Both are strong choices. The short answer: pick Wave if you are micro businesses that want free books. Pick Bench if you are owners who want bookkeeping done for them.
| Wave | Bench | |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | Genuinely free accounting and invoicing. | Real human bookkeepers plus simple software. |
| Pricing | Free accounting; pay for payments/payroll | From $249/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Best for | Micro businesses that want free books | Owners who want bookkeeping done for them |
| Category | Accounting & Bookkeeping | Accounting & Bookkeeping |
| Website | waveapps.com | bench.co |