Free Alternatives to Wave Accounting
Wave stopped serving customers outside the US and Canada. We were one of them. So we built something better.
We Loved Wave. Then Wave Left Us.
From 2014 to 2020, we used Wave to run our business. It was our go-to tool for invoicing clients, tracking expenses, and pulling reports at tax time. Wave was free, it was simple, and it just worked. We recommended it to every freelancer and small business owner we knew.
Then Wave started pulling back. First, features became US/Canada-only. Then in 2023, they made it official — Wave would no longer serve customers outside North America. Overnight, thousands of businesses around the world lost access to the tool they had relied on for years.
We were among them. And instead of switching to an overpriced, overcomplicated alternative, we decided to build the tool we wished Wave had become.
Why Wave Users Love Fastbooks
Fastbooks was built with the same philosophy that made Wave great: give small businesses a genuinely free, genuinely useful accounting tool. No bait-and-switch, no artificial limits, no surprise paywalls.
If you loved Wave, you will feel right at home with Fastbooks. Here is why:
- ✓ Free forever plan — Invoicing, quotes, bills, contacts, and reports are all free. Not a trial.
- ✓ Works everywhere — Fastbooks serves customers globally. We built it because we were locked out. We will never do that to you.
- ✓ Simple by design — Wave was loved for its simplicity. Fastbooks continues that tradition with a clean, modern interface that gets out of your way.
- ✓ No ads — Wave showed ads to keep the lights on. Fastbooks is completely ad-free.
Fastbooks vs Wave — Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fastbooks | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Available worldwide | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free quotes & estimates | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bill & expense tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Product catalogue | ✓ | ✗ |
| Recurring invoices | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-powered features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bill OCR (auto-extract) | ✓ | ✗ |
| 13+ built-in reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email invoices & quotes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Public share links | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bulk actions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team collaboration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Keyboard shortcuts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ad-free | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bank connections | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payroll (paid add-on) | ✗ | ✓ |
Everything You Need to Run Your Business
Fastbooks is not a stripped-down tool trying to upsell you. It is a complete bookkeeping platform with features that go beyond what Wave offered for free.
Professional Invoicing
Create, email, and track invoices. Set up recurring invoices for repeat clients. Convert quotes to invoices with one click.
Smart Expense Tracking
Upload bills and let AI extract the details automatically. Attach receipts, categorise expenses, and stay on top of what you owe.
AI Accountant
Chat with an AI assistant that understands your books. Ask questions about your finances, get help categorising transactions, and more.
13+ Reports
Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Aged Receivables, Tax Summary, and more — all ready to run whenever you need them.
Quotes & Estimates
Send professional quotes to clients and convert accepted quotes into invoices instantly. No copy-pasting needed.
Team Collaboration
Invite team members, assign roles, and work together on your books. Everyone sees the same data in real time.
What Happened to Wave?
Wave was acquired by H&R Block in 2019 and has since narrowed its focus to the US and Canadian markets. If you are outside North America, you can no longer create a new Wave account or access many of its features. Existing users in affected regions have been left to find alternatives on their own.
This is not a criticism of Wave — they built a great product and served millions of businesses. But for the global small business community, the gap they left behind is real. Fastbooks was built to fill it.
Who Is Fastbooks For?
- Former Wave users looking for a familiar, free accounting tool
- Freelancers and contractors who need professional invoicing
- Small businesses outside the US and Canada
- Startups that want to keep accounting simple and free
- Anyone tired of paying $20+/month for basic bookkeeping
Switch from Wave to Fastbooks
Create your free account in under a minute. No credit card required, no trial period. Just a better way to manage your books.