WorkCentral vs Wave
Great bookkeeping. But where's the project management?
Wave is excellent free accounting software. But if you're a freelancer managing client projects, tracking time, and writing quotes, Wave leaves you reaching for other tools. WorkCentral fills those gaps.
Different tools for different jobs
Wave is accounting software that happens to have invoicing. WorkCentral is project management and invoicing software built for freelancers. They solve different problems — and they work well together.
Wave is great at
Keeping your books in order
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Bank account connections & reconciliation
- Financial reports (P&L, balance sheet)
- Payroll (US & Canada)
- Tax preparation support
WorkCentral is great at
Managing the client-facing workflow
- AI-powered quote generation
- Project management with Kanban boards
- Time tracking with task-level timers
- Invoicing from tracked time & expenses
- Online payments via Stripe
Use them together: WorkCentral handles quotes, projects, time tracking, and client invoicing. Wave (or QuickBooks, or Xero) handles your books. Accounting integration is on our roadmap to make this seamless.
Side-by-side comparison
Comparing what freelancers need to manage clients and projects day-to-day
| Feature | WorkCentral | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Quote / estimate creation | AI-powered | Not available |
| Quote → Project conversion | Automatic with AI tasks | Not available |
| Project management | Full (Kanban, tasks, statuses) | Not available |
| Time tracking | Built into task cards | Not available |
| Invoicing | From time + expenses | Unlimited, customizable |
| Expense tracking | With billable expenses | With bank import |
| Online payments | Stripe (0.25%–1.5% platform fee) | 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction |
| AI features | Quote gen, task breakdown | None |
| Team features | Business plan, no per-user fees | Pro plan, multiple users |
| Double-entry accounting | No (not accounting software) | Yes, all plans |
| Bank reconciliation | No | Automatic (Pro plan) |
| API access | REST API (Business plan) | No API |
| Accounting integration | Coming soon (QuickBooks, Xero) | Is the accounting software |
What freelancers add on top of Wave
Wave handles the books. But freelancers who manage client projects still need these:
Proposals & Quotes
Wave has no estimate or quote feature. Freelancers use PandaDoc, Bonsai, or Word docs to send proposals. WorkCentral generates quotes with AI and lets clients accept, reject, or request changes online.
Project Management
Wave has no project features at all. Most freelancers add Trello, Asana, or a spreadsheet. WorkCentral has Kanban boards with drag-and-drop, task priorities, assignments, and status tracking.
Time Tracking
Wave has no time tracking. Freelancers add Toggl, Harvest, or Clockify. WorkCentral has timers built into every task card, with automatic time entry creation and rate hierarchies.
Quote → Project Flow
When a client accepts a WorkCentral quote, it automatically becomes a project with tasks. Nothing in Wave connects estimates to actual project work.
Time → Invoice Flow
WorkCentral's Smart Invoicing suggests invoices from your tracked time and billable expenses. No manual data transfer from a separate time tracker into your invoicing tool.
Lower Payment Fees
Wave charges 2.9% + $0.60 per credit card transaction. WorkCentral's platform fee is 0.25%–1.5% depending on plan, on top of standard Stripe processing.
When Wave might be all you need
WorkCentral isn't a replacement for accounting software. Here's when Wave alone might be the right choice:
- •Your work is primarily one-off invoicing without ongoing projects
- •You need bank reconciliation and double-entry bookkeeping
- •You need payroll for employees
- •You don't track billable hours or manage project tasks
For many freelancers, the best setup is both: WorkCentral for the client workflow and Wave (or QuickBooks or Xero) for the books. We're building accounting integrations to make this seamless.
Ready to manage projects, not just books?
Start free with up to 5 clients, unlimited projects, AI-powered quotes, Kanban boards, time tracking, and invoicing. No credit card required.
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