OnPay vs Wave Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

OnPay

0.0 (0 reviews)

OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and HR software providing small businesses with automated tax filings, integrated benefits administration, and personnel management tools to streamline back-office operations and ensure compliance.

Starting at $40/mo
Free Trial 30 days
VS

Wave

0.0 (0 reviews)

Wave is a comprehensive financial management software providing small business owners with integrated tools for accounting, invoicing, payroll, and payment processing to simplify bookkeeping and improve cash flow management.

Starting at Free
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature OnPay Wave
Website onpay.com waveapps.com
Pricing Model Subscription Freemium
Starting Price $40/month Free
FREE Trial ✓ 30 days free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✓ Has free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✘ No product demo
Deployment cloud mobile cloud mobile
Integrations QuickBooks Online Xero FreshBooks Deputy When I Work TSheets Guideline Vestwell PosterElite Human Interest PayPal Stripe Etsy Shopify Zapier Google Sheets HubSpot Mailchimp
Target Users small-business mid-market freelancer solopreneur small-business
Target Industries
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2011 2010
Headquarters Atlanta, USA Toronto, Canada

Overview

O

OnPay

OnPay is a comprehensive payroll and HR solution designed to take the complexity out of managing your team. You can run unlimited payroll cycles for employees and contractors, while the platform automatically handles all federal, state, and local tax filings and payments. It simplifies your back-office by combining payroll, automated tax reporting, and HR tools into a single, intuitive interface that scales with your business needs.

Beyond just cutting checks, you can manage the entire employee lifecycle from digital onboarding to benefits administration. The platform integrates directly with popular accounting and time-tracking software to eliminate manual data entry. Whether you are a small business owner or a growing mid-sized company, you get access to licensed payroll experts and a guarantee that your tax filings are accurate and on time.

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Wave

Wave is a specialized financial platform designed to help you manage your small business money without the complexity of traditional accounting suites. You can track your income and expenses, create professional invoices, and scan receipts directly from your phone. It solves the headache of manual bookkeeping by automatically syncing your bank transactions and categorizing them for tax season.

The platform is built specifically for freelancers, consultants, and businesses with only a few employees who need a clear view of their profitability. You can manage multiple businesses under one account and invite your accountant to collaborate on your books. While the core accounting features are free, you can add paid services like payroll or credit card processing as your business grows.

Overview

O

OnPay Features

  • Full-Service Payroll Run unlimited payroll cycles for employees and contractors with automated tax filings and payments in all 50 states.
  • Digital Onboarding Invite new hires to enter their own details and sign documents electronically before their first day on the job.
  • Benefits Administration Manage health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers' compensation directly within your payroll dashboard for seamless deductions.
  • HR Toolset Create custom offer letters, store personnel files securely, and track employee PTO with built-in HR management features.
  • Accounting Integrations Sync your payroll data automatically with QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks to keep your financial books perfectly balanced.
  • Employee Self-Service Give your team lifetime access to their pay stubs, tax forms, and personal information through a dedicated mobile-friendly portal.
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Wave Features

  • Unlimited Invoicing. Create and send professional, customized invoices to your clients in seconds and track their payment status in real-time.
  • Automated Bookkeeping. Connect your bank accounts to automatically import transactions and keep your books up to date without manual entry.
  • Receipt Scanning. Snap photos of your receipts with the mobile app to automatically capture expense details and stay organized for tax time.
  • Online Payments. Accept credit cards and bank transfers directly through your invoices so your customers can pay you with one click.
  • Financial Reporting. Generate instant profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports to understand your business health.
  • Payroll Integration. Pay your employees and contractors easily while Wave handles the tax filings and payments in supported regions.

Pricing Comparison

O

OnPay Pricing

Monthly Base
$40
  • Full-service payroll in 50 states
  • Automated tax filings and payments
  • HR software and document storage
  • Software integrations
  • Employee self-service accounts
W

Wave Pricing

Starter
$0
  • Unlimited invoicing
  • Unlimited bookkeeping
  • Bank connection sync
  • Unlimited receipt scanning
  • Exportable accounting reports

Pros & Cons

M

OnPay

Pros

  • Transparent flat-fee pricing with no hidden costs
  • Excellent customer support from licensed payroll professionals
  • Intuitive interface makes running payroll very fast
  • Seamless integration with popular accounting software
  • Handles complex multi-state payroll without extra fees

Cons

  • No native mobile app for administrators
  • Limited advanced reporting compared to enterprise tools
  • Lacks built-in native time tracking features
A

Wave

Pros

  • Core accounting and invoicing features are completely free
  • User interface is clean and easy to navigate
  • Mobile app makes receipt scanning very convenient
  • Setup process is quick for non-accountants

Cons

  • Customer support is limited for free users
  • Payroll features are only available in specific regions
  • Lacks advanced inventory management for product sellers
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