Justworks vs Wave Payroll

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 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

• ✓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

• ✓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

Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits

Best For

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