2026 head-to-head

Harvest vs Wave: Which is Better in 2026?

Wave wins on more features overall (5 vs 3, 11 tied). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.

Scoreboard

3
Harvest wins
11
Tied
5
Wave wins

Feature-by-feature comparison

Pricing

Feature Harvest Wave
Free plan
✗ No
30-day trial
✓ Yes
Entry paid plan
— Paid add-on
AU$14/user/mo
✓ Yes
Pro Plan US$16/mo (about AU$25)
Download PDF without signup
✗ No
✗ No
Requires signup to generate invoices

Invoicing features

Feature Harvest Wave
Unlimited invoices
— Limited
✓ Yes
Custom logo & branding
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Recurring invoices
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Email invoices to clients
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Multi-currency
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Client management
✓ Yes
✓ Yes

Australian compliance

Feature Harvest Wave
ATO-compliant GST invoices
— Limited
Configurable tax rates
— Limited
No automatic ATO Tax Invoice wording
ABN field built in
— Limited
Custom field workaround
✗ No
Manual workaround needed
Australian-focused support
— Limited
✗ No
No AU-based support

Accounting features

Feature Harvest Wave
Bank reconciliation
✗ No
— Limited
AU bank feeds are limited
Expense tracking
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Payroll
✗ No
✗ No
US/Canada only
Inventory tracking
✗ No
✗ No

Integrations

Feature Harvest Wave
Stripe payments
✓ Yes
— Limited
Wave Payments only — no direct Stripe integration
Mobile app
— Limited
✓ Yes

Setup & support

Feature Harvest Wave
Setup time
— Limited
Account signup required
— Limited
~10 min signup + business setup

Where Harvest wins

  • ABN field built in
  • Australian-focused support
  • Stripe payments

Where Wave wins

  • Free plan
  • Entry paid plan
  • Unlimited invoices
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Mobile app

A third option: InvoiceSonic, free

Neither tool fits your invoicing-only workflow? Try InvoiceSonic — free for unlimited ATO-compliant tax invoices, no signup required.

Create a free invoice now →

Frequently asked questions

Is Harvest cheaper than Wave?

Harvest starts at AU$14/user/mo; Wave starts at Free (Pro Plan US$16/mo). Harvest offers 30-day trial only. Wave offers free forever.

Does Harvest handle Australian GST and ABN better than Wave?

For ATO-compliant GST: Harvest = limited, Wave = limited. For native ABN field: Harvest = limited, Wave = no. If you operate in Australia and either tool falls short here, InvoiceSonic handles both natively — and it's free.

Which is better for freelancers — Harvest or Wave?

Most freelancers want fast invoicing without paying for full accounting. Between these two, Wave wins more categories overall. But if you're a freelancer who just wants ATO-compliant tax invoices for free, InvoiceSonic is purpose-built for that workflow.

Can I switch from Harvest to Wave easily?

Do not assume a one-click migration. Confirm each product's current export and import formats, then test contacts, opening balances, unpaid invoices, tax codes, attachments and reconciliations before cancelling the old account. Keep statutory records outside both systems.

Should I use Harvest or Wave for invoicing only?

Both tools include more than invoicing. If invoicing is your only need, a dedicated generator can be faster and more focused than a full accounting subscription.

Is there a free alternative to both Harvest and Wave?

Yes — InvoiceSonic lets you create and download an invoice without signup. Its account plans have separate limits and pricing, so compare current official plans before deciding.