Those requiring advanced features or extensive customization might find the platform limiting as they grow. Square might be preferable for businesses that primarily need point-of-sale capabilities with some invoicing features, while WaveApps provides a more comprehensive accounting solution with integrated invoicing. These limitations don’t necessarily make Wave a poor choice—they simply highlight scenarios where the platform might not be the optimal solution.
No sweat accounting
Don’t waste your money — definitely check out the JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones over these. Like the EarFun Wave Pro headphones (which sound much better than the Wave Lifes, but still sound bad), these cans are very comfortable. Recharging is easy with the USB-C cable (which is also used for music playback), and it shows a little red light while it’s charging so you can tell when it’s finished. As with other EarFun products I’ve tested, I was able to customize the EQ, multipoint connectivity, touch controls, game mode, and voice control settings in the EarFun Audio app. I wondered if it was a recording issue, so I played ‘Birds of a Feather’ by Billie Eilish on Qobuz. Given that Qobuz is a hi-res streaming platform, the songs should, in theory, sound better than something like Spotify.
All jesting aside, I think these headphones have decent-enough mics for calls, but you don’t just buy headphones for the call quality. The only part of the song that sounded decent was Peggy’s vocal, so I lowered bass on the EarFun app to see if that fixed the muddy issue. I listened to ‘Loaded’ by Primal Scream, which actually sounded decent for a while. The start of the track has a pretty minimal soundscape, with just percussion and piano. Then the brass comes in — and it was just more of the tinny, muddled mess I criticized earlier.
What Users Love About WaveApps
- Unlike other software, Wave is built for small business owners and solopreneurs at every stage—not accountants—so it’s easy for you to use.
- A small business owner can effectively manage basic accounting needs, project professionalism through customized invoices, and accept various payment methods—all without significant financial investment in software.
- WaveApps has established itself as a valuable financial management solution for small businesses and freelancers seeking accessible, integrated tools without significant investment.
- The platform’s strongest appeal lies in its combination of robust free features and user-friendly design.
While the accounting features are robust for basic needs, some users note that transaction management could be more comprehensive, especially for businesses with complex financial activities. Freelancers and solopreneurs who need simple invoicing and basic accounting without the complexity of more robust systems. The straightforward interface and unlimited free invoicing address the core needs of independent professionals. Early-stage small businesses with limited budgets that need professional financial tools without adding monthly expenses.
This feature significantly streamlines the payment collection process and can improve cash flow for small businesses. The mobile app provides full invoicing functionality for businesses on the go, allowing you to create and send invoices from anywhere. This flexibility ensures you never miss an opportunity to bill for your services promptly. What sets WaveApps apart is its keen understanding that many small business owners lack extensive accounting backgrounds. The platform prioritizes user-friendliness and accessibility, making financial management approachable for those without specialized training. This real-world feedback reinforces that WaveApps is best suited for small businesses and freelancers with straightforward financial needs.
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- Invoicing is one of WaveApps’ most praised features, offering robust capabilities even on the free Starter plan.
- Why didn’t EarFun just ship the headphones with a better EQ enabled?
- This flexibility ensures you never miss an opportunity to bill for your services promptly.
We provide different levels of support, depending on the plan and/or the add-on features you choose. I do not recommend these to anyone who enjoys listening to music. They do have some redeeming features, like being very comfortable and pretty light, but the dreadful sound quality is the nail in the coffin for what I’d hoped to be a decent pair of low-cost earbuds. In these scenarios, planning for an eventual migration to more robust platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, or Zoho Books would be cautious.
If you don’t know this track (although you’ve probably heard it — it was everywhere in summer 2023), it’s a high-BPM classic house track with a pulsing synth beat. If you want to listen via wired playback, the Wave Lifes have that option! Bizarrely, though, it’s not via a 3.5mm audio cable you’d normally expect — it’s USB-C. The USB-C cable EarFun provides with the headphones is very thick and obstinate, so it got in the way every time I wanted to move my head. It’s also only about 3.3 feet long, which is pretty short in the grand scheme of things. Wave is PCI Level-1 certified for handling credit card and bank account information.
Make bookkeepinga breeze
Know when an invoice is viewed, becomes due, or gets paid, so you can stay on top of your cash flow better than ever. The Wave app is the mobile companion to your desktop experience, helping you keep tabs on your biz— anytime, anywhere. With everything in one place, there’s no need to endlessly research solutions or stare at spreadsheets until your eyes glaze over. Plus, our features are designed to work together, meaning less to worry about.
You can also skip forward by long pressing the volume up button, and these buttons are all customizable in the EarFun Audio app. I think the design of the Wave Life headphones leaves something to be desired. It’s like a Shein version of the Sony WH-1000XM5 ($399) headphones, with plasticky cups and buttons that attract dust like it’s going out of style.
The drums were tinny, the my.waveapps bass was muddy, and I couldn’t hear the licks of synth I know are there. The Wave Life headphones have a strange combination of tinniness, muddyness, muffledness, and distortion. As I really enjoyed the EarFun Air 2 ANC earbuds, I had high hopes for the Wave Life’s ANC performance.
When I listened to ‘Black Magic Woman’ by Eric Clapton, I thought that Eric’s vocals sounded alright. However, the bass and percussion were so muffled and muddy that it ruined the whole track. ‘Birds of a Feather’ sounded more like a Billie Eilish cover band than Billie herself (I want to thank my colleague Ashley for that soundbite). The percussion sounded like it was being played on moss; wet and squelchy, but not in the ‘90s acid house way I like. While testing, I played ‘Patience’ by Mall Grab semi-loudly through the headphones and then put YouTube on on my laptop. I could still hear Gordon Ramsey (yes, I watch reruns of Kitchen Nightmares all the time) over the top of the music.
Beyond its core accounting, invoicing, and payment capabilities, WaveApps offers several supplementary features that enhance its overall value proposition for small businesses and freelancers. WaveApps offers payroll management as a paid add-on service for small businesses with employees or regular contractors. This module extends the platform’s functionality to handle payroll processing and tax compliance complexities. Wave’s payment processing is truly valuable because it integrates with the platform’s accounting system. When a client pays an invoice online, the transaction is automatically recorded in your books, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the potential for errors. WaveApps offers integrated payment processing that works seamlessly with its invoicing system, allowing businesses to accept digital payments directly from clients.
As with other EarFun products I’ve reviewed (the Wave Pro, Air 4 NC, Uboom X), the list price on EarFun’s website is not the price you’ll ever see the Wave Lifes being sold for. “It’s not just a cool piece of software, it is giving peace of mind to people. You deserve to know your taxes aren’t something you have to sweat over the entire calendar year.” “Wave makes your life a whole lot easier and takes that worry off you. I’ve tried Quickbooks—it’s a bit more complicated and technical, and takes more time to set up.”
The praise for ease of use and value consistently outweighs criticisms in most reviews. The value WaveApps provides varies depending on your business type and specific needs. Let’s explore how different users can benefit from this financial management platform. Pro Plan users gain additional advantages, including the ability to remove Wave branding from invoices and send automated late payment reminders. However, even on the free plan, the invoicing capabilities exceed what many competitors offer at similar price points. WaveApps’ accounting functionality serves as the foundation of its financial management system.
I’m a professional writer, and I’m not sure that even I have the words to describe quite how bad the sound quality on the EarFun Wave Life headphones is. Square has evolved from a payment processing platform to offer a broader suite of business tools, making it a direct competitor to WaveApps in certain areas. This service connects you with bookkeeping professionals who can help manage your finances within the Wave platform. An important distinction in Wave’s payroll offering is between tax service and self-service states. The platform calculates taxes in self-service states, but you’re responsible for making the payments and filing the forms yourself. The pay-per-use model is advantageous for businesses with sporadic sales as there are no monthly fees—you only pay when you receive payments.