Bonsai vs Wave: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Bonsai starts at $15/mo. Wave starts at $19/mo. Bonsai is $4/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Wave.
All-in-one business management for freelancers (contracts + invoicing + time tracking + CRM + tax). Positioned as the alternative to running Bonsai + QuickBooks + HelloSign separately. Distinctive for bundling the freelance stack into one subscription. Restructured to 4 tiers: Basic $15 / Essentials $25 / Premium $39 / Elite $59 per user/mo. Acquired by Zoom Nov 5, 2025 (closed Dec 2025); pricing held post-acquisition. Popular with independent consultants, designers, and creators who bill 3-20 clients but hate juggling separate tools for contracts, invoicing, and accounting.
Free accounting software from Canada, acquired by H&R Block for $537M in 2019. Positioned as the alternative to QuickBooks for freelancers and micro-businesses that can't justify a paid accounting subscription. Distinctive for its genuine forever-free accounting/invoicing (competitors moved everything to paid). Monetizes through payments (2.9% + 60¢), payroll ($20-$40/mo), and advisor services. Popular with side hustlers, freelancers, and micro-businesses under $50K annual revenue.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Bonsai monthly | Bonsai annual | Wave monthly | Wave annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic / Starter | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Essentials / Pro | 25 | 19 | 19 | 15.83 |
| 3 | Premium | 39 | 29 | — | — |
| 4 | Elite | 59 | 49 | — | — |
What each is best for
All-in-one business management for freelancers (contracts + invoicing + time tracking + CRM + tax). Positioned as the alternative to running Bonsai + QuickBooks + HelloSign separately. Distinctive for bundling the freelance stack into one subscription. Restructured to 4 tiers: Basic $15 / Essentials $25 / Premium $39 / Elite $59 per user/mo. Acquired by Zoom Nov 5, 2025 (closed Dec 2025); pricing held post-acquisition. Popular with independent consultants, designers, and creators who bill 3-20 clients but hate juggling separate tools for contracts, invoicing, and accounting.
Free accounting software from Canada, acquired by H&R Block for $537M in 2019. Positioned as the alternative to QuickBooks for freelancers and micro-businesses that can't justify a paid accounting subscription. Distinctive for its genuine forever-free accounting/invoicing (competitors moved everything to paid). Monetizes through payments (2.9% + 60¢), payroll ($20-$40/mo), and advisor services. Popular with side hustlers, freelancers, and micro-businesses under $50K annual revenue.
At a glance
| Bonsai | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Entry price | $15/mo | $19/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | — |
| Pricing model | Flat Rate | Freemium |
| Last verified | August 29, 2026 | August 31, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified August 31, 2026. Tracked daily.