2026 head-to-head

Pipedrive vs Wave: Which is Better in 2026?

Wave wins on more features overall (7 vs 3, 9 tied). Below is the full feature-by-feature breakdown.

Scoreboard

3
Pipedrive wins
9
Tied
7
Wave wins

Feature-by-feature comparison

Pricing

Feature Pipedrive Wave
Free plan
✗ No
14-day trial
✓ Yes
Entry paid plan
— Paid add-on
From AU$21/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 Pipedrive 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
CRM contacts
✓ Yes

Australian compliance

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

Setup & support

Feature Pipedrive Wave
Setup time
✗ No
Pipeline setup
— Limited
~10 min signup + business setup

Where Pipedrive wins

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

Where Wave wins

  • Free plan
  • Entry paid plan
  • Unlimited invoices
  • 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 Pipedrive cheaper than Wave?

Pipedrive starts at From AU$21/user/mo; Wave starts at Free (Pro Plan US$16/mo). Pipedrive offers 14-day trial. Wave offers free forever.

Does Pipedrive handle Australian GST and ABN better than Wave?

For ATO-compliant GST: Pipedrive = limited, Wave = limited. For native ABN field: Pipedrive = 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 — Pipedrive 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 Pipedrive to Wave easily?

Both Pipedrive and Wave let you export client lists and invoice history (usually as CSV). Migration takes an afternoon for most small businesses. If you're considering switching anyway, it might be worth evaluating InvoiceSonic as a free alternative for invoicing while keeping your accountant's tool of choice for bookkeeping.

Should I use Pipedrive or Wave for invoicing only?

Both tools are accounting-first platforms; their invoicing modules are a subset of what they do. If invoicing is your only need, a free dedicated invoice generator like InvoiceSonic is usually faster, cheaper, and more focused — without paying for bookkeeping, payroll, or inventory features you won't use.

Is there a free alternative to both Pipedrive and Wave?

Yes — InvoiceSonic is free for unlimited Australian-compliant invoices with no signup required for PDF download. You can run it alongside or instead of paid accounting platforms.