Justworks vs Wave Payroll
A detailed comparison of Justworks and Wave Payroll. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Justworks | Wave Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $59/mo | $40/mo |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
Key Differences
Justworks and Wave Payroll share 7 features. Justworks has 2+ unique features.
Only in Justworks
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
Justworks
PEO and payroll platform for small businesses offering HR, benefits, compliance, and payroll through a professional employer organisation model.
Wave Payroll
Affordable payroll solution from Wave, designed for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting software.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Justworks | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Justworks
Wave Payroll
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Justworks
Pros & Cons
Justworks
Pros
- +Access to enterprise-grade benefits (medical, dental, vision) at group rates
- +Simple, transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- +Handles compliance, tax filings, and workers comp automatically
- +24/7 customer support with dedicated HR consultants
Cons
- -Per-employee pricing gets expensive for larger teams
- -Only available for US-based employees
- -PEO model means Justworks is the co-employer (some companies dislike this)
- -Less customisable than DIY HR software
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 Justworks if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.6 vs 4.1)
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • Access to enterprise-grade benefits (medical, dental, vision) at group rates
Choose Wave Payroll if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You want to try before committing (free trial available)
- • Budget is a priority (starts from $40/mo vs $59/mo)
- • 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.