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8.7

Spot Score

WavePayroll - Payroll Software

WavePayroll Review: Is It The Right Payroll Software For Your Team?

Best for SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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SpotSaaS Analysis for WavePayroll

WavePayroll is a payroll management solution primarily used by small business owners, bookkeepers, and office managers. With a rating of 4.2 out of 5 from 103 reviews, it is broadly validated as a reliable choice for those seeking an affordable and user-friendly payroll system.

WavePayroll's top strengths include its affordability for small to medium-sized businesses and its intuitive interface, which is particularly beneficial for non-accountants and beginners. Additionally, it integrates smooth with other Wave apps, enhancing its value for users already utilizing Wave's invoicing and accounting tools. However, a significant watch-out is the slow and often unresponsive customer service, which can lead to delays in resolving issues.

Quick facts about WavePayroll

Rating4.2/5 (103 reviews) | SpotScore: 8.7/10Best forSmall business ownersPricingFree tier available, paid plansDeploymentBrowser BasedTop strengthIntuitive and user-friendly interfaceWatch-outSlow and unresponsive customer service

What is WavePayroll?

WavePayroll is a payroll and invoicing platform that lets businesses send professional invoices, collect credit card payments, and set up automatic billing for recurring clients. It syncs invoicing, payment records, and accounting data in one dashboard with client history tracking.

Best For

Suited for solo users, small teams, SMBs, and enterprise

Security & Compliance

GDPR
  • Data residency:🇺🇸

WavePayroll Software Demo

WavePayroll was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.

Who should consider WavePayroll

Use cases
Small retail businesses, Freelancers and consultants, Creative services and home-based businesses
Team types
Small business owners, Bookkeepers
Company size
1-20 employees, Small to medium businesses
Workflow style
Simple and streamlined
Setup complexity
Low

Why teams choose WavePayroll

  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface suitable for non-accountants

  • Seamless integration with Wave accounting and invoicing apps

  • Automation of recurring invoices, payroll processing, and tax form generation

Is WavePayroll right for you?

Best for small businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and invoicing.

Choose WavePayroll if

  • You run a small business with 1-20 employees seeking easy payroll management
  • You want seamless integration with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing apps
  • You need automation for recurring invoices, payroll processing, and tax filings

Consider alternatives if

  • Your business requires complex payroll features like emergency payroll or contractor workflows
  • You operate outside the US/Canada or need extensive international payroll support

What buyers should know before shortlisting WavePayroll

Wave Payroll is a strong contender for small to mid-sized businesses looking for affordable and intuitive payroll management software. Its standout features include ease of use, seamless integration with Wave’s accounting and invoicing tools, and the ability to automate key processes like recurring invoices, tax form generation, and direct deposit.

The platform shines in creating an end-to-end financial management suite, enabling business owners to handle payroll, expenses, and reporting in one place. Employers also appreciate features like allowing employees direct access to paystubs and tax forms, as well as robust automation that simplifies tax compliance.

However, some drawbacks do emerge, particularly for businesses with more complex or niche needs. Customer support response times can be slow, and the software lacks certain advanced features such as granular reporting or benefits management tools.

Additionally, users in regions outside the U. S.

or Canada may find the platform less tailored to local financial regulations. Lastly, delays in payment transfers and limited flexibility in customization are minor hiccups.

Overall, Wave Payroll excels as an affordable solution for businesses prioritizing simplicity and integration but may not fully suit larger organizations or those with specialized requirements.

Pros and cons

WavePayroll pros and cons

  • WavePayroll pros
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface suitable for non-accountants

  • Seamless integration with Wave accounting and invoicing apps

  • Automation of recurring invoices, payroll processing, and tax form generation

  • WavePayroll cons
  • Slow and frequently unresponsive customer service

  • Limited customization for non-US/Canada financial regulations

4.2/5 rating
30 verified reviews
Free plan available

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See how it stacks up

Compare WavePayroll side-by-side with top Payroll Software alternatives.

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WavePayroll reviews and ratings

Buyer sentiment

Users appreciate WavePayroll’s ease of use and integration with accounting tools but express frustration with customer support and limited payroll flexibility.

What buyers like

  • Ease of use
  • Integration with Wave apps
  • Automation of payroll and invoicing

Common complaints

  • Customer service responsiveness
  • Limited payroll flexibility

4.2

Very Good

Based on 103 ratings & 30 reviews

Rating Distribution

Excellent

(20)

Very Good

(4)

Good

(3)

Poor

(1)

Poor

(2)

What users are saying

EI

Ed I

11/08/22

0 out of 5

"Customer service takes weeks to respond"

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? It's so simple that it's almost not worth using. Need to pay overtime? Not well supported. Need to resolve ...

Read more

MS

Mrinmai S

10/12/22

5 out of 5

"Best Budget Enterprise Accounting Software"

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? Wave payroll is one of the best payroll and finance management software that I have used so far. It has a ...

Read more

MS

Mrinmai S

10/12/22

5 out of 5

"Best Budget Enterprise Accounting Software"

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? Wave payroll is one of the best payroll and finance management software that I have used so far. It has a ...

Read more

KM

Kojenwa M

09/29/22

3 out of 5

"I really enjoy the simplicity and how easily o can fond everything I am looking for."

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? The upsides include not having to purchase an extra software like fresh books or quick books to manage ...

Read more

AU

Anonymous User

04/26/22

5 out of 5

"If you are not a payroll expert Wave is your ally."

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? How you can set up invoices to go out on a particular day and not worry about having to remember them later. ...

Read more

AU

Anonymous User

04/26/22

5 out of 5

"If you are not a payroll expert Wave is your ally."

What do you like best about Wave Payroll? How you can set up invoices to go out on a particular day and not worry about having to remember them later. ...

Read more

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What are the features of WavePayroll?

26%

Feature coverage

7 of 27 tracked features

Benefits management includes defining, preparing, analyzing, and monitoring benefits from starting a program or project investment until the…

Check writing used to be done by hand in the old days. Today, there is a digital solution for everything, and check printing software is tha…

WavePayroll Direct Deposit lets employers deposit wages directly into employees' bank accounts, removing the need for paper checks and manua…

WavePayroll Multi-country support is currently limited, as it primarily serves businesses within the U.S. and Canada. However, it provides b…

A self-service portal is a website or app that enables workers (or external clients for externally visible support providers) to help themse…

WavePayroll Tax Management automates the calculation, withholding, and remittance of payroll taxes at both federal and state levels. It veri…

WavePayroll W-2 Preparation speeds up end-of-year tax filing by automatically generating W-2 forms for employees based on payroll records. T…

Security & Compliance

WavePayroll security and data handling

Key compliance certifications and security features for IT and security teams evaluating WavePayroll.

Certifications

GDPR✓ Certified
HIPAA✗ Not certified

Security features

Data Encryption✓ Yes

Developer & data

Data residency
🇺🇸

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Why buyers keep looking beyond WavePayroll

  • Businesses outside the U.S. and Canada may seek platforms with broader international payroll support.

  • Companies needing robust HR management features or benefits administration might opt for more comprehensive solutions.

  • Firms requiring advanced time tracking, PTO management, or performance reviews may consider full-service HR platforms.

  • Organizations handling complex payroll scenarios like union rules or job costing might look to specialized systems.

  • Employers with larger teams may prefer scalable payroll platforms with enterprise-level controls and reporting.

  • Businesses desiring built-in applicant tracking or onboarding tools may explore integrated HCM suites.

Help & Contact

WavePayroll Support Options

Customer Service24/7 (Live rep)Online
LocationToronto, Canada

Frequently Asked Questions About WavePayroll

Common questions buyers ask before choosing WavePayroll.

WavePayroll is a Payroll Software. WavePayroll offers W-2 Preparation, Self Service Portal, Multi-country, Direct Deposit, Check Printing and many more functionalities.

WavePayroll is a strong fit if: You run a small business with 1-20 employees seeking easy payroll management; You want seamless integration with Wave’s free accounting and invoicing apps. Consider alternatives if: Your business requires complex payroll features like emergency payroll or contractor workflows; You operate outside the US/Canada or need extensive international payroll support.

Buyers commonly note the following limitations of WavePayroll: Slow and frequently unresponsive customer service; Limited customization for non-US/Canada financial regulations; Lack of flexibility in payroll processing such as emergency payroll or contractor workflows.

Some top alternatives to WavePayroll includes Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Paycor, Freshbooks and Roll by ADP.

WavePayroll offers Freemium pricing model

We don't have information regarding integrations of the WavePayroll as of now.

The starting price is not disclosed by WavePayroll. You can visit WavePayroll pricing page to get the latest pricing.

Free buyer scorecard

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About the reviewer

Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

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