Pilot 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.
| Pilot pricing | Wave pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $99/mo | $19/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 2 |
| Free plan | — | |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Pricing model | flat-rate | flat-rate |
Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →
Essentials
- Cash-basis bookkeeping using data from your bank and credit cards
- Standard chart of accounts
- Year-end package for your tax preparer
- Instant AI answers about past transactions and current cash flow, plus run scenarios to plan ahead
- Support through in-app messaging
Core
- US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains, and reviews your books
- Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping that pulls from your bank, credit cards, payroll, AP, inventory, and payment platforms
- Bill management for up to 10 vendor bills per month
- Custom chart of accounts
- Reports on the 10th business day
- Support from your dedicated team in-app, email, and over the phone
Custom
- Keep your existing QuickBooks account and historical data
- Support for complex business structures
- Custom workflows and reporting
- Reports on the 6th business day
- Full accounts receivable
- Full accounts payable
- Payroll administration
- CFO advisory, financial planning, and fundraising support. Connect with your dedicated CFO in-app, by email, phone, or Slack
STARTER Plan
- 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 Plan
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
Pilot vs Wave FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Wave is the cheaper option, starting at $19/mo vs $99/mo for Pilot.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Wave has a free plan. Pilot doesn't — you'll need to pay from day one.
- 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. Pilot: Pilot sits in the premium tier of startup bookkeeping services — well above DIY tools like QuickBooks or Xero, and priced to compete with Bench and Puzzle rather than freelance bookkeepers. They're clearly chasing venture-backed startups who'll trade cash for reliability and investor-ready financials. Wave: This is a budget play through and through, undercutting QuickBooks and Xero by a wide margin — those run $30-90+/mo before add-ons. Wave's betting that freelancers and micro-businesses will trade some polish and depth for a near-free (or literally free) tool, then get sticky enough to pay $19 once cash flow allows.
Still deciding? See the best Pilot alternatives or the best Wave alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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