Wave charges 2.9% + $0.60 on every payment. On a $5,000 invoice, that's $145 in fees. Quidbill costs a flat $29/month—no surprises, no percentage cuts. I built this because 'free' was costing me thousands.
For freelancers who value transparent, predictable pricing
Wave's 'free' invoicing hides significant payment processing fees. On $60K annual revenue, that's $1,800+ in fees you might not see coming.
Based on Wave's published payment processing rates
The math is simple: 5 invoices of $1,000/month = ~$150 in processing fees. That's more than most paid invoicing software.
Calculated from Wave's fee structure
When your invoicing costs scale with revenue, budgeting becomes impossible. Good months mean higher fees—that's backwards.
Percentage-based pricing analysis
| Feature | QuidbillSimple | WaveComplex |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $29/month flat | "Free" (but see fees below) |
| Payment Processing Fees | Use your own processor (0%) | 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction |
| Cost on $5,000 Invoice | $0 (part of $29/month) | $145.60 in fees |
| Monthly Cost at $10K Revenue | $29 flat | ~$300+ in processing fees |
| Unlimited Invoices | Yes, included | Yes, but fees on payments |
| Unlimited Clients | ||
| PDF Invoice Generation | Professional templates | Basic templates |
| Invoice Creation Speed | 30 seconds | 2-3 minutes |
| Predictable Budgeting | Yes - always $29/month | No - varies by revenue |
| Full Accounting Features | Invoicing focused | Full bookkeeping suite |
| Bank-Grade Security | ||
| Support | Direct from founder | Limited free support |
The Bottom LineWave is genuinely free—until you accept payments. Quidbill costs $29/month but takes nothing from your payments. If you invoice more than ~$1,000/month via credit card, Quidbill is actually cheaper. I built it after calculating what Wave's 'free' was really costing me.
Wave's marketing says "free"—and technically, it is. But here's what they don't mention upfront: 2.9% + $0.60 on every credit card payment.
| Monthly Revenue | Wave Fees | Quidbill | Your Savings | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $87.60 | $29 | $58.60 | $703 |
| $5,000 | $146.00 | $29 | $117.00 | $1,404 |
| $10,000 | $292.00 | $29 | $263.00 | $3,156 |
| $20,000 | $584.00 | $29 | $555.00 | $6,660 |
Calculated at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction, assuming average invoice size of $1,000
At roughly $1,000/month in credit card payments, Wave's "free" starts costing more than Quidbill's $29/month. And unlike Wave, your Quidbill costs never increase as your business grows.
I used Wave for years. I loved it—until I did the math. I was paying over $2,400/year in processing fees while telling myself it was "free."
That's when I built Quidbill: invoicing that costs what it says it costs. $29/month. No percentages. No surprises.
I'm honest about this: Wave is the right choice if:
But if you're earning real money and want to keep more of it, the math doesn't lie: flat pricing beats "free."
Export from Wave, import to Quidbill, start saving
Download your client list and invoice history from Wave's export feature.
Create your account and complete the quick business setup wizard. No credit card required.
Upload your client CSV or add them manually. Either way, it's fast.
Use Stripe, PayPal, or your preferred processor. Keep more of your money.
Create your first invoice and enjoy predictable, transparent pricing.
$29/month • Cancel anytime • 30-day money-back guarantee
Wave is free to use but charges 2.9% + $0.60 on every credit card payment you accept. If you invoice $5,000/month, that's ~$146 in fees—five times more than Quidbill's flat $29/month. The more successful you are, the more Wave costs you.
Quidbill integrates with Stripe for payment processing, but you keep control of your payment processor relationship. You can also accept bank transfers, checks, or other methods and simply mark invoices as paid—no processing fees at all.
No. Quidbill charges a flat $29/month (or $290/year with 17% savings). I never take a percentage of your payments. Your payment processor may have their own fees, but I don't add anything on top.
If you invoice less than ~$1,000/month through credit cards, Wave's processing fees might be less than $29. But consider: Do you want your costs to scale up as you grow? Most freelancers grow their business, and predictable costs make budgeting easier.
Absolutely! Many freelancers use Wave for bookkeeping and accounting while using Quidbill for invoicing. You can export invoice data from Quidbill for your Wave records.
Take your monthly credit card payment volume and calculate: (Amount × 2.9%) + ($0.60 × number of transactions). For example, 5 invoices totaling $5,000 = ($5,000 × 2.9%) + ($0.60 × 5) = $145 + $3 = $148/month.
Switch from Wave to transparent pricing today. I built Quidbill because I was tired of 'free' costing me thousands in processing fees. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.