Rippling ATS vs Wave Payroll

Rippling ATS

Rippling Recruiting is the applicant tracking module within the Rippling platform. It connects recruiting directly to onboarding, payroll, and IT provisioning so that when a candidate is hired, their entire employee setup happens automatically. Rippling ATS is ideal for companies already using Rippling for HR who want a seamlessly integrated recruiting experience.

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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.

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Pros

• ✓Seamless connection from hiring to onboarding to payroll — zero manual handoff
• ✓Automatically provisions IT accounts and equipment when a candidate is hired
• ✓Deep integration with the full Rippling platform
• ✓Eliminates duplicate data entry across HR systems

Cons

• ✗Only valuable if you use the full Rippling platform
• ✗Requires custom pricing quote
• ✗Less feature-rich as a standalone ATS compared to dedicated tools like Greenhouse
• ✗Overkill for companies not using Rippling

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

Companies using Rippling for HR who want recruiting seamlessly connected to onboarding and payroll

Best For

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