Wave Payroll vs Wrike
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Wrike is our recommended pick for most teams — marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Try Wrike →Read our full Wrike review →Wave Payroll
Wave Payroll is a simple payroll solution built into the Wave accounting ecosystem. It is designed for very small businesses that already use Wave for accounting and want an integrated payroll solution. Wave Payroll handles direct deposit, tax payments, and W-2s, making it a natural choice for businesses already in the Wave ecosystem.
Wrike
Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management platform designed for marketing, creative, and professional services teams. It offers advanced features like request forms, proofing and approvals, and resource management alongside traditional project management tools. Wrike is used by over 20,000 companies including Google, Walmart, and Siemens.
Pros
- ✓Seamlessly integrates with Wave accounting — no manual data transfer needed
- ✓Very affordable pricing for micro-businesses
- ✓Simple interface with minimal setup required
- ✓Free Wave accounting included with subscription
Cons
- ✗Limited features compared to dedicated payroll platforms
- ✗Tax filing is only automatic in select states — manual filing required in others
- ✗No mobile payroll app
- ✗Not suitable for businesses with complex payroll needs
Pros
- ✓Strong enterprise features including resource management and proofing
- ✓Highly customizable workflows and request forms
- ✓Excellent for marketing and creative teams managing complex approvals
- ✓Robust reporting and analytics
Cons
- ✗Expensive for small teams — free plan is very limited
- ✗Steep learning curve for full feature set
- ✗Interface can feel complex for simple project management
- ✗Some features only available on higher enterprise tiers
Wave Payroll vs Wrike: Side by Side
| Factor | Wave Payroll | Wrike |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | 4.5/5 ★ |
| Category | Payroll Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $20/mo + $6/person | Free |
| Best For | Micro-businesses already using Wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll | Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing |
| Our Pick | — | 🏆 Recommended |
Wave Payroll Features
- ✓Payroll processing
- ✓direct deposit
- ✓tax payments and filings
- ✓W-2 and 1099 preparation
- ✓Wave accounting integration
- ✓employee self-service
Wrike Features
- ✓Project planning
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓request forms
- ✓proofing and approvals
- ✓resource management
- ✓time tracking
- ✓dashboards
- ✓automation
- ✓integrations
Pricing Comparison
Wrike
FreemiumFree to start
Free: $0 · Starter: $40/mo · Business: $80/mo · Enterprise: custom
See full pricing →Best Use Cases
Wrike
- →Marketing teams managing campaigns and creative projects
- →Professional services firms tracking client deliverables
- →Enterprises needing advanced project management with reporting
Who Should NOT Use These Tools
Wrike is NOT ideal for:
- ✗Small teams wanting a simple task manager
- ✗Businesses with tight budgets
- ✗Teams that prefer Kanban-only workflows
Integrations
Wrike
Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Salesforce, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, GitHub, Jira
Our Take
Choose Wave Payroll if micro-businesses already using wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Best For
Micro-businesses already using Wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll
Best For
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing
Also Consider
If neither Wave Payroll nor Wrike is the right fit, Multiplier is worth evaluating.
Multiplier
Startups and SMBs hiring internationally on a budget
From $40/contractor/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Wave Payroll and Wrike?
Wave Payroll is best for micro-businesses already using wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll. Wrike is best for marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
Which is better, Wave Payroll or Wrike?
Choose Wave Payroll if micro-businesses already using wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.
How much does Wave Payroll cost?
Wave Payroll starts at $20/mo + $6/person. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Wrike cost?
Wrike starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Wave Payroll?
Micro-businesses already using Wave accounting that want simple integrated payroll
Who should use Wrike?
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing