Payroll software automates your business’s payroll process by calculating employees’ deductions and wages and making sure they get paid, typically via direct deposit. The best payroll software for small businesses takes care of payroll dependably and with minimal fuss. For most companies, that means offering automated features, tax filing and payment options, direct deposit options, live support and employee online access to past pay stubs.
NerdWallet’s top payroll software picks stand out by offering those features and more.
Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses From Our Partners
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gusto Payroll Learn more on Gusto Payroll's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall payroll software | $40/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, custom pricing. Fee per employee varies by tier. | N/A | Learn more on Gusto Payroll's secure website |
RUN Powered by ADP Learn more on RUN Powered by ADP's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Growing businesses | $79/month Plus $4 per employee. Custom pricing also available. | Three months free Terms apply | Learn more on RUN Powered by ADP's secure website |
QuickBooks Payroll Learn more on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Integrated payroll solution | $45/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $125. Fee per employee varies by tier. | One month free trial or 50% off for three months; terms apply. | Learn more on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website |
OnPay Payroll Learn more on OnPay Payroll's secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Best value | $40/month Plus $6 per employee. | One month free Terms apply | Learn more on OnPay Payroll's secure website |
Patriot Payroll Learn more on Patriot Payroll's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Low-cost option | $17/month Plus $4 per employee. Additional pricing tiers (per month): $37. | One month free Terms apply | Learn more on Patriot Payroll's secure website |
Roll by ADP Learn more on Roll by ADP's secure website | 4.0/5 Best for Best mobile option | $29/month Plus $5 per employee. | Three months free Terms apply | Learn more on Roll by ADP's secure website |
Our pick for
Overall payroll software
Gusto Payroll
Learn more
on Gusto Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$40/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, custom pricing. Fee per employee varies by tier.
Promotion
N/A
Gusto includes a suite of HR features, like administration of health insurance and other benefits, in all its plans.
Pros
- Benefits administration (health benefits are available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.; 401(k) plans are available in all 50 states).
- Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).
- Certified HR experts available (at the Premium level).
- Free account setup.
- Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a mobile app specifically for payroll processing.
- Limited hours for live support.
Our pick for
Growing businesses
RUN Powered by ADP
Learn more
on RUN Powered by ADP's secure website
Starting at
$79/month
Plus $4 per employee. Custom pricing also available.
Promotion
Three months free
Terms apply
ADP offers a strong list of payroll features, and if your business scales up, it has products for every stage of your growth.
Pros
- First three months free; terms apply.
- Ability to scale up for growing businesses.
- Live payroll support is available 24/7.
- Benefits administration available as add-on.
- Time-tracking features available as add-on.
Cons
- Opaque pricing.
- Limited HR support at base level.
Our pick for
Integrated payroll solution
QuickBooks Payroll
Learn more
on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$45/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $125. Fee per employee varies by tier.
Promotion
One month free trial
or 50% off for three months; terms apply.
QuickBooks Payroll is a logical choice for the many small-business owners who use QuickBooks Online for their accounting needs.
Pros
- Benefits administration at all levels.
- Time-tracking features and HR support available (Premium and up).
- Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).
- The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.
- Easy integration with QuickBooks Online.
Cons
- Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.
- Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state (Core and Premium).
Our pick for
Best value
OnPay Payroll
Learn more
on OnPay Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$40/month
Plus $6 per employee.
Promotion
One month free
Terms apply
OnPay offers a wide range of payroll features plus benefits administration and HR tools for one base rate.
Pros
- Benefits administration included.
- Integrates with third-party software for time tracking.
- HR tools included.
- One-month free trial; terms apply.
- Straightforward pricing.
- Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.
Cons
- Can’t run payroll automatically.
- Limited customer support hours.
Our pick for
Low-cost option
Patriot Payroll
Learn more
on Patriot Payroll's secure website
Starting at
$17/month
Plus $4 per employee. Additional pricing tiers (per month): $37.
Promotion
One month free
Terms apply
Patriot Payroll offers an affordable selection of payroll features, with add-ons that can cover HR and time and attendance reporting.
Pros
- Transparent pricing.
- One-month free trial; terms apply.
- Scales from one to 100 employees.
- Time tracking and HR support available as add-ons.
- Abundant payroll reports.
Cons
- Doesn't offer benefits administration.
- Extra fee for 1099 e-filing (at Basic level).
Our pick for
Best mobile option
Roll by ADP
Learn more
on Roll by ADP's secure website
Starting at
$29/month
Plus $5 per employee.
Promotion
Three months free
Terms apply
All functions can be performed on a mobile device, using a natural-language, chat-style interface — including adding a new employee, setting up and running payroll, and awarding bonuses.
Pros
- 24/7 support via chat.
- Next-day direct deposit with options for same-day for a fee.
- Three-month free trial; terms apply.
- Chat-style interface streamlines setup.
- Employees have access to the app.
Cons
- Lack of HR and time-tracking features.
- Payroll reports are limited.
Our picks for best online payroll software
Gusto Payroll
Our pick for: Best overall payroll software
Price:
- Contractor: $35 per month plus $6 per person per month.
- Simple: $40 per month plus $6 per person per month.
- Plus: $80 per month plus $12 per person per month.
- Premium: Custom pricing.
Highlights:
- Unlimited payroll runs for users in all states.
- Time-saving automation and integrations.
- Ability to upgrade, downgrade or cancel plans at any time.
Gusto offers full-service payroll with unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payments, and automated payroll options. HR features such as health insurance administration, employee self-onboarding and state new hire reporting are included at all pricing tiers. Employees also get access to a mobile app called Gusto Wallet to help them track their finances, and they can opt to be paid through a debit card. For businesses that want the human touch, the Premium level offers dedicated HR support. Gusto integrates with many third-party software products, including popular accounting apps like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero.
RUN Powered by ADP
Our pick for: Best for growing businesses
Price:
- Essential: $79 per month plus $4 per employee per month.
- Enhanced: Quote only.
- Complete: Quote only.
- HR Pro: Quote only.
Highlights:
- Quality payroll features offered at all plan levels.
- Health insurance, retirement services and other add-ons.
- Scalability with multiple ADP payroll packages.
ADP RUN offers a strong list of payroll features and solid customer support optimized for businesses with one to 49 employees. And if you’re planning to scale your business, ADP has products for every stage of growth up to 1,000 employees or more. An employee portal is available to view pay history and tax forms, or employees can download the Mobile Solutions app to track time, access retirement accounts and review benefits. ADP integrates with a wide variety of apps, including popular accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero. Some drawbacks are that you have to talk to a sales rep to get a quote, and many features come with an extra price tag.
QuickBooks Payroll
Our pick for: Best integrated payroll solution
Price:
- Core: $45 per month plus $6 per employee per month.
- Premium: $80 per month plus $8 per employee per month.
- Elite: $125 per month plus $10 per employee per month.
Highlights:
- Payroll data automatically syncs with QuickBooks Online.
- Next-day or same-day direct deposit options, depending on plan.
- Elite plan includes an accuracy guarantee.
For the many small-business owners who use QuickBooks Online for accounting needs, turning to QuickBooks Payroll is a logical choice for the fast, convenient integration. The Core plan offers a full suite of payroll features, including unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing, robust payroll reports and next-day direct deposit. Higher tiers add features such as same-day direct deposit, HR Support Center and mobile time tracking. At $125 a month plus $10 per employee, the Elite plan includes a personal HR advisor, expert setup help and a tax-penalty-free guarantee. Through the QuickBooks Workforce portal, employees can access their pay stubs and personal information.
OnPay Payroll
Our pick for: Best value
Price:
- $40 per month plus $6 per employee per month.
Highlights:
- Simple pricing with first month at no cost.
- Employee self-service for onboarding and personal account management.
- Special payroll services for industries with unique needs.
OnPay keeps it simple, offering a wide range of features encompassing payroll, HR and benefits for one base rate — and the first month is free. While designed for smaller businesses, it can run larger payrolls and boasts support for specialized industries such as restaurants, farms, nonprofits and churches. OnPay provides self-onboarding tools and additional self-service features that let employees access pay stubs, update personal information, request time off and download tax forms. It integrates with accounting software such as QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop and Xero.
Patriot Payroll
Our pick for: Best low-cost option
Price:
- Basic: $17 per month plus $4 per person per month.
- Full service: $37 per month plus $4 per person per month.
Highlights:
- Free trial period of 30 days.
- Add-ons for HR and time and attendance tracking.
- Tax filing accuracy guaranteed with Full Service plan.
Patriot Payroll offers an affordable suite of well-regarded products covering accounting and payroll, with add-ons that can cover HR and time and attendance reporting. For price-conscious companies looking for a single, integrated package, it's worth a look. Be aware that the Basic level doesn't include tax filing and depositing. These features are included at the Full Service level, which bumps the monthly base fee to $37 — but keeps the per-employee fee low at $4 per month. Patriot guarantees to file your tax obligations on time and accurately, or they will pay the penalties and interest. Accounting software integrations include Patriot Accounting as well as the online and desktop versions of QuickBooks.
Roll by ADP
Our pick for: Best mobile option
Price:
- $29 per month plus $5 per employee per month.
Highlights:
- Chat-based payroll app with AI-driven error checks.
- Unlimited payroll runs in all 50 states.
- Free trial period of three months.
Introduced in 2021, Roll takes full advantage of newer mobile-first technologies while retaining the useful features and reliability of ADP. ADP Roll functions on a mobile device, using a natural-language, chat-style interface to run payroll, add new employees, award bonuses — even set up your company's payroll for the first time. No desktop work is required, though a desktop interface is available. Employee self-service options let employees manage their own profiles and information. Roll integrates with QuickBooks Online, and you can choose to have your payroll registers emailed to you and your bookkeeper.
What is payroll software?
Payroll software is a program that helps streamline and automate how your business pays its employees and contractors. It typically keeps track of each person’s hours and wages, automates their payroll deductions and makes it easy to pay them via direct deposit. That means reliably accurate and timely paychecks. You can use payroll software to run reports on tax payments, payroll history and paid time off, too. Many products also calculate and file payroll taxes for you, so you don’t miss due dates or risk a miscalculation. Payroll tax rules can be confusing, so this is a big plus.
Most payroll software is cloud-based as opposed to being confined to a single computer. You’ll start by creating an account online, then entering information about your company, like its address, employees, bank account and payroll schedule. Most small businesses will want to set up integrations with their accounting software as well.
» MORE: What is payroll processing?
How to choose payroll software
First, consider payroll software that’s built for your size business. Payroll software companies often advertise themselves as solutions for businesses with a particular number of employees (e.g., 1-49). From there, find out which products integrate with your accounting software. If the systems don’t sync with each other, you may have to manually enter wage-related expense details into your accounting software.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, consider the following components:
- Payroll features. Some common features include automated payroll, a portal that lets employees view their pay stubs and automatic tax calculation, filing and payment. Be sure to find out whether this applies to federal, state and/or local payroll taxes — the more, the better. And don’t forget to look into direct deposit turnaround time, so you can let your employees know when to expect their paychecks.
- Cost. Sales reps should be transparent about pricing, and that goes for monthly subscription costs, extra per-employee fees and any potential filing costs. Factor all of these into your expenses to gauge whether they fit within your budget. There are also free payroll software options, though they’re usually less automated than paid ones.
- HR add-ons. Depending on how many employees you have, you may want to look into plans with HR features, like performance review guidance, employee onboarding tools and the ability to offer benefits.
- Time tracking. Some products come with their own in-house time-tracking modules that employees can use to track their hours. Others may integrate with third-party time trackers. Consider any additional fees here, as well.
- Reporting. In addition to helping you pay employees, payroll software should provide insights into how much your business is spending on payroll and taxes. You may be able to filter reports by date and/or employee.
- Customer support. How difficult is it to connect with a representative if there’s a problem? Some small-business owners prefer phone support while others like the convenience of chat support. Pay attention to the hours and days both are available.
Last updated on August 24, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet’s ratings of payroll software providers rewards companies whose products and services are priced well and work in a variety of payroll scenarios, among other criteria. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including overall cost, core features, employee access, HR features, integrations, reporting and customer service. Learn more about how we rate payroll software services.
These ratings are a guide, but cost, features and contract requirements can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. We encourage you to shop around and compare several providers.
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