Wave vs Deputy

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.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

Deputy

Deputy is a workforce management platform focused on employee scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance. It helps businesses with shift-based workforces build schedules, manage leave, and track hours worked. Deputy integrates with major payroll providers to streamline the pay run process.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

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

• ✓Excellent scheduling tools with AI-powered shift recommendations
• ✓Strong labor compliance features for overtime and break rules
• ✓Good mobile app for employees to clock in, swap shifts, and request leave
• ✓Integrates with 30+ payroll providers

Cons

• ✗Limited core HR features beyond scheduling and time tracking
• ✗Not a full HRIS replacement
• ✗Reporting could be more customizable for complex workforce analytics

Best For

Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software

Best For

Businesses with hourly workers needing scheduling and time tracking