Salesforce vs Wave
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Salesforce
Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform used by over 150,000 businesses of all sizes. It offers a highly customizable suite of sales, service, marketing, and analytics tools. Salesforce is the gold standard for enterprise CRM but has solutions for businesses of all sizes through its Starter and Pro plans.
Wave
Wave is a free accounting and invoicing platform designed for small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs. It offers genuinely free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning with no subscription fee. Wave makes money through payment processing and payroll add-ons. It is one of the best free accounting tools available for very small businesses with simple needs.
Pros
- ✓Most powerful and customizable CRM on the market
- ✓Massive ecosystem with 3,000+ AppExchange integrations
- ✓Industry-leading reporting and analytics
- ✓Strong community and support resources
Cons
- ✗Expensive and complex for small teams
- ✗Long implementation timelines for enterprise deployments
- ✗Requires dedicated admin resources to get the most out of it
Pros
- ✓Genuinely free accounting and invoicing — no subscription required
- ✓Clean and easy to use interface
- ✓Good enough for most very small businesses and freelancers
- ✓Receipt scanning and bank connections included free
Cons
- ✗Limited features compared to paid alternatives
- ✗Customer support is minimal on the free plan
- ✗Not suitable for growing businesses with complex needs
- ✗Payroll and payment processing add-ons can add up in cost
Salesforce vs Wave: Side by Side
| Factor | Salesforce | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Accounting Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Free |
| Best For | Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM | Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Salesforce Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓opportunity tracking
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓AI insights
- ✓reporting and dashboards
- ✓AppExchange integrations
- ✓mobile app
Wave Features
- ✓Free accounting
- ✓invoicing
- ✓receipt scanning
- ✓bank connections
- ✓financial reporting
- ✓payments processing
- ✓payroll add-on
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software.
Best For
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Best For
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Also Consider
If neither Salesforce nor Wave is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Salesforce and Wave?
Salesforce is best for mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Wave is best for solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software.
Which is better, Salesforce or Wave?
Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software.
How much does Salesforce cost?
Salesforce starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Wave cost?
Wave starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Salesforce?
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Who should use Wave?
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software