Wave vs EngageBay

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 →

EngageBay

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support platform designed for small and mid-size businesses. It offers a free plan that includes CRM, email marketing, live chat, and helpdesk tools — making it one of the most generous free plans in the market. EngageBay is positioned as an affordable alternative to HubSpot.

Freemium 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

• ✓One of the most generous free plans available — includes CRM, marketing, and support tools
• ✓Affordable paid plans compared to HubSpot
• ✓All-in-one platform reduces the need for multiple subscriptions
• ✓Good automation features

Cons

• ✗Less brand recognition and fewer integrations than HubSpot
• ✗Interface can feel cluttered with so many features
• ✗Customer support response times can vary

Best For

Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software

Best For

Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a HubSpot alternative with a strong free plan