Comparison
Clinch vs Wave for freelancers
Wave is free invoicing and bookkeeping software. Here's an honest, feature-by-feature comparison with Clinch for the freelance contract job: describe the deal, get it signed from the client's phone, collect the deposit.
Start free — no card required →| Feature | Clinch | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 3 contracts/mo, then one flat Pro plan, unlimited (current price on /pricing) | Free Starter plan; Pro $19/mo ($190/yr) |
| Drafts the contract for you | Yes — describe the deal in plain language, AI drafts it from a vetted template | No contracts — estimates only |
| Client signs without an account | Yes, from their phone, in about 30 seconds | No |
| Collects your deposit at signing | Yes — Stripe Connect or your own payment link, paid directly to you | Deposits through estimates, with online payments turned on |
When Wave is the better call
If you need free bookkeeping and invoicing, Wave is excellent; it just doesn't do contracts or signatures. Clinch fits when you want the freelance contract written for you, signed without an account and the deposit collected in the same step.
FAQ
Is Clinch cheaper than Wave?
Wave: Free Starter plan; Pro $19/mo ($190/yr). Clinch: free for 3 contracts a month, then one flat Pro plan, unlimited (current price on /pricing). Prices checked September 2026; confirm on each pricing page.
Are the contracts legally binding?
Signatures are Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) with an audit trail and a hashed certificate, valid for standard commercial contracts under ESIGN (US) and eIDAS (EU). See /legality for the limits.
See all comparisons or full pricing →
Also available in: Español · Deutsch · Français · Italiano · Português (Brasil)