Comparison
InvoiceWriteNow vs Wave: free invoicing for South African businesses
Wave is popular because it is free. Its payment processing and payroll are only available in the United States and Canada, which is the first thing a South African business should know.
InvoiceWriteNow is best for
South African businesses that need Rand invoices with local payment options, VAT handling and local support.
Wave is best for
US and Canadian businesses that want free accounting with built-in card payments.
Side by side
| Feature | InvoiceWriteNow | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Starter plan; Pro R199/month (R159 annual); Business R449/month (R359 annual). Priced in Rand. | Free core; paid add-ons. |
| Scope | Invoicing and quotations only, deliberately. | Invoicing and accounting. |
| VAT and tax invoices | 15% VAT and SARS tax invoice fields built in; switch off if not registered. | Generic sales tax; no South African tax invoice template. |
| Payments | EFT details on the invoice; PayFast for card, Instant EFT, SnapScan, Zapper and more. | Built-in payments only in the US and Canada. |
| Send from your own email | Send from your own email address (SMTP) on Pro and Business. | Wave mail relay. |
| Recurring invoices | Recurring monthly invoices on Pro and Business. | Yes. |
| Quotations | Quotations convert to invoices in one click. | Yes (estimates). |
| Team | Up to 10 team members with approvals on Business. | Collaborators supported. |
| Support | Email support from South Africa. | North America focused. |
Wave details are summarised from its public website and may change; check its pricing page for current figures. InvoiceWriteNow pricing is shown excluding VAT.
About Wave
Wave (Wave Financial) offers free invoicing and accounting software with paid add-ons. Wave Payments and Wave Payroll are available only to businesses in the United States and Canada. Businesses elsewhere can use the invoicing and accounting features but not the built-in payments. Check Wave's site for current details.
Verdict
If you are in South Africa, Wave's headline features (payments, payroll) are not available to you. InvoiceWriteNow gives you a free plan that is actually built for where you are.
Frequently asked questions
Can South African businesses use Wave?
The invoicing and accounting features can be used, but Wave Payments and Payroll are limited to the US and Canada.
Does InvoiceWriteNow have a free plan?
Yes. Starter is free with 5 invoices and 3 quotations a month, no card required.
Ready to send your first invoice?
Free plan, no card, first document in two minutes. Upgrade when the invoices start stacking up.