Ekue vs Wave
Wave is free, but free has limits. Here's how Ekue compares as a Wave alternative for businesses that are ready to grow.
Wave has earned its place as the go-to free accounting tool for solo entrepreneurs and very small businesses. It handles basic invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reports without a monthly fee. For businesses just getting started, that's hard to beat.
But as your business grows — more team members, more transactions, more compliance needs — Wave's limitations become clear. No role-based permissions, no audit logs, no multi-company support, and limited customer service. Ekue is built for the next stage: affordable, professional accounting with the controls and features growing businesses need. Here's an honest look at both.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ekue | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $19/month | Free (accounting); paid add-ons for payroll & payments |
| Users | 3 on Starter, unlimited on Business | Unlimited users (limited access controls) |
| User Interface | Modern, clean, purpose-built | Simple and functional; ad-supported |
| Invoicing | ✓ Create, send, track | ✓ Create, send, track |
| Expense Tracking | ✓ Categorization & reporting | ✓ Categorization & receipt scanning |
| Financial Reports | ✓ P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Trial Balance | ✓ P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, Aged Receivables |
| Chart of Accounts | ✓ Fully customizable, hierarchical | ✓ Standard chart, basic customization |
| Journal Entries | ✓ Manual adjusting entries | ✓ Manual journal entries |
| Role-Based Permissions | ✓ Granular, customizable roles | ✗ No role-based access control |
| Audit Logs | ✓ Built-in on every transaction | ✗ No audit trail feature |
| Multi-Currency | ✓ Included on all plans | ✗ Not supported |
| Multi-Company | ✓ Pro (3) and Business (unlimited) | Separate accounts per business |
| Bank Reconciliation | ✓ Manual & account management | ✓ Automatic bank connections |
| Payroll | ✗ Not included (planned) | ✓ Paid add-on (US & Canada) |
| Payment Processing | Via Stripe (Business plan) | Built-in (credit card & ACH, with fees) |
| Ad-Free Experience | ✓ No ads | ✗ Ad-supported interface |
| Data Ownership | ✓ Full export anytime | Export available; CSV format |
| SSO | ✓ Google & Microsoft (Business) | ✗ Not available |
| Support | Email & in-app (real people) | Email & self-service (limited) |
Who Is Each Platform For?
Ekue is a good fit if you…
- Have a team and need role-based access controls
- Need audit logs for compliance, accountability, or tax audits
- Work with international clients and need multi-currency support
- Manage multiple companies under one account
- Want an ad-free, professional accounting experience
- Need dedicated support, not just self-service articles
- Are outgrowing Wave and need more controls without enterprise complexity
Wave may be better if you…
- Are a solo entrepreneur with no team members
- Have a very tight budget and need free accounting
- Want built-in payment processing (credit card and ACH)
- Need payroll in the US or Canada (paid add-on)
- Don't require role-based permissions or audit trails
- Only work in a single currency
How to Switch from Wave to Ekue
Upgrading from Wave to Ekue is a smooth process. Here's what to expect.
Export Your Data from Wave
In Wave, go to each section (Customers, Products & Services, Transactions) and export as CSV. You can also export your chart of accounts and invoice history from the Reports section.
Create Your Ekue Account
Sign up for an Ekue plan that fits your team size. Set up your company profile with fiscal year, base currency, and tax configuration.
Import Your Data
Upload CSV exports into Ekue. Start with chart of accounts, then customers and vendors, then historical transactions. Ekue's import tool handles mapping and previews.
Verify and Reconcile
Run a trial balance and P&L in both systems to confirm balances match. Adjust opening balances as needed. This is also a good time to clean up any legacy entries.
Set Up Your Team
One of the biggest upgrades from Wave: add team members and assign specific roles and permissions. No more "everyone sees everything."
Moving from Wave for the first time? Reach out to our team — we'll help you get set up quickly.
Switching FAQs
Compare Ekue to Other Platforms
See how Ekue stacks up against other popular accounting tools.