2026 head-to-head

Invoice Ninja vs Wave: Which is Better in 2026?

Wave wins on more features overall (6 vs 3, 10 tied). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.

Scoreboard

3
Invoice Ninja wins
10
Tied
6
Wave wins

Feature-by-feature comparison

Pricing

Feature Invoice Ninja Wave
Free plan
✓ Yes
Self-hosted free; cloud Pro paid
✓ Yes
Entry paid plan
— Paid add-on
Pro ~AU$12/mo
✓ Yes
Pro Plan US$16/mo (about AU$25)
Download PDF without signup
✗ No
✗ No
Requires signup to generate invoices

Invoicing features

Feature Invoice Ninja Wave
Unlimited invoices
— Limited
✓ Yes
Custom logo & branding
— Paid add-on
White-label on higher tiers
✓ Yes
Recurring invoices
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Email invoices to clients
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Multi-currency
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Client management
✓ Yes
✓ Yes

Australian compliance

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

Integrations

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

Setup & support

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

Where Invoice Ninja wins

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

Where Wave wins

  • Entry paid plan
  • Unlimited invoices
  • Custom logo & branding
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Expense tracking

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 Invoice Ninja cheaper than Wave?

Invoice Ninja starts at Free (self-hosted) or AU$12/mo (Pro); Wave starts at Free (Pro Plan US$16/mo). Invoice Ninja offers free self-hosted; pro cloud plan. Wave offers free forever.

Does Invoice Ninja handle Australian GST and ABN better than Wave?

For ATO-compliant GST: Invoice Ninja = limited, Wave = limited. For native ABN field: Invoice Ninja = 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 — Invoice Ninja 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 Invoice Ninja 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 Invoice Ninja 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 Invoice Ninja 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.