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Gusto vs Wave: Which Payroll Software Is Better?


Disclosure: We may earn commissions if you shop through the links below.

Last Updated: May 22, 2025

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

GustoWave
Trustpilot Rating3.41.6
Number of Trustpilot Reviews1927126
iPhone App Rating4.84.5
Number of iPhone App Reviews116005700
Android App Rating4.33.7
Number of Android App Reviews501022900

Gusto vs Wave Pricing

GustoWave
Free Trialn/aYes
Free Trial Lengthn/a1 month
Cheapest Plan NameSimpleSelf service states
Cheapest Plan Cost Per Month$80$n/a
Mid Priced Plan NamePlusn/a
Mid Priced Plan Cost Per Month$80$n/a
Top Plan NamePremiumTax service states
Top Plan Cost Per Month$By request$40

Gusto vs Wave Features

FeaturesGustoWave
Target Business SizeMid size businessSmall 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

GustoWave
Pros
  • User Interface
  • Customer Service
  • User Friendly
  • Ideal for Small Businesses
  • All In One Place
  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Accurate Payroll Calculation
  • Free Service
Cons
  • Need Improvements
  • Customer Service
  • Not User Friendly
  • Room for Improvement
  • Adjustment Issues
  • Slow Performance
  • Poor Customer Service
  • Limited Payroll Features

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  • ThePayStubs vs Justworks
  • Arbonum vs Checkwriters
  • Gusto vs PrimePay
  • Namely vs Darwinbox
  • Online Paystub Generator vs EBS PaySuite
  • Multiplier vs Paymate
  • Multiplier vs Paycom

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