MarginEdge vs Wave Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| MarginEdge | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $350/mo | $19/mo |
| Number of plans | 2 | 2 |
| Free plan | ||
| Free trial | — | — |
| Pricing model | flat-rate | flat-rate |
MarginEdge
- Product price monitoring & alerts
- Easier inventory tools
- Recipe management with robust menu analysis
- Free vendor statement reconciliation and Bill Pay
- No-fuss invoice processing, and more!
MarginEdge + Freepour
- All the insights MarginEdge offers
- The Freepour smart scale
- Precise liquor counts
- Increased team accountability
- Lightning fast inventory
STARTER
- Create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills, and bookkeeping records
- Option to accept online payments
- Invoice on-the-go with the mobile app
- Manage cash flow and customers in one dashboard
Pro
Popular- Option to accept online payments at a discounted rate
- Auto-import bank transactions
- Auto-merge and categorize bank transactions
- Digitally capture unlimited receipts and track expenses
- Automate late payment reminders
MarginEdge vs Wave FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Wave is the cheaper option, starting at $19/mo vs $350/mo for MarginEdge.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Both offer free plans, so you can try each without paying. Start with whichever fits your workflow better and upgrade when you hit the limits.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a flat-rate model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. MarginEdge: At $350-500/mo flat with no free plan or trial, MarginEdge sits toward the premium end of restaurant back-office software — this isn't a self-serve tool for single-location mom-and-pop shops testing the waters. They're clearly chasing multi-unit groups and growing chains who can justify the spend and eventually graduate to custom pricing. Wave: Wave undercuts QuickBooks and Xero hard, positioning itself as the budget-friendly entry point for tiny businesses that don't want to pay $30-70/mo for accounting software. The $9.50 promo pricing for the first 3 months is clearly aimed at nudging free-tier users to just try paying before they've fully committed.
Still deciding? See the best MarginEdge alternatives or the best Wave alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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