Comparison
Compare Ledgerly with Wave. Wave’s free Starter is great for basics — Ledgerly adds a creative-first pulse, magic-link portal, and a clear path into team and Pro books.
| Features | Ledgerly | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Creatives who want polished billing and a path to grow | Solopreneurs who want free invoicing and basic books |
| Pricing model | Solo / Team / Pro paid plans | Free Starter + Pro (~$19/mo) for automation |
| Starting price | Paid plans with a free trial | Starter is $0; Pro adds bank feeds and receipts |
| Invoices & estimates | Invoices, estimates, credit notes | Unlimited invoices and estimates on Starter |
| Time tracking | Timers that become invoice line items | Not a core strength — limited or third-party |
| Client portal | Magic-link portal for amount due and pay | Pay-via-invoice links; lighter client experience |
| Online payments | Stripe card + ACH on invoices (Connect) | Wave Payments (card ~2.9%+$0.60; ACH ~1%) |
| Bank sync | Automatic bank sync on Pro | Manual imports on Starter; auto bank feeds on Pro |
| Team & projects | Team seats, projects, and shared time | Users on Pro; lighter project/time workflow |
| Expenses & mileage | Expenses and mileage included | Expenses yes; receipt scanning on Pro |
| Accounting reports | Fuller books and reports on Pro | Basic bookkeeping and reports on Starter |
| Payroll | Gusto on Pro | Wave Payroll add-on (US, separate fee) |
| Tax prep | Tax Prep on Pro | Tax-ready reports; less guided prep |
| Design & UX | Creative-first living pulse | Simple and utilitarian — free-tier focused |
Wave’s Starter is genuinely $0 for invoices and manual books — a great deal. Automation (bank feeds, receipt scanning, reminders) moves to Pro, and payment fees apply when you collect online. Ledgerly is a paid product with Stripe payments and a clearer creative workflow.
If you bill hours or work with a studio, Ledgerly’s timers-to-invoices flow and Team seats are first-class. Wave stays strongest for simple income, expenses, and unlimited free invoices.
Track time, invoice the line items, and collect through a magic-link portal — one rhythm instead of free tools glued together.
Invite your team on Team (up to 10) or go unlimited on Pro — projects and shared time without bolting on another app.
Bank sync, accounting, Tax Prep, and Gusto wait on Pro. You don’t start on a free tier that strips automation.
Wave’s Starter plan is free for unlimited invoices and basic bookkeeping; Pro (~$19/mo) adds bank feeds and receipt scanning. Ledgerly is a paid Solo / Team / Pro product with a free trial — built around a fuller creative billing workflow.
Choose Ledgerly if you care about time that becomes invoices, a polished magic-link client portal, team seats, and a designed path into Pro accounting. Choose Wave if you mainly need free invoicing and can live with manual bank imports on Starter.
Yes. Time tracking is core: timers roll into billable line items so you’re not re-entering hours from a separate tool.
Join creatives who invoice, track time, and get paid — without the clutter.
Find your rhythm.Information about Wave reflects our own research and opinions and may not be current. Feature availability and pricing change over time — verify details on each vendor’s site before deciding.