ERPNext vs Wave
A source-aware comparison of pricing, documented capabilities and workflow fit.
Short answer
- Price: not directly comparable — ERPNext is pricing not verified, Wave is free tier available.
- How to start: ERPNext is pricing not verified, Wave is free tier available.
- Where they differ: only ERPNext has public api and open source / self-hostable.
These lines are generated from the pricing we track, not from a paid placement. How we score tools.
What ERPNext is
ERPNext is an open-source ERP covering accounting, inventory, manufacturing, HR and CRM in one system.
What Wave is
Wave offers free accounting and invoicing for very small businesses, making money on payments and payroll instead.
Side by side
Choose ERPNext if
- Small and mid-size businesses wanting ERP without licence costs.
Choose Wave if
- Freelancers and micro businesses with simple books.
Evidence and freshness
Where a claim on this page comes from a vendor page, it is linked here.
ERPNext: pros & cons
- Full ERP scope with no licence fee
- Self-hostable with complete control
- Active community
- Implementation and configuration are substantial
- Requires technical maintenance
- Localisation varies by country
Wave: pros & cons
- Accounting and invoicing at no cost
- Simple enough to use without training
- Payments integrated
- Feature depth is limited
- Support is limited on the free product
- Availability varies by country
Our verdict on ERPNext
Genuinely capable for the price. The saving is in licences, not in effort.
Our verdict on Wave
Hard to argue with free for simple needs. Growth will push you to paid accounting.