InvoiceCraftComparison · prices checked September 2026
InvoiceCraft vs Wave
Two tools with real free tiers and different jobs: Wave is invoicing attached to a bookkeeping suite; InvoiceCraft is invoicing built for trade crews.
Wave is a genuinely good product with a real free tier, so this comparison is about fit, not gotchas. The short version: Wave wants to be your accounting system, and its paid plan prices accordingly. InvoiceCraft wants to be the fastest way for a tradesperson or small crew to send professional invoices and get paid, and it prices for that job.
Side by side
| InvoiceCraft | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free generator: unlimited invoices and PDFs, no signup, no watermark | Unlimited invoices, estimates, and bookkeeping records; online payment option at 2.9% + $0.60 per card transaction |
| Cheapest paid plan | Pro: $9/mo or $90/yr, 1 login, every feature, unlimited invoices and proposals | Pro: $19/mo or $190/yr |
| Team of 2 to 5 | Team: $15/mo or $150/yr, up to 5 logins, flat price; each seat is full access or view only (for a bookkeeper) | Adding users requires Pro ($19/mo); roles for admin, editor, viewer, and payroll |
| AI features | AI drafts line items from a plain-English job description, tuned per trade; AI receipt capture on paid plans | No AI line-item drafting |
| Receipts | Mark an invoice paid and the client gets a receipt PDF, by one click or automatically; clients can also download it from their invoice link. Included on Pro | Automatic receipts for card payments taken through Wave Payments; receipts for payments you record by hand are sent from the invoice |
| Receipt capture | Photograph or upload receipts and AI reads them into expenses; included on Pro | Receipts add-on: $8/mo on Pro, $11/mo on Starter |
| Attachments | Photos and PDF files on invoices, estimates, and proposals, shown to the customer online and on a photo page in the PDF; included on Pro | Attachments on invoices and estimates, Pro only |
| Branding | No InvoiceCraft branding on any PDF, free tier included; your logo and colour on Pro | Wave branding removed from footers on Pro only |
| Reusable content | 25 trade templates, duplicate any document, recurring invoices, a saved item price list, and saved email messages | Reusable message templates on Pro |
| Workmanship warranty tracking | Coverage dates, exposure estimate, and callbacks tracked from paid invoices; warranty terms on every document | No |
| Trade focus | 25 industry templates with realistic trade pricing; pricing guides per trade | General small business; no trade-specific templates |
| Accounting depth | Expenses, reports, QuickBooks CSV export; not a bookkeeping system | Full double-entry bookkeeping, bank imports (Pro), and optional bookkeeper service ($149+/mo) |
| Payments | Link your own payment provider (QR + pay link on invoices); no percentage taken | Built-in card processing at 2.9% + $0.60 (fee structure varies on Pro) |
Competitor details from Wave's public pricing page, checked September 2026. Prices and plans change; verify current numbers before deciding.
Where Wave is the better choice
If you want invoicing and bookkeeping in one place, Wave's free tier is hard to argue with: real double-entry accounting, unlimited invoices, and a paid tier that automates bank imports. Businesses that want one login for books and billing, and that like built-in card processing, fit Wave well. Its payments are US and Canada oriented, which suits most of its audience.
Where InvoiceCraft is the better choice
- Teams. Wave gates multi-user behind the $19/mo Pro plan. InvoiceCraft's Team plan is $15/mo flat for up to 5 logins on one business, same numbering, same client list.
- Speed on the job. Describe the work ("replaced water heater, 3 hours labor, hauled old unit") and the AI drafts priced line items tuned to your trade. Nothing in Wave does this.
- Price for the invoicing job. If you do not need bookkeeping, $9/mo buys every InvoiceCraft feature; Wave's comparable tier is $19/mo.
- No processing lock-in. InvoiceCraft puts your own payment link and QR on invoices and takes no percentage. Wave's model monetizes processing fees.
- Warranty work you can see. Mark an invoice paid and InvoiceCraft attaches your workmanship warranty, estimates the labor and parts still under cover, prints the terms on the customer's documents, and keeps callbacks filed against the original job. Wave has nothing equivalent. See warranty tracking.
The honest verdict
Choose Wave if you want free bookkeeping with invoicing attached and you like built-in card processing. Choose InvoiceCraft if you are a tradesperson or small crew that wants fast, professional invoices, AI that knows your trade's pricing, and 5 logins for $15 flat. Plenty of businesses could be happy with either; the crew pricing and trade AI are the real dividing lines.
See InvoiceCraft pricing → or try the free generator (no signup).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is InvoiceCraft cheaper than Wave?
For paid plans, yes: InvoiceCraft Pro is $9/month versus Wave Pro at $19/month (September 2026 prices), and InvoiceCraft Team gives 5 logins for $15/month while Wave requires Pro for multi-user access. Both have genuinely free invoicing tiers.
Does Wave have AI invoicing features?
No. Wave focuses on bookkeeping automation (bank imports, categorization) on its Pro plan. InvoiceCraft's AI drafts invoice line items from a plain-English job description with trade-tuned pricing, and reads receipt photos into expenses on paid plans.
Is Wave really free?
Yes. Wave's Starter plan includes unlimited invoicing and bookkeeping records; Wave monetizes payment processing (2.9% + $0.60 per card transaction) and the $19/month Pro plan. InvoiceCraft's free tier is the no-signup generator; paid plans start at $9/month.
Does Wave track workmanship warranties?
No. Wave has no warranty or callback tracking. InvoiceCraft attaches your warranty terms when an invoice is marked paid, computes the coverage dates, estimates the labor and parts still under cover from that invoice's line items, prints the terms on invoices, estimates, proposals, and receipts, and reports callback rate and cost. Included on Pro at $9/month.
Which is better for a plumbing or HVAC crew?
InvoiceCraft, in our (openly biased, but checkable) view: trade-specific templates and AI pricing, estimates with deposits, job photos, and 5 logins for $15/month flat. Wave is stronger if that same crew primarily wants free bookkeeping in the same tool.