Wave vs Trello
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
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.
Trello
Trello is a visual project management tool based on the Kanban board methodology. It uses cards, lists, and boards to help teams organize tasks and workflows in a simple, visual way. Owned by Atlassian, Trello is one of the most widely used project management tools in the world, known for its simplicity and ease of use.
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
- ✓Extremely easy to learn and use — teams are productive within minutes
- ✓Generous free plan with unlimited cards
- ✓Familiar Kanban interface that most people already understand
- ✓Large library of power-ups and integrations
Cons
- ✗Limited project management features beyond Kanban boards
- ✗Not suitable for complex projects with dependencies
- ✗Reporting and analytics are basic
- ✗Timeline and calendar views require paid plan
Wave vs Trello: Side by Side
| Factor | Wave | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Accounting Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software | Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Wave Features
- ✓Free accounting
- ✓invoicing
- ✓receipt scanning
- ✓bank connections
- ✓financial reporting
- ✓payments processing
- ✓payroll add-on
- ✓mobile app
Trello Features
- ✓Kanban boards
- ✓cards and checklists
- ✓power-ups and integrations
- ✓automation
- ✓timeline view
- ✓calendar view
- ✓mobile app
- ✓templates
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Trello if small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
Best For
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Best For
Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management
Also Consider
If neither Wave nor Trello 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 Trello?
Wave is best for solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Trello is best for small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
Which is better, Wave or Trello?
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Trello if small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
How much does Wave cost?
Wave starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Trello cost?
Trello starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Wave?
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Who should use Trello?
Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management