BambooHR vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of BambooHR and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Wave wins on our scorecard (7/10 vs 6.9/10).
| Scored on | BambooHR | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 7 | 7 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 6 | 9 |
| Customer support | 5 | 4 |
| Features | 8 | 6 |
| Essential Tier | Quote-based (Estimated $6-$8/pepm) | — |
| Advantage Tier | Quote-based (Estimated $12-$15/pepm) | — |
| Payroll Add-on | Varies (Estimate $75+ base + fee/employee) | — |
| Implementation Fee | Varies by headcount | — |
| Accounting Starter | — | $0/mo |
| Accounting Pro | — | $16/mo |
| Credit Card Processing | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% ($1 min) |
| Payroll Base Fee | — | $40/mo |
BambooHR in one paragraph
A premium, polished HR command center that saves massive time for teams of 15+, provided you can stomach the 'hidden' costs of add-ons.
Skip it if: You have fewer than 10 employees and a limited budget—the per-employee cost doesn't justify the features yet.
Wave in one paragraph
The best free accounting software for solo owners who don't mind self-serving their own tech support.
Skip it if: You have more than 5 employees or need to track physical inventory across multiple locations.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, BambooHR or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Wave scores higher (7/10 vs 6.9/10). The best free accounting software for solo owners who don't mind self-serving their own tech support.
Who should skip BambooHR?
You have fewer than 10 employees and a limited budget—the per-employee cost doesn't justify the features yet.
Who should skip Wave?
You have more than 5 employees or need to track physical inventory across multiple locations.