Rippling
Wave
| Feature | Rippling | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $8/mo | Free / from $16/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | mid-market-companies, tech-companies, fast-growing-startups, it-teams | freelancers, solopreneurs, micro-businesses, side-hustlers |
| Founded | 2016 | 2010 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Device Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| App Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workflow Automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Global Employment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Spend Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accounting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Invoicing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Receipt Scanning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bank Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payroll Addon | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payments Addon | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Rippling Pros
- Unifies HR + IT + Finance in one platform
- Automatic device setup/wipe for onboarding/offboarding
- Global payroll in 50+ countries
- Extremely powerful workflow automation
✗ Rippling Cons
- Pricing is complex and modular
- Can be overkill for very small teams
- Implementation takes time for full platform
✓ Wave Pros
- Core accounting and invoicing completely free
- Unlimited income and expense tracking
- Receipt scanning with OCR included
- Simple enough for non-accountants
✗ Wave Cons
- Payroll and payments are paid add-ons
- No inventory or project tracking
- Limited integrations compared to competitors
The Verdict
Rippling is built for mid market companies and tech companies, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Wave targets freelancers and solopreneurs and leads with accounting and invoicing.
On pricing, Rippling is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $8/mo compared to $16/mo for Wave. That $8/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Wave has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Rippling requires a paid subscription from day one.
Bottom line: Rippling has a slight overall edge — but if core accounting and invoicing completely free matters most to you, Wave may still be the right call.