Justworks vs Wave

Justworks

Justworks is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that gives small businesses access to Fortune 500-level benefits and simplified payroll. By co-employing your team, Justworks handles compliance, payroll taxes, and benefits administration. It is ideal for small businesses that want premium benefits without an in-house HR team.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Wave

Wave is a free accounting and invoicing platform designed for small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs. It offers genuinely free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning with no subscription fee. Wave makes money through payment processing and payroll add-ons. It is one of the best free accounting tools available for very small businesses with simple needs.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

Pros

• ✓Access to high-quality health, dental, and vision benefits typically reserved for large companies
• ✓Simple flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees
• ✓Excellent customer support with fast response times
• ✓Handles all compliance and payroll tax filings

Cons

• ✗More expensive than software-only alternatives due to PEO model
• ✗Only available for US-based employees
• ✗Less flexible than standalone HR software for customization

Pros

• ✓Genuinely free accounting and invoicing — no subscription required
• ✓Clean and easy to use interface
• ✓Good enough for most very small businesses and freelancers
• ✓Receipt scanning and bank connections included free

Cons

• ✗Limited features compared to paid alternatives
• ✗Customer support is minimal on the free plan
• ✗Not suitable for growing businesses with complex needs
• ✗Payroll and payment processing add-ons can add up in cost

Best For

Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits

Best For

Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software