Wave Payroll vs Payroll Mate

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

Wave Payroll Software Tool

Product Basics

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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Payroll Mate is an on-premise payroll and accounting software that helps prepare pay runs, compensate employees, print pay stubs, calculate taxes, generate reports, process tax forms and more.

It helps control payroll-related functionalities with the help of easier access to staff information, comprehensive reports, compliance to minimum wage laws, instant data backups, holiday and sick leave tracking, employee onboarding, password protection and other business-related functionalities. The product works flexibly with various accounting software including Intuit QuickBooks, Sage Peachtree and Microsoft Accounting.
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$46 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$219 One-Time
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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

  • 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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  • Automated Compliance: Calculate error-free net pay, social security tax, medicare, local payroll taxes and more automatically. Prepare 941, 944, 940, W2 and W3 payroll forms and a number of state payroll forms. 
  • Secure: Send regular reminders to users to backup company data each time the software is closed to avoid data loss. 
  • Accessibility: Export report data in PDF, CSV, JPEG, BMP and other formats. 
  • Offline Mode: Manually update software in case of no internet access. 
  • Flexible: Register different jobs and rates on the same check for an employee in case of changing job functions. Supports payroll generation for seasonal and part-time employees. 
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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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  • Payroll Management: Process payrolls, print checks, calculate salaries, prepare paystubs and more on a centralized platform. Categorize checks, add or delete employees and allow users to access personal information. 
  • Direct Deposits: Save time and costs by simply sending quick, direct deposits into the beneficiary's account. Automatically generates an ACH file to send to the bank and process payments for employees. 
  • Time-Tracking: Calculate working hours, leaves and absences, paid time offs and more for each employee. When creating a payroll check, the software calculates editable vacation and sick hours earned and used. 
  • Automation: Comes with a built-in tax calculator for payroll and paychecks in accordance with federal and state withholdings. Tax tables and formulas are updated regularly and pushed via a flexible touch-free-auto-update mechanism. 
  • Security: Use the password-protected access system to maintain confidentiality. Mask employees' social security numbers on pay stubs to avoid unauthorized access to the personal information of specific employees by other individuals. 
  • Agriculture Payroll: Benefit from agricultural business tools to manage payroll for farm workers and labor contractors. File IRS annual tax form 943, pay workers' salaries, add payroll income based on the chosen business model while staying in compliance with IRS regulations. 
  • Fringe Benefits: Supports fringe benefits to employees for the performance of services, like when an employee uses a business vehicle to commute to and from work. 
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Product Ranking

#31

among all
Payroll Software

#103

among all
Payroll Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 116 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 244 reviews
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.

94%
of users recommend this product

Payroll Mate has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 94% when considering 244 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.14 (58)
4.67 (122)
4.1 (58)
4.7 (122)

Awards

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Payroll Mate stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

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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Ease of Use: Many users find Payroll Mate intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those with limited accounting experience. They appreciate the straightforward interface and clear instructions, making it simple to set up and manage payroll tasks.
Affordable Pricing: Compared to other payroll software options, Payroll Mate is often praised for its competitive pricing, especially for small businesses and freelancers. Users appreciate the value for money, especially when considering the features and functionality offered.
Reliable Support: Users consistently highlight the responsive and helpful customer support provided by Payroll Mate. They appreciate the availability of phone, email, and online resources to address any questions or issues promptly.
Time-Saving Features: Payroll Mate automates many payroll tasks, such as calculating taxes and generating paychecks, saving users significant time and effort. Users appreciate the ability to streamline their payroll process and focus on other aspects of their business.
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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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Limited Mobile Functionality: Some users have reported that the mobile app is not as robust as the desktop version, making it difficult to manage payroll on the go. For example, some users have found that they cannot access certain features or that the app is slow and buggy.
Customer Support Issues: Several users have expressed frustration with the customer support experience, citing long wait times and unhelpful responses. For instance, some users have reported that they were unable to get their questions answered or that the support team was not able to resolve their issues.
Integration Challenges: Some users have encountered difficulties integrating Payroll Mate with other business software, such as accounting programs. For example, some users have reported that the integration process was complex or that the software did not work as expected.
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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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Payroll Mate is a desktop-based payroll software that's been around for a while, and it's been a popular choice for small businesses. But is it still a good option in today's market? Users praise Payroll Mate for its affordability and ease of use. It's a standalone program, so you don't need to rely on the cloud or a monthly subscription. This is a big selling point for businesses that are concerned about security or prefer to have complete control over their data. Payroll Mate also offers a wide range of features, including the ability to calculate taxes, print checks, and generate tax forms. It's compatible with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Sage 50, making it easy to integrate into your existing systems. However, Payroll Mate has its drawbacks. Some users have complained about the software's interface, which they find outdated and clunky. Others have noted that the software can be slow and prone to errors. Payroll Mate also lacks some of the advanced features found in cloud-based payroll solutions, such as mobile access and real-time reporting. Overall, Payroll Mate is a good option for small businesses that are looking for a simple, affordable payroll solution. It's not the most feature-rich or user-friendly option on the market, but it gets the job done. If you're a small business owner who prefers to keep things simple and manage your payroll in-house, Payroll Mate might be a good fit for you.

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Top Alternatives in Payroll Software


ADP Workforce Now

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Gusto

Namely

OnPay

Patriot Payroll

Paychex

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Paycor

Paylocity

Payroll4Free

QuickBooks Payroll

Rippling

TriNet

Workday HCM

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