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Wave Payroll is built for freelancers and solo business owners already using Wave accounting. It’s simple by design, which also means no dedicated HR module, no time tracking, and support that reviewers describe as slow to respond when something goes wrong.
If you’re growing past a one-person shop, here are five real alternatives, including the platform built for hourly, multi-location teams.
Best Wave Payroll Alternatives for HR & Payroll
- Netchex — Best for mid-market businesses with hourly, multi-location, or deskless workforces that need full HCM plus white-glove US-based service.
- Gusto — Best for very small, single-location businesses wanting simple self-service payroll. Multi-state payroll and deeper reporting require higher tiers.
- OnPay — Best for small businesses wanting flat, all-in pricing. No native time tracking module.
- QuickBooks Payroll — Best for existing QuickBooks accounting users. Payroll and time tracking are billed and stacked separately.
- SurePayroll — Best for very small businesses and household payroll. Reviewers report service quality declined after its acquisition by Paychex.
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We compared each platform on pricing transparency, breadth of HR and benefits functionality, native time and attendance capability, and service model, with extra weight on how well each fits businesses with hourly or shift-based staff across multiple locations.
Independent reviewer data was sourced from G2 and Capterra. Competitor claims were last verified in July 2026.
1. Netchex: Built for Growing, Deskless Workforces
Netchex was founded 20 years ago in Louisiana for the businesses that keep America running, restaurants, hotels, clinics, and manufacturers, where employees are on the floor, not behind a desk. Every customer gets a dedicated Account Manager, free white-glove implementation in about six weeks, and a US-based, FPC-certified service team that answers 90% of calls in under a minute.
Netchex has been a game changer for our payroll and HR processes. Their customer service team is always available and quick to resolve any issues we run into.
— Verified Reviewer, HR Manager, G2
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Dedicated Account Manager for every customer | ✗ Best fit for 50 to 5,000 employees, not micro-businesses |
| ✓ Native time & attendance built into the platform | ✗ Requires a short implementation period vs instant DIY signup |
| ✓ In-house benefits administration with licensed support | |
| ✓ Free, project-managed implementation in about 6 weeks | |
| ✓ 90% of calls answered in under 1 minute, 90% first-call resolution | |
| ✓ 98% customer service satisfaction score, #1 on G2 for service | |
| ✓ Recruiting, onboarding, and performance management in one login | |
| ✓ Mobile-first workflows for managers who aren’t at a desk | |
| ✓ Built for multi-location businesses and shared HR responsibility | |
| ✓ Average customer tenure of 10+ years |
2. Gusto: Simple Self-Service Payroll for Small Teams
Gusto starts at $49 per month plus $6 per employee and handles payroll, basic benefits, and onboarding with an easy setup process.
Support felt automated and slow to escalate when something actually went wrong / Reporting is limited once you need anything beyond the basics
— Trustpilot / Capterra reviewers, 2025
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Easy self-service setup | ✗ Multi-state payroll requires a higher tier |
| ✓ Transparent published pricing | ✗ No dedicated account manager, chat-first support |
Sources: Gusto on G2 | Gusto on Capterra
3. OnPay: Flat Pricing, No Native Time Tracking
OnPay charges a flat $49 per month plus $6 per employee, covering full-service payroll, multi-state tax filing, and basic benefits administration in one price.
Lack of a time-tracking feature was a real gap for us / Onboarding new staff was challenging to figure out at first
— Capterra reviewers, 2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Flat, transparent all-in pricing | ✗ No native time & attendance module |
| ✓ Full-service tax filing included | ✗ No dedicated account manager, shared support queue |
Sources: OnPay on G2 | OnPay on Capterra
4. QuickBooks Payroll: Convenient If You’re Already on QuickBooks
QuickBooks Payroll runs $50 to $130 per month plus $6 to $11 per employee, billed on top of a separate QuickBooks accounting subscription.
Customer support can be slow to respond, which can be frustrating when issues arise / Payroll, time tracking, and accounting all come as separate add-ons
— Capterra reviewers, 2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Convenient for existing QuickBooks accounting users | ✗ Payroll billed separately from accounting subscription |
| ✓ Familiar interface for QuickBooks customers | ✗ Reviewers report slow support response times |
Sources: QuickBooks Payroll on G2 | QuickBooks Payroll on Capterra
5. SurePayroll: Budget Pricing, Service Concerns Post-Acquisition
SurePayroll, owned by Paychex, starts at $29 per month plus $7 per employee full-service. Multiple reviewers report support quality declined after the Paychex acquisition.
Since Paychex took over, the support has gone down / Add-ons for time tracking and accounting sync cost extra
— Capterra reviewers, 2024-2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Budget-friendly entry pricing | ✗ Reviewers report declining service post-Paychex acquisition |
| ✓ Good fit for household/nanny payroll | ✗ Year-end forms and add-ons billed separately |
Sources: SurePayroll on G2 | SurePayroll on Capterra
Frequently Asked Questions
Wave Payroll is built for freelancers and solo business owners. It has no dedicated HR module or time tracking, which becomes limiting once a business hires employees and grows.
Netchex is purpose-built for hourly, deskless, and multi-location workforces, with native time and attendance, in-house benefits administration, and a dedicated Account Manager.
Wave unified its pricing nationwide in 2025, but the platform remains built around solo and freelance use cases rather than multi-location, hourly workforces.
Look at pricing transparency, whether HR and time tracking are included or paid add-ons, and whether you get a dedicated point of contact or a shared support queue.
Ready to See How Netchex Can Help Your Team Grow Past Basic Payroll?
See how Netchex handles payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking in one place, with a real person answering the phone.
This guide reflects publicly available product information and independent reviewer data (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Reddit, Software Advice, GetApp) as of 2026. Feature availability and pricing may vary by plan. Contact each provider for current details.
Disclaimer: Any product roadmap or future plans provided herein are for informational purposes only. They do not represent a commitment to deliver any material, code, feature, or functionality. Plans may change without notification. The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described remain at the sole discretion of Netchex, its affiliates, and partners. Netchex does not give legal, tax, or accounting advice. You are responsible for ensuring your use of Netchex product meets your individual business and compliance requirements.
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