Wave Payroll review

Wave Payroll makes sense mainly for businesses already keeping their books in Wave. Each pay run records wage and tax entries in the accounting software, so you get payroll expense reports by employee and expense type without a separate sync. The price is $40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per independent contractor paid, with a 30-day free trial. Wave's tax service now covers all 50 US states and pays and files state and federal payroll taxes automatically, though it excludes 1099 filings, so you still file contractor forms yourself after Wave generates them. Employees get a portal for pay stubs, W-2s and vacation leave, and direct deposits are unlimited and free. Compared with Gusto or OnPay, the feature list is short: there is no benefits marketplace, scheduling or advanced HR. A team of two employees and two contractors pays about $64 a month, which is fair for Wave users and less compelling for anyone else.

Who it is for

Wave accounting users with a few employees or contractors.

Price

$40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid; 30-day free trial.

Monthly fee $40 USD base fee + $6 per active employee + $6 per independent contractor paid
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• Automatic state and federal payroll tax payments and filings in all 50 states
• Unlimited free direct deposits
• Payroll entries recorded in Wave accounting automatically
• Employee portal for pay stubs, W-2s and leave
• W-2, W-3 and 1099-NEC generation

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Payroll and bookkeeping stay in one Wave account
• Strength: 30-day free trial
• Strength: Contractors and employees priced the same at $6 each
• Weakness: Tax service excludes 1099 filings
• Weakness: Fewer payroll features than dedicated payroll services
• Weakness: Contractors add $6 each, unlike plans that bundle them

Key facts

• Price: $40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid
• Free trial: 30 days
• Tax service: All 50 US states, excluding 1099 filings
• Also available: Canada, except Quebec

Where it ranks

Wave Payroll is No. 10 in our Best Payroll Software for Small Business verdict.