OnPay vs Wave Payroll Comparison
OnPay
Starting at $40 /Month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps companies of all sizes reduce cos…
Wave Payroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Wave Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting platform, enabling payroll processing, tax calculations, and direct deposit within the same ecosystem. Payroll da…
OnPay leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 434 reviews.
OnPay vs Wave Payroll — at a glance
| Feature | OnPay | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0 / 5 | — |
| Reviews | 434 | — |
| Starting price | $40 /Month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Integrations | 10+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | — |
| Data residency | US | — |
Key differences between OnPay and Wave Payroll
- Pricing: OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Wave Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: OnPay offers a free trial; Wave Payroll does not.
- Target audience: OnPay is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Wave Payroll targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- Deployment: OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Wave Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
OnPay vs Wave Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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OnPay vs Wave Payroll: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support.
- You run a small business with 1-100 employees needing straightforward payroll processing.
- You want to automate payroll calculations and tax filings to reduce errors and save time.
- You value exceptional, responsive customer service and easy integration with accounting tools.
- You are a large enterprise requiring complex payroll customizations and advanced features.
- You need an all-in-one HR platform including recruitment or performance management.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
OnPay typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. Wave Payroll tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps ... Read More about OnPay | Wave Payroll is payroll software for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting platform, enabling payroll processing, tax calculations, and direct deposit within ... Read More about Wave Payroll |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-100 employeesSmall Business | — |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- OnPay simplifies payroll processing, saving hours each week by automating calculations and filings—so you can focus on running your business.
- With a user-friendly interface and intuitive dashboards, your team can easily manage payroll, benefits, and taxes without needing extensive training.
- OnPay integrates smoothly with popular accounting tools, improving efficiency and eliminating manual data entry.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
- 1-100 employees
- Healthcare, SaaS, Consulting, Professional Services, Nonprofits, Financial Services, Marketing Agencies
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Finance Managers, Small Business Owners
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Users may explore alternatives if they require more advanced HR management features, such as extensive employee onboarding, robust benefit administration, or detailed performance tracking.
- Companies seeking greater scalability might prefer alternatives that easily accommodate rapid growth, complex payroll structures, or increased employee counts without compromising system performance.
- Businesses operating internationally or with global teams might consider alternatives offering broader international payroll support and compliance tools for multiple regions and currencies.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
Software Demo
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How do OnPay and Wave Payroll Compare on Features?
Total Features | 13 Features | 7 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare OnPay and Wave Payroll on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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OnPay vs Wave Payroll: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
OnPay vs Wave Payroll Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✗ No | — |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | — |
OnPay User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | |
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Rating Distribution | No reviews available for this product | |
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyers overwhelmingly praise OnPay for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and excellent customer support, especially among small businesses and nonprofits. What buyers like
Common complaints
| No expert review available for this product |
Pros and Cons |
| No pros or cons available for this product |
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Integrations
Integration with other apps | No Integration information available. |
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OnPay and Wave Payroll Customers
Customers |  BlueBird  Cartecay  Evergreen | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  7 Screenshots |  2 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  3 Videos |  3 Videos |
Top Alternatives to OnPay and Wave Payroll in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, OnPay or Wave Payroll?
- OnPay edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do OnPay and Wave Payroll offer a free trial?
- OnPay offers a free trial. Wave Payroll does not.
- What is the starting price of OnPay vs Wave Payroll?
- OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Wave Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to OnPay?
- Top alternatives to OnPay include Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.
- What are the top alternatives to Wave Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Wave Payroll include WavePayroll, ADP Payroll Services, EPAY HCM, PrimePay, APS Payroll.