OnlineInvoiceMaker vs Wave: Free Invoice Maker Comparison
Wave is a popular free accounting and invoicing platform used by millions of small businesses, primarily in the United States and Canada. It bundles invoicing with bookkeeping, expense tracking, and payment processing, making it a solid all-in-one solution for North American businesses. However, Wave’s invoicing templates are limited in customization, it lacks thermal printer support, and its tax features are tailored to US and Canadian tax systems rather than global standards like GST. OnlineInvoiceMaker takes a different approach: completely free invoicing with no account required, nine professional templates, built-in GST support with CGST, SGST, and IGST fields, and thermal printer compatibility for retail and point-of-sale environments. This comparison helps you decide which tool fits your business needs based on features, flexibility, and global reach.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | OnlineInvoiceMaker | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% Free | Free (fees on payments) |
| Templates | 9 professional templates | Limited basic templates |
| GST Support | ✓ Built-in (CGST/SGST/IGST) | ✗ US/Canada tax only |
| Thermal Printing | ✓ 58mm & 80mm support | ✗ Not available |
| API Access | ✓ REST API available | ✗ Discontinued |
| Recurring Invoices | ✓ Automated scheduling | ✓ Automated scheduling |
| Multi-currency | ✓ Global currencies | ✓ Limited selection |
| Mobile Friendly | ✓ Fully responsive web app | ✓ Mobile app available |
| Customization | ✓ Full layout & branding control | Limited color & logo only |
| Sign-up Required | ✓ No sign-up needed | ✗ Account required |
Why Choose OnlineInvoiceMaker Over Wave
Truly Global Invoicing
While Wave focuses on the US and Canadian markets, OnlineInvoiceMaker is designed for businesses worldwide. Built-in GST support with CGST, SGST, and IGST fields makes it ideal for Indian businesses, and multi-currency support covers every major currency globally.
Professional Template Library
Choose from nine distinct invoice templates including Classic, Modern, Corporate, Creative, Executive, Gradient, Minimal, Professional, and Tax Invoice. Each template offers full customization of layout, colors, and branding far beyond Wave’s basic template options.
Thermal Printer Support
OnlineInvoiceMaker is one of the few invoicing tools that supports thermal receipt printing for 58mm and 80mm printers. This is essential for retail shops, restaurants, market stalls, and any point-of-sale environment that needs compact printed receipts.
No Transaction Fees
Wave monetizes through payment processing fees of 2.9% plus 60 cents per credit card transaction. OnlineInvoiceMaker is completely free with zero transaction fees, zero processing charges, and no hidden costs regardless of how many invoices you create.
Instant Access
Start creating invoices the moment you visit the website. No account registration, no email verification, no business profile setup. Wave requires full account creation before you can generate your first invoice, adding friction to the process.
REST API for Developers
OnlineInvoiceMaker provides a REST API for programmatic invoice generation and management. Wave discontinued its public API, leaving developers without integration options. Our API enables custom workflows and automated invoicing at scale.
Where Wave Wins
Wave is more than just an invoicing tool. It is a full accounting platform that includes double-entry bookkeeping, expense tracking with receipt scanning, bank account connections for automatic reconciliation, and detailed financial reports. If your business needs integrated payment processing where clients can pay directly from the invoice via credit card or bank transfer, Wave handles that natively with its built-in payment gateway. Their payroll service, available as a paid add-on, streamlines employee payments and tax filings for US and Canadian businesses. For solopreneurs and small businesses in North America who want invoicing bundled with accounting in a single platform, Wave delivers a comprehensive free solution that goes beyond what any standalone invoice generator offers.
The Verdict
Choose OnlineInvoiceMaker if you need a fast, globally-capable invoice maker with professional templates, GST support, and thermal printing. Choose Wave if you are a US or Canadian business that needs free accounting software bundled with invoicing and integrated payment processing. For businesses outside North America, freelancers who want instant access without sign-up, or anyone needing specialized features like thermal receipts and extensive template customization, OnlineInvoiceMaker is the stronger choice.
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Products
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Your Company
INVOICE
| Item | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | 1 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
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Everything you need to know about our free online invoice maker
Last updated: April 2026