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Honest Comparison

Experi vs Wave

Both Experi and Wave offer free invoicing. But Wave is built for the North American market. Here's how they compare for UK businesses.

Quick Verdict

Wave is a genuinely free platform with solid accounting features - but it's designed for the US and Canadian market. UK-specific needs like VAT rates, CIS deductions, and statutory late payment interest aren't Wave's strength. If you're a UK business, Experi is built specifically for you.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureExperiWave
Free planYes - 5 invoicesYes - unlimited invoices
Paid plan price£9/mo Pro (unlimited)Free (revenue from payments)
UK VAT supportFull multi-rate VATBasic tax rates only
CIS deductionsBuilt-in CIS supportNot supported
Late payment interestUK statutory interestNot available
Payment remindersAutomated chasingBasic reminders
Bank connectionsNot includedBank feeds (US/Canada mainly)
Accounting featuresInvoicing focusedFull double-entry accounting
Ads / brandingNo ads, no forced brandingAd-supported platform
UK focusBuilt for UK businessesUS/Canada focused
QuotesQuotes with conversionEstimates
Credit notesFull credit note supportCredit notes available
Multi-currency20+ currenciesMultiple currencies
Recurring invoicesAutomated recurringRecurring invoicing
Data privacyGDPR compliant, UK hostedUS-based data storage

= Experi advantage| = Wave advantage

Why Choose Experi

  • Purpose-built for UK businesses and tax requirements
  • No ads or unwanted branding on your invoices
  • UK VAT, CIS, and late payment interest built-in
  • Superior automated payment chasing
  • GDPR compliant with UK data considerations
  • UK-focused support and documentation
  • Intelligence layer: cash flow forecast, client health scores, revenue targets
  • Bank reconciliation via CSV upload and auto-matching

Why Choose Wave

  • Completely free with unlimited invoices
  • Includes full accounting features at no cost
  • Bank connections available (primarily US/Canada)
  • Receipt scanning on mobile
  • Longer track record in the market
  • Payment processing integration

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Experi if:

UK freelancers and businesses who need proper VAT support, CIS compliance, and UK-specific invoicing features without ads or US-centric design.

Choose Wave if:

Cost-conscious businesses (especially in US/Canada) who want free accounting alongside invoicing and don't need UK-specific tax features.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wave really free?
Wave's invoicing and accounting are free, funded by payment processing fees and advertising. However, the UK bank connections are limited compared to US/Canada, and you'll see ads within the platform.
Does Wave support UK VAT properly?
Wave has basic sales tax features, but it wasn't designed for UK VAT. It doesn't natively support multiple VAT rates (standard, reduced, zero-rated) the way Experi does, and it doesn't handle CIS deductions at all.
Is my data safe with Wave?
Wave stores data on US-based servers. For UK businesses concerned about GDPR and data sovereignty, Experi's UK-focused approach may be preferable. Both platforms use encryption and security best practices.
Why choose Experi over free unlimited invoicing with Wave?
If you're a UK business, Experi's free plan gives you compliant invoicing that works with UK tax rules. Wave's unlimited invoices don't help if the VAT calculations are wrong or CIS deductions are missing. Quality of invoicing matters more than quantity.

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