Quick answer
Wave is a genuinely free invoicing and accounting tool - but it’s built for the United States and Canada. It bills in US dollars, its online card payments aren’t available to Australian businesses, and its tax handling isn’t tailored to the ATO. Free Invoice App is the Australian-built equivalent: a free plan, GST and ABN handled correctly, AUD throughout, and pay-by-card via Stripe on every plan.
Honest disclosure
We make Free Invoice App, so we’re not a neutral party. Wave is a good product and for North American sole traders it’s an easy recommendation. The points below are about fit for Australia, based on Wave’s public documentation as of 2026. Always confirm current details on Wave’s own site, since plans and regional support change.
The three things that matter for Australians
1. Currency: Wave thinks in USD
Wave is priced and operated in US dollars. You can create invoices in other currencies, but the product, billing, and support are oriented around North America. Free Invoice App is AUD end to end - your plan, your invoices, and your card settlements.
2. Card payments aren’t available in Australia
Wave’s online payments (letting a client click and pay an invoice by card) are restricted to supported regions and aren’t available to Australian businesses. That removes one of the biggest get-paid-faster levers. Free Invoice App includes pay-by-card on every plan via Stripe, settling to your own Stripe account, with the invoice marking itself paid automatically.
3. GST and tax invoices aren’t ATO-tailored
Wave lets you add a sales-tax line and rename it “GST”, but it isn’t built around Australian rules: no ATO-specific tax invoice formatting, no native ABN field, no BAS-oriented reporting. Free Invoice App is built around ATO tax invoice requirements, handles 10% GST per line, and gets the wording right whether or not you’re registered for GST.
Pricing (2026)
Free Invoice App Wave Currency AUD USD Free plan Yes (7 sends/mo) Yes (Starter) Paid entry plan A$5/mo (Pro) ~US$16/mo (Pro) Top plan A$20/mo (Pro+) ~US$16/mo (Pro) Card payments in AU Yes (Stripe) Not available Setup cost A$0 A$0
Feature comparison
Free Invoice App Wave Free plan Yes Yes Built for Australia Yes No (US/Canada) GST / ABN handled natively Yes No ATO-compliant tax invoices Yes Generic Pay by card (AU) Yes (Stripe) Not available Recurring invoices Yes (Pro) Yes Scheduled send Yes (Pro) No Custom email domain Yes (Pro+) No Per-service T&Cs Yes (Pro+) No AI receipt scanning Yes (all plans) Limited Expense tracking Yes Yes P&L / revenue reporting Yes (AU-oriented) Yes (US-oriented) Double-entry accounting No Yes
Wave actually does more accounting than Free Invoice App (it’s a full double-entry ledger). The trade-off is that none of it is shaped for Australia. For a sole trader who just needs ATO-ready invoices, AUD, and card payments, the Australian fit matters more than the extra ledger features.
Where Wave is the right answer
- You’re based in the US or Canada - this is who Wave is built for, and it’s a strong free option there.
- You want a free double-entry ledger and you’re comfortable doing your own Australian tax mapping on top of a US-oriented tool.
Where Free Invoice App is the right answer
- You invoice Australian clients and want GST, ABN, and tax invoice wording handled for you.
- You want clients to pay by card in AUD without chasing bank transfers.
- You want a free plan that’s genuinely built for your market, with paid upgrades at A$5 and A$20 a month when you need automation.
- You invoice from your phone - see the best free invoice apps in Australia.
How to decide
If you run an Australian business and want a free tool that speaks GST, ABN, and AUD, and lets clients pay by card, Free Invoice App is the better fit. If you’re in North America, Wave is excellent. Start free - 7 sends per month forever, no card required.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wave free in Australia?
Wave still has a free Starter tier, plus a paid Pro plan in USD. The real issue for Australians is fit: it’s built for the US and Canada, and its online payments aren’t available here.
Does Wave support Australian GST and tax invoices?
Only generically. You can add a tax line called “GST”, but there’s no ATO-specific formatting, native ABN field, or BAS reporting. Free Invoice App is built around all three.
Can my Australian clients pay a Wave invoice by card?
Generally no - Wave’s online payments aren’t available to Australian businesses. Free Invoice App offers pay-by-card via Stripe on every plan, in AUD.
What’s the best Australian alternative to Wave?
Free Invoice App is the closest like-for-like: free to start, GST and ABN done right, AUD throughout, card payments, and AI receipt scanning.