2.9% + $0.60 Per Transaction
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
Wave Alternative
Stop Paying Hidden Fees.
Switch to Transparent Pricing.
Wave charges 2.9% + $0.60 on card payments. Quidbill costs a flat $19/month for invoicing, reminders, exports, and payment tracking—no Quidbill transaction fee, no percentage cut.
3 free invoicesNo card requiredFor freelancers who value transparent, predictable pricing
Why people compare
Why Freelancers Are Leaving Wave
'Free' Becomes Expensive Fast
The math is simple: 5 invoices of $1,000/month = ~$150 in processing fees. That's way more than Quidbill's $19/month flat fee.
Calculated from Wave's fee structure
Unpredictable Monthly Costs
When your invoicing costs scale with revenue, budgeting becomes impossible. Good months mean higher fees—that's backwards.
Percentage-based pricing analysis
Honest comparison
Quidbill vs Wave: Honest Comparison
Quidbill is deliberately narrower: invoice fast, track payment status, keep follow-up visible, and leave full accounting suites to teams that really need them.
CapabilityQuidbillWave
Monthly Cost
Quidbill$19/month flat
Wave"Free" (but see fees below)
Payment Processing Fees
QuidbillNo Quidbill transaction fee
Wave2.9% + $0.60 per transaction
Cost on $5,000 Invoice
Quidbill$19 subscription + external payment fees
Wave$145.60 in fees
Monthly Cost at $10K Revenue
Quidbill$19 subscription + external payment fees
Wave~$300+ in processing fees
Unlimited Invoices
QuidbillYes, included
WaveYes, but fees on payments
Unlimited Clients
Quidbill
Wave
PDF Invoice Generation
QuidbillProfessional templates
WaveBasic templates
Invoice Creation Speed
Quidbill30 seconds
Wave2-3 minutes
Predictable Budgeting
QuidbillYes - always $19/month
WaveNo - varies by revenue
Full Accounting Features
QuidbillInvoicing focused
WaveFull bookkeeping suite
Bank-Grade Security
Quidbill
Wave
Support
QuidbillDirect from founder
WaveLimited free support
Bottom line
Wave is genuinely free until its payment fees enter the workflow. Quidbill costs $19/month and does not process invoice-recipient payments or take a percentage. You add your preferred payment instructions, then track what was paid.
Decision guide
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Quidbill if
- You want invoices that are separate from your payment processor
- You want predictable, budgetable invoicing costs
- You value speed (30-second invoice creation)
- You're scaling and don't want costs to scale with you
- You want to use bank transfer, PayPal, Wise, card terminal, or another external method
- You prefer flat pricing over percentage-based fees
Choose Wave if
- You invoice less than $500/month through Wave card payments
- You primarily accept bank transfers or checks
- You need full accounting features (not just invoicing)
- You're just starting out and testing the waters
- You need expense tracking and reporting
- Free is more important than predictable costs
The Real Cost of "Free" Invoicing
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.
Let's Do the Math
| Monthly Revenue | Wave Fees | Quidbill | Your Savings | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $87.60 | $19 | $68.60 | $823 |
| $5,000 | $146.00 | $19 | $127.00 | $1,524 |
| $10,000 | $292.00 | $19 | $273.00 | $3,276 |
| $20,000 | $584.00 | $19 | $565.00 | $6,780 |
Calculated at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction, assuming average invoice size of $1,000
The Breaking Point
At roughly $600/month in Wave card payments, Wave's "free" starts costing more than Quidbill's $19/month subscription. Quidbill does not remove external payment fees, but it does keep the invoicing product from taking a percentage cut.
Why I Built This
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. $19/month for the product, no Quidbill percentage cut, no surprises.
When Wave Still Makes Sense
I'm honest about this: Wave is the right choice if:
- You invoice less than $500/month in credit card payments
- You primarily accept bank transfers or checks (no fees)
- You need full accounting features, not just invoicing
- You're testing freelancing and not sure if it will stick
But if you're earning real money and want to keep more of it, the math doesn't lie: flat pricing beats "free."
Migration path
Switch in Under 20 Minutes
Export from Wave, import to Quidbill, start saving
Start your migration$19/month. Cancel anytime. 3 free invoices first.
- 01
Export your Wave data
Download your client list and invoice history from Wave's export feature.
- 02
Sign up for Quidbill (30 seconds)
Create your account and complete the quick business setup wizard. No credit card required.
- 03
Import your clients (5 minutes)
Upload your client CSV or add them manually. Either way, it's fast.
- 04
Add your payment instructions
Use bank transfer, PayPal, Wise, card terminal, or your preferred external method. Track the result in Quidbill.
- 05
Start saving money immediately
Create your first invoice and enjoy predictable, transparent pricing.
Questions
Questions from Wave Users
How is 'free' more expensive than $19/month?
Wave is free to use but charges 2.9% + $0.60 on every credit card payment you accept through Wave. If you invoice $5,000/month that way, that's roughly $146 in fees. Quidbill charges a predictable subscription for invoicing and tracking, and you choose the external payment method.
What payment processors can I use with Quidbill?
Quidbill does not process invoice recipient payments for you. You can accept bank transfers, checks, PayPal, Wise, card terminal payments, or another external method, then mark invoices as paid in Quidbill.
Does Quidbill charge any transaction fees?
No. Quidbill charges a flat $19/month (or $99/year founding member pricing). I never take a percentage of your payments. Your payment processor may have their own fees, but I don't add anything on top.
What if I only invoice a small amount each month?
If you invoice less than roughly $600/month through Wave card payments, Wave's processing fees may be less than Quidbill's subscription. But predictable invoicing costs, stronger branding, reminders, and payment-method flexibility can still matter.
Can I keep using Wave for accounting?
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.
How do I calculate my real Wave costs?
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.
Final call
Ready to Stop Paying Hidden Fees?
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.
Founding annual
$149/yr$99per year
No card required3 free invoicesExport anytime