Compare/Alternatives

Wave Payroll alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to Wave Payroll, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

Wave Payroll from $40/mo + $6/employee

Closest alternatives

See the Wave Payroll listing

The short answer

  • Patriot Payroll : Lower $17 plus $4 if you skip Wave invoicing. From $17/mo + $4/worker
  • Gusto : Benefits and HR if you have outgrown a $40 payroll add-on. From $49/mo
  • QuickBooks Payroll : Payroll inside QuickBooks if that is already the books. From $88/mo + $6.50/employee
  • SurePayroll : Full-service $29 plus $7 if tax filing help is the priority. From $29/mo + $7/worker

Why people look past Wave Payroll

Canada is a different CAD price. Contractors also cost $6 each when paid. There is no numbered payroll trial.

What we noted

  • No numbered trial
  • Canada is a different CAD price
  • Not a benefits-heavy HCM

Not the right fit for

  • Canadian payroll buyers (that is a CAD SKU)
  • Companies that need benefits admin and talent modules

Worth keeping in mind: Payroll that sits next to Wave invoicing, with a printed US rate of $40 plus $6 heads.

Wave Payroll alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
Wave Payroll (the one you are on) –No$40/mo + $6/employee–No–No
Patriot Payroll Lower $17 plus $4 if you skip Wave invoicing. –No$17/mo + $4/worker–No–NoHead to head
Gusto Benefits and HR if you have outgrown a $40 payroll add-on. –No$49/mo✓Yes✓YesHead to head
QuickBooks Payroll Payroll inside QuickBooks if that is already the books. –No$88/mo + $6.50/employee–No–NoHead to head
SurePayroll Full-service $29 plus $7 if tax filing help is the priority. –No$29/mo + $7/worker–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Patriot Payroll

$17/mo + $4/worker 30 day free trial

Why it comes up: Lower $17 plus $4 if you skip Wave invoicing.

Stands out: The lowest printed full-service-adjacent US payroll base: $17 plus $4, or Full Service at $37 plus $5.

Watch out: 50 percent off for three months is a promo, not the ongoing rate. Full Service is $37 plus $5 per worker if you want the vendor to handle more tax work.

Best for

  • US micro-businesses that want the $17 Basic rate
  • Owners willing to do more payroll work to save
  • Teams that will take 30 days free before paying

Read the Patriot Payroll write-up Wave Payroll vs Patriot Payroll

Gusto

$49/mo MCP API

Why it comes up: Benefits and HR if you have outgrown a $40 payroll add-on.

Stands out: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.

Watch out: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.

Best for

  • US small companies running payroll in-house
  • HR teams that want benefits next to pay
  • Desks that want MCP on payroll data

4.6 on Capterra from 4,225 reviews

Read the Gusto write-up Wave Payroll vs Gusto

QuickBooks Payroll

$88/mo + $6.50/employee Free trial

Why it comes up: Payroll inside QuickBooks if that is already the books.

Stands out: Full-service tax filing next to the books you already keep in QuickBooks, with optional Payroll AI prep.

Watch out: The $88 figure is the regular bundle, not the 50 percent intro. Per-employee fees stack on top. Background checks via Checkr start at $29.99 per report.

Best for

  • US SMBs already on QuickBooks Online
  • Owners who want ADP-style tax filing without leaving Intuit
  • Teams adding 401(k) and health benefits later

Read the QuickBooks Payroll write-up Wave Payroll vs QuickBooks Payroll

SurePayroll

$29/mo + $7/worker

Why it comes up: Full-service $29 plus $7 if tax filing help is the priority.

Stands out: A $29 base with tax filing in the product, plus a $9.99/mo add-on for extra states.

Watch out: Free months are a promo, not a numbered trial. Multi-state payroll is $9.99/mo extra. Nanny plan is $39/mo.

Best for

  • US small employers that want full-service taxes
  • Single-state teams starting at $29 plus $7 per worker
  • Households paying a nanny on the $39 plan

Read the SurePayroll write-up Wave Payroll vs SurePayroll

Common questions

What is the best Wave Payroll alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. Our write-ups put Patriot Payroll closest to Wave Payroll. Why it comes up: Lower $17 plus $4 if you skip Wave invoicing. The table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.
What is the cheapest Wave Payroll alternative?
Of the published starting prices here, Patriot Payroll is lowest at $17/mo + $4/worker. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.
Which Wave Payroll alternatives have an MCP server?
Gusto ships a first party MCP server, so you can drive it from Claude or ChatGPT without building against the API yourself.

Keep looking

Back to the Wave Payroll write-up Every Payroll tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?