Best Payroll Software in 2026: 12 tools compared
Looking for the best payroll software for your company? This page matches twelve payroll platforms to different needs: very small businesses watching cost, teams that pay people in several states, employers who want benefits handled for them, and mid-size companies that prefer one system for payroll, HR and time. It is written for owners, office managers and finance leads who run payroll in the United States.
The tools were compared on how well they fit a company size, how complete their tax filing, time tracking and benefits features are, how easy they are to set up, and how openly prices are published. Alongside each summary, the page also shows what each payroll product really costs once base fees, per-person charges and add-ons are included.
Top picks at a glance
- Best for small US businesses
GustoSetup is simple, automatic federal, state and local filing is on every plan, and it handles both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.
$49/month plus $6 per person (Simple) - Best for tight budgets
Patriot PayrollBasic starts at $17 a month plus $4 per worker, and the Full Service tier handles tax deposits and filings.
$17/month + $4 per worker (Basic) - Best for multi-state small teams
OnPayIt lets you pay workers in any number of states with no extra fee and includes federal, state and local filings.
$49/month + $6 per worker - Best for outsourcing HR and benefits
JustworksAs a PEO it bundles payroll, benefits and compliance under co-employment, with a single per-employee price and strong support reviews.
$50/month base plus $8 per employee (Payroll plan) - Best for mid-size single-database HR
PaycomIt runs payroll, HR, time and talent in one database, includes tax filing and time tracking, and supports SAML 2.0 for IT teams.
Contact sales - Best for tying payroll to IT and apps
RipplingIt links payroll and HR to app provisioning, so new hires get access on day one and offboarding revokes it automatically.
$8 per employee per month plus monthly base fee
What is payroll software?
Payroll software works out what each employee is owed, subtracts taxes and deductions, and pays them by direct deposit or check. It also calculates and files federal, state and local payroll taxes, and produces year-end forms such as W-2 and 1099. Business owners and finance staff use it every pay period, and many platforms also hold time and leave records, benefit deductions and contractor payments. Common capabilities include automatic tax filing, accounting sync, pay-run approvals, employee self-service portals and reports. Some tools add HR, benefits and hiring modules, so payroll becomes part of a wider people platform.
Payroll Software compared
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Best for small US businesses. | $49/month plus $6 per person (Simple) | No |
| Patriot Payroll | Best for tight budgets. | $17/month + $4 per worker (Basic) | Free trial |
| OnPay | Best for multi-state small teams. | $49/month + $6 per worker | No |
| Justworks | Best for outsourcing HR and benefits. | $50/month base plus $8 per employee (Payroll plan) | No |
| Paycom | Best for mid-size single-database HR. | Contact sales | No |
| Rippling | Best for tying payroll to IT and apps. | $8 per employee per month plus monthly base fee | No |
 Paylocity | Mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform. | Contact sales | No |
 ADP Run | Small businesses wanting a large provider with tax filing and add-on HR/benefits. | Contact sales | No |
 TriNet | Small and mid size employers wanting benefits and compliance outsourced. | Contact sales | No |
 Paychex Flex | Mid-size employers wanting a full-service provider with HR and benefits options. | Contact sales | No |
 Paycor | US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor. | Contact sales | No |
 QuickBooks Payroll | Businesses already on QuickBooks Online. | $44/month + $6.50 per employee (Payroll + Simple Start, 50% promo for 3 months shown; list $88) | No |
Prices as published by each vendor on October 24, 2026. "Contact sales" means the vendor publishes no price.
The 12 best payroll software in 2026
Best for small US businesses
Gusto
Small-business payroll platform that bundles tax filing, benefits and basic HR tools, priced as a base fee plus a per-person fee.
Gusto is a small-business payroll platform that bundles tax filing, benefits and basic HR tools. It earns a 9.5 out of 10 for ease of use on G2, and pricing is a base fee plus a per-person fee.
- Best for
- Small US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
- Company size
- Small businesses (about 84% of G2 reviews)
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Automatic federal, state and local filing on all plans.
- Multi-state payroll
- Plus and Premium; Simple is single-state.
- Time tracking and PTO
- Plus adds time tracking and PTO.
- Contractor and 1099 payments
- Contractor Only plan $35 + $6 per contractor.
Pros
- Ease of use (9.5 of 10 on G2)
- Quick setup and onboarding.
Cons
- Support rated slightly behind some competitors.
Pricing: $49/month plus $6 per person (Simple)
Best for tight budgets
Patriot Payroll
Low-cost small business payroll from Patriot Software, in Basic and Full Service tiers.
Patriot Payroll is low-cost small business payroll from Patriot Software, offered in Basic and Full Service tiers. Reviewers like its easy setup and support, though QuickBooks syncing is reported as manual.
- Best for
- Very small businesses watching cost.
- Company size
- Up to 500 employees (press kit)
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Full Service handles federal, state and local deposits and filings.
- Accounting integrations
- Patriot Accounting; QuickBooks integration reported as manual.
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time & Attendance add-on.
- Benefits administration
- Free 401(k) and workers' comp integrations (Wise review)
Pros
- Easy use and strong support.
- Simple setup.
Cons
- Manual data entry and limited QuickBooks options.
- Direct deposit delays.
Pricing: $17/month + $4 per worker (Basic) · Free trial
Best for multi-state small teams
OnPay
Small-business payroll with one flat plan, unlimited pay runs and all-state tax filing included.
OnPay is small-business payroll with one flat plan, unlimited pay runs and all-state tax filing included. Reviewers highlight responsive support and straightforward setup, while third-party integrations are limited and time tracking is an add-on.
- Best for
- Small businesses and accounting-firm partners.
- Company size
- Small business (97.7% of G2 reviews)
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Federal, state and local filings included.
- Multi-state payroll
- Pay workers in any number of states, no extra fee.
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time tracking add-on $15 + $4 per worker.
- Benefits administration
- Health, workers comp and 401(k) as add-ons, pay only premiums.
Pros
- Responsive support.
- Handles taxes and forms.
- Straightforward setup.
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations (TechRepublic)
- No built-in time tracking in base (Merchant Maverick, older)
Pricing: $49/month + $6 per worker
Best for outsourcing HR and benefits
Justworks
PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses that bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment, or payroll only.
Justworks is a PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses that bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment, or payroll only. It uses flat per-employee pricing, and its G2 support sub-score is 9.2 out of 10.
- Best for
- Small US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them.
- Company size
- Small business.
Key features
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time Tracking add-on.
- Benefits administration
- Benefits included via PEO co-employment.
- Contractor and 1099 payments
- $8 per active contractor per month on Payroll plan.
Pros
- Ease of use and clean design.
- Support (G2 support sub-score 9.2/10)
Cons
- Mobile app lacks features.
- Limited insurance plan options.
Pricing: $50/month base plus $8 per employee (Payroll plan)
Best for mid-size single-database HR
Paycom
Single-database HCM and payroll platform for mid-size US employers, quote-based and billed per payroll run.
Paycom is a single-database HCM and payroll platform for mid-size US employers, sold by quote and billed per payroll run. Reviewers praise its ease of use, and IT teams value its SAML 2.0 support.
- Best for
- Mid-size US employers that want one database for payroll, HR, time and talent.
- Company size
- Mid-market; about 39,200 clients per 10-K summary.
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Included.
- Time tracking and PTO
- Included.
- Benefits administration
- Benefits module.
Pros
- Ease of use and one-database design.
- Support praised in G2 summaries.
Cons
- Implementation can be challenging for specific workflows.
- No transparent pricing.
Pricing: Contact sales
Best for tying payroll to IT and apps
Rippling
HR, payroll, IT and spend suite whose app management handles SSO, provisioning and offboarding for employee apps.
Rippling combines HR, payroll, IT and spend in one suite, with app management that handles SSO, provisioning and offboarding. It is priced per employee per month with modules, and initial setup can be complex.
- Best for
- Companies already running payroll and HR on Rippling that want app access tied to employee records.
- Company size
- Small to enterprise (suite)
Key features
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time & Attendance and Scheduling listed as products.
- Benefits administration
- Benefits Administration and PEO listed as products.
- Contractor and 1099 payments
- Contractors, Contractor of Record, Global Contractors listed as products.
Pros
- Intuitive; apps ready on day one for new hires.
- Offboarding automatically revokes app access.
Cons
- Initial setup can be complex.
Pricing: $8 per employee per month plus monthly base fee
Paylocity
Cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers, sold by quote only.
Paylocity is a cloud HCM suite that covers payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers. It is sold by quote only and offers many integrations that work with Okta and other SSO tools.
- Best for
- Mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
- Company size
- Mid-size (about 44,400 clients FY2026)
Key features
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time and labor module.
- Benefits administration
- Benefits administration module.
Pros
- Ease of use and modules that work together.
- Wide feature coverage for the price tier.
Cons
- Slow or inconsistent support (245 G2 reviews flag it)
- Time-consuming workflows and unintuitive navigation; limited customization.
Pricing: Contact sales
ADP Run is payroll and HR software from ADP for small businesses, offered in four tiers by quote. Payroll entry, direct deposit and automatic tax-rule updates score well, and benefits and retirement come as add-ons.
- Best for
- Small businesses wanting a large provider with tax filing and add-on HR/benefits.
- Company size
- Small businesses.
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Tax filing in all tiers per vendor positioning; details not confirmed by the vendor.
- Benefits administration
- Benefits, retirement, health insurance, workers comp as add-ons.
Pros
- Payroll entry and direct deposit tools score high.
- Automatic tax-rule updates.
Cons
- Wait times for support in some comparisons.
- Benefits management scores lower.
Pricing: Contact sales
TriNet
Professional employer organization that bundles payroll, benefits, compliance and HR software under co-employment.
TriNet is a professional employer organization that bundles payroll, benefits, compliance and HR software under co-employment. It suits small and mid-size employers without an in-house HR team, and pricing is quote based.
- Best for
- Small and mid size employers wanting benefits and compliance outsourced.
- Company size
- Small to mid size business.
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Handled by TriNet as co-employer (PEO model)
- Benefits administration
- Benefits via PEO group plans, billed separately.
Pros
- Payroll processing reliable.
- Responsive account support for some.
Cons
- High fees.
- Customer support and interface criticism.
Pricing: Contact sales
Paychex Flex
Paychex's tiered payroll and HR platform for small to mid-size businesses, priced by quote.
Paychex Flex is Paychex's tiered payroll and HR platform for small to mid-size businesses, priced by quote. Reviewers find it easy to use and accurate, but note slow support and price increases at renewal.
- Best for
- Mid-size employers wanting a full-service provider with HR and benefits options.
- Company size
- Small to enterprise.
Key features
- Accounting integrations
- QuickBooks sync may cost extra on lower tiers (third-party)
Pros
- Easy to use and accurate payroll processing.
Cons
- Slow customer support response.
- Unexpected price increases and hard discount renewals.
Pricing: Contact sales
Paycor
HCM suite with payroll, HR, time and talent modules aimed at small and mid-size US employers, now owned by Paychex.
Paycor is a human capital management suite with payroll, HR, time and talent modules for small and mid-size US employers. It is now owned by Paychex and sold by quote, with a broad module list.
- Best for
- US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
- Company size
- Small to mid-size, plus upmarket push after Paychex deal.
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Included in payroll product (not confirmed by the vendor in detail)
- Time tracking and PTO
- Time and attendance module.
Pros
- Easy navigation and good value for the price per G2 summaries.
- Broad module coverage in one suite.
Cons
- Missing features and access limitations.
- Payroll issues and difficult navigation; support rated 7.5/10 on G2.
Pricing: Contact sales
QuickBooks Payroll
Intuit's payroll sold as bundles with QuickBooks accounting, with tax filing and 1099 e-filing included.
Rebranded: Now marketed as QuickBooks Workforce (Payroll bundles); G2 page titled QuickBooks Workforce.
QuickBooks Payroll is Intuit's payroll sold as bundles with QuickBooks accounting, including tax filing and 1099 e-filing. It fits businesses already on QuickBooks Online, though reviewers report weak support and basic reports.
- Best for
- Businesses already on QuickBooks Online.
- Company size
- Small businesses.
Key features
- Tax filing and compliance
- Full-service payroll calculates, files and pays payroll taxes.
- Accounting integrations
- Native QuickBooks bookkeeping bundle.
- Time tracking and PTO
- Scheduling in all bundles; time tracking with Premium and Elite.
- Benefits administration
- Access to Allstate health, Vestwell 401(k), Next workers' comp, Mineral HR advisor; limited availability, extra fees.
Pros
- Tight QuickBooks Online integration.
- Easy setup.
Cons
- Poor support reported.
- Basic payroll reports.
Pricing: $44/month + $6.50 per employee (Payroll + Simple Start, 50% promo for 3 months shown; list $88)
How to choose the best payroll software
Begin with your headcount, the states where employees live, and whether you pay contractors. Then confirm that the software files taxes for you and offers penalty protection, since that is the core reason to buy. Next check the connections you depend on, such as accounting, time tracking and benefits. Finally, think about growth: a simple tool is easy today, but a team that expects to add states, benefits or HR needs may outgrow it within a couple of years.
Pricing model
Payroll vendors usually charge a monthly base fee plus a fee for each person paid, and some bill per payroll run or sell only by quote. Public prices make comparison easy, while quote-only vendors need a sales call. Add-ons for state filing, HR or time tracking can change the real monthly cost considerably.
- Gusto: Base fee plus per-person fee per plan.
- Patriot Payroll: Base plus per worker, contractors count.
- OnPay: Base plus per worker.
- Justworks: Flat per employee per month; Payroll plan has $50 base fee.
- Paycom: Quote only; per payroll plus per employee fees.
Target company size
Tools built for solo owners and micro-businesses differ a lot from platforms made for 100 to 1,000 employees. Small-business products stress quick setup and flat plans, while mid-market suites add HR, talent and deeper reporting. Pick a vendor whose typical customer looks like your company, and ask how it handles growth.
- Gusto: Small businesses (about 84% of G2 reviews)
- Patriot Payroll: Up to 500 employees (press kit)
- OnPay: Small business (97.7% of G2 reviews)
- Justworks: Small business.
- Paycom: Mid-market; about 39,200 clients per 10-K summary.
Tax filing and compliance
Tax filing is the main reason to buy payroll software. Strong tools calculate withholdings, deposit taxes, file federal, state and local returns and stand behind their accuracy with penalty protection. Weaker ones leave some filings to you or charge extra for them. Confirm exactly which filings are included in each plan.
- Gusto: Automatic federal, state and local filing on all plans.
- Patriot Payroll: Full Service handles federal, state and local deposits and filings.
- OnPay: Federal, state and local filings included.
- Paycom: Included.
- ADP Run: Tax filing in all tiers per vendor positioning; details not confirmed by the vendor.
Multi-state payroll
Remote staff mean registering with several state tax agencies and applying different rules for each. Good tools handle those registrations and filings in one account without extra fees. Some plans are single-state only, so check this early if you hire outside your home state, as it can force an upgrade.
- Gusto: Plus and Premium; Simple is single-state.
- OnPay: Pay workers in any number of states, no extra fee.
Accounting integrations
A payroll tool that syncs with QuickBooks, Xero or NetSuite posts journal entries automatically instead of requiring double entry. Strong integrations are native and map accounts cleanly. Weak ones rely on manual exports. Check that the connection works with your accounting package and on the plan you intend to buy.
- Patriot Payroll: Patriot Accounting; QuickBooks integration reported as manual.
- Paychex Flex: QuickBooks sync may cost extra on lower tiers (third-party)
- QuickBooks Payroll: Native QuickBooks bookkeeping bundle.
Time tracking and PTO
Hours and leave balances feed directly into pay, so built-in time tracking cuts errors and manual edits. Strong tools offer clock-in, approvals and PTO accruals in the same system. Others sell time tracking as a separate add-on, which means another bill and another login to maintain.
- Gusto: Plus adds time tracking and PTO.
- Patriot Payroll: Time & Attendance add-on.
- OnPay: Time tracking add-on $15 + $4 per worker.
- Justworks: Time Tracking add-on.
- Paycom: Included.
Benefits administration
Deductions for health insurance, 401(k) and other plans have to reach payroll correctly every pay period. Strong tools connect to carriers and retirement providers and sync changes automatically. PEOs include benefits through group plans, while other vendors offer them as add-ons or partner services with their own fees.
- Patriot Payroll: Free 401(k) and workers' comp integrations (Wise review)
- OnPay: Health, workers comp and 401(k) as add-ons, pay only premiums.
- Justworks: Benefits included via PEO co-employment.
- Paycom: Benefits module.
- Rippling: Benefits Administration and PEO listed as products.
Contractor and 1099 payments
Many small businesses pay both employees and contractors. Good tools let you pay contractors by direct deposit, collect tax details and file 1099 forms in the same place. Check whether contractors are free, charged per person, or sold as a separate plan, because fees add up with many contractors.
- Gusto: Contractor Only plan $35 + $6 per contractor.
- Patriot Payroll: 1099 contractors paid by direct deposit or check; $4 per contractor paid.
- OnPay: 1099 forms included; contractor pricing not listed.
- Justworks: $8 per active contractor per month on Payroll plan.
- Rippling: Contractors, Contractor of Record, Global Contractors listed as products.
What payroll software really costs
Features decide the shortlist; the bill decides whether it stays affordable as the team grows. The numbers below come from each vendor's published plans: entry prices, how far plans climb, what single sign-on costs extra and which fees sit on top.
- Median entry price
- $6
- Publish their prices
- 5 of 12
- Free plans
- 0 of 12
- Biggest price climb
- 13.6x
per employee per month, cheapest paid plan of each tool
7 quote on request
plus 1 free trials
Justworks, $8 to $109
What payroll software costs per year for your size
For 50 employees on the cheapest plan that fits, OnPay costs $1,380 a year and Justworks $5,400. Pick your own size: the order changes because free plans end, plans have user caps and per-employee prices multiply differently.
| # | Tool | Plan and price basis | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OnPay | HR$2 per employee per month | $1,380 |
| 2 | Patriot Payroll | Basic Payroll$4 per employee per month | $2,604 |
| 3 | Gusto | Contractor Only$6 per employee per month | $4,020 |
| 4 | QuickBooks Payroll | Payroll + Simple Start$6.5 per employee per month | $4,956 |
| 5 | Justworks | Payroll$8 per employee per month | $5,400 |
List prices per month as published on October 24, 2026, billed annually where the vendor shows both, promotions excluded. Full feature plan adds one-time onboarding fees in year one. Not in the calculation: Paycom, Rippling, Paylocity, ADP Run, TriNet, Paychex Flex and Paycor (quote only, another pricing unit or a plan that does not fit this size).
How far each price can climb
The entry price is rarely what you pay once the team needs more. Each line runs from a tool's cheapest paid plan to its most expensive published plan. Justworks grows 13.6x from $8 to $109, OnPay 6x.
- JustworksPayroll $8 to PEO Plus $109 per employee per month13.6x
- OnPayBundled HR $1 to Payroll Essentials $6 per employee per month6x
- GustoSimple $6 to Premium $22 per employee per month3.7x
- QuickBooks PayrollPayroll + Simple Start $6.5 to Premium + Plus $10 per employee per month1.5x
- Patriot PayrollBasic Payroll $4 to Full Service Payroll $5 per employee per month1.3x
Published plan prices only; quote-only plans are not on the scale. The scale is logarithmic so cheap and expensive tools fit on one line.
How payroll software pricing works
Payroll pricing follows a few predictable patterns, but each one hides a different trap. A flat base fee punishes tiny teams, a per-person rate punishes growing ones, and quote-based pricing hides the number until you talk to sales. Add-ons and implementation fees can then raise the bill beyond the plan price. Knowing which pattern a vendor uses tells you where to look for cost before you sign.
Base fee plus per person
Gusto, OnPay, Patriot Payroll and QuickBooks list a monthly base plus a per-person rate. The base matters most for tiny teams, while the per-person rate drives the bill as headcount grows.
Quote-only pricing
Paycor, Paylocity, Paycom and ADP Run use contact-sales pricing. Without a public number you cannot compare in advance, and the first quote often leaves room for negotiation.
Implementation fees
Paylocity is reported to charge an implementation fee of 10 to 20% of annual fees, and Paycom's 10-K shows 10 to 30% of annualized value. These are one-time costs that can add a large amount to year one.
Add-on modules
Time tracking, HR, benefits and live support are separate lines at many vendors. OnPay and Justworks both list them with their own prices, so the plan price covers only core payroll.
Contracts and exit fees
Paychex is reported to use annual contracts with early termination fees. Check the term and cancellation rules before you choose, since switching payroll mid-year is painful and costly.
Costs that are easy to miss
Add-ons, usage fees and premium modules often decide the real bill. These are the paid extras the vendors list themselves.
- GustoBenefits and other add-ons priced separately, rates not published
- Patriot PayrollTime & Attendance from $6 + $2/employee; HR add-on
- OnPayTime Tracking $15 + $4/worker; HR $15 + $2/worker; Live HR Support
- JustworksTime Tracking $8 per employee per month; Dedicated HR Consulting $30 per employee per month; Contractors $8 per active contractor per month (Payroll)
- PaycomImplementation fee 10 to 30% of annualized value (10-K)
- RipplingModular products priced separately (HRIS, Payroll, IT, Spend, etc.)
- PaylocityImplementation fee, reported 10 to 20% of annual fees (third party)
- ADP RunBenefits administration; Retirement; Health insurance
Our recommendation
Choose payroll software by matching company size, states and contractor mix, then confirm tax filing, accounting sync and time tracking are included in the tier you need. A PEO fits teams that want benefits and compliance outsourced, while a software-only tool suits those with their own HR. To keep the cost under control, price the full plan with add-ons and ask about renewal increases before you sign.
Payroll Software: frequently asked questions
What is payroll software?
Payroll software calculates employee pay, withholds and files payroll taxes, and issues paychecks or direct deposits. Most platforms also handle contractor payments, year-end forms such as W-2 and 1099, and sync with accounting and time tracking tools.
What is the best payroll software for a small business?
Gusto is a strong choice for small US businesses that want simple setup and automatic tax filing. Patriot Payroll suits tight budgets, and OnPay suits teams that pay workers in several states.
Can payroll software file federal, state and local taxes automatically?
Yes, many tools do. Gusto files federal, state and local taxes on all plans, OnPay includes all filings, and Patriot's Full Service tier handles deposits and filings. Check which tier includes this before you buy.
Should I use full-service or DIY payroll?
Full-service payroll files taxes and forms for you, which reduces risk and saves time for most small employers. DIY payroll leaves filing to you and suits only people who are comfortable with tax rules.
How much does payroll software cost per employee?
Published prices run from about $4 to $8 per person per month, on top of base fees of $17 to $50. Quote-only vendors charge more, and add-ons can raise the total.
What do payroll software cost for a team of 20?
Calculated from published list prices: Gusto: Simple: ($49 + 20 x $6) x 12 = $2,028 per year. Plus: ($80 + 20 x $12) x 12 = $3,840 per year; Patriot Payroll: Full Service: ($37 + 20 x $5) x 12 = $1,644 per year; OnPay: ($49 + 20 x $6) x 12 = $2,028 per year; Justworks: PEO Basic: 20 x $79 x 12 = $18,960/yr; Payroll plan: ($50 + 20 x $8) x 12 = $2,520/yr (third-party prices, excludes benefits); ADP Run: Estimate: ($79 + 20 x $4) x 12 = $1,908 per year, from third-party estimates only; TriNet: Vendor example: 20 x $150 = $3,000/month = $36,000/year (illustrative). Tools that quote on request are not included.
Which payroll software have a free plan or free trial?
Patriot Payroll (free trial), according to the vendors' sites on October 24, 2026.