Wave vs Close
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Close is our recommended pick for most teams — inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing.
Try Close →Read our full Close review →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.
Close
Close is a CRM built specifically for inside sales teams that do high-volume outreach via phone, email, and SMS. It has built-in calling, emailing, and SMS so sales reps can reach out to prospects without switching tools. Close is designed to maximize sales productivity for teams that rely on outbound sales.
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
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class built-in calling and email sequencing
- ✓Designed specifically for high-volume inside sales teams
- ✓Strong reporting on sales activity and performance
- ✓Fast and efficient interface for power users
Cons
- ✗Expensive compared to general-purpose CRMs
- ✗Overkill for teams that do low-volume or inbound-only sales
- ✗Limited marketing automation features
Wave vs Close: Side by Side
| Factor | Wave | Close |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.3/5 ★ |
| Category | Accounting Software | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $49/user/mo |
| Best For | Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software | Inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
Wave Features
- ✓Free accounting
- ✓invoicing
- ✓receipt scanning
- ✓bank connections
- ✓financial reporting
- ✓payments processing
- ✓payroll add-on
- ✓mobile app
Close Features
- ✓Built-in calling
- ✓email sequences
- ✓SMS
- ✓lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓reporting
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓power dialer
Pricing Comparison
Close
PaidStarts at $49/user/mo
Free: $0 · Starter: $49/user/mo · Basic: $99/user/mo · Professional: $149/user/mo
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Close
- →Inside sales teams making high volumes of calls
- →SaaS companies with outbound sales motions
- →Startups wanting CRM with built-in calling and email
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Close is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Field sales teams needing mobile-first tools
- ✗Companies needing complex territory management
- ✗Businesses without a dedicated sales team
Integrations
Close
Zapier, Slack, Zoom, Gmail, Outlook, HubSpot, Salesforce, Twilio
Our Take
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Close if inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing.
Best For
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Best For
Inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing
Also Consider
If neither Wave nor Close is the right fit, Dext is worth evaluating.
Dext
Bookkeepers, accountants, and businesses with high receipt volumes wanting to eliminate manual data entry
From $15/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Wave and Close?
Wave is best for solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Close is best for inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing.
Which is better, Wave or Close?
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Close if inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing.
How much does Wave cost?
Wave starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Close cost?
Close starts at $49/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Wave?
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Who should use Close?
Inside sales teams doing high-volume outbound calling and emailing