Wave Payroll vs Deputy

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 →

Deputy

Deputy is a workforce management platform focused on employee scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance. It helps businesses with shift-based workforces build schedules, manage leave, and track hours worked. Deputy integrates with major payroll providers to streamline the pay run process.

Paid 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

• ✓Excellent scheduling tools with AI-powered shift recommendations
• ✓Strong labor compliance features for overtime and break rules
• ✓Good mobile app for employees to clock in, swap shifts, and request leave
• ✓Integrates with 30+ payroll providers

Cons

• ✗Limited core HR features beyond scheduling and time tracking
• ✗Not a full HRIS replacement
• ✗Reporting could be more customizable for complex workforce analytics

Best For

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

Best For

Businesses with hourly workers needing scheduling and time tracking