Accounting Software

Wave vs DATEV

Both are accounting software. The short answer: choose Wave if you are very small businesses in the US and Canada on a tight budget; choose DATEV if you are german businesses working with a tax adviser.

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Wave logo WaveDATEV logo DATEV
Best forVery small businesses in the US and Canada on a tight budgetGerman businesses working with a tax adviser
Free planYesNo (trial may exist)
PricingSee providerSee provider
Built for IndiaGlobalGlobal
CategoriesBilling & Invoicing Software, Accounting SoftwareAccounting Software
Strengths
  • Free core invoicing and accounting
  • Simple to learn
  • The standard for German tax advisers
  • Deep compliance with German law
  • Secure data exchange
Watch out for
  • Best suited to US/Canada
  • Fewer integrations
  • Complex and German-language
  • Usually used through a tax adviser
Visit WaveVisit DATEV

Which should you choose?

Wave: Free-to-start invoicing and accounting for small businesses, with paid payments and payroll add-ons.

DATEV: German cooperative whose accounting, payroll and tax software is used by most tax advisers in Germany.

The best way to decide is to run the same week of real work through both — most offer a free plan or trial — and compare how long tasks take, what your team prefers, and the total cost for your number of users including renewal pricing.

Not sure either fits? See all accounting software compared.