Wave vs Wrike
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Wrike is our recommended pick for most teams — marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Try Wrike →Read our full Wrike 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.
Wrike
Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management platform designed for marketing, creative, and professional services teams. It offers advanced features like request forms, proofing and approvals, and resource management alongside traditional project management tools. Wrike is used by over 20,000 companies including Google, Walmart, and Siemens.
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
- ✓Strong enterprise features including resource management and proofing
- ✓Highly customizable workflows and request forms
- ✓Excellent for marketing and creative teams managing complex approvals
- ✓Robust reporting and analytics
Cons
- ✗Expensive for small teams — free plan is very limited
- ✗Steep learning curve for full feature set
- ✗Interface can feel complex for simple project management
- ✗Some features only available on higher enterprise tiers
Wave vs Wrike: Side by Side
| Factor | Wave | Wrike |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.5/5 ★ |
| 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 | Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
Wave Features
- ✓Free accounting
- ✓invoicing
- ✓receipt scanning
- ✓bank connections
- ✓financial reporting
- ✓payments processing
- ✓payroll add-on
- ✓mobile app
Wrike Features
- ✓Project planning
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓request forms
- ✓proofing and approvals
- ✓resource management
- ✓time tracking
- ✓dashboards
- ✓automation
- ✓integrations
Pricing Comparison
Wrike
FreemiumFree to start
Free: $0 · Starter: $40/mo · Business: $80/mo · Enterprise: custom
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Wrike
- →Marketing teams managing campaigns and creative projects
- →Professional services firms tracking client deliverables
- →Enterprises needing advanced project management with reporting
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Wrike is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Small teams wanting a simple task manager
- ✗Businesses with tight budgets
- ✗Teams that prefer Kanban-only workflows
Integrations
Wrike
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, GitHub, Jira
Our Take
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Best For
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Best For
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing
Also Consider
If neither Wave nor Wrike 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 Wrike?
Wave is best for solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Wrike is best for marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Which is better, Wave or Wrike?
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
How much does Wave cost?
Wave starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Wrike cost?
Wrike starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Wave?
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Who should use Wrike?
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing