| Feature | Tally Assistant | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| AI CSV parsing | Reads ANY bank CSV automatically — detects columns, dates, currencies, delimiters. 200+ bank formats, zero setup. | Bank connection available for some banks. Manual CSV import with column mapping. Struggles with non-standard formats. |
| Receipt scanning | AI reads any payment screenshot — PayPal, Venmo, Alipay, WeChat. OCR in 50+ languages. | Receipt scanning via mobile app. Good for standard receipts, limited multi-platform support. |
| Invoice creation | AI generates invoices from plain English. One sentence → complete invoice with line items, tax, PDF. | Clean invoice builder with templates. Manual entry required. No AI generation. |
| Payment reminders | AI-powered auto reminders with escalating tone. Fully automated. | Manual reminders only. No automation or escalation. |
| Pricing | Free plan available. Pro: $12/month — every feature in one tier. | Free 'Starter' plan for accounting/invoicing, but since June 2026 core features moved to Pro ($16-19/month): bank feeds, receipt scanning, collaborator access, recurring billing. Payments add-on: 2.9% + $0.60 per card transaction. |
| Free plan (2026) | Free plan still includes CSV import (any bank, up to 100 rows/file), manual invoicing, and dashboard — no bank-feed paywall, no collaborator paywall. | Since June 2026 the free plan lost bank feeds (Plaid sync), receipt scanning (OCR), collaborator access, and recurring billing — all now Pro-only ($16-19/month). |
| Best for | Solo freelancers who want AI automation and minimal manual work across all bookkeeping tasks. | Very small businesses on a tight budget who need basic accounting and don't mind manual entry. |
An honest comparison. Wave is a great product — it just serves a different audience. Here's where it's stronger:
Wave is free but requires significant manual work — manually categorizing transactions, building invoices line-by-line, and sending payment reminders yourself. If you process 10+ transactions a month, the time savings from Tally Assistant's AI automation (CSV parsing, receipt scanning, invoice generation, auto reminders) typically save 5-10 hours/month. At $12/month, that's $1.20-2.40 per hour saved.
Yes. Export your data from Wave as CSV and upload to Tally Assistant. The AI parses Wave's export format automatically.
You have three options: pay for Wave Pro ($16-19/month), go back to manual entry on the free plan, or switch. Tally Assistant's free plan still includes CSV import from any bank (no paywall), manual invoicing, and a dashboard. If you want AI categorization, receipt scanning, and auto payment reminders, Pro is $12/month — less than Wave Pro, with AI instead of manual work.