BooksBat vs Wave
Wave is well known accounting and invoicing software for small businesses, with a free starter plan and paid options such as payment processing and, in some countries, payroll. BooksBat is small business accounting in the browser, invoicing plus double entry bookkeeping, with a free plan, Pro at $4 a month and Business at $12. Here is how they compare.
Updated by the BooksBat team
The short answer
Wave and BooksBat are closer than most comparisons: both are accounting software for small businesses, both send invoices and both have a free way to start. Wave has a longer track record, its own payments service and payroll in some countries. If you want payroll with tax filing from the same provider, or bank connections that bring in transactions on their own, check what Wave offers in your country.
BooksBat gives you a broader set of modules for a low flat price. The free plan includes bookkeeping, invoices, expenses, bills, receipts, bank statement import, reconciliation and core reports. Pro, at $4 a month, adds bank rules, sales tax tracking, multiple currencies, all reports and more payment providers. Business, at $12 a month, adds inventory, projects, time tracking, payroll lite, classes, locations and budgets for up to 25 users.
If payroll filing or live bank feeds decide it for you, look at Wave. If you want inventory, projects, team roles and your choice of payment provider without a big bill, BooksBat is worth a try.
BooksBat vs Wave: side by side
| Feature | BooksBat | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan, Pro $4 a month, Business $12 a month | Free starter plan and paid options, check their pricing page |
| Invoices and quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Double entry bookkeeping | Chart of accounts, journal entries, closing date | Yes |
| Expenses, bills and receipts | On every plan, receipt scanning on Pro | Check their site |
| Bank transactions | Import statements (CSV, OFX, QFX, QBO) and reconciliation on every plan, bank rules on Pro | Bank connections and imports, check their site for which plan |
| Live bank feeds | No | Check their site |
| Online payments | Your own Stripe, PayPal, Square, Razorpay, Mollie, GoCardless or Lemon Squeezy account | Through their own payments service |
| Extra fee on online payments | None by default, provider fees apply | Check their site |
| Payroll | Payroll lite on Business: record paychecks and liabilities, 1099 contractors (no tax filing) | Paid payroll in some countries, check their site |
| Inventory tracking | On Business, with cost of goods sold and reorder points | Check their site |
| Time tracking and projects | On Business | Check their site |
| Sales tax tracking | Rates, agencies and liability report on Pro (you file) | Check their site |
| Multi currency | On Pro, with realized FX gain or loss | Check their site |
| Users and roles | 1 on Free, 3 on Pro, 25 on Business, with accountant and limited roles | Check their site |
| Several companies | Up to 3 on Pro and 10 on Business, one login | Check their site |
| Developer API and MCP server | Yes | Check their site |
Competitor details are general and change over time. Check the Wave website and pricing page for current plans and features in your country.
Choose BooksBat if
- you want inventory, projects, time tracking and budgets in the same app for $12 a month.
- you want to take payments through the provider you already use, such as Stripe, PayPal, Square, Mollie or GoCardless.
- you need team members with roles, such as an accountant or a time tracking only user.
- you run more than one small company and want them all under one login.
- you want a REST API or an MCP server to work with your invoices from your own tools.
Choose Wave if
- you want payroll with tax filing from the same provider and it is offered in your country.
- you want bank connections that bring in transactions on their own, on the plan that includes them.
- you prefer taking payments through their own payments service.
- your accountant or bookkeeper already works in Wave.
Both are accounting apps
Wave has long been a popular choice for small businesses that want invoicing and bookkeeping without a large subscription. BooksBat takes a similar approach. Underneath the invoices sits a double entry ledger with a chart of accounts, journal entries and a closing date with a password, so what you invoice, spend and receive all lands in the right accounts. See bookkeeping.
Where they differ is breadth and pricing. BooksBat adds modules many small businesses only find in larger accounting products: inventory with quantity on hand and cost of goods sold, projects and time tracking, classes, locations and budgets, all on Business at $12 a month.
Banking and reconciliation
BooksBat does not offer live bank feeds today. You import bank statements as CSV, OFX, QFX or QBO files, bank rules categorize the usual transactions, and BooksBat suggests matches with your invoices, bills and payment payouts. Then you reconcile against the statement balance. Import, rules and reconciliation are part of Pro. See bank reconciliation.
Wave offers ways to bring in bank transactions too. Which banks connect and which plan includes them can change, so check their site. If automatic feeds are a must for you, confirm that before you choose.
How payments work in BooksBat
Each business connects its own payment account: Stripe on any plan, and on Pro also PayPal, Square, Razorpay, Mollie, GoCardless or Lemon Squeezy. Clients pay on the provider's checkout from a link in the invoice email, the money goes straight to your account, and BooksBat adds no extra fee by default. Each payment and the provider's fee post to your books automatically through a clearing account for that provider. See online payments.
Wave processes payments through its own service. That keeps things in one place, but you use their processor and their fees. Check their site for current rates.
Payroll, honestly
If you have employees, this may be the deciding factor. BooksBat offers payroll lite on Business: you record paychecks and payroll liabilities, track 1099 contractors and run a 1099 summary at year end. It does not calculate payroll taxes or file anything, so you or your accountant handle filing. See payroll and contractors.
Wave offers a paid payroll service in some countries. If you want payroll taxes worked out and filed for you, compare what Wave and dedicated payroll providers offer where you are.
Switching from Wave
Moving is file based. Export your customers, vendors, products and chart of accounts from your current app, then bring them in on the BooksBat import page, along with opening balances as of your switch date. Import recent bank statements to pick up from there, connect a payment provider and set invoice numbering to continue from your last number.
Frequently asked questions
Is BooksBat free like Wave?
Yes, BooksBat has a free plan with 1 user, 1 company, 2 bank accounts, 5 customers and 5 invoices and 5 quotes a month, plus bookkeeping, expenses, bills, receipts and core reports. Pro is $4 a month and Business is $12 a month.
Can BooksBat replace Wave for bookkeeping?
For many small businesses, yes. BooksBat is double entry accounting with a chart of accounts, journal entries, bank reconciliation and reports such as profit and loss, balance sheet and trial balance. The main gaps are live bank feeds and payroll tax filing.
Does BooksBat have bank feeds?
Not today. You import bank statements as CSV, OFX, QFX or QBO files, then match and reconcile on any plan, with bank rules on Pro.
Who processes card payments in BooksBat?
The provider you connect: Stripe on any plan, or PayPal, Square, Razorpay, Mollie, GoCardless or Lemon Squeezy on Pro. The money goes to your own account and BooksBat adds no extra fee by default.
Does BooksBat do payroll?
Payroll lite on Business: record paychecks and payroll liabilities and track 1099 contractors. It does not calculate or file payroll taxes.
Which currencies can I use?
Any ISO 4217 currency as your home currency. On Pro, multi currency lets you invoice and pay in other currencies, with exchange rates and realized gains or losses recorded.
Keep comparing
Try BooksBat free
Invoicing and double entry bookkeeping in your browser. Free plan with no credit card, Pro for $4 a month and Business for $12 a month.