Plutio vs Wave: Complete Comparison (2026)

Wave handles invoicing and expense tracking for free, but everything between winning a client and sending that invoice, the proposal, the contract, the project plan, the time log, still lives in separate apps. Payments come in and expenses get categorized... but the actual work that earns those payments gets managed somewhere else entirely.

Plutio handles invoicing and the full client workflow around it: proposals that auto-create projects when clients sign, time tracking that feeds billable hours into invoices, contracts with built-in e-signatures, and a branded portal at your domain where clients check progress without emailing you.

Last updated March 2026

4.6

Quick comparison (TLDR)

Wave is free accounting software for freelancers and small businesses. Wave covers invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting on its free Starter plan. The Pro plan costs $19/month and adds auto-import bank transactions, receipt scanning, and late payment reminders. Processing fees start at 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction. But Wave stops at the accounting side of running a business, so managing projects, tracking hours, writing proposals, and communicating with clients all require separate tools.

Plutio is an all-in-one client management platform where proposals, contracts, projects, time tracking, invoicing, and client portals live in one connected workspace. The Core plan starts at $19/month and includes project management with Kanban boards and Gantt charts, a drag-and-drop proposal builder with e-signatures, contract management, time tracking that feeds into invoices, and a branded client portal on a custom domain.

Key differences at a glance

Time tracking: Plutio includes project-linked timers, billable vs non-billable hours, and one-click invoice creation from tracked time. Wave relies on third-party tools for any time logging.
Proposals and contracts: Plutio includes a drag-and-drop proposal builder with pricing tables, e-signatures, and signed proposals that auto-create projects. Wave offers basic estimates but nothing for proposals, contracts, or e-signatures.
Client portal: Plutio gives each client a branded login on a custom domain where they view project progress, approve deliverables, share files, and pay invoices. Wave sends invoices by email with no client-facing workspace.
Project management: Plutio includes Kanban boards, Gantt charts, task dependencies, subtasks, and project templates. Wave focuses entirely on financials with no way to track deliverables.

Wave covers invoicing and bookkeeping for free, but managing client work from proposal through delivery requires separate tools. Plutio handles the full workflow from one workspace at $19/month.

Invoicing and payments

An invoice goes out. Does the payment flow back into the right project, with tracked hours already attached?

Wave

Unlimited invoicing comes free on Wave's Starter plan, with online payment processing built in. Credit card payments process at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction, and ACH payments cost 1% per transaction with a $1 minimum. The Pro plan ($19/month) adds recurring invoices, late payment reminders, and branding removal. Wave also includes estimates, partial payments, and a product/service catalog for line items.

But invoices are template-based only with no drag-and-drop builder, multi-currency support is missing, and tracked time can never feed into invoices because Wave has no time tracking. Every line item and amount has to be entered manually.

Unlimited invoicing (free)
Online payments (credit card + ACH)
Partial payments and deposits
Recurring invoices (Pro only)
Template-based invoices (no drag-and-drop)
No time-to-invoice workflow
No multi-currency

Plutio

Plutio invoicing connects to every other part of the platform. Tracked hours convert to invoice line items in one click. Signed proposals auto-generate invoices with the agreed pricing already filled in. Clients pay through Stripe, PayPal, Square, or direct bank transfer, and every payment updates the project's financial summary automatically.

Plutio supports multi-currency invoicing, recurring invoices, partial payments, deposits, late payment reminders, and branded invoices on a custom domain. Clients view and pay invoices from their portal without creating an account on a third-party payment page.

Invoicing with tracked time conversion
Stripe, PayPal, Square, bank transfer
Multi-currency support
Recurring invoices on all plans
Branded invoices on custom domain
Automatic payment tracking per project

Project and task management

A client signs off on a proposal. Where does the project plan, the task list, and the timeline live?

Wave

Wave focuses entirely on accounting and invoicing, with nothing for managing the work itself. After an invoice is sent and a payment is received, Wave tracks the financials, but the deliverables, milestones, and deadlines that generated those invoices have no place inside the platform.

Freelancers using Wave for invoicing typically add separate tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion for project management, which means project costs and invoiced amounts never connect automatically.

No project boards or task lists
No Kanban, list, or calendar views
No Gantt charts or timelines
No task dependencies or subtasks
No project templates

Plutio

When a client signs a proposal, the project auto-creates with tasks, milestones, and deadlines pre-filled from the template. Teams track work across Kanban boards, list view, calendar view, and Gantt charts, and every project links back to the proposal, contract, invoices, and time entries that go with it.

Tasks support subtasks, custom fields, file attachments, comments, and due date dependencies. Anyone on the team can see the full picture, from the signed proposal to the latest time entry, without switching tools.

Kanban boards and list views
Gantt charts with dependencies
Calendar view
Project templates
Subtasks and custom fields
Proposal-to-project automation

Time tracking

Hours go into a project. Do they automatically appear on the next invoice, or does someone re-enter them manually?

Wave

Wave is built around money in and money out, with no way to track the hours that generate those amounts. Freelancers who bill by the hour need a separate time tracking tool like Toggl, Harvest, or Clockify, and then manually transfer those hours into Wave invoices.

That manual transfer creates room for missed entries and unbilled hours, and the time spent copying data between apps adds up across every project.

No timers or manual time entry
No billable hour classification
No time-to-invoice conversion
No team timesheet views

Plutio

Every task in Plutio has a built-in timer that logs hours directly to the project and client. Start a timer, switch between tasks, and tracked hours automatically categorize as billable or non-billable. When the invoice is due, select the unbilled hours and convert them to line items in one click.

Team timesheets show every member's tracked hours across all projects, so project costs and per-project revenue calculations update in real time without manual data entry.

Built-in project timers
Manual and automatic time entries
Billable vs non-billable hours
One-click time-to-invoice conversion
Team timesheet overview
Project cost tracking

Proposals and estimates

A potential client asks for a quote. Does the proposal connect to the project that follows, or does it stop at a PDF?

Wave

Estimates in Wave function as basic quotes with line items and totals. Estimates can be sent to clients and converted to invoices once approved. But estimates are text-based documents without interactive elements, pricing table options, or e-signatures. A proposal builder, cover pages, embedded media, and automation that creates a project when the client accepts are all missing from Wave entirely.

The gap between "estimate approved" and "project started" is entirely manual, which means creating the project, setting up tasks, and beginning time tracking all happen in separate tools.

Basic estimates with line items
Convert estimates to invoices
No interactive proposal builder
No pricing tables or packages
No e-signatures on estimates
No proposal-to-project automation

Plutio

The proposal builder in Plutio creates interactive documents that clients view, select packages from, and sign online. The drag-and-drop editor supports cover pages, text sections, pricing tables with optional packages, embedded images and videos, and legally binding e-signatures. Reusable content blocks speed up creation for repeat project types.

When a client signs, Plutio auto-creates the project with task templates pre-filled, generates the contract, and sends the first invoice or deposit request. The entire sequence from proposal to active project happens without manual setup.

Drag-and-drop proposal builder
Pricing tables with packages
Built-in e-signatures
Reusable content blocks
Auto-create projects on signing
Proposal analytics and tracking

Contracts and e-signatures

A freelancer needs a signed contract before starting work. Is the contract connected to the proposal and the project, or is it a separate document in another tool?

Wave

Wave handles money, not agreements. Contract builders, templates, and signing workflows all sit outside the platform. Freelancers need a separate tool like DocuSign, PandaDoc, or HelloSign to handle contracts, which means another subscription, another login, and signed documents that never connect to the accounting data in Wave.

Checking whether a project has a signed contract means switching between apps, because the contract, the invoice, and the project all live in separate systems.

No contract builder or templates
No e-signatures or signing workflows
No multi-party signing
No contract-to-project linking

Plutio

Contracts in Plutio sit alongside proposals, projects, and invoices in the same workspace. The builder supports templates, dynamic variables that auto-fill client details, and e-signatures from multiple parties. Contracts attach directly to projects so the signed agreement is always one click away from the active work.

Signed contracts can trigger project creation automatically, and the contract status is visible on the project dashboard without opening a separate app or searching through email.

Contract builder with templates
Built-in e-signatures
Multi-party signing
Dynamic variables (auto-fill)
Contract-to-project linking
Contract status on project dashboard

Client portal and communication

A client wants a progress update. Do they log into a branded workspace, or do they send an email and wait for a reply?

Wave

Wave's client-facing experience ends with an emailed invoice and a payment receipt. Clients have no place to log in, view project status, approve deliverables, or communicate with the freelancer through the platform. Every client interaction beyond payments happens through email, phone, or a separate communication tool.

File sharing, comment threads, and progress visibility all require separate apps, so clients learn about project status by asking directly.

No client portal
No direct messaging
No shared file workspace
No project progress visibility
No deliverable approvals

Plutio

Every client gets a branded portal on a custom domain where they log in, view project progress, approve deliverables, share files, send messages, and pay invoices. The portal shows only what each client should see, with granular visibility controls per project section.

Messages inside the portal create threaded conversations linked to specific projects, so context is never lost in email chains. Clients can also sign proposals, approve contracts, and make payments directly from their portal login.

Branded client portal on custom domain
Project progress visibility for clients
Deliverable approvals
File sharing and comments
In-portal messaging
Proposal signing and payments in portal

White-labeling and branding

A client receives a document or logs into a portal. Do they see the freelancer's brand, or the software's?

Wave

Branding control in Wave starts at the Pro plan ($19/month). Pro users can add their logo to invoices and remove the Wave branding from documents. But custom domains, branded login pages, interface color customization, and custom email sending (SMTP) are all absent. On the free Starter plan, all invoices show Wave branding, and there is no way to remove it without upgrading.

Clients always interact with Wave-branded payment pages and email templates, regardless of the plan.

Logo on invoices (Pro only)
Remove Wave branding (Pro only)
No custom domain
No branded client login
No custom SMTP
No CSS customization

Plutio

Full white-labeling means clients see the business brand at every touchpoint. Custom domains make the portal URL a personal website address, not a third-party subdomain. Login pages, email templates, document headers, and invoice pages all carry the business logo, colors, and identity.

Custom SMTP sends notifications from the business email domain, and CSS customization gives full control over how the portal looks. Clients interact with what feels like a custom-built platform.

Custom domain for portal
Branded login page
Logo and colors throughout
Custom SMTP for emails
CSS customization
White-label on all plans

Expense tracking and financial reporting

Tax season arrives. Are income, expenses, and project costs already organized, or does everything need to be compiled from multiple tools?

Wave

Tax preparation centers on Wave's core accounting reports. Bank connections auto-import and categorize transactions on the Pro plan, and manual entry works on the free Starter plan. Wave generates profit and loss statements, balance sheets, sales tax reports, and accounts aging summaries. Receipt scanning captures expense data from photos.

But expense data in Wave never connects to project budgets, tracked hours, or client-level revenue because Wave has no project management or time tracking. The accounting is isolated from the work itself.

Bank reconciliation (Pro plan)
Auto-categorization (Pro plan)
P&L and balance sheet reports
Receipt scanning
Sales tax tracking
Manual entry on free plan
No project-linked expenses

Plutio

Expenses in Plutio tie to specific clients and projects, so every cost shows up in the right financial summary. Receipts upload directly to projects, expenses categorize by project and client, and the project dashboard shows real-time per-project revenue based on invoiced amounts minus tracked expenses and time costs.

For full double-entry accounting and tax preparation, Plutio connects to QuickBooks and Xero through native integrations, so invoicing and expense data sync to the accounting system automatically.

Project-linked expense tracking
Receipt uploads per project
Real-time project financial summary
QuickBooks and Xero integration
Client-level financial summaries
Expense categorization

Running a client project: Wave vs Plutio

A freelance designer gets a lead through their website. The client wants a brand identity package and needs a proposal, contract, and timeline before committing. Here is how both tools handle that workflow.

With Wave, here is how it usually goes:

Create an estimate in Wave with line items for the brand identity package and send it to the client for review.
The client approves the estimate over email. Open a separate tool (DocuSign, HelloSign, or a PDF editor) to create and send the contract for signing.
Once the contract is signed, open a project management tool (Trello, Asana, or a spreadsheet) to create the project, add tasks, and set deadlines.
Start working. Track time in a third tool (Toggl or Clockify) since Wave has no timer.
When the project milestone hits, go back to the time tracking tool, calculate billable hours, then manually enter them as line items on a new Wave invoice.
Send the invoice. The client pays through Wave Payments. The payment appears in Wave's accounting, but the project management tool and time tracker have no record of it.

With Plutio, here is how it works:

Build a proposal in Plutio with the brand identity package, pricing options, and a cover page. Attach the contract to the same proposal.
The client opens the proposal in their branded portal, selects a package, and signs the contract with a built-in e-signature.
Plutio auto-creates the project with task templates, milestones, and deadlines pre-filled from the proposal template.
Start working. Click the timer on each task as work progresses. Hours log automatically under the correct project and client.
When the milestone hits, select the unbilled hours in Plutio and convert them to an invoice in one click. The line items, rates, and hours are already filled in.
The client pays through Stripe or PayPal from their portal. The payment updates the project's financial summary, the invoice marks as paid, and the accounting record syncs to QuickBooks or Xero.

Six tools touched vs one. Same project, same client, same deliverable, but five extra apps and manual data entry between every step when using Wave.

Where Plutio wins (the proof)

These are verifiable differences, not opinions.

1. Wave charges the same as Plutio but includes far less

Wave: The Pro plan costs $19/month and adds auto-import bank transactions, receipt scanning, late payment reminders, and branding removal. No project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, or client portal at any price.

Plutio: The Core plan costs $19/month and includes project management, time tracking, proposals with e-signatures, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and a branded client portal on a custom domain.

The proof: Wave's pricing page lists every feature per plan. Plutio's pricing page shows what each tier includes.

2. Wave has no client-facing workspace

Wave: Clients receive invoices by email and pay through Wave's payment page. Clients cannot log in, view project status, or communicate through the platform.

Plutio: Every client gets a branded portal on a custom domain with project visibility, file sharing, messaging, and payment access.

The proof: Wave's feature pages list invoicing, accounting, and payments. There is no mention of client portals anywhere on the site.

3. Wave's Trustpilot rating reflects recurring support issues

Wave: Wave holds a 1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot, with recurring complaints about payment holds without warning, support only available via chat until 2 PM, and features being moved behind the Pro paywall without notice.

Plutio: Plutio includes live chat, email, and knowledge base support across all plans. There are no payment processing holds because Plutio connects to third-party processors (Stripe, PayPal, Square) that the user controls directly.

When to stick with Wave

No tool fits every scenario. Wave might make more sense if:

The only requirement is invoicing and expense tracking. Wave's free Starter plan sends unlimited invoices and tracks expenses with no monthly cost. The scope is narrower than Plutio, which trades off simplicity for a broader feature set.
Payroll is needed for employees. Wave has a payroll add-on starting at $25/month (Starter) or $40/month (Pro), plus $6 per active employee. The service switched providers in 2025, which caused some transition complaints, but the feature itself is something Plutio does not offer natively.
Double-entry accounting is the primary need. Wave generates balance sheets, P&L statements, and sales tax reports without additional setup. Plutio handles project-level finances and connects to QuickBooks or Xero for the same reports.
The budget is zero and will stay zero. Wave's free plan has no time limit. The free tier leaves out live support, branding removal, and bank auto-import, but requires no credit card to start. Plutio's 14-day trial gives full access, after which a paid plan is required.

For freelancers who manage client projects, track billable hours, send proposals, or need a client portal, those features sit outside Wave's scope and would need separate paid subscriptions to cover.

Why they switched: real outcomes

What happens when freelancers switch to a connected platform?

Cheri Lasota, a bestselling author and creative entrepreneur, moved from juggling separate tools for proposals, contracts, and invoicing into Plutio. Project creation that used to take multiple steps across different apps now happens automatically when clients sign proposals.

Yaz Marketing, a digital marketing agency, brought their client management, project tracking, and invoicing into one platform. Team members stopped switching between tools for time tracking and project updates, and clients started checking their own portal for progress instead of sending status request emails.

Both switched because the tool stack had grown to five or six separate apps, and the time spent moving data between those tools had started cutting into actual client work.

Final verdict

Wave and Plutio both cost $19/month at the paid tier, but solve different problems. Wave's Pro plan adds bank auto-import, receipt scanning, and branding removal to its free accounting core. Plutio's Core plan includes project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and a branded client portal.

The real cost difference shows up in what surrounds Wave. Freelancers using Wave for invoicing typically add Trello or Asana for projects ($10-25/month), Toggl or Harvest for time tracking ($10-12/month), DocuSign for contracts ($10-25/month), and Calendly for scheduling ($8-12/month). The total adds $40 to $80/month in subscriptions, plus the friction of re-entering data between apps that never sync.

Plutio replaces that entire stack. Proposals create projects when signed, tracked hours convert to invoice line items, and clients interact through one branded workspace instead of five separate logins.

The bottom line: Wave handles the money side of freelancing for free, but everything else, managing clients, tracking work, writing proposals, runs in separate tools. Plutio replaces that entire tool stack with one platform at $19/month, from proposal to final payment.

How to switch from Wave to Plutio

Most freelancers complete the switch in a few hours of setup, then run both tools in parallel while active Wave projects wrap up.

Step 1: Export Wave data
Log into Wave and export customer data, invoices, and transaction history as CSV files from the Reports section. Wave supports CSV export for most financial records on the Pro plan. Client contact details export separately from the Customers section.

Step 2: Import into Plutio
Upload the CSV files into Plutio's client database. Map fields like client name, email, phone, and address to Plutio's contact fields. Historical invoice data imports for reference, and active recurring invoices can be recreated using Plutio's recurring invoice feature.

Step 3: Set up project templates
Create project templates in Plutio for common project types (brand identity, web design, monthly retainer). Each template includes task lists, milestones, and default settings. When a new proposal is signed, the template auto-creates the project with everything pre-configured.

Step 4: Configure the client portal
Set up a custom domain for the client portal, upload the business logo, choose brand colors, and configure email settings with custom SMTP. Invite existing clients to their portal, where they can view active projects, approved proposals, signed contracts, and unpaid invoices.

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

Review sources

Wave G2: 4.3/5 (309 reviews) as of March 2026
Wave Trustpilot: 1.3/5 with recurring complaints about payment holds and support availability
Wave Capterra: Approximately 4.4/5 (1,714 reviews)

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.

Plutio vs Wave: full feature comparison for 2026

Invoicing, project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, client portal, white-labeling, and automation

PRICING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Starting price	$19/month (Core plan)	Free Starter plan available. Pro plan $19/month ($190/year)
Free plan	No free plan (14-day trial available)	Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices, estimates, bills, and bookkeeping
Trial period	14-day free trial	Free Starter plan available (no trial needed)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Manage projects and tasks	Fully flexible project and task setup you can shape to your workflow	No project management features
Project roles and permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each part of a project	No project management features
Multiple task boards	Unlimited boards to run parallel workflows in the same project	No task boards
Embeddable project boards	Live project boards embedded into client portals or websites	No project boards
Sharable project boards	Read-only public links for sharing progress without risk	No project boards
Project stages and milestones	Define custom project lifecycles for different types of work	No project management features
Connected proposals, contracts, and invoices	Everything related stays connected to the project automatically	Invoicing only (no proposals or contracts)
Custom project data fields	Track, sort, filter, and report on custom project data	No project management features
Kanban boards	Drag-and-drop tasks across customizable columns	No kanban boards
Table view	Bulk-edit tasks like a spreadsheet	No task or project views
List view	Clean task lists with clear hierarchy	No task or project views
Calendar view	See tasks and deadlines on a calendar	No calendar view
Gantt view	Plan work visually with task order and dependencies	No Gantt view
Subtasks	Break work down into multiple nested levels	No task management
Email to task	Turn emails into tasks without manual copying	No task management
Task comments	Keep discussions tied directly to each task	No task management
Task attachments	Store files directly on the task they belong to	No task management
Task priorities	Define priority levels that fit your workflow	No task management
Task labels & color coding	Use unlimited labels to visually organize tasks	No task management
Multiple task assignees	Assign tasks to one or multiple teammates	No task management
Task templates	Reuse task-level structures across projects	No task management
Task permissions	Control access at the individual task level	No task management
Task dependencies	Prevent work from starting out of order	No task management
Recurring tasks	Automate repeating work with flexible schedules	No task management
Custom task data fields	Add task-level fields for tracking custom details	No task management
TIME TRACKING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Time tracking system	Easily track time using timers or manual entries	No time tracking feature
Task-level tracking	Log time directly against tasks and subtasks	No time tracking feature
Project-level tracking	See time spent per project and per client	No time tracking feature
Billable time tracking	Clearly separate billable and non-billable time	No time tracking feature
Billable time invoicing	Turn tracked time into invoices without extra steps	No time tracking feature
Timesheet reports	View detailed time reports by task, project, or client	No time tracking feature
Team timesheets	See how each team member tracks their time	No time tracking feature
PROPOSALS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Create and send proposals	Create proposals clients can review, approve, and sign in one flow	No proposal features
Drag-and-drop proposal builder	Create custom, branded proposals without layout limits or code	No proposal builder
Reusable proposal templates	Reuse proven proposal layouts across clients	No proposal templates
Real-time proposal analytics	See exactly when proposals are opened and reviewed	No proposal analytics
Live messenger on proposals	Answer questions directly while clients review proposals	No proposal features
Proposal flow automation	Move from proposal to contract, invoice, or booking automatically	No proposal features
Convert proposal to invoice	Create invoices directly from approved proposals	No proposal features
Packages and add-ons	Offer upsells and add-ons directly inside proposals	No proposal packages
Interactive pricing tables	Let clients choose options before approving	No pricing tables
Dynamic data and variables	Auto-fill proposal content with client and project data	No dynamic variables
Expiration dates	Automatically expire proposals after a set date	No proposal features
PDF Export	Download as branded PDFs	PDF export for invoices and receipts
Reusable content blocks	Create reusable proposal sections you can reuse on demand	No reusable content blocks
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure electronic signatures on proposals	No e-signatures
Custom proposal data fields	Create custom proposal data you can sort, filter, and report on	No proposal features
CONTRACTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Create and sign contracts	Create, send, and sign contracts in one continuous flow	No contract features
Drag-and-drop contract builder	Create fully custom contracts with flexible layouts, no code or formatting limits	No contract builder
Legally binding e-signatures	Collect secure signatures with audit trails and signer verification	No e-signatures
Multi-signature / signees	Collect signatures from multiple people on the same contract	No multi-signature support
Reusable contract templates	Reuse contract structures to create new agreements faster	No contract templates
Auto-reminders automation	Automatically follow up until contracts are signed	Automated late payment reminders on invoices (Pro plan only)
Dynamic data/variables	Auto-fill contract content with client and project data	No dynamic variables
Contract automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a contract is signed	No contract automation
View notifications	See when contracts are opened and reviewed	Email notifications when invoices are viewed
PDF download with signature certificate	Download signed contracts with official proof of signature	No contract signatures
Custom signer data fields	Collect structured signer information during signing	No signer fields
Custom contract data fields	Create custom contract data you can sort, filter, and report on	No contract features
INVOICES & PAYMENTS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
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%)
Fully branded invoices	Match invoices to your brand with custom logos, colors, and layout	Basic logo and color branding on Pro plan only
Drag and drop invoice builder	Create custom invoice layouts visually without formatting limits	No drag-and-drop invoice builder (template-based only)
Customizable line items	Edit pricing, quantities, descriptions, and structure freely	Customizable line items with product and service catalog
Item or invoice discounts	Apply discounts at the item or full invoice level	Discounts supported on invoices
Customizable taxes	Create tax rules that match your location and use case	Custom tax rates and sales tax support
ACH payments	Accept bank transfers for lower-fee payments	ACH bank payments (1% per transaction, $1 minimum)
Stripe integration	Accept credit and debit cards instantly	No Stripe integration (Wave Payments built-in processing only)
Square integration	Collect in-person payments when needed	No Square integration
PayPal integration	Let clients pay using PayPal	No PayPal integration (Wave Payments built-in processing only)
Flexible partial payments	Collect deposits and split payments across milestones	Partial payments supported on invoices
Payment plans	Break invoices into scheduled installments	No structured payment plans
Automated recurring invoices	Automatically send invoices on a recurring schedule	Recurring invoices available on Pro plan only
Subscription management	Manage ongoing client subscriptions and billing	No subscription management
Automated payment reminders	Follow up automatically until invoices are paid	Automated late payment reminders (Pro plan only)
Reusable invoice templates	Reuse invoice layouts without rebuilding each time	Basic invoice templates (limited customization)
Multiple currency support	Bill clients globally in their local currency	No multi-currency support (single currency per business)
Invoice automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when invoices are sent or paid	No invoice automation triggers
View notifications	See when invoices are opened 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)
Invoice deposits	Collect upfront payments before work starts	Deposit requests via partial payments
Auto-invoice billable time	Turn tracked time into invoices automatically	No time tracking or billable time invoicing
Custom invoice data fields	Create custom invoice data you can sort, filter, and report on	No custom invoice fields
INBOX Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Centralized unified inbox	Manage email, chat, and messages from one shared inbox	No unified inbox
Full email integration	Connect and manage all your email accounts in one place	No email integration
Embeddable live chat	Add real-time chat to your website and client portals	No live chat
Instant direct messages	Message teammates privately without leaving your workspace	No direct messaging
Contextual project conversations	Keep conversations tied directly to the project they belong to	No project conversations
Team channels	Create shared spaces for team-wide discussions	No team channels
Customized channels	Organize channels by team, topic, or workflow	No channels
@mentions	Notify teammates instantly inside conversations	No @mentions
Message read receipts	See when messages are read	No read receipts
File sharing in chat	Share files directly inside conversations	No chat feature
Shared email inbox	Collaborate on incoming emails as a team	No shared inbox
Inbox mobile app	Access and respond to messages on mobile	No inbox feature
Email reply to inbox	Reply from your email client and keep conversations synced	No inbox feature
FILES Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Store and manage files	Keep all client and project files in one organized place	Receipt and document uploads only (no centralized file manager)
Advanced folder organization	Organize files by project, client, or structure you choose	No folder organization
Folder permissions	Control who can view or edit folders	No folder permissions
People folders	Group files by person when needed	No people folders
Project folders	Keep files scoped to each project	No project folders
In-app previews	Preview files instantly without downloading	Basic receipt image previews
Custom file data fields	Capture file metadata you can sort and filter	No custom file fields
Built-in documents	Create and edit documents directly inside Plutio	No built-in document editor
Comments on files and docs	Leave comments directly on files and documents	No file comments
Bulk file actions	Move, tag, or manage many files at once	No bulk file actions
Files search & filter	Find files quickly using search and filters	Basic transaction search
External cloud sync	Sync files with Google Drive or Dropbox	No external cloud sync
Secure sharing controls	Restrict access with permissions or passwords	Role-based access for accountants and admins (Pro plan)
File sharing links	Share files externally with controlled access	No shareable file links
SCHEDULING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Schedule meetings	Let clients book meetings directly without back-and-forth emails	No scheduling features
Branded booking page	Build a fully branded, customizable booking system using a drag-and-drop editor	No booking pages
Advanced availability management	Define flexible availability rules applied automatically to bookings	No availability management
Automatic buffer times	Add buffer time automatically between meetings	No buffer times
Multiple meeting types	Create unlimited booking types with different rules and setups	No meeting types
Calendar sync (Google/Outlook)	Two-way calendar sync that stays up to date automatically	No calendar sync
Customizable booking confirmations	Fully customizable confirmation pages with no layout or branding limits	No booking confirmations
Redirect after booking	Send bookers anywhere after scheduling, not just a fixed thank-you page	No booking system
Booking automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows the moment a meeting is booked	No booking automation
Smart meeting reminders	Send automatic reminders without manual follow-ups	No meeting reminders
Automatic timezone detection	Handle timezones automatically without manual adjustments	Account timezone setting only
Paid appointments (Stripe/PayPal)	Collect payments during booking without extra steps	No paid appointments
Custom booking forms	Build booking forms with full control over questions and layout	No booking forms
Minimum notice / daily booking limits	Set booking limits to control lead time and daily volume	No booking limits
Rescheduling and cancellation controls	Define flexible rules for rescheduling and cancellations	No scheduling controls
AUTOMATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Automated workflows builder	Build advanced workflows visually without code or rigid templates	No workflow builder
Trigger-based workflows	Start workflows from real events across projects, clients, and payments	No trigger-based workflows
Schedule-based workflows	Run workflows on schedules you control, not fixed intervals	Recurring invoices only (Pro plan)
Multi-step workflows	Chain multiple actions into one continuous automation	No multi-step automation
True/False branching	Create conditional paths instead of one-size-fits-all flows	No conditional logic
Delay-based actions	Add precise timing between steps, down to minutes or days	Payment reminder delays (Pro plan only)
Create & update records	Create, update, or move records automatically across the system	No record automation
Move & duplicate records	Reorganize work automatically without manual cleanup	No record automation
Delete & archive records	Automatically archive or remove records based on rules	No record automation
API calls (webhooks)	Trigger or receive real-time events from external systems	GraphQL and REST API available (Pro plan required for OAuth access)
Send emails	Send automated emails tied to real workflow events	Automated invoice and payment reminder emails (Pro plan)
Post comments	Add notes or comments automatically where work happens	No automated comments
Complete automation logs	See exactly what ran, when, and why	Basic activity history
Auto-fill data/variables	Pass data between steps dynamically without manual mapping	No auto-fill variables
Cross-entity connections	Run workflows that span projects, tasks, proposals, invoices, and more	Customers link to invoices and transactions
FORMS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Create branded forms	Build fully branded forms that match your workflow and client experience	No form builder
Drag-and-drop form builder	Design forms visually with full layout control, no code required	No form builder
Reusable form templates	Reuse form structures without rebuilding from scratch	No form feature
Custom form data fields	Collect structured data you can sort, filter, and report on	No form feature
Smart conditional logic	Show or hide fields based on responses, not static forms	No form feature
Instant email notifications	Get notified immediately when forms are submitted	Invoice and payment notifications only
Form automation triggers	Trigger automated workflows when a form is submitted	No form feature
Embed forms	Embed forms anywhere without layout restrictions	No form feature
Advanced field preferences	Control required, hidden, and default field behavior	No form feature
Comprehensive field types	Collect text, files, dates, selections, and more	No form feature
Form signature field	Collect legally binding signatures directly inside forms	No form feature
File upload fields	Accept file uploads as part of form submissions	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
CRM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Manage clients and leads	Manage contacts and companies in one connected system	Basic customer management (no pipeline or lead tracking)
Full company management	Track organizations, not just individual contacts	Customer records for individuals and businesses (basic info only)
Custom contact data fields	Collect and manage structured contact data you define	No custom customer fields
Complete activity timeline	See every interaction with a client in one place	Full transaction history per customer
Contacts labeling and grouping	Organize contacts flexibly without rigid pipelines	No contact labeling or grouping
WIKI Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Comprehensive knowledge base	Create an internal wiki for processes, docs, and guides	No knowledge base
Beautiful rich text pages	Write structured, formatted content without complexity	No rich text pages
Unlimited nested pages	Build deep knowledge hierarchies without limits	No nested pages
Granular page permissions	Control exactly who can view or edit each page	No wiki feature
DASHBOARDS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Custom dashboards and pages	Build dashboards around what matters to you, not fixed metrics	Financial dashboard only (not customizable)
Drag-and-drop dashboard builder	Design dashboards visually with full layout control	No custom dashboard builder
Charts widget	Visualize data with customizable charts	Basic financial charts (income and expenses)
Metrics widget	Track key numbers without manual reporting	Key financial metrics displayed on dashboard
Goals widget	Monitor progress toward defined goals	No goals widget
Notes widget	Add contextual notes directly to dashboards	No notes widget
Calendar widget	View upcoming events alongside work and metrics	No calendar widget
Financial widgets	Track revenue and expenses in the same view	Basic financial overview (income, expenses, invoices, bills)
BRANDING Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
White-label and branding	Run the entire platform under your brand	Branding on invoices only (Pro plan)
Custom interface theme	Apply your brand colors across the system	No interface customization
Stylesheet customization	Fine-tune styling beyond basic theming	No CSS customization
Custom login/signup pages	Use branded authentication pages instead of generic screens	No custom login pages
Email branding	Send all system emails with your branding	Logo on invoice emails (Pro plan only)
Custom brand fonts	Use your own fonts throughout the platform	No custom fonts
Custom brand logos	Replace all platform logos with your own	Logo upload on invoices (Pro plan only)
Custom domain name	Run everything on your own domain	No custom domain
Custom email SMTP	Send emails from your own email infrastructure	No custom SMTP
Full workspace embedding	Embed Plutio directly into your website or product	No workspace embedding
CUSTOMIZATION Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Flexible workspace setup	Shape the platform to match how your business works	Fixed accounting workspace
Main menu editor	Add, remove, or reorder navigation items freely	No menu customization
User-based menus	Show different navigation for different roles	Fixed menus for all users
Custom user roles	Create role types beyond preset permissions	4 fixed roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer, Payroll Manager) on Pro plan only
Advanced user permissions	Control access at a granular level	Role-based access on Pro plan (Admin, Editor, Viewer)
SSO / OAuth	Support enterprise-grade single sign-on	No SSO support
INTEGRATIONS Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Connect with other tools	Integrate with external systems without lock-in	Limited integrations (Zapier, Make.com, and API access on Pro plan)
Zapier integration	Connect to thousands of apps without custom code	Zapier integration supported
Make.com integration	Build advanced automation scenarios visually	Make.com integration supported
Pabbly Connect	Connect services without usage-based limits	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)
Incoming & outgoing webhooks	Send and receive real-time events	Limited webhook support via API (Pro plan required)
PLATFORM Collapse	Plutio 198/199	Wave 19/199
Mobile apps	Access your business from native mobile apps	iOS and Android apps with invoicing, receipt scanning, and payment tracking
iOS app	Full-featured iPhone app	Full iOS app available
Android app	Full-featured Android app	Full Android app available
Mac desktop app	Native macOS app for desktop workflows	No Mac desktop app (web-based only)
Windows desktop app	Native Windows app for desktop workflows	No Windows desktop app (web-based only)

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Plutio vs Wave FAQ: common questions answered

Is Plutio better than Wave?

They solve different problems. Wave tracks the money: invoices, expenses, bank reconciliation, and tax reports. Plutio tracks the work that earns the money: proposals, projects, time logs, contracts, and client communication, with invoicing built in. Wave is standalone accounting software. Plutio replaces the three to five extra tools most freelancers add around their accounting app.

Can Plutio replace Wave?

Yes. Plutio covers invoicing, expense tracking, and basic financial reporting, which overlaps with Wave's core features. The switch also eliminates the separate tools most Wave users rely on for project management, time tracking, proposals, and contracts. Client data and invoice history import via CSV, and Plutio's support team helps with migration for larger accounts.

Does Plutio offer a free trial?

Yes. Plutio offers a 14-day free trial with full access to every feature, no credit card required. Unlike Wave's free plan, the trial includes project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, and a branded client portal, so the comparison is clear before committing to a paid plan.

Does Wave have time tracking?

No. Wave focuses on accounting and invoicing, so tracking hours against projects or clients requires a separate app like Toggl or Clockify. Billable hours then have to be manually re-entered as invoice line items, because Wave has no way to link time entries to invoices.

Does Wave have a client portal?

No. Clients interact with Wave only through emailed invoices and payment receipts. There is no login, no shared workspace, and no way for clients to check project status or approve deliverables on their own. Plutio gives each client a branded portal on a custom domain with messaging, file sharing, and project visibility built in.

How much does Plutio cost compared to Wave?

Wave's Starter plan is free and covers basic invoicing and accounting. Wave's Pro plan costs $19/month and adds bank auto-import, receipt scanning, and branding removal. Plutio's Core plan costs $19/month and includes project management, time tracking, proposals, contracts, invoicing, scheduling, and a branded client portal. Plutio's Pro plan costs $49/month and adds team features and per-project access controls.

Can I white-label Plutio with my own branding?

Yes. Plutio includes white-labeling with custom domains, branded login pages, logo and colors throughout, custom SMTP for email, and CSS customization. Clients see the freelancer's brand, not Plutio.

Is Wave or Plutio better for agencies?

Wave has limited team features with basic role assignments (Admin, Editor, Viewer) on the Pro plan only. There is no task assignment, no team timesheets, and no per-client access controls. Plutio includes team permissions, task assignment, team timesheets, project-level access, and a client portal with configurable visibility per team member and client.

Can I import data from Wave into Plutio?

Yes. Wave supports CSV export for customers, invoices, and transaction data. These files can be imported into Plutio using the CSV upload feature. Client contacts, invoice history, and financial records map to Plutio's database fields. Plutio's support team can assist with migration for larger accounts.

Does Wave have proposals and contracts?

Wave has basic estimates that function as quotes with line items and totals. Estimates can be converted to invoices. But Wave has no proposal builder, no interactive pricing tables, no e-signatures, and no contracts. Plutio includes a full proposal builder with drag-and-drop editing, pricing packages, e-signatures, and a separate contract builder with templates.

Does Wave have project management?

No. Wave is built around accounting and invoicing, so managing deliverables, deadlines, and team assignments happens outside the platform. Plutio includes Kanban boards, list and calendar views, Gantt charts, task dependencies, subtasks, custom fields, and project templates, all connected to proposals, contracts, and invoicing.

Is Wave really free?

Wave's Starter plan is free for basic invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. But auto-import bank transactions, receipt scanning, late payment reminders, branding removal, and recurring invoices all require the Pro plan at $19/month. Payment processing costs 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction on all plans. Payroll starts at $25/month extra.

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 cover calendar sync, payment processors, and email services.

Does Plutio have a mobile app?

Yes. Plutio has native iOS and Android apps for managing projects, communicating with clients, tracking time, and sending invoices on the go. The mobile apps sync in real-time with the web platform.

Is my data safe with Plutio?

Yes. All data is private, encrypted, and never used to train AI models. Plutio uses industry-standard security practices including SSL encryption, regular backups, and GDPR compliance. Data can be exported at any time.

How long has Plutio been around?

Plutio has been built and refined since 2015 based on real freelancer and agency feedback. The platform is actively developed with regular updates and new features added based on user needs.

Does Plutio have a unified inbox?

Yes. Plutio has a unified inbox where multiple email accounts connect into one place. Client emails automatically sort into conversation threads. The whole team shares one inbox so no one misses urgent requests. Live chat can also be embedded on a website.

Why do freelancers switch from Wave to Plutio?

Freelancers switch from Wave to Plutio for three main reasons. First, managing tasks and deadlines requires separate tools because Wave only covers financials. Second, billing hourly work means manual data transfer from a third-party timer into Wave invoices. Third, every status update and file share goes through email because clients have no place to log in. Plutio connects all of these into one platform.

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Tired of managing everything except invoicing in separate tools?

Run proposals, projects, time tracking, and invoicing from one workspace

Wave handles the accounting. Plutio handles the accounting plus proposals, projects, time tracking, and client communication in one workspace. Start your 14-day trial and see what changes when invoicing connects to the rest of the workflow.

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Plutio - Your entire business, one login away

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