Buyer's guide
Wave is a well-loved free accounting and invoicing tool, but many Philippine shops, restaurants and online sellers outgrow it the moment they need a till, stock counts or a connected storefront. This guide is an honest look at where Wave still shines, and where a single all-in-one app like Tallium AI does more of the daily work for you. We'll say plainly who should switch and who is better off staying put.
Key takeaways
Wave built its reputation on genuinely free invoicing and accounting that's easy to start with, which is hard to beat if your needs are simple. Tallium AI takes a different approach: one paid app that folds POS, inventory, e-commerce and accounting together with unlimited users, so a growing business runs on one login instead of a patchwork of tools.
| Feature | Tallium AI | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Core accounting & invoicing | Full double-entry accounting, invoicing, expenses and reports included in every plan | Strong, easy-to-use invoicing and accounting — this is Wave's home turf |
| Price | Flat USD price per unit, billed monthly (shop/store $79, online store $159, warehouse $99, factory $269), no per-seat fees | Core accounting and invoicing are free; some features and payments/payroll carry fees in supported regions |
| Point of sale (POS) | Built-in POS for counter sales, tied straight to stock and accounts | No true retail/restaurant POS |
| Inventory & stock control | Real-time inventory, low-stock alerts, multi-location and warehouse tools | No dedicated inventory tracking |
| E-commerce / online store | Connected online store and order management under the same account | Not included |
| Users / seats | Unlimited users on every plan at no extra cost | Limited collaborators; team access is basic |
| AI automation | Receipt scanning, auto-categorisation and AI insights built in | Some smart-import features; less automation of receipts and insights |
| Philippine VAT handling | Track output/input VAT and pull figures to help prepare your 2550Q | General tax fields; not tailored to BIR return formats |
| CRM & marketing | CRM and marketing modules included in the same suite | Not part of the product |
| Best fit | Retail, food, wholesale and online sellers who need selling + stock + books in one | Freelancers and service businesses that mainly send invoices |
The honest verdict
If you're a freelancer, consultant or simple service business that mostly sends invoices and tracks a handful of expenses, Wave is excellent and its free tier is genuinely generous — there's little reason to pay for more. But if you sell over a counter or online, carry stock, run multiple locations or want more than a couple of people working in the system, Wave leaves gaps you'll fill with extra apps. Tallium AI suits those growing Philippine businesses that want POS, inventory, e-commerce and accounting in one affordable app with unlimited users.
Build your plan in a minute — pay only for the parts of your business you run.
Get startedQuestions? Email support@tallium.online — tallium.online
Tell us where you are today and we'll show you how Tallium AI fits. No pressure, no spam.