Recognize vs Wave Payroll
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and integrations.
Quick Verdict
Recognize offers more features (54 vs 23) and fewer integrations (0 vs 3). Starting price: Recognize at Contact Sales vs Wave Payroll at $25/mo. Recognize has 54 unique features while Wave Payroll has 23 unique features, with 0 features in common.
| Recognize | Wave Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | HR & Payroll | HR & Payroll |
| Total Features | 54 | 23 |
| AI-Powered Features | 1 | 0 |
| Starting Price | Contact Sales | $25/mo |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 3 |
| Integrations | 0 | 3 |
| Shared Features | 0 | |
| Shared Integrations | 0 | |
| Data Quality | 95% | 70% |
Feature Comparison by Category
AI (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| AI-Enabled Employee Reporting |
Accuracy (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 100% Payroll Accuracy Guaranteed |
Analytics (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Company Admin Dashboard |
Automation (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Anniversary Recognition | ||
| Manager Reminders | ||
| Work Anniversary Notifications |
Communication (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Communication | ||
| SMS Text Messages |
Community (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Social Hub |
Compliance (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Government Relief Programs Support |
Core Payroll (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Deposit | ||
| Pay Employees and Contractors | ||
| Run Payroll in Minutes |
Customization (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Recognition Configuration | ||
| Theme and Customize Experience |
Data Management (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Migration from Other Providers |
Display (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| TV Kiosk Mode |
Employee Management (0 vs 4)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Portal Access | ||
| Full Employee Management | ||
| Leave Time and Accruals Tracking | ||
| Self-Service Pay Stubs and Tax Forms |
Gamification (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement Badges | ||
| Leaderboards | ||
| Points and Gamification |
Incentives (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Incentives Software | ||
| Point Budgeting |
Integration (7 vs 4)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Payroll Journal Entries | ||
| Integration with Accounting | ||
| Integration with Invoicing | ||
| Integration with Online Payments | ||
| Microsoft Teams Integration | ||
| Outlook Integration | ||
| Permissions and HRIS Data Syncing | ||
| SharePoint Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| User Sync with HRIS | ||
| Viva Engage Integration |
Localization (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| International Employee Engagement |
Management (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Dashboard |
Mobile (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Apps (Android & iOS) |
Pricing (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Day Free Trial | ||
| No Hidden Fees |
Privacy (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Controls |
Recognition (10 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Award Certificates | ||
| Configurable Recognition Badges | ||
| Employee Nomination Software | ||
| Frontline Worker Recognition | ||
| Goals, Nominations, Awards, and Achievements | ||
| Hall of Fame | ||
| Multi-level Recognition | ||
| Shout Outs | ||
| Social Employee Recognition | ||
| Team Recognition |
Reporting (1 vs 2)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Reporting | ||
| Payroll Expense Breakdown | ||
| Wage and Tax Payment Reporting |
Rewards (7 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Partnership Rewards | ||
| Custom Rewards | ||
| Employee Rewards Platform | ||
| Gift Cards (80+ countries) | ||
| Global Employee Rewards | ||
| Staff Points for Redemptions | ||
| Swag Partnerships |
Security (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Security (ISO-27001) | ||
| Multi-Login Options | ||
| Single Sign On (SSO) |
Support (4 vs 2)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Email Support | ||
| Monthly Webinars | ||
| Newsletter | ||
| Ongoing Training | ||
| Priority Customer Support | ||
| White-Glove Onboarding |
Surveys (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Net Promoter Score Survey |
Tax Compliance (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Tax Remittances | ||
| Generate T4 and T4A Slips (Canada) | ||
| Generate W2 and 1099 Forms (US) |
Workflow (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Recognize | Wave Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition Approvals |
Unique Features
Only in Recognize (54)
AI-Enabled Employee Reporting
Company Admin Dashboard
Employee Anniversary Recognition
Manager Reminders
Work Anniversary Notifications
Employee Communication
SMS Text Messages
Social Hub
Employee Recognition Configuration
Theme and Customize Experience
TV Kiosk Mode
Engagement Badges
Leaderboards
Points and Gamification
Employee Incentives Software
Point Budgeting
Microsoft Teams Integration
Outlook Integration
Permissions and HRIS Data Syncing
SharePoint Integration
+ 34 more unique features
Only in Wave Payroll (23)
100% Payroll Accuracy Guaranteed
Government Relief Programs Support
Direct Deposit
Pay Employees and Contractors
Run Payroll in Minutes
Easy Migration from Other Providers
Employee Portal Access
Full Employee Management
Leave Time and Accruals Tracking
Self-Service Pay Stubs and Tax Forms
Automatic Payroll Journal Entries
Integration with Accounting
Integration with Invoicing
Integration with Online Payments
30-Day Free Trial
No Hidden Fees
Payroll Expense Breakdown
Wage and Tax Payment Reporting
Email Support
Priority Customer Support
+ 3 more unique features
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