The verdict for knife 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 knife 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.
Knife Makers deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Steel and handle material costs vary by type and source. Heat treat failures waste hours of grinding and shaping work. Custom orders with exotic materials are hard to quote accurately. Belt and abrasive costs are constant and add up. Wave charges $16/month on top of these daily realities. The median knife maker earns $32,000/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 knife makers. You own it like you own your Belt grinder (2x72).
You're grinding a chef's knife from CPM S35VN steel ($40 per bar). Handle is stabilized burl ($25 for the block). You've got 6 hours in this knife so far — grinding, drilling, heat treating. It needs another 4 hours of hand sanding, handle fitting, and sharpening. You'll sell it for $350 on Instagram. After materials ($75), belt costs ($8), and your time (10 hours), your hourly rate is $26.70. But you didn't factor in the knife that warped in heat treat last week.
Real knife makers near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a knife maker? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every knife maker on Nexa →
For solo knife 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 knife 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