The verdict for candle makers: Wave is solid software, but at $16/month it costs $644 over 3 years. Nexa does most of what Wave does for $279 once. For solo candle makers and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.
Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $365. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | Wave | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $16/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $644 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
Wave plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Candle Makers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Calculating cost per candle with fluctuating wax and fragrance oil prices. Etsy fees stacking: listing fee, transaction fee, payment processing, offsite ads. Managing wholesale orders alongside Etsy and market sales. Batch tracking for safety and recall compliance. Wave charges $16/month on top of these daily realities. The median candle maker earns $28,000/year — $192/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Nexa is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for candle makers. You own it like you own your Wax melter and pouring pitcher.
You poured 48 candles today — 3 scents, 2 sizes. Wax costs changed since last month so your cost per candle shifted. You have 12 Etsy orders to ship, a wholesale order of 50 units for a boutique at a lower margin, and a craft fair this weekend. Etsy just charged you an offsite ads fee on a $28 candle — 15% you didn't agree to. Your cost spreadsheet has 6 tabs and you're not sure it's right anymore.
Real candle makers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a candle maker? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every candle maker on Nexa →
For solo candle makers and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Wave may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
Wave has features like Free accounting software and Unlimited invoicing that some businesses rely on. For most solo candle makers, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $16/month, Nexa pays for itself in 17.4 months. After that: $192 saved every year.
Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Nexa — $279 Once