Best Wave alternatives for freelancers & agencies (2026)

Wave handles invoicing and basic accounting for free, but once the invoice is sent and the real project work begins, there's no way to manage tasks, track time against projects, send proposals, or give clients a portal to check progress without emailing you. Project management, proposals, and client collaboration happen in separate tools that don't connect to your billing.

The right Wave alternative keeps invoicing and accounting connected to the rest of your workflow. When a proposal is signed, the project creates itself from a template with tasks ready to go, time tracking feeds into invoices automatically, and clients log into a branded portal to see progress, download files, and approve deliverables without sending a single status email.

This page covers 6 Wave alternatives by what they cost, what they do, and who they're actually for, so you can find the right one without testing all 6 yourself.

Last updated March 2026

4.6

TLDR (summary)

Best Wave alternative in 2026: Plutio ($19/month vs Wave's free plan or $16/month Pro). Wave handles invoicing and basic accounting, but once the invoice is paid there's nothing connecting your billing to actual project work. Plutio includes invoicing and then keeps going: proposals become projects, time tracking feeds into invoices, and clients see everything in a branded portal.

Why freelancers switch: Once the invoice goes out, Wave stops. There are no proposals, no contracts, no project management, no time tracking tied to billing, and no client portal for progress updates, so freelancers end up running 3-4 separate tools that don't share data with their accounting.

Why Plutio is the best alternative: Your proposals convert into projects with tasks and deadlines already set up. Time tracked against those tasks turns into invoice line items automatically. Clients log into their own branded portal to see progress, pay invoices, and approve deliverables, so you're running one connected workflow instead of copying data between Wave, Trello, Toggl, and Google Drive.

Other alternatives on this page: FreshBooks (invoicing focus with client limits per tier), Bonsai (contracts and US tax prep, basic projects), Xero (accounting depth, no project management). Full comparison below.

What is Wave and what does it do?

Wave is a free accounting and invoicing platform built for freelancers, sole proprietors, and micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Wave lets you create invoices, track expenses, connect bank accounts, and run basic financial reports without paying for software. For freelancers who just need to send invoices and keep books organized for tax time, Wave covers the accounting fundamentals at no cost.

The core appeal is the free plan. Most freelancers start with Wave because invoicing and accounting cost $0, and the interface stays approachable for people who aren't accountants. Wave also offers paid add-ons for payroll (starting at $40/month) and receipt scanning ($8/month), plus a Pro plan at $16/month that adds recurring invoices and automated bank imports.

Wave handles:

Creating and sending invoices to clients
Tracking income and expenses by category
Connecting bank and credit card accounts
Running profit-and-loss and balance sheet reports
Accepting online payments through Wave Payments
Scanning receipts with the mobile app

For invoicing and bookkeeping, Wave handles these needs. But there are no proposals, no contracts, no project management, and no client portal for ongoing work.

What are Wave's limitations?

Wave handles invoicing and accounting, but once the invoice is sent and the real project work begins, it steps aside. There's no place to manage tasks, track deadlines, or let clients see what's happening with their project. Freelancers end up using Trello or Asana for projects, Toggl or Clockify for time tracking, and Google Drive for file sharing, none of which connect back to Wave's invoicing.

The gap shows up when a new client signs on. The invoice goes into Wave, but the project scope, tasks, timeline, and deliverables live somewhere else entirely. When billing day comes, those time entries need to be manually copied from whatever tracker into a Wave invoice.

The result? Freelancers manage client work across 3-4 disconnected tools while Wave only holds the financial side. Tracked hours get copied manually into invoices, so billing errors happen regularly. And when something goes wrong, customer support takes days to respond, with free plan users limited to a chatbot and knowledge base.

Common gaps include:

No proposals or contracts for scoping and signing client work
No project management for tasks, deadlines, and timelines
No time tracking connected to projects or invoices
No client portal for progress, files, and approvals
Limited integrations, with no native connection to project tools

Freelancers switch when they want invoicing to be part of the project workflow, not a standalone accounting tool that ignores everything else.

Wave disabled our account without any warning or explanation as to why. This is extremely problematic in any business, so I would never recommend Wave to another small business.
VU
Verified UserSmall Business Owner

What a complete Wave alternative needs

A complete Wave alternative should keep the invoicing and payment processing, but also handle what happens before and after the invoice. The alternative should connect proposals, contracts, tasks, time tracking, files, and payments to the same project so billing matches the work.

The goal is one place where scoping, project management, and billing all stay connected, so you're not rebuilding data in different apps every time a client pays or a project changes scope.

A strong alternative should include:

Proposals that can turn into a project plan, so you don't rebuild setup after approval
Contracts with e-signatures tied to the same project, so agreements stay linked to work
Project management for tasks, deadlines, and timelines, so work stays clear day to day
Time tracking connected to tasks, so tracked hours feed into invoices directly
Client portal access for progress, files, and approvals, so clients don't chase status
Invoices and payments tied to the project or milestones, so billing matches the plan
Approvals for deliverables and changes, so signoffs are clear
Branding for client-facing pages, so it feels like your business

This is the difference between a tool that handles invoicing and a tool that handles everything.

#1. Plutio, top all-in-one Wave alternative in 2026

Wave gives you invoicing and accounting, but everything that happens around the invoice, the proposal that defines the scope, the project that organizes the work, the time tracking that measures the effort, lives somewhere else. Freelancers using Wave typically run Trello for tasks, Toggl for time, Google Drive for files, and Gmail for client updates. That's five tools that don't share data, and every billing cycle starts with manual copying between them.

Plutio closes that gap by connecting proposals, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals in one workspace. When a client approves a proposal, the project creates itself from your template. Tasks, deadlines, and milestones are already set up. Time tracked against those tasks becomes invoice line items without manual copying. The client sees everything in a branded portal where they can check progress, download files, and approve deliverables.

What this actually looks like

A new client accepts your proposal. In Plutio:

The proposal defines the scope, timeline, and pricing for the project
The client reviews and signs the attached contract in the same session
Plutio creates the project automatically using your saved template with all tasks ready
An invoice attaches to the project, scheduled or ready to send on your terms
The client gets a branded portal with deadlines, files, and real-time progress
Onboarding forms collect the assets and information you need to start
Automations assign tasks, send reminders, and notify the client at each milestone

No copying data between apps. No rebuilding project structure after every signed proposal. No emailing clients with status updates they could see themselves.

Why this matters

When invoicing lives in one tool and project work lives in another, billing errors become routine. Hours tracked in Toggl get rounded or missed when manually entered into Wave. Scope changes agreed in email never make it back to the invoice. When everything is connected:

Clients check progress in their portal instead of emailing for updates
Time entries flow into invoice line items directly, so billing matches actual work
Scope changes update the project, tasks, and invoice together
Every document, file, and message stays tied to the same client and project

That happens because invoicing, time tracking, and project management share the same data instead of living in separate apps.

Switching from Wave

You can export your client list from Wave as a CSV and import those contacts into Plutio. Proposal and invoice templates rebuild in minutes using the drag-and-drop editor. Plutio has been refined for over 10 years based on feedback from freelancers and agencies who needed more than an accounting tool could offer.

With Plutio we don't jump between apps anymore! Everything from projects to invoicing is finally connected in one fully-branded app.
Yazan & MawahebAgency Owners

#2. FreshBooks, invoicing depth with client caps

FreshBooks handles invoicing, expense tracking, and basic accounting with an interface designed for non-accountants. The invoice editor includes automatic payment reminders, late fees, and multi-currency support that Wave's free plan doesn't match. For freelancers whose primary need is invoicing with accounting attached, FreshBooks covers more ground than Wave on the financial side.

The pricing model creates problems as freelancers grow. FreshBooks limits the number of billable clients on each plan: 5 clients on Lite ($21.50/month), 50 on Plus ($37.50/month), and unlimited only on Premium ($68.75/month). Once you outgrow a tier, the next plan costs substantially more. Project management is basic, and there are no proposals, contracts, or client portals.

FreshBooks works for freelancers whose primary need is invoicing and expense tracking with more depth than Wave offers.

FreshBooks caps billable clients per plan, making growth expensive. Project management is basic, and proposals, contracts, and client portals all require separate tools.

The pricing tiers are a major pain point. You're limited on the number of clients you can have, and FreshBooks gets expensive quickly as you grow. Plus, the project management side is very underdeveloped.
VR
Verified ReviewerBusiness Owner

#3. Bonsai, contracts and tax prep, basic projects

Bonsai handles proposals, contracts, invoices, and tax preparation in one flow. For US-based freelancers who want their financial documents organized for tax season, Bonsai connects contracts to invoicing and tracks income for quarterly tax estimates. Bonsai Workflow starts at $21/month.

Project management is where Bonsai falls short. Task tracking is limited to basic lists without Gantt charts, dependencies, or timeline views. There's no real client portal, just document sharing. Time tracking exists but doesn't feed into invoicing automatically the way a connected system should. Once the contract is signed, growing freelancers and agencies need additional tools for the actual project work.

Bonsai works for solo US freelancers who need contracts, invoicing, and tax-ready financial tracking in one place.

Bonsai has basic task management with no Gantt charts, dependencies, or real client portal. Agencies and freelancers managing multiple projects need additional tools beyond Bonsai for project work.

The task management in Bonsai is very basic compared to dedicated tools. It's fine for simple lists, but for real project management, I still have to use Trello or Asana.
VR
Verified ReviewerCreative Agency

#4. Xero, accounting depth, no project management

Xero offers accounting, invoicing, bank reconciliation, and multi-currency support with more depth than Wave's free plan. The reporting is more advanced, inventory tracking is built in, and the integration ecosystem connects to hundreds of third-party apps. Xero's Starter plan is $29/month, with Growing at $46/month and Established at $62/month.

Xero is a full accounting platform, not a client management tool. There are no proposals, no contracts, no project management, no time tracking, and no client portal. Freelancers using Xero still need separate tools for every part of client work that isn't accounting, which means the same disconnected tool stack that Wave users already deal with, just with more advanced books.

Xero works for freelancers who need advanced accounting features, inventory tracking, and a large integration ecosystem.

Xero focuses on accounting and offers no proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, or client portals. Freelancers still need 3-4 additional tools.

Xero is first and foremost accounting software. If you need project management, CRM, or client portals, you'll need to add other tools on top. That gets expensive and complicated fast.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Consultant

#5. QuickBooks, enterprise accounting, freelancer overkill

QuickBooks is the most widely used small business accounting software, handling invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, inventory, and tax preparation. QuickBooks Online Simple Start costs $35/month, with Plus at $99/month and Advanced at $235/month. The feature set and third-party integrations are the deepest in the accounting category.

For freelancers switching from Wave, QuickBooks solves the accounting limitations but introduces new ones. The pricing is steep for solo operators. The interface is built for accountants, not freelancers managing client projects. And like Xero, QuickBooks offers no proposals, contracts, project management, or client portals. Freelancers end up paying more for accounting while still needing the same separate tools for everything else.

QuickBooks works for freelancers who need advanced accounting, payroll, and tax features that go beyond what Wave or simpler tools offer.

QuickBooks starts at $35/month and scales to $235/month, with no proposals, contracts, project management, or client portals included. The tool stack problem remains, just with more expensive accounting.

QuickBooks is overkill for a freelancer. I was paying $35 a month just for invoicing and expense tracking when I really needed project management and client communication tools that QuickBooks doesn't offer.
VR
Verified ReviewerFreelance Designer

#6. Zoho Invoice, free invoicing with Zoho lock-in

Zoho Invoice offers free invoicing with time tracking, expense tracking, and multi-currency support. For freelancers who want a free invoicing tool with more features than Wave's free plan, Zoho Invoice includes automated payment reminders, recurring invoices, and a client portal for invoice viewing. The free plan covers up to 1,000 invoices per year.

The limitation is that Zoho Invoice is a standalone invoicing tool within the Zoho ecosystem. Getting proposals, contracts, project management, and CRM requires subscribing to Zoho One ($45/user/month) or adding individual Zoho apps. Each app has its own interface, login, and learning curve. Data sharing between Zoho apps works but requires configuration, and the experience feels like managing multiple tools under one billing umbrella rather than one connected system.

Zoho Invoice works for freelancers who want free invoicing with more automation than Wave and are already using other Zoho apps.

Zoho Invoice handles invoicing but getting proposals, projects, and CRM requires buying into the Zoho ecosystem, where each app has its own interface and learning curve.

Zoho has a tool for everything, but getting them to work together is a project in itself. Each app has its own interface, and the integrations between Zoho products don't always work the way you'd expect.
VR
Verified ReviewerSmall Business Owner

The verdict: Why Plutio is the best Wave alternative

To understand the difference between Wave and Plutio, look at what happens after the invoice is sent and the client work actually begins.

Wave is built for invoicing and bookkeeping. Sending invoices, tracking expenses, reconciling bank accounts, and running basic financial reports. For that narrow scope, Wave does the job, especially at no cost on the free plan. But once the invoice goes out, Wave steps aside. There's no place to manage the project the invoice relates to, no time tracking that feeds back into billing, no proposals to define scope, and no client portal for updates. Freelancers end up managing client work across Trello, Toggl, Google Drive, and Gmail, none of which connect to Wave's invoicing.

Plutio treats the invoice as one part of a connected workflow, not a standalone document. The proposal defines scope and pricing. The signed contract triggers project creation. Tasks, timelines, and milestones organize the work. Time tracked against tasks becomes invoice line items. And the client sees everything, progress, files, invoices, approvals, in a branded portal that feels like your business, not a third-party tool. Everything stays connected to the same client and the same project.

What changes when you switch from Wave to Plutio?

Freelancers who switch keep telling us the same three things:

No more copying time entries into invoices. In Wave, time tracking doesn't exist. Freelancers track hours in Toggl or Clockify, then manually enter those hours into Wave invoices at month end, a process that takes 30-60 minutes per billing cycle and introduces rounding errors. In Plutio, time tracked against tasks becomes invoice line items automatically. The invoice reflects the actual work because time tracking and invoicing share the same data.
Clients stop emailing for updates. Wave has no client portal. Every status update requires an email or a separate shared document. In Plutio, clients log into their branded portal to see what's in progress, what's completed, and what's coming up. Project status questions that used to take 5-10 emails per week now answer themselves.
Proposals and invoices stay connected. In Wave, proposals don't exist. Scope gets defined in emails or Google Docs, and the invoice is a separate document that may or may not match the original agreement. In Plutio, the proposal defines scope, the contract formalizes the agreement, and the invoice pulls from the same project. When scope changes, the proposal, project, and invoice all update together.

How does Plutio compare to Wave on price and reviews?

Wave holds a 4.3/5 on G2 and a 4.4/5 on Capterra, with praise for its free invoicing and bookkeeping. Negative reviews consistently mention the same problems: no project management, limited integrations, slow customer support (free plan users are limited to a chatbot), and account terminations without warning. On Trustpilot, Wave holds a 1.4/5 rating, driven by complaints about payroll errors and unresponsive support.

The pricing comparison reveals a hidden cost. Wave's free plan costs $0 for invoicing and accounting, but freelancers then add Trello ($10/month), Toggl ($10/month), a proposal tool like PandaDoc ($19/month), and Google Workspace ($7/month) for file sharing and communication. The real cost of a Wave-based workflow is $46/month across four disconnected tools. Plutio Core starts at $19/month and includes proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals in one connected workspace.

Freelancers who switch from a Wave-based tool stack to Plutio report saving 4-6 hours per week on admin. Those hours were spent copying time entries into invoices, emailing clients with updates, and rebuilding project context across disconnected apps.

Which tool wins? The feature and pricing comparison

What Wave includes: Invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, financial reports, receipt scanning ($8/month add-on), and payroll ($40/month add-on). The free Starter plan covers invoicing and accounting. The Pro plan costs $16/month and adds recurring invoices and automated bank imports.

What Wave lacks: Proposals, contracts, e-signatures, project management, task tracking, time tracking, client portals, white-labeling, and automation workflows. Wave is an accounting tool that stops where project work begins.

What Plutio adds: Proposals, contracts with e-signatures, full project management (Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies), built-in time tracking that feeds invoices, client portals with progress visibility, and complete white-labeling. Plutio Core costs $19/month.

The math: Wave free plan + Trello ($10) + Toggl ($10) + PandaDoc ($19) + Google Workspace ($7) = $46/month for four disconnected tools. Plutio = $19/month for everything connected.

Best for accounting only: Wave handles invoicing and bookkeeping if project management, proposals, and client work happen elsewhere.

Best for freelancers who manage projects: Plutio connects proposals to projects to invoices without switching tools or copying data between apps.

The deciding question: Do you just need to send invoices and track expenses, or do you need invoicing connected to proposals, projects, and client work? If your work involves managing projects and clients, you need the connected workflow that Wave doesn't have.

How do you migrate from Wave to Plutio?

Most freelancers complete the switch in 1-2 hours of setup, then run both tools in parallel for 2-4 weeks while active projects finish and new projects start in Plutio.

Start your free Plutio trial: Sign up at plutio.com. 14 days free, no credit card required.
Export your Wave contacts: Go to Sales > Customers in Wave and export your client list as a CSV file. Wave also allows exporting your chart of accounts and transaction history for your records.
Import client data into Plutio: Upload your client CSV to Plutio. The importer maps Wave fields like Client Name, Email, and Phone directly to Plutio's contact database. Additional fields can be added as custom fields.
Set up proposal templates: Build proposal templates with your pricing packages, scope definitions, and contract language. Unlike Wave, Plutio proposals include contracts and invoices in one flow.
Create project templates: Build project templates with tasks, timelines, and deliverables that match your typical projects. Templates auto-populate when proposals are approved, so you don't rebuild project structure each time.
Configure your branding: Set up your white-labeled portal with your custom domain, logo, and colors. Clients see your brand, not platform branding.
Connect payment processing: Link your Stripe or PayPal account to Plutio. If you were using Wave Payments, your clients can pay invoices directly from their Plutio portal instead.
Set up automations: Use Plutio's automation builder to trigger project creation when contracts are signed, assign tasks automatically, and send milestone-based reminders.
Run both tools in parallel: For 2-4 weeks, finish active Wave invoicing while starting new projects in Plutio. Running in parallel avoids disrupting active client work.
Invite clients to their new portal: Send clients access to their Plutio portal. They'll have project progress, files, invoices, and communication in one place. Once all active work is in Plutio, cancel your Wave subscription or keep the free plan for historical records.

Need help with migration? Sign up, and once you're in, chat with us via the built-in live chat.

Research & Sources

Every comparison and price point on this page is backed by direct research conducted in March 2026. We verify data across official product pages, user reviews, and third-party analysis to ensure accuracy.

Pricing verification sources

Plutio: Official pricing, GetApp reviews
Wave: Official pricing, G2 reviews
FreshBooks: Official pricing, G2 reviews
Bonsai: Official pricing
Xero: Official pricing
QuickBooks: Official pricing

Verification methodology

For each feature in the comparison table:

We consult official product documentation
We verify with multiple third-party sources (G2, GetApp, TrustRadius)
We cross-reference with video demonstrations and user reviews
We update pricing monthly based on current published rates

If you find any inaccuracies, please let us know so we can investigate and update immediately.

What is the best Wave alternative for freelancers in 2026?

Compare pricing, invoicing features, project management, and client collaboration tools.

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	Free Starter plan available. Pro plan $19/month ($190/year)	$21/month (Lite, 5 clients)	$15/month (Basic, $9/month annual)	$15/month (Early plan, limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills per month)	$38/month (Simple Start), promo: 50% off for first 3 months
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices, estimates, bills, and bookkeeping	No free plan (30-day trial)	No free plan (trial available)	No free plan (free first month on any plan)	No free plan (30-day trial)
Trial period	14-day free trial	Free Starter plan available (no trial needed)	30-day free trial	7-day free trial	30-day free trial available	30-day free trial
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	No project management features	Basic project tracking with profitability focus	Basic project and task management	Xero Projects add-on for time and cost tracking (Established plan only, $78/month)	Basic project tracking (Plus plan and above, limited to budgets and time)
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	No project management features	Team member permissions (Admin, Manager, Employee)	4 fixed roles (PMs cannot view financials)	Account-level roles only (Adviser, Standard, Invoice Only)	No project-level roles or permissions
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	No task boards	No task boards (list-based tracking only)	Strictly restricted to 1 board per project	No task boards	No Kanban, Gantt, or calendar views
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	No project boards	No embeddable project views	Embedding live project boards is not supported	No project boards	No embeddable boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	No project boards	Clients can view documents in portal only	Portal access only (no public read-only links)	No project boards	No sharable boards
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	No project management features	No project stages or milestones	Milestones with Gantt chart visualization	No project stages or milestones	No custom project statuses
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Invoicing only (no proposals or contracts)	Estimates and invoices connect (no contracts)	Manual linking (no automatic project integration)	Projects link to invoices and expenses (no proposals or contracts)	Projects link to invoices and expenses (no proposals or contracts)
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	No project management features	No custom project fields	Text, number, date, URL (no filtering)	No custom project fields	No custom project fields
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	No kanban boards	No Kanban boards	Kanban view (limited customization)	No kanban boards	No Kanban board
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	No task or project views	No table view for tasks	Basic table view (no bulk editing)	Transaction list view only	Transaction list view within projects
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	No task or project views	Task list view available	Simple list view with basic sorting	Transaction and project list views	Transaction list view within projects
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	No calendar view	Calendar shows events, not tasks	Calendar view for tasks and deadlines	No calendar view	No calendar view
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	No Gantt view	No Gantt charts	Gantt chart with drag-and-drop	No Gantt view	No Gantt chart
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	No task management	No subtasks	Nested subtasks supported	Tasks within Xero Projects (no nested subtasks)	No subtask support
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No task management	No email-to-task conversion	No email-to-task conversion	No email-to-task feature	No email to task
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	No task management	Team discussion on projects	Comments stay attached to tasks only	No task comment system	No task management system
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	No task management	Files can be attached to projects	File attachments (no file manager)	File attachments on transactions and projects	No task management system
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	No task management	No task priorities	No priority levels	No task priorities	No task management system
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	No task management	No task labels or color coding	No color coding (labels only)	No task labels or color coding	No task management system
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	No task management	Tasks can be assigned to team members	One assignee per task (no multi-assign)	Assign tasks to team members in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	No task assignees
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	No task management	Project templates available	Task templates with dependencies	No task templates	No task templates
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	No task management	No task-level permissions	Project-level only (no task-level)	No task-level permissions	No task-level permissions
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	No task management	No task dependencies	Waiting on, Blocking, Related to	No task dependencies	No task dependencies
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	No task management	No recurring tasks	Daily, weekly, monthly, milestones	Recurring transactions only (not tasks)	Recurring transactions only (not tasks)
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	No task management	No custom task fields	Custom fields (text and number only)	No custom task fields	No custom task fields
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	No time tracking feature	Timer and manual time entry	Timer and manual time entry	Time tracking in Xero Projects (Established plan only, $78/month)	Built-in time tracking (Essentials plan and above)
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	No time tracking feature	Time tracked per service, not per task	Limited to task-level only (no subtask tracking)	Track time per task in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Time tracked per service item and project (not per task)
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	No time tracking feature	Time tracked per project and client	Time tracked per project	Track time and costs per project in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Time tracked per project (Plus and Advanced plans)
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	No time tracking feature	Billable and non-billable hours supported	Billable and non-billable categorization	Billable and non-billable hours in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Billable and non-billable time categorization
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	No time tracking feature	Time entries convert to invoices	One-click invoice from time entries	Invoice billable time from Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Add billable time directly to invoices
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	No time tracking feature	Detailed time reports available	Detailed timesheet reports	Time reports in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Detailed time reports available
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	No time tracking feature	Team time tracking on higher plans	Per-member timesheets with locking	Team time tracking in Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Team timesheets with weekly view (Essentials plan and above)
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	No proposal features	Estimates only (not full proposals)	Customizable proposals with e-signatures	Quotes only (not full proposals)	Estimates only (not full proposals)
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	No proposal builder	No visual proposal builder	Visual editor (no true drag-and-drop)	No visual proposal builder	No visual proposal builder
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	No proposal templates	Estimate templates available	Industry templates plus custom templates	Quote templates available	Estimate templates available (not full proposals)
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	No proposal analytics	No proposal view tracking	Real-time view tracking	No proposal view tracking	No proposal view tracking
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No proposal features	No in-proposal messaging	No live chat in proposals	No in-proposal messaging	No in-proposal messaging
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	No proposal features	Estimate to invoice only	Proposal-contract link only (no scheduler)	Quote to invoice conversion	Estimate to invoice only
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	No proposal features	Convert estimates to invoices	Auto-generate invoice from accepted proposal	Convert quotes to invoices	Convert estimates to invoices
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	No proposal packages	No packages or add-ons	Packages with single, multi-select options	No packages or add-ons in quotes	No packages or add-ons
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	No pricing tables	Static pricing only	Static pricing only (no client selection)	Static pricing only	Static pricing only
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	No dynamic variables	Basic placeholders available	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	Basic placeholders on quotes	Basic placeholders available
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No proposal features	Manual expiry dates on estimates	Manual expiry dates (no automation)	Manual expiry dates on quotes	Manual expiry dates on estimates
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	PDF export for invoices and receipts	PDF export included	Basic PDF export (limited branding)	PDF export for invoices, quotes, and reports	PDF export included
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No reusable content blocks	No reusable content blocks	Reusable blocks not supported (templates only)	No reusable content blocks	No reusable content blocks
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	No e-signatures	No e-signatures	Basic e-signatures (limited audit trail)	No e-signatures	Basic e-signature on estimates (DocuSign integration on Advanced plan)
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No proposal features	No custom proposal fields	Text and date custom fields only	No custom quote fields	Custom fields on Advanced plan only
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	No contract features	Contracts not supported	Legally vetted templates with e-signatures	No contract features	QuickBooks Online does not handle contracts
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	No contract builder	No contract builder	Visual editor (no full drag-and-drop)	No contract builder	No contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	No e-signatures	No e-signatures	Legally binding e-signatures	No e-signatures on contracts	No e-signatures on contracts
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	No multi-signature support	Not supported	Multiple signers and recipients	No multi-signature support	No multi-signature support
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	No contract templates	No contract templates	Industry-specific and custom templates	No contract templates	No contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Automated late payment reminders on invoices (Pro plan only)	No contract reminders	Auto-reminders (stop after 16 days overdue)	Automated invoice payment reminders	No contract reminders
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	No dynamic variables	Not applicable	Basic smart fields (limited variables)	No contract variables	No contract variables
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	No contract automation	Not supported	Contract & proposal triggers only	No contract automation	No contract automation triggers
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Email notifications when invoices are viewed	Email notifications when viewed	Basic email notifications (no detailed tracking)	Invoice and quote view notifications only	Invoice and estimate view notifications only
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	No contract signatures	Not applicable	Basic PDF download (limited certificate)	No contract signatures	No contract signatures or certificates
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	No signer fields	Not applicable	Standard fields only (name & email)	No signer fields	No signer data fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	No contract features	Not applicable	Custom fields (contact info only)	No contract features	No contract features
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Create invoices and get paid	Send invoices and collect payments in one connected flow	Unlimited invoicing with online payments (credit card 2.9% + $0.60, ACH 1%)	Full invoicing with online payments	Invoicing with multiple payment options	Full invoicing with online payments (credit card, direct debit via GoCardless, PayPal via Stripe)	Full invoicing with online payments (credit card, ACH, Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo)
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Basic logo and color branding on Pro plan only	Customizable invoice branding	Limited branding (logo and colors only)	Customizable invoice branding with logo, colors, and layout	Customizable invoice branding with logo, colors, and layout
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	No drag-and-drop invoice builder (template-based only)	Template-based editor only	Pre-built templates (no drag-drop)	Template-based editor only	Template-based editor only
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Customizable line items with product and service catalog	Fully customizable line items	Line items (no advanced customization)	Fully customizable line items with products and services catalog	Fully customizable line items with products/services catalog
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts supported on invoices	Discounts supported	Discounts (percentage or fixed, no tiered)	Discounts supported on invoices	Discounts supported
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Custom tax rates and sales tax support	Custom tax rates	Basic tax configuration (no automation)	Automated sales tax calculation with custom rates	Automated sales tax calculation
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	ACH bank payments (1% per transaction, $1 minimum)	ACH bank payments supported	ACH via Bonsai Payments (US, UK, CA, AU only)	ACH and direct debit payments via GoCardless integration	ACH bank payments supported
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	No Stripe integration (Wave Payments built-in processing only)	Stripe payments supported	Stripe payments supported	Stripe payment processing integration	QuickBooks Payments built-in (Stripe via third-party integration)
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	No Square integration	Square not integrated	Not supported	No Square integration	Square integration for sales sync (not direct invoice payments)
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	No PayPal integration (Wave Payments built-in processing only)	PayPal payments supported	PayPal payments supported	PayPal payments on invoices via Stripe	PayPal and Venmo payments on invoices
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments supported on invoices	Partial payments supported	Partial payments (manual milestone setup)	Partial payments supported	Partial payments supported
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	No structured payment plans	Manual setup required	Payment plans (limited automation)	Recurring invoices only (no structured installment plans)	Recurring invoices only (no structured installment plans)
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Recurring invoices available on Pro plan only	Recurring invoices supported	Weekly, biweekly, monthly, yearly recurrence	Automated recurring invoices with flexible schedules	Automated recurring invoices with flexible schedules
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	No subscription management	Retainers available on Plus plan	Recurring invoices (no subscription portal)	Recurring invoices only (no subscription portal)	Recurring invoices only (no subscription portal)
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated late payment reminders (Pro plan only)	Automated late payment reminders	Automated reminders (stop after 16 days)	Automated late payment reminders	Automated late payment reminders
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Basic invoice templates (limited customization)	Invoice templates available	Templates available (limited customization)	Reusable invoice templates available	Reusable invoice templates available
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	No multi-currency support (single currency per business)	Multi-currency supported	Multi-currency (manual exchange rates)	Multi-currency on Growing plan and above ($42+/month)	Multi-currency supported (Essentials plan and above)
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	No invoice automation triggers	Limited automation	Payment & form triggers only	Recurring transaction automation and invoice reminders only	Recurring transaction automation (custom workflows on Advanced only)
View notifications	See when invoices are opened and paid	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid	Email notifications when viewed	Email notifications (no real-time tracking)	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid	Email notifications when invoices are viewed and paid
Built-in expense tracking	Track project-related costs alongside invoices	Full expense tracking with bank connections and auto-categorization (Pro plan)	Full expense tracking with receipts	Expense tracking (auto-categorization via bank sync)	Expense claims on Established plan only ($78/month). Receipt capture via Hubdoc on all plans	Full expense tracking with receipt scanning, bank sync, and auto-categorization
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Deposit requests via partial payments	Deposit invoicing supported	Deposits supported (manual collection)	Deposit invoicing supported via partial payments	Deposit invoicing supported
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	No time tracking or billable time invoicing	Time to invoice conversion	Time-to-invoice (manual confirmation required)	Invoice billable time from Xero Projects (Established plan only)	Add billable time directly to invoices
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom invoice fields	No custom invoice fields	Text and date custom fields only	No custom invoice fields	Custom fields on sales forms (3 fields on Plus, more on Advanced)
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	No unified inbox	No unified inbox	A unified client inbox is not supported	No unified inbox	No unified inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	No email integration	No email integration	Send-only (no inbox sync)	No email integration (notifications only)	No email integration (notifications only)
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	No live chat	No live chat	Not supported	No live chat	No live chat
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	No direct messaging	No direct messaging	Direct messaging is not supported	No direct messaging	No direct messaging
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	No project conversations	Project discussions available	No in-app project messaging	No project messaging	No project messaging
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	No team channels	No team channels	Team chat is not supported	No team channels	No team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	No channels	Not applicable	Not supported	No channels	No channels
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	No @mentions	No @mentions	Not supported	No @mentions	No @mentions
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	No read receipts	No read receipts	Read receipts are not supported	No read receipts	No read receipts
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	No chat feature	No chat feature	Share files and links in portal messages	No chat feature	No chat feature
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared inbox	No shared inbox	Not supported	No shared inbox	No shared inbox
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	No inbox feature	No inbox in app	Not supported	No inbox feature	No inbox feature
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	No inbox feature	No inbox sync	Not supported	No inbox feature	No inbox feature
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Receipt and document uploads only (no centralized file manager)	Basic file storage in projects	Project document storage with client access	File attachments on transactions (no centralized file manager)	File attachments on transactions (no centralized file manager)
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	No folder organization	No folder organization	Project-level only (no granular)	No folder organization	No folder organization
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	No folder permissions	No folder permissions	Project-level only (no granular)	No folder permissions	No folder permissions
People folders	Group files by person when needed	No people folders	Not supported	Not supported	No people folders	No people folders
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	No project folders	Files organized by project	Project-based file sections in portal	Files organized within project transactions	Files organized within project transactions
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Basic receipt image previews	Basic file previews	Not supported	Basic file previews for receipts and documents	Basic file previews for receipts and documents
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	No custom file fields	No custom file fields	Contact info only (no CRM fields)	No custom file fields	No custom file fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	No built-in document editor	No document editor	No built-in document editor	No built-in document editor	No built-in document editor
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	No file comments	No file comments	No file commenting system	Notes on transactions (no file comments)	No file comments
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	No bulk file actions	No bulk actions	Not supported	No bulk file actions	No bulk file actions
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Basic transaction search	Basic search	Not supported	Basic search across transactions	Basic search across transactions
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	No external cloud sync	Dropbox and Google Drive integrations	Not supported	Hubdoc integration for receipt and document capture on all plans	Google Drive and Dropbox integrations
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Role-based access for accountants and admins (Pro plan)	Basic sharing via portal	Not supported	Account-level role-based access	Account-level role-based access
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	No shareable file links	No shareable file links	Portal sharing only (no direct file links)	No shareable file links	No shareable file links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	No scheduling features	No scheduling features	Booking pages with calendar sync	No scheduling features	QuickBooks Online does not have scheduling
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	No booking pages	No booking pages	Custom branding on booking pages	No booking pages	No booking pages
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	No availability management	Not applicable	Event types with availability windows	No availability management	No availability management
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	No buffer times	Not applicable	Buffer times (no daily limits)	No buffer times	No buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	No meeting types	Not applicable	Custom event types with different durations	No meeting types	No meeting types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	No calendar sync	Calendar sync for late payments only	Calendar sync (Google and Outlook only)	No calendar sync for scheduling	No calendar sync for scheduling
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	No booking confirmations	Not applicable	Email customization (limited template control)	No booking confirmations	No booking confirmations
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	No booking system	Not applicable	Redirect supported (basic URL redirect)	No booking system	No booking system
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	No booking automation	Not applicable	Booking triggers (limited action types)	No booking automation	No booking automation
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	No meeting reminders	Not applicable	Auto-reminders (email only, no SMS)	No meeting reminders	No meeting reminders
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Account timezone setting only	Timezone support for invoicing	Timezone detection (basic support)	Account timezone setting only	Account timezone setting only
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	No paid appointments	Not applicable	Require payment to book via Bonsai Payments or Stripe	No paid appointments	No paid appointments
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	No booking forms	Not applicable	Custom intake questions and forms on booking events	No booking forms	No booking forms
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	No booking limits	Not applicable	Notice periods (no per-event daily limits)	No booking limits	No booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	No scheduling controls	Not applicable	Clients can reschedule or cancel from confirmation email	No scheduling controls	No scheduling controls
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	No workflow builder	No workflow builder	Contract, proposal, invoice, form triggers	No workflow builder	Custom workflows (Advanced plan only, $275/month)
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	No trigger-based workflows	Limited payment and invoice triggers	Contract signed, proposal accepted, form filled	Bank rules and transaction matching triggers only	Bank rules and transaction triggers (custom workflows on Advanced only)
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Recurring invoices only (Pro plan)	Recurring invoices only	Not supported	Recurring invoices and bills only	Recurring transactions only (no independent schedule workflows)
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	No multi-step automation	No multi-step automation	Not supported	No multi-step automation	Multi-condition workflows (Advanced plan only)
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	No conditional logic	No conditional logic	Not supported	No conditional logic	Conditional approval workflows (Advanced plan only)
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Payment reminder delays (Pro plan only)	Payment reminder delays	Not supported	Payment reminder delays only	Payment reminder delays only
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	No record automation	No record automation	Auto-create (projects and clients only)	Auto-create recurring invoices and transactions	Auto-create recurring invoices and transactions
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	No record automation	Not supported	Not supported	Duplicate invoices and transactions manually	Duplicate estimates and transactions manually
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	No record automation	Not supported	Not supported	Manual deletion and voiding only	Manual deletion and voiding only
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	GraphQL and REST API available (Pro plan required for OAuth access)	Limited webhook support	Webhooks (outgoing only, no incoming)	Full REST API and webhooks via Xero Developer Platform	Full REST API and webhooks via Intuit Developer Platform
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Automated invoice and payment reminder emails (Pro plan)	Automated invoice and reminder emails	Logo & colors (no custom domain)	Automated invoice and reminder emails	Automated invoice and reminder emails
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	No automated comments	No automated comments	Not supported	No automated comments	No automated comments
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Basic activity history	Basic activity history	Not supported	Audit trail tracks all user actions and changes (History & Notes)	Audit trail tracks all user actions and changes
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	No auto-fill variables	Basic invoice placeholders	Not supported	Basic invoice placeholders	Basic invoice placeholders
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Customers link to invoices and transactions	Clients link to invoices and projects	Not supported	Invoices link to projects and contacts (limited cross-entity scope)	Invoices link to projects and customers (limited cross-entity scope)
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	No form builder	No form builder	Branded intake and questionnaire forms	No form builder	No form builder
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	No form builder	Not applicable	Form editor (no true drag-and-drop)	No form builder	No form builder
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	No form feature	Not applicable	Form templates with auto-CRM sync	No form feature	No form feature
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	No form feature	Not applicable	Custom fields (limited field types)	No form feature	No form feature
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	No form feature	Not applicable	Conditional logic (limited complexity)	No form feature	No form feature
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Invoice and payment notifications only	Not applicable	Email notifications (no customization)	Invoice and payment notifications only	Invoice and payment notifications only
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	No form feature	Not applicable	Basic automation triggers (limited actions)	No form feature	No form feature
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	No form feature	Not applicable	Embed via iframe (limited styling control)	No form feature	No form feature
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	No form feature	Not applicable	Not supported	No form feature	No form feature
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	No form feature	Not applicable	Not supported	No form feature	No form feature
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	No form feature	Not applicable	E-signature field (basic, no advanced options)	No form feature	No form feature
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	Receipt capture via mobile app (not form-based)	Not applicable	Clients can upload files to projects	Receipt capture via Hubdoc (not form-based)	Receipt capture via mobile app (not form-based)
Redirect after submission	Send submitters to a custom next step, not a fixed thank-you page	No form feature	Not applicable	Not supported	No form feature	No form feature
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Basic customer management (no pipeline or lead tracking)	Client management included	CRM with Deals pipeline for leads	Basic contact management for customers and suppliers (no pipeline or lead tracking)	Basic customer and vendor contact management (no pipeline or lead tracking)
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Customer records for individuals and businesses (basic info only)	Client records only (no companies)	Companies (basic info only, no hierarchy)	Contact records for individuals and companies (basic info only)	Customer records for individuals and companies (basic info only)
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	No custom customer fields	No custom client fields	Custom fields (text and select only)	No custom contact fields	Custom fields on customers (all plans)
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Full transaction history per customer	Client activity history available	Activity log (projects and invoices only)	Full transaction history per contact	Full transaction history per customer
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	No contact labeling or grouping	No labels or grouping	Tags (no advanced segmentation)	Contact groups for batch invoicing and reporting (no tags or segmentation)	Customer types and sub-customers (no tags or segmentation)
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	No knowledge base	No knowledge base	Not supported	No knowledge base	No knowledge base
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	No rich text pages	Not applicable	Not supported	No rich text pages	No rich text pages
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	No nested pages	Not applicable	Not supported	No nested pages	No nested pages
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	No wiki feature	Not applicable	Not supported	No wiki feature	No wiki feature
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Financial dashboard only (not customizable)	Financial dashboard only	Dashboard (fixed layout, no customization)	Financial dashboard only (not customizable)	Performance Center, custom reports, and Business Performance dashboard (Fathom removed July 2022)
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	No custom dashboard builder	No custom dashboard builder	Pre-configured widgets only	No custom dashboard builder	No custom dashboard builder
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic financial charts (income and expenses)	Financial charts available	Charts (revenue and time only)	Financial charts (cash flow, income and expenses, aged receivables)	Financial charts (P&L, cash flow, expense breakdown)
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Key financial metrics displayed on dashboard	Key financial metrics displayed	Metrics (revenue and project totals only)	Key financial metrics displayed on dashboard	Key financial metrics displayed
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No goals widget	No goals widget	Not supported	No goals widget	No goals widget
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No notes widget	No notes widget	No notes widget	No notes widget	No notes widget
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	No calendar widget	No calendar widget	Calendar widget (upcoming tasks only)	No calendar widget	No calendar widget
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Basic financial overview (income, expenses, invoices, bills)	Comprehensive financial widgets	Revenue tracking (invoices only, no expenses)	Comprehensive financial widgets (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, aged receivables, aged payables)	Comprehensive financial widgets (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, A/R, A/P)
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Branding on invoices only (Pro plan)	Branding on invoices only	Documents and portal only (no admin theming)	Branding on invoices only (cannot remove Xero branding)	Branding on invoices only (cannot remove QuickBooks branding)
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No interface customization	No interface customization	No admin interface theming	No interface customization	Color themes on Deliver+ (no Free plan theme customization)
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No CSS customization	No CSS customization	No CSS customization	No CSS customization	No custom CSS
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	No custom login pages	No custom login pages	Branded login (fixed layout)	No custom login pages	No custom login pages
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Logo on invoice emails (Pro plan only)	Logo on emails (Premium only)	Logo in emails (no custom templates)	Logo on invoice emails (limited customization)	Logo on emails (limited customization)
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom fonts	No custom fonts	No custom fonts	No custom fonts	No custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Logo upload on invoices (Pro plan only)	Logo upload supported	Logo (documents and portal only)	Logo upload on invoices and sales forms	Logo upload on invoices and sales forms
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain	No custom domain	No custom domain	No custom domain	No custom domain
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP	No custom SMTP
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding	No workspace embedding
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Fixed accounting workspace	Fixed workspace structure	No workspace customization	Fixed accounting workspace	Fixed workspace structure
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	No menu customization	No menu customization	Fixed menu (no customization)	No menu customization	Dashboard report tiles can be rearranged (limited menu control)
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Fixed menus for all users	Fixed menus for all users	Same menu for all users	Menu varies by user role (not customizable)	Menu varies by user role (not customizable)
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	4 fixed roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer, Payroll Manager) on Pro plan only	3 fixed roles only	4 fixed roles (no custom)	Fixed roles (Adviser, Standard, Invoice Only, Read Only)	Custom roles on Advanced plan only ($275/month)
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Role-based access on Pro plan (Admin, Editor, Viewer)	Basic permission levels	Project permissions (no granular control)	Role-based permissions (fixed roles, not customizable)	Role-based permissions (custom roles on Advanced plan only)
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	No SSO support	No SSO support	Email & password login only	No SSO for end users (OAuth 2.0 for API only)	No SSO for end users (OAuth 2.0 for API only)
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Limited integrations (Zapier, Make.com, and API access on Pro plan)	100+ integrations available	Integrations (Zapier and Make only)	1,000+ integrations in the Xero App Store	800+ integrations in the QuickBooks App Store
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration supported	Zapier supported	Zapier (limited triggers and actions)	Zapier integration supported	Zapier integration supported
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Make.com integration supported	Make.com supported	Make.com (limited modules)	Make.com integration available	Make.com integration available
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	Possible via API	Limited Pabbly support	No Pabbly integration	Possible via API	Possible via API
Full REST API access	Build custom integrations with full system access	GraphQL and REST API available (Pro plan required for OAuth access)	Developer API available	REST API (read-only, limited endpoints)	Full REST API via Xero Developer Platform	Full REST API via Intuit Developer Platform
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Limited webhook support via API (Pro plan required)	Limited webhook support	Webhooks (outgoing only, limited events)	Webhooks supported via developer platform (contacts and invoices)	Webhooks supported via developer platform
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199	FreshBooks 49/199	Bonsai 43/199	Xero 34/199	QuickBooks Online 43/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	iOS and Android apps with invoicing, receipt scanning, and payment tracking	iOS and Android apps	Mobile apps (iOS and Android, limited features)	iOS and Android apps with invoicing, bank reconciliation, and expense claims	iOS and Android apps with receipt scanning and mileage tracking
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Full iOS app available	Full iOS app available	iOS app (basic features only)	Full iOS app available	Full iOS app available
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Full Android app available	Full Android app available	Android app (basic features only)	Full Android app available	Full Android app available
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	No Mac desktop app (web-based only)	No Mac desktop app	Web only (no Mac app)	No Mac desktop app (web-based only)	No Mac desktop app (QuickBooks Online is web-based only)
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	No Windows desktop app (web-based only)	No Windows desktop app	Web only (no Windows app)	No Windows desktop app (web-based only)	No Windows desktop app (QuickBooks Online is web-based only)

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Frequently asked questions about Wave alternatives

Can Plutio replace Wave?

Yes. Plutio handles invoicing and payment processing like Wave, plus proposals, contracts, project management, time tracking, and client portals. Plutio includes accounting features for tracking income and expenses, and connects billing directly to project work.

Is Plutio more expensive than Wave?

Wave's free plan costs $0 for invoicing and accounting, but most freelancers add 3-4 separate tools for proposals, projects, and time tracking, bringing the real cost to $40-50/month. Plutio Core starts at $19/month and includes all of those features connected in one workspace.

Can I use Plutio outside the US and Canada?

Yes. Plutio works in any country and lets you bill clients in their local currency. Wave Payments is limited to the US and Canada for payment processing, so freelancers outside North America already face limitations with Wave.

Does Wave have project management?

No. Wave is an accounting and invoicing tool with no project management features. There are no tasks, timelines, Kanban boards, or Gantt charts. Plutio includes full project management with Kanban, Gantt, task dependencies, and time tracking that connects to invoicing.

Is it hard to switch from Wave?

No. Wave allows exporting your client list and transaction history as CSV files. Plutio's import tools map Wave contacts directly. Most freelancers complete setup in 1-2 hours and run both tools in parallel for 2-4 weeks during the transition.

Does Plutio have AI features?

Yes. Plutio's AI is built into workflows and can take actions, suggest next steps, and help manage your projects without you asking. Wave does not offer AI-powered features in its free or Pro plans.

Can my team use Plutio?

Yes. Plutio supports agencies on all paid plans with team collaboration, task assignment, and shared workspaces. Wave supports multiple users but only for accounting access, with no collaboration tools for project work.

Is Plutio good for freelancers who use Wave for free invoicing?

Yes. Plutio replaces Wave's invoicing and adds proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, and client portals. Freelancers who switch from Wave's free plan to Plutio trade a $0 invoice tool for a $19/month connected workspace that eliminates the need for 3-4 other paid tools.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. Your data is private, encrypted, and never used to train AI models. Plutio makes data export straightforward at any time, so you are never locked in. Wave has received complaints about unexpected account terminations, which is not an issue with Plutio.

Does Wave connect to project management tools?

Wave has limited integrations. There's no native connection to Trello, Asana, or other project management tools. Freelancers manually bridge the gap between Wave accounting and their project tools. Plutio eliminates this problem by including project management alongside invoicing.

What integrations does Plutio support?

Plutio connects to 5,000+ apps through Zapier, including Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal, QuickBooks, and Slack. Plutio also has a REST API for custom integrations. Native integrations include calendar sync, payment processors, and email services.

Does Plutio have a mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps that let you manage projects, communicate with clients, track time, and send invoices from your phone. The mobile apps sync in real-time with the web platform.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required. You can explore proposals, contracts, invoicing, project management, and client portals before choosing a plan.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio offers complete white-labeling including custom domains, branded login pages, your logo and colors throughout, custom email templates with your SMTP, and CSS customization. Clients see your brand, not Plutio. Wave does not offer white-labeling.

Does Plutio have time tracking?

Yes. Plutio has built-in time tracking that connects to projects and tasks. You can track time manually or with a timer, then convert tracked hours directly into invoices. Time entries stay linked to the project so you always know where hours went. Wave has no time tracking at all.

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The complete Wave alternative

Invoicing and accounting, plus projects and client portals

Proposals, contracts, time tracking, and invoicing connected to every project. Clients see progress in their branded portal.

No credit card required

Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

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