Wave vs Dext
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
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.
Dext
Dext is a pre-accounting automation tool that captures receipts, invoices, and expenses and automatically extracts data for your accounting software. It eliminates manual data entry for bookkeepers and accountants.
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 receipt and invoice capture
- ✓Strong OCR data extraction
- ✓Good integration with QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage
- ✓Saves significant data entry time
- ✓Popular with accountants
Cons
- ✗Not a standalone accounting solution
- ✗Subscription cost on top of accounting software
- ✗Occasional OCR errors
- ✗Best value for high receipt volumes
Our Take
Choose Wave if solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software. Choose Dext if bookkeepers, accountants, and businesses with high receipt volumes wanting to eliminate manual data entry.
Best For
Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software
Best For
Bookkeepers, accountants, and businesses with high receipt volumes wanting to eliminate manual data entry