Wave vs ADP Run

Wave

Wave is a free accounting and invoicing platform designed for small businesses, freelancers, and solopreneurs. It offers genuinely free accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning with no subscription fee. Wave makes money through payment processing and payroll add-ons. It is one of the best free accounting tools available for very small businesses with simple needs.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

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.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Pros

• ✓Genuinely free accounting and invoicing — no subscription required
• ✓Clean and easy to use interface
• ✓Good enough for most very small businesses and freelancers
• ✓Receipt scanning and bank connections included free

Cons

• ✗Limited features compared to paid alternatives
• ✗Customer support is minimal on the free plan
• ✗Not suitable for growing businesses with complex needs
• ✗Payroll and payment processing add-ons can add up in cost

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

Solopreneurs and very small businesses wanting free accounting and invoicing software

Best For

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