Wave Accounting vs Zoho Books
Both start free.
Zoho Books handles SARS returns. Zoho Books is sold and supported in South Africa.
Wave Accounting price read 11 OCT 2026 · Zoho Books price read 11 OCT 2026
The contenders
Zoho Books
Zoho Corporation
Sold in South Africa
Price
Free
Free to start
- Price read on11 OCT 2026
- Free planYes
- Free trialYes
- Files with SARSYes
Prices are compared only when both are on the same VAT footing.
All prices are in rand. Where a vendor lists in dollars, pounds or euros we convert at R16.53 per US dollar, R21.86 per pound and R18.53 per euro (European Central Bank reference rates, via Frankfurter, 9 OCT 2026).
Side by side
| Measure | Wave AccountingWave | Zoho BooksZoho Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Basis | /mo | /mo excl VAT |
| Price read | 11 OCT 2026 | 11 OCT 2026 |
| South Africa | ||
| Availability | Available online | Sold in South Africa |
| SARS filing | ||
| Handles SARS returns | Not listed | Yes |
| SARS returns listed | Not listed | 1 listed |
| VAT201 | Not listed | Yes |
| Compliance | ||
| Items listed | Not listed | None listed |
| POPIA | Not listed | No |
| Features | ||
| Unlimited estimates, invoices and bills | Yes | No |
| Bookkeeping records and a cash flow dashboard | Yes | No |
| Mobile app for invoicing | Yes | No |
| Online payments as an option | Yes | No |
| Automatic bank import on Pro | Yes | No |
| Unlimited receipt capture as an add on | Yes | No |
| Invoices, quotes, expenses and journals | No | Yes |
| Online payments and a customer portal | No | Yes |
| Bank reconciliation, with bank feeds from Standard | No | Yes |
| VAT tracking, VAT returns and audit reports from Standard | No | Yes |
| More than 50 reports | No | Yes |
| Inventory and multi currency from Professional | No | Yes |
| iOS and Android apps and a Windows desktop app | No | Yes |
| Plans | ||
| Free trial | Not listed | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
In each row the stronger cell is dark and the weaker is grey. A row of ticks appears only where a vendor's page lists the item.
Ready to try one?
Wave Accounting
Wave
Zoho Books
Zoho Corporation
Prices are read from each vendor's own pages and dated. How we read prices.
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