $8/month add-on | |
| Payroll | $20/month add-on |
Usage
| Billstride | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| MCP integration (AI) | ||
| Online payment processing | 2.9% + $0.60/tx | |
| Send invoices via email | ||
| Free tier | 1 invoice free | Unlimited (ad-supported) |
Pricing
- No subscription — pay only when you finalize
- First invoice free
- Top up your balance, use it when you're ready
- All features included at every price point
- •Starter: free — invoicing + accounting
- •Pro: $16/month — bank import + multi-user
- •Card payments: 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction
- •ACH payments: $1 or 1% (whichever is more)
- •Receipt scanning: $8/month add-on
Who should choose what
- →Freelancers who need e-invoicing compliance (ZUGFeRD, XRechnung)
- →International invoicing with proper tax rules
- →Anyone who wants predictable, flat-fee pricing
- →Those who need AI PDF import and multiple invoice designs
- →Very small businesses who want free bookkeeping
- →US-based freelancers with simple invoicing needs
- →Anyone who wants built-in payment processing
- →Businesses that need payroll alongside invoicing
Questions
Wave is free — why would I pay for Billstride?
Wave is free for basic invoicing but charges 2.9% + $0.60 per online payment. On a $1,000 invoice, that's $29.60. Billstride charges a flat $0.30 regardless of invoice amount. Plus, Billstride includes e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD, XRechnung) and tax rules for 25+ countries.
Does Wave support e-invoicing?
No. Wave doesn't support ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, or other EU e-invoicing standards. If you invoice in Germany or the EU, you may need e-invoicing compliance.
Can I use both Wave and Billstride?
Yes. Some freelancers use Wave for bookkeeping and Billstride for invoicing — especially when they need e-invoicing or international tax compliance.