Patriot Payroll vs Wave: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Patriot Payroll and Wave — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Patriot Payroll wins on our scorecard (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10).
| Scored on | Patriot Payroll | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 8 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 9 | 9 |
| Customer support | 7 | 5 |
| Features | 7 | 7 |
| Basic Payroll Base | $17/mo | — |
| Full Service Base | $37/mo | — |
| Per Employee/Contractor | $4/mo | — |
| Direct Deposit | $0 | — |
| 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 |
Patriot Payroll in one paragraph
A lean, high-speed payroll solution that is perfect for owners who want to avoid tax penalties without paying for HR features they won't use.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need an all-in-one HR platform that manages your company's health insurance and 401(k) directly within the software.
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, Patriot Payroll or Wave?
On our five-axis scorecard, Patriot Payroll scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10). A lean, high-speed payroll solution that is perfect for owners who want to avoid tax penalties without paying for HR features they won't use.
Who should skip Patriot Payroll?
Skip it if you need an all-in-one HR platform that manages your company's health insurance and 401(k) directly within the software.
Who should skip Wave?
Skip it if you sell physical inventory or plan to scale to a 10+ person team within the next year.