OnPay vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of OnPay and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: OnPay wins on our scorecard (8.1/10 vs 7.8/10).
| Scored on | OnPay | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 7 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 9 | 9 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 8 | 7 |
| Base Monthly Fee | $40.00 | — |
| Per Employee Fee | $6.00 | — |
| Setup Fee | $0.00 | — |
| Year-end W-2/1099s | Included | — |
| Starter Plan | — | $0/mo |
| Pro Plan | — | $16/mo |
| CC Processing (Visa/MC) | — | 2.9% + $0.60 |
| CC Processing (Amex) | — | 3.4% + $0.60 |
| ACH Processing | — | 1% ($1 min) |
| Payroll (Tax Service) | — | $40 + $6/employee |
OnPay in one paragraph
OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.
Wave in one paragraph
Wave remains the gold standard for free invoicing and simple bookkeeping for solo service providers, provided you don't mind limited support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, OnPay or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, OnPay scores higher (8.1/10 vs 7.8/10). OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
Who should skip OnPay?
Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.