Login
Accounting & Tax · Comparison
FreshBooks
Wave

FreshBooks vs Wave for therapists

Auto-generated from listing data

At a glance

The differences that matter

Side-by-side facts. Rows where the two tools differ meaningfully are highlighted.

FreshBooks

Pricing from
$19 / mo
Pricing model
paid
HIPAA
Not listed
Free trial
Yes
Target users
  • Private-pay solo therapists
  • Service-based practitioners who invoice clients
  • Practitioners wanting simple, polished billing
Key features
  • Polished customizable invoices
  • Expense and time tracking
  • Recurring billing and late fees
  • Basic financial reports
Integrations
  • Gusto (payroll)
  • Stripe
  • Square
  • Bank feeds

Wave

Pricing from
Not listed
Pricing model
free
HIPAA
Not listed
Free trial
Yes
Target users
  • Brand-new solo therapists
  • Very small private-pay practices
  • Budget-conscious DIY bookkeepers
Key features
  • Free core accounting and bookkeeping
  • Unlimited invoices
  • Expense tracking
  • Basic financial reports
Integrations
  • Bank feeds
  • Stripe-style payment processing
  • Wave Payroll

Pricing

What you actually pay

Starting prices and what they include. The cheaper tool is not always the better value.

FreshBooks

paid

$19/month
Free trial

Wave

free

Free
Free trial

Honest assessment

Where each tool wins and loses

Based on hands-on testing. Both tools have real weaknesses worth knowing before you commit.

FreshBooks

What works well

  • Excellent invoicing experience
  • Easy to learn
  • Reasonable entry pricing
  • Good for client/retainer billing

Where it falls short

  • Industry-agnostic (no therapy expertise)
  • Pricing scales by billable-client count
  • Reports less deep than QuickBooks
  • Payments/payroll cost extra

Wave

What works well

  • Free core accounting and invoicing
  • Fast, simple setup
  • Good for beginners
  • Pay only for add-ons

Where it falls short

  • Industry-agnostic (no therapy deduction expertise)
  • Limited integrations and reporting
  • Lighter human support on free tier
  • Practices outgrow it as they scale

Take it for a spin

Try them

Both tools offer free trials. The fastest way to confirm a fit is to run one real session through each.

Invoicing-first accounting popular with service-based solo practitioners.

Try FreshBooks

From $19/moFree trial
Visit FreshBooks

Free accounting and invoicing for solo therapists and very small practices.

Try Wave

FreeFree trial
Visit Wave

About this comparison

This comparison is auto-generated from verified vendor data. We compile pricing, features, and integrations from each vendor's own documentation. For editorial comparisons with hands-on testing, see our editorially reviewed comparisons.

Auto-generated

We may earn a flat referral fee if you sign up through links on this page. It is the same for every tool in a category, so it never affects our recommendations.

Some listings on Mytherapist Tools are paid placements, clearly labeled. Paid placement does not buy editorial recommendation. Our top picks are chosen on merit.

© 2026 Mytherapist Tools. Independent editorial directory. We do not store or transmit PHI.