UKG Pro vs Wave Payroll
A detailed comparison of UKG Pro and Wave Payroll. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| UKG Pro | 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 | Enterprise | SMB |
Key Differences
UKG Pro and Wave Payroll share 7 features. UKG Pro has 2+ unique features.
Only in UKG Pro
- Slack Integration
- Zapier Integration
UKG Pro
Enterprise HCM suite from UKG covering HR, payroll, talent, workforce management, and people analytics for large US-based organisations.
Wave Payroll
Affordable payroll solution from Wave, designed for small businesses and freelancers already using Wave's free accounting software.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | UKG Pro | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
UKG Pro
Wave Payroll
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only UKG Pro
Only Wave Payroll
Pros & Cons
UKG Pro
Pros
- +Exceptional US payroll processing with deep tax engine
- +Industry-leading workforce management (inherited from Kronos)
- +Strong employee experience focus with Great Place to Work integration
- +Comprehensive benefits administration for US organisations
Cons
- -Primarily US-focused — limited global payroll capabilities
- -Custom pricing with no published rates
- -Two product lines (UKG Pro and UKG Ready) can create confusion
- -User interface varies between modules due to merger heritage
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 UKG Pro if:
- • Your company is Enterprise size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.2 vs 4.1)
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (9 vs 7 features)
- • Exceptional US payroll processing with deep tax engine
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.