# Wave, Xero vs QuickBooks Online Comparison

| | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 321 | 1,601 | 3,815 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (94.8% of reviews) | Small-Business (69.9% of reviews) | Small-Business (82.2% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | $20-$35 per month | $13.00 Per Month | $38.00 Per Month | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Wave

Pros:
- Ease of Use (11 reviews)
- Invoice Management (6 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (5 reviews)
- Poor Customer Support (5 reviews)

### Xero

Pros:
- Ease of Use (851 reviews)
- Invoice Management (366 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (319 reviews)
- Limited Options (173 reviews)

### QuickBooks Online

Pros:
- Ease of Use (254 reviews)
- Cloud-Based (72 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (81 reviews)
- Expensive (70 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.6 (257 reviews) | 8.7 (1262 reviews) | 8.3 (3154 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.9 (259 reviews) | 9.0 (1302 reviews) | 8.2 (3206 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.8 (129 reviews) | 8.8 (988 reviews) | 8.0 (1729 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.8 (114 reviews) | 8.7 (408 reviews) | 8.1 (1435 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 7.7 (170 reviews) | 8.4 (1168 reviews) | 7.5 (2850 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (106 reviews) | 8.6 (402 reviews) | 7.8 (1401 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.0 (248 reviews) | 8.7 (1235 reviews) | 7.5 (3076 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Wave

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan:  Pay your staff 

Price: $20-$35 per month

Description: $20/month base fee in Canada + 44 states

$35/month base fee in California, Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois & Washington

$4 additional per employee added

Key Features:
- Includes direct deposit.
- Employee portal to check pay stubs and history.
- Perfect for salaried and hourly workers, full-time or part-time.

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/wave/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Xero

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Starter / Early

Price: $13.00 Per Month

Description: Good for sole traders, new businesses, and the self-employed.

Key Features:
- Send quotes and 20 invoices
- Enter 5 bills
- Reconcile bank transactions

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/xero/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### QuickBooks Online

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Simple Start

Price: $38.00 Per Month

Key Features:
- Customize and send invoices
- Track income and expenses
- Create and manage estimates

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-online/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Expense Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | 8.1/10 | 355 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | N/A | N/A |

#### Expense Reports

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Creating Expense Reports** | Not enough data | 8.6 (221 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Bank / Credit Card Integration** | Not enough data | 8.8 (226 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Smart Categorization** | Not enough data | 8.4 (204 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Receipt Management** | Not enough data | 8.5 (205 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Employee Reimbursement** | Not enough data | 8.3 (186 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Currency Conversions** | Not enough data | 8.2 (187 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Credit Card Integration** | Not enough data | 8.6 (200 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Expense Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.9 (82 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | 9.0 (82 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Travel Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Booking** | Not enough data | 7.5 (165 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Itinerary Management** | Not enough data | 7.0 (158 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Trip Notifications** | Not enough data | 6.7 (156 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Integrations** | Not enough data | 7.4 (161 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Client Invoicing

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Creation and Delivery** | Not enough data | 9.0 (208 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Electronic Payments** | Not enough data | 8.6 (187 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Project Accounting / Revenue Recognition** | Not enough data | 8.4 (187 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI - Expense Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Image-to-Text** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Mobile

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Receipt Capture** | Not enough data | 8.2 (186 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mileage Tracking** | Not enough data | 7.4 (161 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Travel Itinerary and Flight Status Updates** | Not enough data | 6.9 (154 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Embedded AI / Machine Learning** | Not enough data | 8.0 (145 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Complex Approval Workflow** | Not enough data | 8.0 (147 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **PCI Regulation Compliant** | Not enough data | 8.3 (141 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Business Tool Integration** | Not enough data | 8.3 (188 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow** | Not enough data | 8.3 (183 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Reminders** | Not enough data | 8.1 (180 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Compliance Management** | Not enough data | 8.0 (169 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | 8.5 (195 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.8 (220 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **APIs / Integration** | Not enough data | 8.3 (175 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | 8.2 (164 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | Not enough data | 9.0 (197 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile User Support** | Not enough data | 8.1 (179 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Offline** | Not enough data | 5.8 (151 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Accounting

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | 7.1/10 | 90 |
| **Xero** | 8.3/10 | 1216 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | 7.7/10 | 2223 |

#### General Ledger

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Journal Entries** | 8.0 (56 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (630 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (961 reviews) | 
| **Tags / Dimensions** | 7.9 (47 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (576 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1375 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Audit Trail** | 7.6 (46 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (593 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1485 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Accounts Receivable

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Customization** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | 8.6 (661 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1637 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **AR Automation** | 8.1 (54 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (562 reviews) | 7.9 (1343 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Collections Automation** | 8.0 (47 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (562 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (1164 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Accounts Payable

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AP Automation** | 7.8 (36 reviews) | 8.4 (542 reviews) | 7.6 (766 reviews) | 
| **Payment Processing** | 8.2 (55 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.7 (622 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (1505 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Purchase Orders** | 7.4 (34 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (563 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (1156 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Other Functionality

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Inventory Tracking / Ordering** | 6.9 (28 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (502 reviews) | 7.6 (938 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Inventory Pricing and Costing** | 7.1 (30 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (493 reviews) | 7.6 (957 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Inventory Reporting** | 6.8 (28 reviews) | 7.8 (479 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.6 (931 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Multi-Entity / Consolidation** | 6.9 (31 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (517 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.6 (1143 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Recognition Rules** | 7.1 (32 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (544 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.8 (1311 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Reconciliations** | 7.7 (46 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.9 (724 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (1688 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Payroll** | 6.7 (27 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (554 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.2 (1198 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Time and Expense** | 6.8 (28 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.2 (538 reviews) | 8.1 (1220 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Reporting & Analytics

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Financial Statements** | 8.3 (76 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.9 (722 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.6 (1876 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Custom Reporting** | 7.9 (59 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (657 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1809 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Budgeting / Forecasting** | 7.6 (41 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (531 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1413 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Dashboards** | 8.5 (71 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.7 (667 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.2 (1769 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Customization** | 7.3 (58 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (589 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.5 (1560 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Workflow Capability** | 7.3 (40 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (543 reviews) | 7.7 (1393 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 7.8 (54 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (609 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (1660 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Internationalization** | 7.3 (28 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (506 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1051 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 8.2 (65 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.8 (672 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (1801 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Output Document Generation** | 7.9 (53 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (551 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1551 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Integration

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Import and Export Tools** | 7.7 (50 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (597 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1599 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Integration APIs** | 7.2 (31 reviews) | 8.5 (533 reviews) | 7.6 (719 reviews) | 
| **Breadth of Partner Applications** | 6.6 (31 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (579 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (1233 reviews) | 

#### Cash Flow

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Track Cash Flow** | 8.0 (33 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.7 (505 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (648 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Income and Expenses** | 8.4 (37 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.0 (491 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.7 (733 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **File Exports** | 7.6 (28 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.6 (450 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (667 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Budgeting & Forecasting

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Budgeting / Forecasting** | 7.6 (41 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (531 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1413 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Data Import** | 7.1 (24 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (454 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (601 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Versioning** | 6.6 (17 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.2 (415 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (511 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Historical Data** | 7.2 (27 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (446 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (624 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Revenue

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Revenue Types** | 7.9 (28 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.6 (470 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (624 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Revenue Allocation** | 7.5 (23 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (454 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (589 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Scheduling** | 7.2 (21 reviews) | 8.1 (422 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (522 reviews) | 

#### Payroll

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Direct Deposit** | 6.7 (20 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (407 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (544 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Check/W-2 Printing** | 6.8 (17 reviews) | 7.8 (394 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (535 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Tax Calculation** | 6.6 (20 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (440 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (569 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Reporting and Dashboards** | 7.7 (25 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.6 (449 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.2 (611 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### AI

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Extraction** | 5.4 (8 reviews) | 8.0 (280 reviews) | 6.8 (187 reviews) | 
| **Invoice Processing** | 6.5 (8 reviews) | 8.5 (276 reviews) | 7.1 (181 reviews) | 
| **Expense Management** | 6.7 (9 reviews) | 8.3 (280 reviews) | 6.9 (189 reviews) | 
| **Fraud Detection** | 4.5 (7 reviews) | 8.1 (277 reviews) | 6.6 (179 reviews) | 
| **Tax Compliance** | 6.7 (8 reviews) | 8.2 (275 reviews) | 6.9 (180 reviews) | 
| **Support Chatbots** | 5.6 (8 reviews) | 7.8 (276 reviews) | 6.3 (179 reviews) | 
| **Bank Reconciliations** | 7.6 (9 reviews) | 8.7 (294 reviews) | 7.5 (190 reviews) | 
| **Report Generation** | 6.7 (8 reviews) | 8.6 (281 reviews) | 7.2 (185 reviews) | 
| **Customizable Alerts** | 6.0 (7 reviews) | 8.3 (272 reviews) | 6.8 (176 reviews) | 
| **Predictive Analytics** | 5.7 (7 reviews) | 8.2 (275 reviews) | 6.8 (179 reviews) | 

#### Mobile Applications - Accounting

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cloud Integration** | 6.9 (9 reviews) | 8.7 (284 reviews) | 7.7 (155 reviews) | 
| **Notifications** | 7.8 (9 reviews) | 8.4 (261 reviews) | 7.1 (122 reviews) | 
| **UI** | 6.5 (8 reviews) | 8.6 (298 reviews) | 7.0 (145 reviews) | 
| **Offline** | 3.0 (5 reviews) | 7.1 (247 reviews) | 6.0 (123 reviews) | 
| **Expense Tracking** | 6.2 (7 reviews) | 8.6 (265 reviews) | 7.4 (130 reviews) | 
| **Invoice Management** | 8.2 (10 reviews) | 8.7 (272 reviews) | 7.6 (136 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Accounting

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.2 (234 reviews) | 5.7 (86 reviews) | 

### Nonprofit Accounting

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | 8.7/10 | 1034 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | 8.3/10 | 2047 |

#### General Ledger

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Journal Entries** | 8.0 (56 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (630 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (961 reviews) | 
| **Tags / Dimensions** | 7.9 (47 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (576 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.9 (1375 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Audit Trail** | 7.6 (46 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (593 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1485 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Accounts Receivable

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Customization** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | 8.6 (661 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.1 (1637 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **AR Automation** | 8.1 (54 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (562 reviews) | 7.9 (1343 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Collections Automation** | 8.0 (47 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (562 reviews) ✓ Verified | 7.7 (1164 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Accounts Payable

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AP Automation** | 7.8 (36 reviews) | 8.4 (542 reviews) | 7.6 (766 reviews) | 
| **Payment Processing** | 8.2 (55 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.7 (622 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (1505 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Purchase Orders** | 7.4 (34 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (563 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.0 (1156 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

### Invoice Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | 8.6/10 | 327 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | N/A | N/A |

#### Invoice Generation

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Templates** | Not enough data | 8.3 (210 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Invoices** | Not enough data | 9.0 (213 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Recurring Invoices** | Not enough data | 9.0 (206 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Invoice Processing

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Approvals** | Not enough data | 8.7 (202 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Batch Processing** | Not enough data | 8.6 (201 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Consolidation** | Not enough data | 8.3 (197 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Match Invoices** | Not enough data | 8.9 (208 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Analytics

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Due Dates** | Not enough data | 9.0 (206 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cashflow** | Not enough data | 8.6 (206 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **KPIs** | Not enough data | 8.2 (189 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Payment Tracking** | Not enough data | 8.7 (205 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Accounting** | Not enough data | 9.0 (214 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Payments** | Not enough data | 8.8 (208 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **ERP** | Not enough data | 8.1 (190 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Account Sync** | Not enough data | 8.5 (208 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Invoice Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | 8.4 (113 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | 8.4 (114 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | 8.1 (115 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Inventory Control

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | 9.0/10 | 139 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | 8.5/10 | 143 |

#### Multichannel inventory management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Warehouse Inventory Transfer** | Not enough data | 8.8 (78 reviews) | 8.4 (85 reviews) | 
| **Multichannel Inventory Syncing** | Not enough data | 8.9 (78 reviews) | 8.4 (86 reviews) | 
| **Multi-Warehouse Routing** | Not enough data | 8.7 (78 reviews) | 8.4 (82 reviews) | 

#### 3PL inventory management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Client management** | Not enough data | 9.1 (78 reviews) | 8.7 (98 reviews) | 
| **Marketplace connections** | Not enough data | 8.9 (78 reviews) | 8.6 (88 reviews) | 
| **3PL inventory tracking** | Not enough data | 8.9 (77 reviews) | 8.4 (90 reviews) | 

#### Inventory Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Inventory Tracking** | Not enough data | 9.1 (79 reviews) | 8.8 (96 reviews) | 
| **Inventory Costing** | Not enough data | 9.0 (78 reviews) | 8.8 (95 reviews) | 
| **Product Master** | Not enough data | 8.9 (76 reviews) | 8.6 (91 reviews) | 
| **Inventory Forecasting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (77 reviews) | 8.6 (91 reviews) | 
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | 9.3 (77 reviews) | 8.6 (98 reviews) | 

#### Inventory Management Platform Features

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Centralized Inventory Database** | Not enough data | 9.1 (80 reviews) | 8.7 (119 reviews) | 
| **Inventory Level Dashboards** | Not enough data | 9.2 (81 reviews) | 8.7 (114 reviews) | 
| **Stock History Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (82 reviews) | 8.5 (117 reviews) | 
| **Low Stock Notifications** | Not enough data | 8.6 (78 reviews) | 8.3 (108 reviews) | 
| **Bundles, Kits, & Variants** | Not enough data | 8.9 (78 reviews) | 8.1 (111 reviews) | 
| **Asset Tracking** | Not enough data | 9.1 (81 reviews) | 8.7 (104 reviews) | 
| **Inventory Forecasting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (79 reviews) | 8.2 (111 reviews) | 
| **eCommerce Integrations** | Not enough data | 9.3 (77 reviews) | 8.5 (113 reviews) | 
| **Accounting Integrations** | Not enough data | 9.4 (80 reviews) | 8.8 (115 reviews) | 
| **Data Exporting / Importing** | Not enough data | 9.4 (80 reviews) | 8.6 (119 reviews) | 

### Order Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | N/A | N/A |
| **QuickBooks Online** | 7.9/10 | 126 |

#### Order Entry

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Entry** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (113 reviews) | 
| **Register** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (107 reviews) | 
| **Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (111 reviews) | 

#### Order Tracking

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Shipping** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (96 reviews) | 
| **Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (98 reviews) | 
| **Backorder** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (93 reviews) | 

#### Inventory Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Stock Levels** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.1 (95 reviews) | 
| **Flow Of Goods** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (93 reviews) | 
| **Reserving Goods** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (89 reviews) | 

#### Customer Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Order Status** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (98 reviews) | 
| **Information Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (107 reviews) | 
| **Email Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (109 reviews) | 

#### Subscription Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Payment Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (110 reviews) | 
| **Payment Gateway** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (106 reviews) | 
| **Billing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (114 reviews) | 
| **Automatic Payments** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (101 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Order Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 4.5 (11 reviews) | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 5.0 (11 reviews) | 

### Billing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | 7.8/10 | 49 |
| **Xero** | 8.5/10 | 294 |
| **QuickBooks Online** | N/A | N/A |

#### Bill Generation

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Templates** | 7.9 (36 reviews) | 8.3 (200 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Billing** | 8.3 (42 reviews) | 8.7 (203 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Recurring Billing** | 8.1 (36 reviews) | 8.8 (205 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Bill Processing

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Consolidation** | 7.6 (28 reviews) | 8.2 (197 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Batch Invoicing** | 7.6 (26 reviews) | 8.4 (196 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Management** | 8.3 (40 reviews) | 8.6 (199 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Accounting** | 7.9 (37 reviews) | 8.8 (209 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Payments** | 8.0 (33 reviews) | 8.7 (204 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **ERP** | 6.8 (19 reviews) | 8.0 (187 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Billing

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.3 (109 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Accounting & Finance

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | N/A | N/A |
| **QuickBooks Online** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Vendor Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Wave** | N/A | N/A |
| **Xero** | N/A | N/A |
| **QuickBooks Online** | 7.6/10 | 193 |

#### Agentic AI - Vendor Management

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 5.6 (13 reviews) | 

#### Revenue Recognition

| Feature | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Usage Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (147 reviews) | 
| **Deferred Revenue** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (154 reviews) | 
| **Revenue Accrual** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (163 reviews) | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Accounting Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting)

**Unique to Wave (1):** [Billing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/billing)

**Unique to Xero (5):** [Invoice Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/invoice-management), [Inventory Control Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/inventory-control-software), [Expense Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/expense-management), [Billing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/billing), [Nonprofit Accounting Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/nonprofit-accounting-software)

**Unique to QuickBooks Online (4):** [Nonprofit Accounting Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/nonprofit-accounting-software), [Vendor Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/vendor-management), [Inventory Control Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/inventory-control-software), [Order Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/order-management)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Wave | Xero | QuickBooks Online | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 94.8% | 69.9% | 82.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 4.2% | 25.2% | 14.7% | 
| **Enterprise** | 1.0% | 4.8% | 3.0% | 

### By Industry

#### Wave

- **Marketing and Advertising:** 15.7%
- **Accounting:** 5.9%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 5.9%
- **Design:** 4.9%
- **Computer Software:** 3.3%
- **Management Consulting:** 3.0%
- **Internet:** 3.0%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 2.6%
- **Graphic Design:** 2.6%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 2.3%
- **Other:** 50.8%

#### Xero

- **Accounting:** 21.1%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 10.1%
- **Computer Software:** 6.6%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.9%
- **Consulting:** 3.7%
- **Construction:** 3.5%
- **Financial Services:** 3.4%
- **Retail:** 2.9%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 2.1%
- **Real Estate:** 1.8%
- **Other:** 40.0%

#### QuickBooks Online

- **Accounting:** 18.1%
- **Construction:** 5.5%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 5.2%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 4.4%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 4.2%
- **Computer Software:** 3.7%
- **Financial Services:** 3.1%
- **Retail:** 3.0%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.6%
- **Real Estate:** 2.4%
- **Other:** 47.9%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Wave

- [FreshBooks](https://www.g2.com/products/freshbooks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (973 reviews)
- [Zoho Books](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-books/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (326 reviews)
- [QuickBooks Desktop Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-desktop-pro/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1764 reviews)
- [NetSuite](https://www.g2.com/products/netsuite/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (4756 reviews)
- [GoDaddy Bookkeeping](https://www.g2.com/products/godaddy-bookkeeping/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (38 reviews)
- [Zoho Invoice](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-invoice/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (357 reviews)
- [Square Point of Sale](https://www.g2.com/products/square-point-of-sale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1207 reviews)
- [Sage Intacct](https://www.g2.com/products/sage-intacct/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (4185 reviews)
- [HoneyBook](https://www.g2.com/products/honeybook/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (194 reviews)
- [Stripe Billing](https://www.g2.com/products/stripe-billing/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (141 reviews)

### Alternatives to Xero

- [NetSuite](https://www.g2.com/products/netsuite/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (4756 reviews)
- [FreshBooks](https://www.g2.com/products/freshbooks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (973 reviews)
- [Sage Intacct](https://www.g2.com/products/sage-intacct/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (4185 reviews)
- [QuickBooks Desktop Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-desktop-pro/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1764 reviews)
- [Certinia Financial Management Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/certinia-financial-management-cloud/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (437 reviews)
- [Zoho Books](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-books/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (326 reviews)
- [Acumatica](https://www.g2.com/products/acumatica/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (2007 reviews)
- [QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-desktop-enterprise/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1056 reviews)
- [SAP ECC](https://www.g2.com/products/sap-ecc/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (940 reviews)
- [TallyPrime](https://www.g2.com/products/tallyprime/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (295 reviews)

### Alternatives to QuickBooks Online

- [NetSuite](https://www.g2.com/products/netsuite/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (4756 reviews)
- [Sage Intacct](https://www.g2.com/products/sage-intacct/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (4185 reviews)
- [CustomBooks™](https://www.g2.com/products/custombooks/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (74 reviews)
- [Webgility](https://www.g2.com/products/webgility/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (375 reviews)
- [Acumatica](https://www.g2.com/products/acumatica/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (2007 reviews)
- [FreshBooks](https://www.g2.com/products/freshbooks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (973 reviews)
- [Oracle PeopleSoft](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-peoplesoft/reviews) — 3.8/5 stars (692 reviews)
- [Odoo ERP](https://www.g2.com/products/odoo-odoo-erp/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (348 reviews)
- [Certinia Financial Management Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/certinia-financial-management-cloud/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (437 reviews)
- [Zoho Books](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-books/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (326 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Wave

- Title: [Is Wave Accounting really free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-wave-accounting-really-free) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "yes"
- Title: [Is wave a good accounting software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-wave-a-good-accounting-software) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yeah. It has most of the features required by a small business. You can request the team if you need anything in particular "
- Title: [What is Wave Software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-wave-software) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Wave software is an easy to use Payroll and Accounting software. You can create invoices, send billings, track expenses, and all normal transactions..."
- Title: [How does Wave Software make money?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-does-wave-software-make-money) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "On payments they take a percent just like all payments services. They give the accounting platform away for free because they know at least some people will..."

### Xero

- Title: [What is Xero used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-xero-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Accounting, bookkeeping, tax return, payroll, expenses management etc. For small or medium business"
- Title: [Is XERO a good accounting software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-xero-a-good-accounting-software) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yep - especially with the upgrade to forecast cash flow"
- Title: [What is Xero software used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-xero-software-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Accounting and invoicing needs"
- Title: [Is Xero easy to use?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-xero-easy-to-use) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, it is easy to use."
- Title: [What are the new features in Xero?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-new-features-in-xero) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Do you need reviews on this G2 website too? I have reviewed the website here before. And approved review 100% madniawais189@gmail.com"

### QuickBooks Online

- Title: [What phone app works if you are using Quick books V15.0.5R6](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-phone-app-works-if-you-are-using-quick-books-v15-0-5r6) — 7 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "You are correct, you can only use the Invoicing app if you have the online version of Quickbooks. Hope this helps!"
- Title: [Can you put quickbooks on a mac?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/14104-can-you-put-quickbooks-on-a-mac) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Yes you can use quickbooks on a Mac"
- Title: [What can you do with QuickBooks online?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-can-you-do-with-quickbooks-online) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "It would be great to see QBO have the ability to send monthly statements via email, not the generic intuit email, but a selectable email that is by the..."
- Title: [How is QuickBooks Online being used to enhance operational efficiency and user experience in its specific field?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-is-quickbooks-online-being-used-to-enhance-operational-efficiency-and-user-experience-in-its-specific-field) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "It allows for a rapid automated close linked directly to each of our bank accounts and credit cards, including BILL/Divvy."
- Title: [What is QuickBooks Online used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-quickbooks-online-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Payroll and Bookkeeping"

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/wave-vs-xero-vs-quickbooks-online)