Wave Payroll vs ADP Run

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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ADP Run

ADP Run is a payroll and HR solution designed specifically for small businesses with 1-49 employees. It is powered by ADP, the world's largest payroll provider, giving small businesses access to enterprise-grade payroll processing and compliance tools. ADP Run offers multiple plan tiers from basic payroll to full HR suite depending on the business needs.

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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

Pros

• ✓Backed by ADP's decades of payroll expertise and compliance knowledge
• ✓Scalable — can grow with your business to ADP Workforce Now
• ✓Strong mobile app for running payroll on the go
• ✓Extensive integration ecosystem

Cons

• ✗Pricing is not transparent and can be expensive compared to competitors
• ✗Customer service quality can be inconsistent
• ✗Upselling of additional services reported by customers
• ✗Interface is less modern than newer payroll tools

Best For

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

Best For

Small businesses that want enterprise-grade payroll reliability from a trusted brand