Patriot Software vs Wave Payroll
A detailed comparison of Patriot Software and Wave Payroll. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Patriot Software | Wave Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $17/mo | $40/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 7 | 7 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
Patriot Software
Budget-friendly payroll and accounting software for small businesses with 1-100 employees, starting at $17/month plus $4/employee.
Rating
4.8/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
No
Wave Payroll
Affordable payroll solution from Wave, designed for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting software.
Rating
4.1/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
No
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Patriot Software | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Patriot Software
Basic Payroll
$17/mo
Full Service Payroll
$37/mo
Wave Payroll
Tax Service
$40/mo
Self Service
$20/mo
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Gmail
Google Workspace
Zapier
Only Patriot Software
Outlook
QuickBooks
Pros & Cons
Patriot Software
Pros
- +Among the cheapest payroll solutions available ($17/month + $4/employee)
- +Extremely straightforward — no unnecessary complexity
- +US-based customer support with consistently high ratings
- +Free 30-day trial with no credit card required
Cons
- -No HR features in the base payroll product
- -No mobile app — browser-based only
- -Limited integrations with third-party tools
- -No benefits administration for health insurance
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 Patriot Software if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.1)
- • Budget is a priority (starts from $17/mo vs $40/mo)
- • Among the cheapest payroll solutions available ($17/month + $4/employee)
Choose Wave Payroll if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • 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.