Wave vs Square
Side-by-side comparison for 2026
Wave
Free accounting and invoicing software for small businesses
6.8/10
FreeFree planfreemium
Try Wave →VS
Square
All-in-one payment and point-of-sale system for businesses
7.6/10
2.6% + $0.30 per online transactionFree trialfreemium
Try Square →Our Verdict
🏆 Square wins on overall editorial score (7.6/10)
Square scored higher across our editorial dimensions. That said, the best tool depends on your specific use case — check the breakdown below.
Editorial Scores
Pricing
Wave
FreeFree planfreemium
Square
2.6% + $0.30 per online transactionFree trialfreemium
Pros
✓ Wave
- ✓Completely free for core features
- ✓Simple and intuitive interface
- ✓No credit card required to start
- ✓Mobile app available
- ✓Receipt scanning with OCR
✓ Square
- ✓Excellent POS system integration
- ✓Hardware options available (card readers, terminals)
- ✓Inventory management included
- ✓Simple pricing structure
Cons
✗ Wave
- Limited advanced reporting
- No inventory management
- Fewer integrations than paid competitors
- Limited customer support
✗ Square
- Limited advanced features for enterprise
- Transaction fees can add up quickly
- Customer support response times vary