Which is cheaper for 10 employees, OnPay or Wave Payroll?

Wave Payroll U.S. full-access payroll is $100 a month. OnPay Payroll Essentials is $109 a month.

What do these totals include?

The totals are list prices for 10 employees, no contractors, and one state, on plans that file payroll taxes. Introductory discounts are not applied.

OnPay vs Wave Payroll

This comparison is for 10 employees, no contractors, and one state. It counts only plans that file payroll taxes. Wave Payroll is cheaper at $100 a month on its cheapest matching plan.

OnPay

Payroll Essentials is $49 a month plus $6 per worker, with tax filing in every state included. HR, time tracking, and bundles are priced on the same page.

$109

Payroll Essentials · $1,308 / year at list price

Payroll Essentials · $49 + $6/employee
Payroll + Time Tracking + HR · $70 + $10/employee
Payroll + HR + Compliance + Live HR · $120 + $7/employee
Payroll + Time + HR + Compliance + Live HR · $130 + $10/employee

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U.S. full-access payroll is $40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per independent contractor paid. The employee fee applies even in a month the person is not paid, as long as they are active and not on leave.

$100

U.S. full-access payroll · $1,200 / year at list price

U.S. full-access payroll · $40 + $6/employee

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OnPay pricing 2026 Wave Payroll pricing 2026 Recalculate for a different headcount

Questions

Which is cheaper for 10 employees, OnPay or Wave Payroll?: Wave Payroll U.S. full-access payroll is $100 a month. OnPay Payroll Essentials is $109 a month.
What do these totals include?: The totals are list prices for 10 employees, no contractors, and one state, on plans that file payroll taxes. Introductory discounts are not applied.

Prices verified Nov 10, 2026 from vendor sites. Written by PayrollPriceWatch.

We may earn a commission if you sign up through a link on this site. That does not change the prices we show. Prices are checked weekly from each vendor's site.