Paddle vs Wave
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tool.
| Paddle | Wave | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Merchant of record payments for SaaS and software companies. | Free accounting, invoicing, and receipts for freelancers and small businesses. |
| Category | Finance Invoicing | Finance Invoicing |
| Pricing | Usage Based | Freemium |
| Skill Level | Developer | Beginner |
| Platforms | Web, Browser, Api Headless | Web, Browser, Ios, Android |
| Use Cases | Solo Indie, Small Team, Side Project | Solo Indie, Client Work |
| Traits | Fast To Set Up, Good Api, Active Development, Eu Gdpr Compliant | Has Free Tier, Fast To Set Up |
| Best For | Best for SaaS founders and indie developers who want to sell globally without dealing with international tax compliance and payment processor integrations themselves. | Best for freelancers and sole traders who need proper accounting and invoicing without a monthly software subscription. |
Paddle
Paddle is a merchant of record payment platform for SaaS and software companies, available via web and API, that handles checkout, international VAT and sales tax compliance, subscription management, fraud protection, and chargeback resolution. As the legal seller of record, Paddle remits taxes in over 200 countries on behalf of the seller — developers never interact with international tax authorities for software sales. Paddle Billing supports one-time purchases, subscriptions, usage-based billing, and free trials. Pricing is usage-based at 5% plus $0.50 per transaction with no monthly subscription. Paddle is used by SaaS founders and indie developers who want to sell software globally and remain legally compliant with international tax obligations without building their own tax remittance infrastructure or hiring a tax accountant for each market.
View detailsWave
Wave is a free cloud-based accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning platform for freelancers, sole traders, and micro-businesses, available on web, iOS, and Android. It provides double-entry bookkeeping, unlimited invoicing with online payment acceptance, receipt scanning via the mobile app, and basic financial reporting at no monthly cost. Payroll processing and payment processing (credit cards, ACH) are optional paid add-ons with per-transaction fees. Wave is the strongest free accounting option for self-employed individuals and small businesses that do not need inventory management, project-based billing, or multi-currency accounting. It is used by freelance designers, consultants, photographers, and small service businesses who need proper bookkeeping and professional invoicing without a monthly software subscription.
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