Gusto vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Gusto wins on our scorecard (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Accounting & Invoicing | — | $0 |
| Pro Plan | — | $16/month |
| Credit Card Processing | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% (Min $1) |
| Payroll (Tax-service states) | — | $40 + $6/employee |
Gusto in one paragraph
Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Skip it if: You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Wave in one paragraph
Wave is the best zero-cost accounting solution for solo service providers, provided you can handle the slower payout speeds.
Skip it if: You run a retail store or e-commerce shop that requires real-time inventory tracking.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10). Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Who should skip Gusto?
You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Who should skip Wave?
You run a retail store or e-commerce shop that requires real-time inventory tracking.