HubSpot CRM vs Wave Payroll

HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is a powerful and easy-to-use customer relationship management platform trusted by over 150,000 companies worldwide. It offers a completely free core CRM with optional paid Marketing, Sales, and Service Hubs for growing teams. HubSpot is the go-to CRM for companies that want to align their marketing, sales, and customer service teams in one platform.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

Wave Payroll

Wave Payroll is a simple payroll solution built into the Wave accounting ecosystem. It is designed for very small businesses that already use Wave for accounting and want an integrated payroll solution. Wave Payroll handles direct deposit, tax payments, and W-2s, making it a natural choice for businesses already in the Wave ecosystem.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Pros

• ✓Generous free plan that is genuinely useful for small teams
• ✓All-in-one platform covering marketing, sales, and service
• ✓Excellent onboarding resources and HubSpot Academy
• ✓Strong integrations with 1000+ tools

Cons

• ✗Can get very expensive as you add paid Hubs and contacts
• ✗Some advanced features locked behind higher tiers
• ✗Reporting is limited on free and starter plans

Pros

• ✓Seamlessly integrates with Wave accounting — no manual data transfer needed
• ✓Very affordable pricing for micro-businesses
• ✓Simple interface with minimal setup required
• ✓Free Wave accounting included with subscription

Cons

• ✗Limited features compared to dedicated payroll platforms
• ✗Tax filing is only automatic in select states — manual filing required in others
• ✗No mobile payroll app
• ✗Not suitable for businesses with complex payroll needs

Best For

SMBs wanting a free CRM with room to grow into marketing automation

Best For

Micro-businesses already using Wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll