If you need
Focused UK quotes, invoices and payment chasing
Compare: Experi
Free for up to 5 invoices total, or £9/month for Pro. It does not replace bookkeeping or tax-filing software.
Reviewed 26 September 2026
Best Wave Accounting Alternatives UK (2026)
Compare six supported options by the job you need done: focused invoicing, free invoicing, low-cost bookkeeping or full UK accounting.
Experi publishes this comparison and sells Experi Pro. Every option below links to an official pricing or plan page.
Quick answer
Choose by the job you need done
Wave says it ended product and customer support outside the US and Canada. Existing UK users can still create documents and manual bookkeeping records, but cannot send invoices or reminders through Wave, and Wave does not guarantee compliance outside its supported regions. For invoicing, compare Experi or Zoho Invoice. For bookkeeping, bank feeds and tax workflows, compare Pandle, FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks.
Wave accounting alternatives at a glance
If you need
A free invoicing app with a larger allowance
Compare: Zoho Invoice
Zoho publishes a free UK plan for up to 500 invoices per year, two users and three projects, with Zoho branding.
If you need
Low-cost UK bookkeeping and MTD features
Compare: Pandle
Pandle publishes a free plan and a £5/month plus VAT Pro plan with added automation such as bank feeds and receipt uploads.
If you need
Broader accounting, bank feeds and tax workflows
Compare: FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks
These are accounting suites rather than invoicing-only tools. Compare current plan limits, your business type and your accountant's preferred workflow.
When it makes sense to compare Wave alternatives
- Your business is based in the UK, where Wave says product and customer support has ended.
- You need to send invoices or reminders inside the product rather than download a PDF or share a link.
- You need a provider that publishes UK bookkeeping, bank-feed or Making Tax Digital support.
- You want a supported migration path before Wave changes access for existing accounts.
Compare 6 Wave alternatives
Experi
Focused invoicingSole traders and microbusinesses that mainly need invoicing
Free: 5 invoices total · Pro: £9/month
A focused UK invoicing service for quotes, invoices, payment status and, on Pro, scheduled reminders. Choose it only if you do not need Wave's bookkeeping ledger replaced.
Check Experi pricingReasons to shortlist
- Quotes, invoices and payment tracking in one focused workflow
- UK VAT, CIS and reverse-charge calculations to review
- Automated payment reminders on Pro
- Free invoice generator available without an account
Check before choosing
- Not bookkeeping, accounting or tax-filing software
- Connected read-only bank feeds are limited to eligible Pro workspaces; no payroll
- Free invoice allowance is a lifetime cap, not monthly
Pandle
Low-cost accountingUK microbusinesses wanting low-cost bookkeeping
Free · Pro £5/month + VAT
UK bookkeeping and accounting software with a permanent free plan and a low-cost Pro tier. It is a closer Wave replacement than an invoicing-only service.
Check Pandle pricingReasons to shortlist
- Free bookkeeping plan
- Quotes, invoices and business reports
- Published VAT return and MTD Income Tax features
- Pro adds bank feeds, receipt uploads and more automation
Check before choosing
- Some time-saving features require Pro
- Broader bookkeeping setup than an invoicing-only tool
- Check the exact MTD workflow and eligibility for your business
Zoho Invoice
Free invoicingBusinesses wanting a larger free invoicing allowance
Free · up to 500 invoices/year
A free invoicing product with UK VAT invoice support, quotes, recurring invoices, time tracking and a customer portal. It is not a full bookkeeping replacement for Wave.
Check Zoho Invoice pricingReasons to shortlist
- No paid subscription or card required
- Up to 500 invoices per year
- Quotes, recurring invoices, projects and time tracking
- VAT invoice support and customer portal
Check before choosing
- Limited to two users and three projects
- Zoho branding appears on the free product
- Does not replace a bookkeeping ledger or UK tax filing workflow
FreeAgent
UK tax workflowsUK businesses wanting accounting and tax workflows together
Check pricing for your business type
UK accounting software with plans for sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and landlords. It combines invoicing with bank feeds, expenses and tax workflows.
Check FreeAgent pricingReasons to shortlist
- Making Tax Digital-compatible plans
- Invoicing, estimates, expenses and bank feeds
- Business-type tax workflows and UK support
- Qualifying NatWest-group business accounts may include FreeAgent
Check before choosing
- Broader and costlier than an invoicing-only tool
- Pricing differs by business type
- Some capture and marketplace features are paid add-ons
Xero
Broad accountingBusinesses wanting a broad accounting platform
Ignite: £18/month excl. VAT standard price
A broad cloud-accounting platform with UK invoicing, bank reconciliation, reports, VAT returns and Making Tax Digital features.
Check Xero UK pricingReasons to shortlist
- Accounting, invoicing and bank reconciliation
- Published VAT and MTD Income Tax features
- Multiple plans with wider reporting and payroll options
- Large accounting integration ecosystem
Check before choosing
- Ignite is limited to 20 invoices and 10 bills
- Standard recurring price is higher than focused invoicing tools
- May be more software than a simple invoice workflow needs
QuickBooks
Accounting suiteBusinesses needing accounting, tax and invoicing together
Check current UK pricing
A full UK accounting suite with invoicing, automated bank feeds, reports and HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital features across its plan range.
Check QuickBooks UK pricingReasons to shortlist
- Accounting, invoices and automated bank feeds
- Published MTD for Income Tax and VAT features
- Receipt capture and mileage tracking
- CIS and wider reporting options are published
Check before choosing
- A full accounting setup rather than a focused invoice tool
- Plan scope and promotional prices change
- Check user, feature and add-on limits before choosing
When staying with Wave may be better
- Your business is based in the US or Canada and Wave's supported plans fit your accounting workflow.
- You have an existing UK account, only need manual records and downloadable documents, and accept that support and compliance are not guaranteed.
- You need time to export and reconcile historical records before moving; keep the old account available until the replacement balances are checked.
Inside Experi
See the invoice workflow before choosing
Experi keeps the customer, line items, totals, payment status and follow-up actions together. It is deliberately narrower than the accounting suites in this comparison.
View the complete workflow
Need invoicing rather than a full accounting system?
Experi is not accounting software and does not file tax returns. If you only need quotes, invoices, payment tracking and reminders, test it with up to five invoices total on Free or use Pro for £9/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use Wave Accounting in the UK?
Wave says existing accounts outside the US and Canada remain active for now. Existing users can create documents and manual bookkeeping records, but cannot send invoices or reminders through Wave. Wave also says compliance is not guaranteed outside its supported regions and account access may change in future.
What is the best Wave Accounting alternative in the UK?
Choose by scope. Pandle, FreeAgent, Xero and QuickBooks are accounting options. Experi is a focused option for quotes, invoices, payment tracking and reminders, but is not bookkeeping or tax-filing software. Zoho Invoice is a free invoicing alternative with a larger annual allowance.
Is there a free Wave alternative for UK businesses?
Yes. Pandle publishes a free bookkeeping plan, and Zoho Invoice publishes a free invoicing product with up to 500 invoices a year. Experi Free covers up to five invoices total and three clients; its no-account invoice generator can also create and download a reviewed PDF.
Can Experi replace Wave Accounting?
Only for an invoicing-led workflow. Experi handles quotes, invoices, payment status and reminders. Eligible Pro workspaces can use gated, read-only connected bank feeds, but Experi is not a bookkeeping ledger and does not file VAT or Making Tax Digital returns.
How should I move away from Wave?
Export and retain the records available to you, choose the replacement by workflow, and test it with a small set of real but non-sensitive records. Reconcile opening balances and tax history before relying on the new system, and check the migration with your accountant before cancelling or abandoning the old account.