Switching
Switch from Wave to Invoice Native
Wave is a popular free option with bookkeeping built in. If you mostly need invoices, quotes and getting paid, here’s how Invoice Native compares and how to move your customers in a few minutes.
Checked · Invoice Native team
Who this is for
Freelancers and small businesses who use Wave mainly for invoices and estimates, and want a simpler invoicing tool with online quote signing and time and mileage tracking included free.
Invoice Native and Wave, side by side
| Feature | Invoice Native | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, with no invoice limit. The first 500 accounts get Pro free for life. | Starter plan $0; Pro $19 a month (or $190 a year). |
| Make an invoice without an account | Yes — make and download invoices, quotes and receipts without signing up. | Yes, with their free invoice generator. |
| Quotes and estimates | Free: quotes and estimates the client accepts online with a typed or drawn signature. | Estimates are free. Customers can accept an estimate online when online payments or Pro is on; Wave says accepting isn’t a binding contract. |
| Online invoice and pay page | Free: a private link to each invoice where your client views it, downloads the PDF and sees how to pay. | Yes. |
| Card payments | Pay buttons for your own PayPal, Venmo and Cash App, plus Zelle, bank and check details. We charge no fee. | Wave Payments: 2.9% + $0.60 per card payment (3.4% + $0.60 Amex) in the US. |
| Recurring invoices and automatic reminders | Recurring invoices on Pro (free for life for the first 500 accounts). Automatic reminders: not yet. | Yes, when online payments are turned on or on Pro. |
| Time and mileage tracking | Free: a timer, logged hours, a mileage log and expenses, added to an invoice in one tap. | See their site |
| Bookkeeping and accounting | Expenses with receipts and a profit report; no full bookkeeping. | Yes, included. |
| Import customers from a CSV | Free: import customers and items from a CSV, with presets for popular tools. | Yes. |
| Phone | Works in your phone’s browser and can be added to your home screen. | Free mobile app. |
How to switch in 3 steps
- In Wave, open Settings → Data export and download your Customers file as CSV (or export from Sales → Customers).
- Create a free Invoice Native account, then open Customers → Import CSV and choose “Wave”. The columns are matched for you; check the preview and import. Do the same for your items.
- Make your next invoice in Invoice Native. Keep your Wave account for your past invoices for as long as you need them.
Wave doesn’t export products as a CSV. To bring your products and services, copy them into a spreadsheet (name, price, description), save it as CSV and choose “Other” in the importer.
If you use Wave for bookkeeping, you may want to keep it for that and use Invoice Native just for invoices.
Create this invoice free
No sign-up. Your invoice stays in your browser until you download the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my Wave customers?
Yes. Export your Customers file from Wave as CSV, then choose “Wave” in Customers → Import CSV. The columns are matched for you and you see a preview before anything is saved.
Will my past Wave invoices come across?
Not yet. The importer brings customers and items. Keep your Wave account (the Starter plan is free) for your invoice history.
Is Invoice Native free like Wave Starter?
Yes. Making, downloading and sharing invoices and quotes is free with no limit, and the first 500 accounts get Pro free for life.
Sources
- Wave pricing (checked October 5, 2026)
- Wave free invoice generator (checked October 5, 2026)
- Wave Help: Set up a recurring invoice (checked October 5, 2026)
- Wave Help: Schedule invoice payment reminders (checked October 5, 2026)
- Wave Help: Mark an estimate as accepted (checked October 5, 2026)
- Wave Help: Download your account data (checked October 5, 2026)
Wave is a trademark of its owner. Invoice Native isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Wave. We check this page every quarter; tell us at the contact page if something has changed.