Both Gusto and Wave are leading payroll software solutions, but which one is better for you and your business?
Below we compare Gusto and Wave across nearly 50 different data points to help you make find the right one.
Gusto vs Wave Reviews
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| Gusto | Wave | ||
| Trustpilot Rating | 3.4 | 1.6 | |
| Number of Trustpilot Reviews | 1927 | 126 | |
| iPhone App Rating | 4.8 | 4.5 | |
| Number of iPhone App Reviews | 11600 | 5700 | |
| Android App Rating | 4.3 | 3.7 | |
| Number of Android App Reviews | 5010 | 22900 |
Gusto vs Wave Pricing
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| Gusto | Wave | |
| Free Trial | n/a | Yes |
| Free Trial Length | n/a | 1 month |
| Cheapest Plan Name | Simple | Self service states |
| Cheapest Plan Cost Per Month | $80 | $n/a |
| Mid Priced Plan Name | Plus | n/a |
| Mid Priced Plan Cost Per Month | $80 | $n/a |
| Top Plan Name | Premium | Tax service states |
| Top Plan Cost Per Month | $By request | $40 |
Gusto vs Wave Features
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| Features | Gusto | Wave |
| Target Business Size | Mid size business | Small business |
| Unlimited Payrolls | ✔ | ✘ |
| Automated Tax Filing & Payments | ✔ | ✔ |
| E-sign I-9 & W-4 | ✔ | ✘ |
| Live Customer Support | ✘ | ✔ |
| Third-Party Integrations | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ability To Manage Employee Benefits | ✔ | ✔ |
| Employee Access To Platform | ✔ | ✔ |
| Direct Deposit | ✔ | ✔ |
| Expense Reimbursement | ✔ | ✔ |
| Time Off Accrual | ✔ | ✔ |
| Pre-Tax Deductions | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wage Garnishment | ✔ | ✔ |
| Background Checks | ✘ | ✘ |
| Check Printing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Check Delivery | ✔ | ✘ |
| API | ✘ | ✘ |
Gusto Simple Features
- Full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
- Full support
- Employee profiles and self-service
- Basic hiring and onboarding tools
- Gusto-brokered health insurance administration
- Employee financial benefits
- Payroll and time-off reports
- Custom admin permissions
- Integrations for accounting, time tracking, expense management, and more
Wave Self service states Features
- Wave makes filing your own payroll taxes easy
- 36 states are self-serve, which means you’ll have to pay and file the paperwork yourself. Wave makes it easy by showing you what information and how much money you’ll need per payroll.
Gusto Premium Features
- Dedicated Customer Success Manager
- HR Resource Center
- Compliance alerts
- Access to certified HR experts
- Full-service payroll migration and account setup
- Health insurance broker integration
- R&D tax credit discount
- Waived fees and exclusive pricing
- Priority support
- Time Kiosk
Wave Tax service states Features
- Wave handles your payroll taxes
- 14 states include tax services with the option to automatically transfer tax payments and file the paperwork with your state tax office and the IRS (this excludes 1099 Filings).
Gusto vs Wave Pro & Cons
| Gusto | Wave | |
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