Wave vs InvoiceGrid — Best Free Option for Tracking Unpaid Invoices?
Wave is a free accounting platform that offers invoicing, receipt scanning, and basic accounting. Since being acquired by H&R Block, it remains free for invoicing but charges for payment processing. InvoiceGrid doesn't do accounting — it focuses solely on tracking who owes you money and helping you follow up. If you need free accounting, Wave is strong. If payment chasing is your bottleneck, InvoiceGrid is purpose-built.
What Is Wave?
Wave is free accounting software that provides invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning. Acquired by H&R Block, it offers a free tier for basic invoicing while charging fees for payment processing and payroll. Visit the Wave website for full pricing and feature details.
InvoiceGrid takes a different approach. Instead of being a full accounting tool, it focuses entirely on tracking unpaid invoices and helping you follow up effectively. The visual Kanban board, chase history, and professional email generator are built specifically for chasing payments.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | InvoiceGrid | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Kanban Board | ✓ | — |
| Today View Dashboard | ✓ | — |
| Chase History Per Invoice | ✓ | — |
| Email Generator (5 Tones) | ✓ | — |
| Follow-up Schedule Planner | ✓ | — |
| Invoice Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoice PDF Creation | — | ✓ |
| Expense/Receipt Tracking | — | ✓ |
| Bank Reconciliation | — | ✓ |
| Online Payment Collection | — | ✓ |
| Payment Processing Fees | None | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | Free (fees on payments) |
InvoiceGrid Pros & Cons
Pros
- Visual Kanban board for invoice tracking — see your pipeline at a glance
- Today View shows exactly who to chase each morning
- Chase history logs every follow-up per invoice
- Professional email generator with 5 tones (friendly to collections)
- Follow-up schedule planner for strategic chasing
- Purpose-built for payment follow-ups — no accounting complexity
- Simple pricing: $12/month or $120/year, no payment processing fees
Cons
- Not a full accounting system — receivables tracking only
- No invoice PDF creation
- No receipt scanning or expense tracking
- Paid product (free tools available)
Wave Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free invoicing and accounting
- Receipt scanning and expense tracking
- Bank connection for reconciliation
- Double-entry accounting
- Multi-currency invoicing
- Invoice PDF creation and sending
- Payroll add-on available
Cons
- No visual Kanban board for payment tracking
- No chase history or follow-up logging per invoice
- No Today View for daily prioritization
- Payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.60 per transaction)
- Basic reminders — no tone control or email generator
- Acquired by H&R Block — product direction may shift
The Verdict
Choose Wave if you need free accounting, receipt scanning, and bank reconciliation. Choose InvoiceGrid if your main pain point is tracking outstanding invoices and chasing payments — its Kanban board, chase history, and email generator are unmatched for that workflow.
Important: InvoiceGrid is Not Accounting Software
InvoiceGrid is intentionally not an accounting tool. It does not create invoices, track expenses, handle taxes, or manage payroll. Its sole focus is helping freelancers, agencies, consultancies, and businesses of all sizes track unpaid invoices and chase overdue payments — with a visual Kanban board, chase history per invoice, a today view dashboard, and a professional email generator.
If you need full accounting, InvoiceGrid is not the right tool. But if your bottleneck is knowing who owes you money and following up professionally — InvoiceGrid was built exactly for that.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wave really free?+
Wave is free for invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning. You pay processing fees (2.9% + $0.60) when clients pay online. InvoiceGrid has no payment processing since it focuses on tracking and reminders, not collecting payments.
Does Wave have a Kanban board for invoice tracking?+
No. Wave uses a list/table view for invoices. InvoiceGrid provides a visual Kanban board where you drag invoices between stages (Pending → Reminded → Follow-up → Paid) — built specifically for the chase workflow.
Can I use InvoiceGrid with Wave?+
Yes. Create invoices in Wave for accounting and payment collection. Use InvoiceGrid to visually track which invoices are outstanding and manage your follow-up strategy with the chase history and email generator.
Ready to Track Your Invoices Visually?
Stop losing track of who owes you money. InvoiceGrid gives you a visual Kanban board, chase history, and professional email reminders.