VendorVS
Melio logo

Melio

Simple B2B payments

vs
Wave logo

Wave

Free accounting for small businesses

Melio vs Wave Comparison

Compare Melio and Wave side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.

The bottom line

Melio and Wave are both strong contenders in the accounting space, but they serve different needs. Wave edges ahead with an overall score of 72/100 compared to Melio's 66/100. Both are equally user-friendly (9/10 each). On pricing, both offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing. Wave rates higher for value for money (9/10 vs 7/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.

At a glance

MelioWave
Our score66/10072/100
Starting priceFreeFree
Free tierYesYes
Best forSimple B2B paymentsFree accounting for small businesses

Pricing comparison

Melio logo

Melio

Free tier available
Go (Free)Free
Core$25/mo
Boost$55/mo
Unlimited$80/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

Wave logo

Wave

Free tier available
FreeFree
Pro$19/mo

Pricing verified 2026-03-19

Calculate your cost

Melio logo
MelioGo (Free)
Free/mo
Free/yr
Wave logo
WaveFree
Free/mo
Free/yr

Feature comparison

core

FeatureMelioWave
InvoicingYesYes
Expense trackingNoYes
Bank reconciliationNoYes
Financial reportsNoYes

advanced

FeatureMelioWave
PayrollNoAdd-on ($40+/mo)
InventoryNoNo
Multi-currencyNoNo
Tax filing1099 (Boost+)No

integrations

FeatureMelioWave
QuickBooksYesNo
XeroYesNo
ShopifyNoNo
ZapierNoYes
StripeNoNo
PayPalNoYes

Ratings breakdown

Melio

Ease of use
9/10
Value for money
7/10
Features
5/10
Support
7/10

Wave

Ease of use
9/10
Value for money
9/10
Features
6/10
Support
5/10

Choose Melio if...

  • You want a free tier to get started
  • You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
  • You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Try Melio free

Choose Wave if...

  • You want a free tier to get started
  • You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
  • Getting strong value for money is a priority
Try Wave free

Frequently asked questions

Is Melio or Wave better?

Wave scores 72/100 compared to Melio's 66/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — Melio excels at ease of use (9/10) while Wave scores 9/10.

How much does Melio cost compared to Wave?

Melio starts at free (free tier available). Wave starts at free (free tier available). Melio is the more affordable option.

Does Melio or Wave have a free plan?

Yes, both Melio and Wave offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our rankings or recommendations.

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