Rippling vs Wave Payroll
A detailed comparison of Rippling and Wave Payroll. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Rippling | Wave Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $8/mo | $40/mo |
| Free Trial | No | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Best For | All | SMB |
Key Differences
Rippling and Wave Payroll share 7 features. Rippling has 2+ unique features.
Only in Rippling
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
Rippling
Unified workforce platform combining HR, IT, and finance -- managing payroll, benefits, devices, apps, and compliance from a single system with powerful workflow automation.
Wave Payroll
Affordable payroll solution from Wave, designed for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting software.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Rippling | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Rippling
Wave Payroll
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Rippling
Pros & Cons
Rippling
Pros
- +Unified platform for HR, IT, and Finance
- +Exceptionally fast onboarding and device management
- +Automates tedious admin tasks across departments
- +Strong integration marketplace
Cons
- -Pricing can add up with multiple modules
- -Some advanced HR features still maturing
- -Customer support quality inconsistent
- -Less established than legacy HRIS vendors
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 Rippling if:
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.1)
- • Budget is a priority (starts from $8/mo vs $40/mo)
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • Unified platform for HR, IT, and Finance
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.