Wave Payroll vs Connecteam

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 →

Connecteam

Connecteam is an all-in-one employee management app built specifically for deskless and frontline workers. It combines scheduling, time tracking, team communication, training, and HR tools in a mobile-first platform. Connecteam is widely used in industries like retail, hospitality, construction, and healthcare.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

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

• ✓Purpose-built for deskless workers with an excellent mobile experience
• ✓Combines scheduling, communication, and HR in one affordable platform
• ✓Easy to set up with minimal IT support required
• ✓Affordable pricing with a generous free plan for small teams

Cons

• ✗Payroll features are limited and require integration with a payroll provider
• ✗Less suitable for office-based or knowledge worker teams
• ✗Advanced reporting requires higher-tier plans

Best For

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

Best For

SMBs with deskless or frontline workers