Accounting Software

Wave vs Sage Accounting

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 Sage Accounting if you are uK small businesses and sole traders filing VAT under Making Tax Digital.

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Wave logo WaveSage Accounting logo Sage Accounting
Best forVery small businesses in the US and Canada on a tight budgetUK small businesses and sole traders filing VAT under Making Tax Digital
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
  • HMRC-recognised for Making Tax Digital
  • Familiar to UK accountants
  • Payroll add-on
Watch out for
  • Best suited to US/Canada
  • Fewer integrations
  • Interface less modern than some rivals
  • Features vary by country edition
Visit WaveVisit Sage Accounting

Which should you choose?

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

Sage Accounting: Cloud accounting from Sage with invoicing, bank feeds, VAT returns and Making Tax Digital submissions to HMRC.

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.