Wave Payroll

A complete review of Wave Payroll, including pricing, comparisons to competitors, and FAQs.

Updated on August 10th, 2023

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Wave Payroll is cloud-based payroll software designed to help small business owners simplify and automate payroll processes while remaining compliant with taxes and deductions. This is an additional service that is only available in the U.S. and Canada.

Also Consider

Gusto Payroll Software

Set up an account free.

Try Gusto

No extra fees.

Made for mobile.

Auto tax filing and digital paystubs.

At-a-Glance:

Feature

Wave Payroll

Starting price

$20.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

Free trial

Pay 1099 contractors

E-signatures

x

Digital paystubs

Time and attendance tracking

Integrations

Employee portal

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Review:

While Wave's main product is its free accounting platform, Wave Payroll is a paid, mid-tier solution that is equipped with standard features like automatic payments and multi-state filing. Although Wave Payroll lacks the flexibility of different payroll schedules, it is still a budget-friendly solution for small businesses.

Pros:

  • The platform offers a free 30-day trial.
  • Wave Payroll offers some nice-to-have features like contractor payments and new hire reporting.
  • The site features an employee portal where employees can access their pay stubs and tax forms.
  • Users can view detailed payroll reports.
  • Employers can generate 1099 and W-2 tax forms and make use of automatic tax filing.
  • The platform features timesheets to track time and attendance for payroll purposes.
  • Payroll will automatically integrate with Wave Accounting, Invoicing, and Payments.
  • The site offers live chat and email support, as well as advisors for tax filing help.

Cons:

  • The site cannot handle multiple pay rates or flexible payroll scheduling.
  • Wave doesn't handle reimbursements or garnishments.
  • Users will have difficulty running off-cycle payrolls.
  • There is no phone support.

Reputation:

Wave Financial Inc. is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and has an A rating from the company. More than 10 customer reviews on TrustRadius for Wave Payroll shows an average rating of 8.8-star rating. These reviews praised the platform's simple UX, competitive pricing, and helpful customer support.

G2 shows more than 25 customer reviews of Wave Payroll with a 4.1-star rating. Positive reviewers noted the platform's easy-to-use integrations and simplified payroll processes. Some negative points mentioned are the two-step process of paying 1099 contractors and the lack of international payrolls.

Pricing:

Plan

Monthly Pricing

Payroll: Self-service States

$20.00 +$6.00 /employee.

Payroll: Tax Service States*

$40.00 +$6.00 /employee.

Advisors: Accounting & Payroll Coaching

$379.00 /one-off.

*Tax service states include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Wave Payroll vs. Gusto
Wave Payroll vs. Gusto:

With a base price of $40.00 per month, Gusto is the costlier option compared to Wave's base price of $20.00. Gusto is a reliable software, as is Wave, but Gusto features multi-state payroll functions, automatic net-to-gross calculations, and lifetime accounts for employees, which Wave Payroll lacks.

Comparison Between Wave Payroll and Gusto:

Feature

Wave Payroll

Gusto

Price

$20.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

$40.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

Employee portal

Automatic tax filing

✓ (Only tax service states)

Compliance assistance

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Phone and online.

Wave Payroll vs. QuickBooks Payroll
Wave Payroll vs. QuickBooks Payroll:

QuickBooks Payroll is costlier than Wave Payroll, with a starting base price of $45.00 per month, compared to Wave Payroll's $20.00 base price. Both QuickBooks Payroll and Wave Payroll lack compliance management, but Wave Payroll features a detailed employee portal, which QuickBooks Payroll lacks.

Comparison Between Wave Payroll and QuickBooks Payroll:

Feature

Wave Payroll

QuickBooks

Starting price

$20.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

$45.00 /mo +$5.00 /employee /mo.

Employee portal

Automatic tax filing

✓ (Only tax service states)

Compliance assistance

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Phone and email.

Wave Payroll vs. TriNet Zenefits
Wave Payroll vs. TriNet Zenefits:

TriNet Zenefits is a popular payroll platform offering a wide range of services, such as lifetime accounts, expense integrations, and federal R&D tax credits — features missing from Wave Payroll. TriNet Zenefits is also more affordable than Wave Payroll, with a base monthly price of $10.00 for its payroll-inclusive plan, compared to $20.00.

Comparison Between Wave Payroll and TriNet Zenefits:

Feature

Wave Payroll

TriNet Zenefits

Starting price

$20.00 /mo. +$6.00 /employee /mo.

$10.00 /mo +$6.00 /employee /mo.

Employee portal

Automatic tax filing

✓ (Tax service states)

Compliance assistance

x

Customer support

Email and live chat.

Email, phone, and live chat.

Key Information:

Legal Name

Wave Financial Inc.

Founder

Kirk Simpson

Founding Date

Jan 01, 2009

Address

155 Queens Quay E, Ste. 500, Toronto, Ontario M5A 0W4 Canada

Number of Employees

340

Number of Customers

3000000

Email

support@waveapps.com

Telephone

1 (416) 521-9141

Website

https://www.waveapps.com/

FAQs:

Can I do payroll with Wave?

Yes, Wave offers a web-based payroll software.

What does Wave Payroll cost?

Wave Payroll's pricing starts at $20.00 per month +$6.00 per employee per month.

Is payroll free with Wave?

No, Wave Payroll is a paid service.

Does Wave do 1099?

Yes, Wave Payroll generates 1099 tax forms.