The verdict for cricut operators: 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 cricut operators 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.
Cricut Operators deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Cricut Access subscription ($10/month) plus design space limitations. Vinyl costs per project are small but tracking across 50 product types is chaos. Custom text orders require individual setup time that's hard to price. Competing on price with other Cricut sellers in a saturated market. Wave charges $16/month on top of these daily realities. The median Cricut operator earns $20,000/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 cricut operators. You own it like you own your Cricut Maker or Explore.
You make custom shirts, decals, mugs, and tote bags. Today: 8 custom shirt orders from Etsy ($22 each), 3 custom decal orders ($8 each), and a mom wanting 15 custom cups for a birthday party ($12 each). Each shirt needs weeding, pressing, and packaging. The birthday party customer wants each cup personalized with a different name. Between Cricut Access ($10/month), blank costs, vinyl, and Etsy fees, your margin on a $22 shirt is about $9. Your accounting is an Instagram DM thread.
Real cricut operators near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a cricut operator? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every cricut operator on Nexa →
For solo cricut operators 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 cricut operators, 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