Wave vs QuickBooks Online for Canadian small business
Wave is the better pick if you want to start free and mostly send invoices and estimates, since its Starter plan is free and Pro is US$19/mo. QuickBooks Online costs more, but it adds job profit tracking on Plus, built-in GST/HST tracking for the CRA, and more room to grow.
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Side by side
| Wave | QuickBooks Online (Canada) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | US$0 (Starter). Pro is US$19/mo or US$190/yr | US$38/mo (Simple Start, US plan). Canadian pricing |
| Plan for job or project tracking | Not listed on Wave’s pricing page | Plus, US$140/mo (US plan) |
| Free plan or trial | Free Starter plan | No free plan in Canada. 30-day free trial, no credit card needed |
| Invoices and estimates | Unlimited estimates, invoices, and bills on the free plan | Estimates with mobile signatures that turn into invoices, and recurring invoices, from EasyStart up. Bill management starts on Plus |
| Receipt capture | Pro includes unlimited receipt capture (app, desktop, or email). On Starter it’s a paid add-on | Snap receipts in the mobile app on EasyStart, Plus, and Advanced |
| Sales tax | Tracks sales and sales tax | Calculates and tracks sales tax so you can file with the CRA. Tracks GST/HST |
| Payroll | Paid add-on (see Canadian payroll page) | Paid add-on (see Canadian payroll page) |
| Bank feeds | Automatic bank import on Pro (through Plaid) | Automatic bank feeds on every plan listed (Lite: 2 bank connections) |
| Best for | Solo owners and new businesses that want to start free | Growing teams that need job profit, more users, or Quebec payroll |
| Checked on | Oct 20, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
Prices are each maker’s regular list price in US dollars, read on the date shown. We never convert currencies. QuickBooks was running an intro discount that day, and those change often, so we left it out.
Where Wave wins
- It starts free. The Starter plan includes unlimited estimates, invoices, and bookkeeping records, plus invoicing from the mobile app.
- Pro is cheap. US$19/mo adds automatic bank imports, auto-categorized transactions, unlimited receipt capture, and late-payment reminders.
- Deposits on estimates. You can collect a deposit to lock in a job.
- Payroll is a paid add-on; see the maker’s Canadian payroll page.
Where QuickBooks Online wins
- Job profit. Plus (US$140/mo, US plan) shows how each project is tracking, and lets you enter employee time by project and add it to invoices. Canadian pricing.
- Canadian tax built in. QuickBooks says it tracks GST/HST and calculates sales tax so you can file with the CRA, and its AI tool (Sales Tax AI) flags errors and duplicates.
- Payroll in Quebec. QuickBooks Payroll covers Revenu Québec and RL-1 forms. Wave’s payroll isn’t available in Quebec.
- More AI and more seats. Plus adds AI that drafts invoices and spots errors in your books, and allows up to 5 users. Advanced allows 25.
The verdict
Pick Wave if you’re solo or just starting, want to pay nothing (or US$19/mo for Pro), and mostly need estimates, invoices, and receipts.
Pick QuickBooks Online if you need profit by job, more than one user, payroll in Quebec, or GST/HST and sales tax tools built into your books.
Either way, ask your accountant first. Using the software they already know can save time and fees at tax time.
Questions people ask
Is Wave free in Canada?
Yes. Wave’s Starter plan is free and includes unlimited estimates and invoices. Pro is US$19/mo, or US$190/yr (checked October 2026).
How much is QuickBooks Online?
The US plans are US$38/mo for Simple Start, US$140/mo for Plus, and US$340/mo for Advanced (checked October 2026). Canadian pricing. There’s a 30-day free trial, but QuickBooks says its "Buy Now" intro discounts don’t apply if you start with the trial. Canadian-dollar plan prices aren’t shown, because we never convert currencies.
Does Wave or QuickBooks handle GST/HST?
QuickBooks Online’s Canadian page says it tracks GST/HST and calculates sales tax so you can file with the CRA. Wave’s pages say it tracks sales and sales tax.
Does Wave payroll work in Quebec?
No. Wave says its Canadian payroll is available in every province and territory except Quebec. QuickBooks Payroll covers Revenu Québec remittances and RL-1 forms.
Related pages
- Tool pages: Wave · QuickBooks Online
- Best AI bookkeeping tools for small businesses
- Best AI bookkeeping software for contractors
- Best AI bookkeeping software for Canadian small businesses: all four Canadian picks, including Xero and Dext
- How we pick
- Visit Wave → · Visit QuickBooks Online Canada →
Questions or a correction? hello@momandbot.com
Sources (all checked Oct 20, 2026)
- Wave pricing (CAD and USD): https://www.waveapps.com/pricing
- Wave payroll (Canada pricing, CRA, T4/T4A, Quebec): https://www.waveapps.com/payroll
- Wave accounting (sales tax, Pro bank connections): https://www.waveapps.com/accounting
- QuickBooks Online Canada pricing, features, and FAQs (GST/HST, CRA, payroll, trial): https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/pricing/
- QuickBooks Online Canada payroll: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ca/payroll/
- QuickBooks Online US pricing (Simple Start): https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing/