Dayforce vs Wave Payroll
A detailed comparison of Dayforce and Wave Payroll. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Dayforce | Wave Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | N/A | $40/mo |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Best For | Mid-Market | SMB |
Key Differences
Dayforce and Wave Payroll share 7 features. Dayforce has 2+ unique features.
Only in Dayforce
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
Dayforce
Unified HCM platform combining HR, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent in a single application with real-time calculations.
Wave Payroll
Affordable payroll solution from Wave, designed for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting software.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dayforce | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Dayforce
Wave Payroll
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Dayforce
Only Wave Payroll
Pros & Cons
Dayforce
Pros
- +True single-application architecture with real-time payroll calculations
- +Always-on pay — payroll is continuously calculated, not batch-processed
- +Strong workforce management (time, attendance, scheduling)
- +Good balance between enterprise capability and usability
Cons
- -No transparent pricing — custom quotes required
- -Talent management modules are less mature than HR and payroll
- -Implementation can take 3-6 months for mid-market organisations
- -Reporting capabilities are powerful but complex to configure
Wave Payroll
Pros
- +Seamless integration with Wave's free accounting and invoicing
- +Affordable pricing for very small teams
- +Direct deposit and automatic payroll tax calculations
- +Simple interface designed for non-accountants
Cons
- -Full tax-service payroll limited to certain US states
- -No HR features — purely payroll
- -Fewer features than competitors like Gusto at a similar price point
- -No benefits administration
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Dayforce if:
- • Your company is Mid-Market size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.2 vs 4.1)
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • True single-application architecture with real-time payroll calculations
Choose Wave Payroll if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You want to try before committing (free trial available)
- • Seamless integration with Wave's free accounting and invoicing
How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.