Wave Reviews & Ratings October 2026
Wave reviews: the verdict
Reviewers report a mixed experience with Wave, rating it 2.9 out of 5 across 602 reviews, with a slight improvement to 3.0 over the last 12 months based on 368 reviews. Quality receives 206 mentions, split evenly between positive and negative feedback, with users noting both reliability and recurring issues. Customer service is the most criticized area, with 192 mentions and 84% negative sentiment, particularly around unresponsiveness and lack of phone support. Ordering and website functionality draw 110 mentions, 59% negative, citing navigation and checkout problems. Billing and payment issues are raised in 88 mentions, with 88% negative feedback, including errors and unclear charges.
Key findings
- Across 602 reviews on 2 portals, the recency-weighted average is 2.9 out of 5.
- The last 12 months average 3.0 out of 5 from 368 reviews (+0.1).
- Quality is the most positively rated theme: 50% of 206 mentions are positive.
- Returns & refunds draws the most criticism: 95% of 22 mentions are negative.
- 64% of the reviews come from Google Play.
Derived from the analyzed reviews; each chip links to the page with the cited evidence.
602 reviews · 2 portals · 2024-09 – 2026-10 · Methodology ↗ · Verify a quote ↗
What changed in September 2026
In September 2026, 31 new reviews were analyzed; the average rating moved from 1.7 to 1.5 stars.
- New reviews
- 31
- Average rating
- 1.5/5 (1.7 ↓)
- Positive share
- 10% (14% ↓)
Most-discussed themes
- Customer service — unchanged
- Billing & payment — -9 vs prior month
- Quality — unchanged
- Value for money — unchanged
- Returns & refunds — +2 vs prior month
Wave rating trend and sentiment
Months with fewer than 5 rated reviews are left out.
Data as table
| Month | Avg. rating | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11 | 3.17 | 12 |
| 2025-12 | 2.40 | 15 |
| 2026-01 | 2.18 | 17 |
| 2026-02 | 2.82 | 11 |
| 2026-03 | 1.11 | 9 |
| 2026-04 | 2.50 | 16 |
| 2026-05 | 4.14 | 159 |
| 2026-06 | 2.36 | 33 |
| 2026-07 | 2.08 | 25 |
| 2026-08 | 1.71 | 28 |
| 2026-09 | 1.52 | 31 |
| 2026-10 | 2.20 | 5 |
Data as table
| Month | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11 | 42% | 8% | 50% | 12 |
| 2025-12 | 33% | 0% | 67% | 15 |
| 2026-01 | 29% | 0% | 71% | 17 |
| 2026-02 | 36% | 18% | 45% | 11 |
| 2026-03 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 9 |
| 2026-04 | 38% | 0% | 63% | 16 |
| 2026-05 | 70% | 9% | 20% | 159 |
| 2026-06 | 27% | 6% | 67% | 33 |
| 2026-07 | 24% | 4% | 72% | 25 |
| 2026-08 | 14% | 4% | 82% | 28 |
| 2026-09 | 10% | 0% | 90% | 31 |
| 2026-10 | 0% | 40% | 60% | 5 |
Themes over time
Data as table
| Month | Quality | Customer service | Ordering & website | Billing & payment | Value for money | Communication |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | - | - | - | - | - | 4.0 |
| 2024-12 | - | - | - | - | - | 1.0 |
| 2025-05 | - | - | - | - | - | 1.0 |
| 2025-07 | - | - | - | - | - | 1.7 |
| 2025-10 | - | - | 2.3 | - | - | - |
| 2025-11 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | - |
| 2025-12 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | - |
| 2026-01 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 |
| 2026-02 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 2026-03 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | - |
| 2026-04 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.0 |
| 2026-05 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 1.5 |
| 2026-06 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| 2026-07 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 |
| 2026-08 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 1.0 |
| 2026-09 | 2.7 | 1.3 | - | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| 2026-10 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | - |
Latest Wave customer voices
The most recent review passages across all portals. Each quote links to its source.
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„Free tier is too limited to be useful“
„The humans I've communicated with on chat have either been unhelpful, or outright rude and dismissive“
„Very difficult to contact support“
„The lack of recurring expenses is ridiculous.“
„The "Tags" feature had been rolled out on the website for some time now, but it's entirely absent from the app.“
„For me and my small business, Wave is probably the best accounting software for the cost.“
What Reddit users say about Wave
From 22 Reddit threads that mention Wave. Community posts are opinions, not verified purchases.
Below are extracts from Reddit discussions - each linked to the original thread.
„I've been using Wave for over 5 years.“
„I see all of this to-do about the "receipts" feature being removed.“
„The payroll is terrible“
„the best advice is to not use Wave for Payroll“
„automatically get a receipt sent to them“
„I was considering switching from Freshbooks to Wave because Freshbooks has gotten so costly.“
Wave review themes at a glance
Every theme is backed by classified review text. Open a theme to read its analysis. ·
Quality206× mentions
102positive102negativeCustomer service192× mentions
26positive161negativeOrdering & website110× mentions
38positive65negativeBilling & payment88× mentions
9positive77negativeValue for money79× mentions
30positive42negativeCommunication23× mentions
2positive18negativeDelivery22× mentions
1positive17negativeReturns & refunds22× mentions
1positive21negativeDurability13× mentions
4positive9negativeFit & sizing12× mentions
3positive4negativePackaging1× mentions
0positive0negative
Reviews about Wave quality
206 mentions · 50% positive · 50% negative
Reviewers are divided on Wave’s quality, just about as many positive as negative remarks: 101 positive, 100 negative. That near-even split points to a user base caught between frustration and appreciation. Sentiment has swung wildly over time, taking a sharp drop early in 2026, especially in March and April, when ratings plunged to 1.17★ and 3★ respectively. That’s when users seemed most fed up. But then, by May 2026, things turned around: the rating climbed to 4.48★ based on 60 reviews, a clear sign that something’s changed for the better. Still, many voices echo the same gripes, customer support is slow, access to certain features is inconsistent, and the system occasionally stumbles. On the flip side, others appreciate how clean and easy Wave feels, love the free tools, and find it solid for handling straightforward accounting tasks. The scale hasn’t tipped decisively one way or the other, but the upward trend in late 2026 suggests either better performance under the hood or a more responsive team tackling the long-standing complaints. ⟦0000⟧
What customers praise
Wave’s simplicity stands out to many users, particularly small business owners and solopreneurs who value a no-frills approach. Getting started is straightforward, and the free access to essential features, like creating invoices, scanning receipts, and processing payments, makes it a go-to choice. Several reviewers note how much easier year-end taxes have become, thanks to clean, well-organized records. Compared to heavier platforms like QuickBooks, Wave feels less overwhelming and more intuitive. Customizing invoices with company logos and branding is a favorite feature, giving users a professional touch without hassle. Local businesses especially trust the payment system’s consistency, relying on it day after day with few hiccups.
What customers said:
- „I simply use it for the nice invoice templates“
- „Excellent tool for preparing detail estimates“
Common complaints
Users report that essential features are locked behind paywalls, requiring a paid plan for basic functions. Customer support is criticized for long wait times, no phone access, and reliance on AI chat or email. System reliability issues include bank account disconnections, invoice duplication, and inaccurate tax calculations. The mobile app lacks key reporting features, and data export options are limited.
What customers said:
- „pay wall everywhere“
- „Their product is full of bugs and does not work.“
Representative quality reviews
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„amazing app to help for small business starters“
„the total sales calculated in the tax report don't add up to the same number on sales report“
„the low reviews only talk about the app being slow so its probably the internet not the app because it works great for me no issues what's so ever.“
Reviews about Wave customer service
192 mentions · 14% positive · 84% negative
Users keep hitting the same wall when they reach out to Wave’s customer service, frustration is the dominant theme in recent feedback. Of 177 mentions tracked, just 25 stand out as positive, while 147 paint a bleak picture of poor support. The decline has been steep over the last year, with ratings plummeting to 1 star across several months from early 2026 to mid-2026. There was a fleeting moment of hope in May 2026, when satisfaction ticked up to 3.3 stars, but that didn’t last. By June, things had fallen apart again, and the downward spiral continued. Common complaints run the gamut: support that ignores messages, no phone line to call, trouble logging in, and financial errors that linger unresolved. A handful of users did report quick replies via chat and useful help when things went right, but those moments are the exception. For most, the system fails when it matters most, during payroll runs or when accounts get locked out, leaving them stranded and anxious. ⟦0000⟧
What customers praise
A few users point to the support team’s responsiveness and willingness to help, especially via the chat option. They mention how fast the replies are when they do come through, which makes a noticeable difference. Some also commend the platform’s core features, the ability to generate invoices, scan receipts, and keep track of expenses, saying these work smoothly and without hassle. When support is actually reachable, these users find the whole system feels intuitive, dependable, and easy to use.
What customers said:
- „very flexible from no fees to more advanced services.“
- „receiving signed contracts“
Common complaints
Customers often find themselves suddenly locked out of their accounts, with no notice and no clear path back in. Support tickets go unanswered for days, or sometimes over two weeks, leaving people stranded. Common complaints include payroll being calculated wrong, accounts getting frozen for no apparent reason, and taxes not being sent to the proper authorities. There’s growing frustration over the absence of phone support, forcing users to rely on AI chatbots that mostly just loop through canned responses without solving anything. A number of people have also reported being billed for services they never received, simply because their verification attempts were rejected.
What customers said:
- „Support tickets have been ignored, thus far.“
- „there is no phone number, only ai chat“
Representative customer service reviews
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„I've been locked out this entire week unexpectedly and can't get anyone to respond.“
„Businesses cannot afford to be randomly locked out of there accounting and financial systems without warning and for no reason without a way to contact someone to get back in.“
„Our business verification was not approved, so we were unable to access or use the service.“
Reviews about Wave ordering & website
110 mentions · 35% positive · 59% negative
Wave’s customers have had a mixed bag as for ordering and using the website, mostly negative, by far. Out of 109 total mentions, 64 were complaints, 38 offered praise, and 7 stayed neutral, painting a picture of a service struggling to meet expectations. The brand’s reputation hasn’t settled; instead, it’s bounced around wildly. Ratings have plunged to just 1 star on several occasions, especially in early 2026. Then, in May 2026, something shifted: the score climbed to 4.29 stars, pulled up by 35 reviews. That surge hints at real progress, maybe a fix in place, maybe a better user experience. But the relief was short-lived. By June and July, the rating fell again, as if the improvements hadn’t stuck. Users keep pointing to the same gripes: trouble logging in, slow replies from support, and glitches that make the site hard to use. On the other hand, a smaller number of customers appreciate how easy it is to send invoices or snap a photo of a receipt. It’s clear that the platform has pockets of what works, but underlying issues with access, support, and reliability keep dragging the overall image down. The swings in feedback aren’t random, they point to something systemic. There’s hope, but no lasting fix yet.
What customers praise
A few users mention how effortlessly they can generate invoices and keep receipts organized, describing the whole process as smooth and easy to follow. One feature that keeps coming up is the option to copy previous invoices with just a few taps, plus the convenience of scanning receipts right inside the app. Several people point out how well payments sync with their bookkeeping, which cuts down on the usual headache of tracking money. A handful also note that the app feels much more polished now than it did when they first began using it, back then, things weren’t quite this smooth.
What customers said:
- „amazing super easy“
- „I would like to be able to achieve all functions in the app instead of having to go to…“
„I would like to be able to achieve all functions in the app instead of having to go to the website“
Common complaints
A growing number of users are running into major problems when trying to log in or access their accounts, some can’t sign up at all, while others find themselves locked out completely. Beyond the login troubles, frustration builds over customer support, which many say never responds. Emails go unanswered, and even repeated attempts don’t get a reply. The support chatbot, when used, often ends up being more of a roadblock than help, leaving users stuck and frustrated. On top of that, key features that users rely on, like importing bank records and tagging transactions, don’t work consistently, even for those on the paid plan.
What customers said:
- „functionality just doesn't work, even on the pro plan“
- „just downloaded won't even let me sign up“
Representative ordering & website reviews
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„the app lacks most of the features found on the desktop site, like advanced accounting and reporting.“
„auto tagging misses some obvious transactions - many recurring expenses still show up as "unknown expense" after months.“
„I opened an account about a month and a half ago.“
Reviews about Wave billing & payment
88 mentions · 10% positive · 88% negative
Customers are fed up with Wave’s billing and payment system, 73 complaints show up for every 9 praise, a stark imbalance. Time and again, reviews zero in on the same headaches: payments glitching, accounts locked without warning, and support that’s either slow or unhelpful, especially as for payroll and tax figures. Some users say they’ve been locked out of their own funds. Others describe payments vanishing without a word. A few even report being hit with wrong tax charges, which adds up fast when you're trying to keep a small business running. The mood hasn’t improved much over the past year. Ratings have stayed stubbornly near 1 star for months on end, with just a short bump to 3.19 in May 2026, only to plunge back down. A few still like the clean look and how invoicing and payments slot together smoothly, but those few voices get drowned out by the chorus of frustration. The bigger picture? People are losing faith in Wave’s ability to handle money right. Security, clarity, and consistency, none of them feel guaranteed anymore.
What customers said:
- „our clients want the option to pay with credit cards“
- „Love the payments system the way it is integrated into the books.“
Reviews about Wave value for money
79 mentions · 38% positive · 53% negative
Customers are split on whether Wave delivers good value, but the scale tilts sharply toward disappointment. There are 42 complaints about cost relative to just 30 positive remarks. Sentiment has been steadily declining, especially since early 2026, when several months saw minimal ratings, February, March, and September each delivered 1-star reviews. A recurring gripe is that the free version feels deceptive; essential tools are buried behind paywalls, or basic actions require upgrading. That said, many users, especially small business owners with straightforward needs, still see Wave as a budget-friendly option for handling invoices and payments. The perception of value wavered briefly in May 2026, when positivity edged up, but recent feedback points to rising irritation over unexpected fees and restricted access to features even after paying. Still, a dedicated user base remains loyal, appreciating Wave’s minimal cost and simplicity as for core accounting functions.
What customers said:
- „We didn't like paying huge fees they continue to go up monthly“
- „Excellent payment system for local mom and pop small businesses“
Reviews about Wave communication
23 mentions · 9% positive · 78% negative
Wave’s customer communication continues to frustrate users, with 20 of 25 feedback entries tagged as negative. The situation hasn’t improved, reviews over time consistently paint a bleak picture. Many describe support tickets going unanswered, customer service teams remaining silent, and accounts getting frozen overnight with no warning or reasoning. A handful of users did point to small wins: searching invoices by name, or seeing estimates accessible on the mobile app. But those brief highlights were drowned out by louder complaints, no contact, endlessly delayed replies, and robotic, unhelpful responses from automated systems. The pattern holds: no recovery in sentiment. Ratings have tailed off to just 1 star in multiple months, including 2026-08 and 2026-09, confirming that problems linger. Only two reviews mentioned anything positive, and even then, it was only about minor tweaks to features, not meaningful changes in how users are treated or communicated with. ⟦0000⟧
What customers said:
- „can you make a change to the free version of your app“
- „Even better now that estimates are included in the mobile app!“
Reviews about Wave delivery
22 mentions · 5% positive · 77% negative
Users keep hitting roadblocks with Wave as for getting their money, especially as for ACH transfers and refunds. In the feedback collected, more than 21 mentions lean heavily negative, 16 in total, with just one glowing remark and four that fall somewhere in between. It’s clear the mood is sour. The core of the frustration? Payments taking forever. Some people wait days, others weeks, and a handful are still stuck after months, despite Wave’s promises of quicker turnaround times. One user says their funds sat untouched for 70 days, no warning, no reason, no fix. Sure, a few folks still like how easy the platform feels and appreciate their mobile app, but those small wins vanish under a mountain of complaints about slow payouts and support teams that don’t answer. The problems seem to have gotten worse early in 2026. A string of 1-star reviews highlight silent support staff and delays that go on and on. There was a narrow window in 2026-05 where things felt slightly better, bringing in a mix of comments, but the relief didn’t last. For most, sending and getting money through Wave is still a headache.
What customers said:
- „creating invoices on the mobile app“
- „Easy to navigate the tools and reports.“
Reviews about Wave returns & refunds
22 mentions · 5% positive · 95% negative
Wave’s returns and refunds system has become a major pain point for users, sparking frustration across the board. In recent reviews, 18 complaints stand out, only one positive mention to balance them. This negative sentiment hasn’t faded; it’s held steady for over a year. Multiple accounts from 2025 to 2026 paint a troubling picture: orders go unanswered, refunds are denied even when service fails or products don’t work, and communication from support is nearly nonexistent. People report being charged for services they never accessed, with their money stuck for weeks or months. Reaching out repeatedly yields little more than silence or canned responses. The rare positive comments barely register against the tide of dissatisfaction. No signs of progress, just more stories of broken promises and no way forward. Most users feel let down, led to believe everything would work, then abandoned when it didn’t. ⟦0000⟧
What customers said:
- „Despite never being able to use the product, Wave declined to issue a refund.“
- „TWO MONTHS LATER TO GET MY REFUND!“
Wave products & services in the reviews
What reviewers say about each Wave offering. Mentions are reviews that name the product. ·
Reviews about Wave Receipts
127 mentions · 3.3/5 · top themes: Quality, Customer service, Value for money
Take a photo of your receipts and save them in a digital folder. This helps you keep business expenses in order and makes tracking them much easier.
Reviewers’ takes on Wave’s Receipts feature are all over the map, just under two-thirds of comments lean positive, with 61 mentions of praise and 57 that point to problems. Sentiment has been anything but steady, swinging wildly over time. A steep drop in satisfaction hit in early 2026, especially in April and August, when average ratings tumbled to just 1.8 stars. But then, in May 2026, things turned around fast: ratings shot up to 4.57 stars, a clear sign that recent changes may have fixed some longstanding issues. Even now, the feature walks a fine line, users still love how simple it is to use and how smoothly it connects with invoicing, but bugs, sluggish support, and inconsistent access keep cropping up. The overall direction is upward, with trust slowly returning, but lingering worries about customer service and system reliability mean the feature remains a blend of promise and frustration.
What customers said:
- „this is honestly the best and user-friendly that I found“
- „Wave works perfect for sending invoices“
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„awesome app for small business owners“
„Wave apps is a great software for small business“
Reviews about Wave Accounting
59 mentions · 3.0/5 · top themes: Quality, Customer service, Ordering & website
Keep tabs on your income and outgoings to ensure your financial records stay on point and your bookkeeping gets sharper over time.
People’s opinions on Wave’s accounting tools are split, and the mood has tilted slightly negative in recent years. On one hand, plenty still love how straightforward and user-friendly it is, especially for simple bookkeeping tasks. But more and more users are voicing worries about whether the system holds up under pressure: reliability issues, sluggish customer support, and doubts about how safely their data’s being managed have started to pile up. The tone of reviews has taken a downturn since mid-2026, with several one-star ratings pointing to account lockouts, missing records, and support teams that either don’t reply or offer little help. Still, there’s a steady core of users who swear by Wave as a clean, no-frills solution for small businesses that aren’t diving into complex accounting needs. Right now, the feedback balance sits at 26 positive mentions against 30 negative ones, but the direction is clear, frustration over access problems and slow support responses is growing.
What customers said:
- „I used Quickbooks for years for my businesses and had problems every month balancing…“
„I used Quickbooks for years for my businesses and had problems every month balancing the books.“
- „Easy to use for those who are non bookkeepers“
Reviews about Wave Mobile app
30 mentions · 3.1/5 · top themes: Ordering & website, Quality, Billing & payment
Keep track of invoices, expenses, and receipts right from your phone, manage your business anytime, anywhere, without missing a beat.
Users of the Wave mobile app have shared a wide range of experiences, and the tone of those reviews has shifted noticeably over the years. Early on, many appreciated how clean and straightforward it felt, especially for handling simple invoicing duties. But as time went on, some began hitting roadblocks with essential features, mounting frustrations over sluggish payments, and disappointing interactions with support teams. The feedback from 2025 through early 2026 paints a rough picture: multiple low ratings, recurring complaints about delayed transactions, being locked out of accounts, and unresponsive service. Yet something changed in mid-2026. Suddenly, a wave of 5-star reviews started popping up, full of praise for the app’s intuitive design and the polished look of its invoice templates. People were calling it easy to use, even professional. Still, the overall sentiment hasn’t flipped fully. With 13 negative mentions and 12 positive ones, the balance tips just slightly toward the negative. That small gap suggests lingering problems, real issues that still chip away at confidence, even as the app improves in visible ways.
What customers said:
- „I've had many compliments from my customers on appearance and professionalism of the…“
„I've had many compliments from my customers on appearance and professionalism of the invoices“
- „The app is very user friendly.“
Reviews about Wave Invoicing
28 mentions · 3.2/5 · top themes: Customer service, Billing & payment, Quality
Send professional invoices to clients and follow up on payments to improve cash flow.
Reviewers’ takes on Wave’s invoicing feature are split down the middle, half praise it, half criticize it, across 28 reviews total. Sentiment hasn’t settled; it’s been all over the map. Early in 2025, things looked promising: users appreciated how clean and straightforward the tool felt, especially its smooth link to payments and how easy it was to get started. By mid-2026, though, that warmth had cooled. The downward trend accelerated through late 2026, when a cluster of 1-star reviews painted a bleak picture, payment holds stuck for days, no one to call when help was needed, and messages that felt more like automated scripts than real communication. Still, not all is lost. Even amid the frustration, some customers kept coming back to what works: the interface remains simple and dependable for day-to-day invoicing. That reliability, paired with a design that doesn’t trip you up, keeps the core function intact. But the cracks show where it matters most, support teams vanish when you need them, funds sit frozen longer than expected, and those auto-reminders? They’ve driven clients away more than once. Yet despite the recent slide in ratings, plenty of users still see value here, especially small business owners looking for a no-frills, one-stop solution. The tools do what they’re meant to, even if the rest of the experience leaves much to be desired.
What customers said:
- „the user experience has grown leaps and bounds from when I started!“
- „A fantastic easy-to-use web app“
Reviews about Wave Payments
23 mentions · 2.0/5 · top themes: Customer service, Ordering & website, Billing & payment
You can accept payments via credit card, bank transfer, or Apple Pay, ways to get your money faster and cut down on delays.
Wave’s Payments feature has been a persistent source of headaches for many small business owners. Of the 23 feedback instances reviewed, 16 were clearly negative, this isn’t just a few grumbles, it’s a pattern. Despite some minor upticks in satisfaction during the middle of 2026, the overall mood hasn’t shifted much; frustration lingers. Users keep coming back to the same problems: payments that don’t go through when expected, support that either doesn’t respond or offers no real help, and accounts getting frozen or rejected without clear warning. A handful of people do mention the interface is easy to navigate and feels smooth to use, but those positives are drowned out by the chorus of complaints about inconsistent performance, slow payouts, and a lack of clarity when things go wrong. It’s as if the system works well in short bursts, there were some brief windows of relief mid-2026, but for most, the experience still feels unreliable, especially as for getting paid and getting answers.
What customers said:
- „I have been a 30 year quickbooks user“
- „I just added this company as my payment processor“
Reviews about Wave Pro plan
19 mentions · 1.4/5 · top themes: Billing & payment, Customer service, Quality
Switch to the Pro plan and enjoy lower payment fees, automatic bank transaction imports, and smart expense tracking that works behind the scenes, no manual entry needed.
⟦0000⟧ Wave’s Pro plan has drawn intense criticism from users, with nearly every review pointing to serious problems. Out of 19 mentions, 18 describe a frustrating experience, most citing poor customer support as a major pain point. People report long delays in responses, no phone support at all, and steep fees just to get in touch with someone. Beyond support, core features don’t hold up. Users struggle with entering transactions, scanning receipts, and processing payments, some say the app doesn’t even handle basic tasks reliably. One common alarm: being locked out of their own accounts without warning, or having money held without any clear reason. Even the rare positive voice, someone who gave a 5-star rating, praised the initial setup, and said they’re thinking about upgrading, can’t mask the growing discontent. Since 2025, the reviews have been consistently low: 1-star and 2-star ratings keep piling up, year after year. What’s clear is that frustration isn’t fading. If anything, it’s building, especially around getting help and trusting the app to work when needed. Despite the Pro plan’s promise of better performance and support, users feel let down. The gap between expectation and reality keeps widening.
What customers said:
- „So far so good!“
- „this app is garbage“
Wave review sources, coverage and method
The overall 2.9 / 5 score is recency-weighted: newer reviews count more (weight 0.9 per month of age), regardless of portal.
| Portal | Avg. rating | Count | Weight | Latest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | 2.6 / 5 | 386 | 64.1% | View profile ↗ | |
| Trustpilot | 3.4 / 5 | 216 | 35.9% | View profile ↗ | |
| Weighted overall | 2.9 / 5 | 602 | 100% | ||
Period covered: 2024-09 – 2026-10. Reviews older than 24 months stay in the trend charts but no longer feed the headline figures.
What this analysis cannot cover
- Only publicly visible reviews are included; nothing behind a login, and no reviews submitted to us directly.
- Sentiment is classified from the review text, never from the star rating. Unclassified reviews count toward totals but not toward sentiment shares.
What this analysis covers
- Google Play : 386 reviews
- Trustpilot : 216 reviews
Period covered: Sept 2024 – Oct 2026
And what it cannot cover:
- Trustpilot exposes roughly the 200 most recent reviews publicly; older reviews sit behind a login.
How the numbers are made
Every review is read once by a language model that labels its themes and sentiment and picks short verbatim passages. Recent reviews weigh more than old ones (each month of age discounts the weight by 10%). Quotes are shown exactly as written, linked to the original review, and cryptographically signed so you can check they have not been altered.Full methodology ↗ · Transparency report ↗
Wave compared with other brands
Similar brands analysed on citatio.ai
| Brand | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | 2.4 / 5 | 3,102 |
| Xero | 3.4 / 5 | 1,498 |
| Sage | 3.5 / 5 | 744 |
| FreshBooks | 3.3 / 5 | 544 |
About Wave
Wave is a cloud-based accounting platform built for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. It handles invoicing, tracks expenses, processes payments, manages payroll, and keeps books, all in one smooth system. Designed for people who want clear, no-fuss financial control, it cuts through the clutter of traditional accounting software. No steep learning curve, no overcomplicated workflows. Just the essentials, working together.
Wave Financial Inc.
From Wave's newsroom
- Press Archive - Wave Financial - waveapps.com
- News and Media - Wave Financial - waveapps.com
Newsroom items are published by Wave itself.
Cite this page
Citatio (2026). Wave Reviews October 2026 – 2.9/5 from 602 reviews. Retrieved 7 October 2026 from https://citatio.ai/wave-reviews/
Data verifiable via our public audit log: Methodology · Transparency