Compare
Accounter vs Wave.
An honest side-by-side for South African businesses.
| Feature | Accounter | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Monthly price | R300/month | Free Starter; Pro US$19/month |
| Tax | ||
| SA tax compliance | Yes | Not listed on Wave pricing page |
| Payroll | Yes | Paid add-on; check availability in your country |
| Core | ||
| Invoicing | Yes | Yes |
| Bank reconciliation | Yes | Automatic bank import on Pro |
| Features | ||
| Inventory | Yes | Not listed on Wave pricing page |
| Fixed assets | Yes | Not listed on Wave pricing page |
| Purchase orders | Yes | Not listed on Wave pricing page |
| Support | ||
| SA support | Yes | Not listed on Wave pricing page |
Competitor details come from their public pages and can change. Check their current pricing before you decide.
Switching from Wave?
See how Accounter would handle your books.
Why South African businesses choose Accounter
- Full-featured accounting vs basic bookkeeping
- VAT workflows and SA payroll in the same product
- Bank reconciliation with bank rules
- Inventory, assets, and payroll included
About Wave
Wave offers free accounting and invoicing software. Revenue comes from payment processing and paid add-ons such as payroll.
Strengths
- Free Starter plan
- Simple to use
- Good invoicing
- Quick to start
Weaknesses for South Africa
- Priced in US dollars
- Inventory and purchase orders are not listed on Wave's pricing page
- Payments carry card-processing fees
Common questions
Is free accounting software worth it?
For very basic bookkeeping, it can be. Wave's Starter plan is free, with card-processing fees on online payments. If you need SA VAT workflows, payroll, inventory and local support in one product, Accounter is built for that at R300/month.
Can I use Wave in South Africa?
Wave lists no South African VAT, PAYE or VAT201 features on its pricing page, and it prices in US dollars. Check with Wave that it meets your SARS requirements. Accounter includes SA VAT workflows, PAYE, UIF and SDL.