Sage Payroll vs Wave Payroll

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Our analysts compared Sage Payroll vs Wave Payroll based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Payroll Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Sage Payroll Software Tool
Wave Payroll Software Tool

Product Basics

Sage HRMS Payroll is an HR system used by businesses of all sizes across all industries. It enables organizations to process pay in-house. It streamlines tasks such as tallying hours worked, calculating tax and managing data. The single platform approach lets users streamline their pay processes and ensure employees receive accurate paychecks at the end of each pay period. If you integrate with a full suite, users can automate various tasks concerning processing payments, including time and attendance tracking, benefits management and recruitment.
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Wave Payroll is a cloud-based solution designed to provide simplified payroll management solutions. The product allows users to sync data, monitor employee activity, track leave, comply with tax reforms, view journal transactions, generate payslips and process payments.

It uses 256-bit encryption to protect bank data connections and handles credit card and bank account information with PCI Level-1 certification. Other functionalities include income and expense tracking, accounting, monthly receipt uploads, regular reminders, consolidated dashboards and transaction updates.
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$595 Annually
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Tailored to your specific needs
$46 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Tax Assistance: Electronically generate and complete tax forms such as I-9s and file them automatically. In addition to guiding users through these forms, the web-based system can check forms against current regulations to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure Compliance Provide compliance with all local, state and federal tax, payroll and reporting regulations. Receive peace of mind about not getting penalized for inaccurate tax calculations or failure to submit accurate reports when necessary.
  • Automated Labor Data: Track information about employee worked hours and pay rates to make it easy to generate reports and minimize instances of overtime or improper pay.
  • Automated Deductions: Save time and energy by allowing the system to calculate employee deductions automatically. Account for factors like benefits plans or wage garnishments.
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  • Centralized Payroll: Add new employees, manage payments, track salaries, record time offs, manage tax deductions and oversee the overall workforce system with integrated solutions and efficient tools. 
  • Automated Compliance: Stay updated with ever-changing tax laws and compute state, federal and local taxes automatically. Conform to regulatory changes and access accurate calculations with an effective tax engine. 
  • Journal Transactions: Instantly access expenses, money owed to employees and tax authorities, liabilities, total costs and more on a single screen. 
  • Self-Service: Allow employees to access personal details, view pay stubs, edit bank-related information, tax forms and more. 
  • Dashboard: Edit, review, edit and manage payrolls on a consolidated dashboard. Set up schedules, approve runs, view bank account balance, export reminders to the calendar and update timesheets. 
  • Reports: Access comprehensive reports to get in-depth insights into total sales, cash flow, profit and loss statement, transaction volumes and other crucial business metrics. Gauge performance and improve services with comparative reporting. 
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  • Tax Filing: Deposit, file and pay all payroll taxes directly through Sage Payroll. For additional peace of mind, Sage pledges to pay all fines and penalties for any errors if they are the party at fault.
  • Benefits Management: Administer and manage benefits, including flexible spending accounts and retirement plans such as 401k and simple IRAs.
  • Time and Attendance Management: Allow employees to clock-in and clock-out directly through the system. Timeclock information can then be used to calculate employee hours for payroll processing.
  • Employee Self-Service: Log into the system to view essential documents like pay stubs and year-end tax documents (including W-2s).
  • Integration: Compatible with a variety of third-party vendors. For users with additional payroll needs, the system also offers various add-on products, including HR compliance, recruiting and data management.
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  • Centralized Payroll: Add new employees, manage payments, track salaries, record time offs, manage tax deductions and oversee the overall workforce system with integrated solutions and efficient tools. 
  • Automated Compliance: Stay updated with ever-changing tax laws and compute state, federal and local taxes automatically. Conform to regulatory changes and access accurate calculations with an effective tax engine. 
  • Journal Transactions: Instantly access expenses, money owed to employees and tax authorities, liabilities, total costs and more on a single screen. 
  • Self-Service: Allow employees to access personal details, view pay stubs, edit bank-related information, tax forms and more. 
  • Dashboard: Edit, review, edit and manage payrolls on a consolidated dashboard. Set up schedules, approve runs, view bank account balance, export reminders to the calendar and update timesheets. 
  • Reports: Access comprehensive reports to get in-depth insights into total sales, cash flow, profit and loss statement, transaction volumes and other crucial business metrics. Gauge performance and improve services with comparative reporting. 
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Product Ranking

#24

among all
Payroll Software

#31

among all
Payroll Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 92 reviews
Great User Sentiment 116 reviews
70%
of users recommend this product

Sage Payroll has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 70% when considering 92 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

82%
of users recommend this product

Wave Payroll has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 82% when considering 116 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (1)
n/a
3.3 (30)
n/a
n/a
4.14 (58)
3.6 (56)
4.1 (58)
3.0 (5)
n/a

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Excellent HR Functionality: Over 90% of reviewers discussing the HR functions said it worked well.
Useful Reporting: Commenters liked reporting in just under 90% of reviews that discussed it.
Successful Functionality: More than 80% of users who talked about the features were pleased with their functionality.
Great Price: Reviewers were pleased with the price in over 70% of reviews discussing the cost.
Helpful Customer Service: Over 70% of commenters that discussed support felt it was pleasant and useful.
User Friendly: Reviewers felt the system was easy to use in over 60% of comments about the platform’s usability.
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Intuitive Design: Users praise Wave Payroll's easy-to-use interface, finding it simple to navigate and complete tasks like setting up payroll and running reports.
Automated Tax Filing: Wave Payroll automatically calculates, files, and pays payroll taxes, saving users time and reducing the risk of errors.
Affordable Pricing: Many users appreciate Wave Payroll's transparent and competitive pricing, especially its free plan for contractors and freelancers.
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Performance Issues: Over 80% of users who talked about the system’s performance said they ran into some bugs and crashes.
Bad Setup: Reviewers ran into issues and sharp learning curves during implementation in over 60% of comments about it.
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Customer Support Issues: Users have reported experiencing difficulties reaching customer support and receiving timely assistance when encountering problems.
Inaccurate Calculations: Some users have reported instances of Wave Payroll making incorrect calculations, leading to payroll errors and discrepancies.
Limited Features: Wave Payroll may lack certain advanced features that some businesses require, such as comprehensive reporting options or integrations with specific HR systems.
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Sage HRMS Payroll is a payment solution that’s part of the broader software suite. Users enjoyed its useful functionality, ease of use, intuitive layout and good HR features. The reporting features were prevalent because of the comprehensive breakdowns and different levels of permissions on the report. Many also liked that there was no hard close after closing the payroll. Users also felt that customer service was polite and was able to help many through challenges. Overall, reviewers also said it was well-priced and affordable. Its biggest drawback came in the form of performance issues. Users experienced instances of getting kicked out or running into programs that were buggy or crashed. Reviewers were also displeased with the setup process they felt was over-complicated and took far too long. Sage HRMS Payroll may be a good choice for medium and large enterprise organizations who are looking to integrate HR functions as well.

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Are you riding the wave of payroll success, or are you drowning in paperwork? Recent user reviews of Wave Payroll suggest it's a lifesaver for entrepreneurs and small businesses, but it might not be smooth sailing for everyone. Users rave about Wave Payroll's affordability and ease of use, especially compared to rivals like Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll. They appreciate the intuitive interface, automated tax calculations, and direct deposit features. One user even described hitting the "approve payroll" button as "fun" because it's so simple and stress-free. However, some users have voiced concerns about limited customer support and occasional glitches in the software. A few users also wished for more advanced features, such as HR tools and time tracking integration. Wave Payroll's key differentiator is its price point. Starting at $25 per month, it's significantly cheaper than many competitors, making it a godsend for budget-conscious startups and freelancers. However, this affordability comes with a trade-off: Wave Payroll's automatic tax filing service is only available in a limited number of states. If you're outside those states, you'll need to manually file taxes, which can be a headache. Overall, Wave Payroll is a great fit for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking for a user-friendly and affordable payroll solution. However, if you require robust customer support or advanced features, you might need to explore other options.

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