FreeAgentAccounting software for every small business
vs
WaveClear books. Confident decisions.
Comparison · Accounting Software · weekly run Nov 2
FreeAgent vs Wave
Which one do AI engines recommend, and how do they differ on price, fit and features?
The short answer
Wave is the stronger AI pick in Accounting Software: it has a visibility score of 21 versus 1.5 for FreeAgent, and ranks ahead in 50% of the answers that name both.
Choose FreeAgent if…
- You need Cyber Essentials Plus or HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital (VAT and Income Tax) coverage
- annual plan saves about 17%
- 30-day free trial with no card required
Choose Wave if…
- You want the brand AI engines rank higher (21 vs 1.5)
- AI answers describe it more positively (38% vs 0% positive)
- Free accounting and invoicing for micro-businesses
- Well suited to freelancers and very small businesses
AI visibility side by side
Latest weekly run · Nov 2
| Metric | FreeAgent | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 1.5% | 21% |
| Change vs last week | New | New |
| Rank in Accounting Software | #22 | #7 |
| Share of voice | 0.7% | 7.3% |
| Mentions this run | 3 | 30 |
| Positive in AI answers | 0% | 38% |
The stronger value in each row is marked with a ✓.
Visibility score trend
Weekly runs over the last 60 days
FreeAgent 0pp · Wave 0pp over 0 weekly runs.
Engine by engine
Wave leads on 3 of 3 engines
ChatGPT
AI Mode
Perplexity
FreeAgentWave
Head to head in AI answers
2 engine answers name both brands
1FreeAgent ranked higher
1Wave ranked higher
| Prompt | Engine | FreeAgent | Wave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which accounting software offers a free trial? | Perplexity | #5 | #6 |
| Where can I sign up for a accounting software? | Perplexity | #6 | #4 |
Features, pricing & fit
| Dimension | FreeAgent | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | — | Flat tiers |
| Entry price | — | Free; paid from $19 / mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Deployment | Online, with mobile app | Cloud-based web application with a mobile app |
| Compliance | Cyber Essentials Plus, HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital (VAT and Income Tax) | — |
| Support | Knowledge Base available 24/7, UK-based support accountants by phone, email and chat | Live chat and email support, Monday to Friday 9 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern, Wave Advisors bookkeeping and coaching (paid add-on) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Employees | 201–500 | 201–500 |
| Funding | Crowdfunding (£1.2 million) | Series D |
| Best for | UK sole traders, freelancers, landlords, limited companies and partnerships, plus accountants and bookkeepers managing clients | Freelancers, solopreneurs, contractors and consultants who run small businesses and want simple books and invoicing without accounting expertise |
Plans side by side
FreeAgent
Pricing not available.
Wave
Starter$0month
Pro$19month per business (billed monthly); $190/year billed annually
Wave Advisors$149month (starting at)
Pros and cons
Themes from the AI answers that mention each brand
FreeAgent
- annual plan saves about 17%
- 30-day free trial with no card required
Wave
- Free accounting and invoicing for micro-businesses
- Well suited to freelancers and very small businesses
- Ongoing free plan rather than a time-limited trial
- Affordable and reliable for small businesses
- Clear public pricing
- Free plan mainly suits a single user, not teams
- Free products offer fewer controls and growth features
Data collected ·ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Mode·coverage 100%·next run
Cite as: SlateIndex, “FreeAgent vs Wave”, https://slateindex.ai/compare/freeagent-vs-wave, data of Nov 2, 2026. Licence: CC BY 4.0.