Gusto
Best all-in-one payroll software for small business
Overview
Gusto offers a complete payroll and HR platform built for small businesses. Its intuitive interface, automated tax filing, and integrated tools make it easy to manage payroll, benefits, onboarding, and compliance—all from one place. Unlimited payroll runs, self-service onboarding, and transparent pricing come standard. Gusto stands out for its ease of use, strong support, and features that rival enterprise providers like ADP—without the complexity or extra fees. It’s an ideal solution for growing teams that want power and simplicity in one platform.
Key Features
All-in-one platform for payroll, HR, time, and benefits
Unlimited payroll runs and multi-rate support
Payroll in all 50 states with automated tax filing
Next-day and 2-day direct deposit options
Built-in time tracking and PTO tools (Plus and above)
Benefits administration included at no extra cost
Employee self-service and lifetime portal access
Support for international contractors in 120+ countries
AI-powered reporting and workforce insights
300+ app integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
User-friendly, modern interface
Fully automated tax filing and compliance
Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
Excellent customer support
Seamless app integrations
Cons
Multi-state payroll requires Plus or Premium
Time tracking/PTO not in Simple plan
Mobile app lacks full admin features
Pricing
Simple: $49/month + $6/person/month
Plus: $80/month + $12/person/month
Free trial: Yes — free until first payroll
Free plan: No
Transform your payroll processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
OnPay
Best no-frills payroll for small business
Overview
OnPay delivers full-service payroll and basic HR features at one flat, transparent price—with no tiers, upsells, or surprises. It covers payroll, tax filing, onboarding, and benefits in all 50 states. You’ll get multi-state payroll, multiple pay rates, and unlimited runs. While it lacks advanced features like time tracking or deep integrations, OnPay is perfect for small teams that want reliable payroll without the extra costs.
Key Features
Flat-fee pricing for full payroll and tax filing
Multi-state payroll with multiple pay rates
W-2 and 1099 support in one run
Onboarding tools and HR document storage
Pay by direct deposit, check, or debit card
2- or 4-day direct deposit options
PTO tracking included
Employee self-service with lifetime access
Works in all 50 states
Pros and Cons
Pros
Transparent, all-in pricing
Great value for essential payroll
No benefits admin fees
Live phone support
Cons
No international contractor support
Limited software integrations
W-2/1099 mailing costs extra
No email or chat support
Pricing
OnPay charges $40/month + $6 per employee, with all payroll and HR features included. Printed W‑2/1099 mailing is extra. You only pay for employees paid that month.
Free trial: Yes — one month free
Free plan: No
Remote
Best global payroll for small business
Overview
Remote makes it easy to hire and pay employees or contractors in 180+ countries through one platform. It offers global payroll, tax compliance, and benefits—with no third-party vendors. You’ll get localized contracts, tax support, and built-in protections against contractor misclassification. It’s more expensive than domestic options, but for small businesses hiring across borders, Remote simplifies the complexity of global HR.
Key Features
Contractor payments in 180+ countries
EOR and global payroll in 80+ countries
Support for 70+ currencies with no conversion fees
Country-specific tax, benefits, and labor law compliance
Built-in contractor misclassification risk assessment
Onboarding tools and employee self-service portal
One-click or automated contractor invoicing
Unified dashboard for managing global teams
Pros and Cons
Pros
Hire and pay globally from one platform
In-house compliance teams in every country
Clear support for contractors and full-time roles
User-friendly experience
Cons
EOR pricing adds up quickly
No support for PayPal or Payoneer
Email-only customer support
No published pricing for global payroll
Pricing
EOR services start at $599/employee/month (annual) or $699/month-to-month. Contractor payments cost $29/month. Global payroll (own entity) requires a custom quote.
Free trial: 30 days for contractor setup
Free plan: No
ADP Run
Best payroll for quickly growing businesses
Overview
ADP Run is a solid option for businesses preparing to scale. It offers automated payroll, compliance support, and a flexible menu of HR add-ons. While it lacks pricing transparency and charges extra for common tools, its ability to grow with your company—especially past the 50-employee mark—makes it a strong fit for teams on the rise.
Key Features
Payroll, tax filing, and compliance in all 50 states
Multiple pay rates and schedules
Direct deposit and prepaid debit card options
Onboarding tools and employee reports
Time tracking and HR tools available as add-ons
700+ software integrations
Upgrade path to ADP Workforce Now (50+ employees)
Pros and Cons
Pros
Strong scalability for growing businesses
Huge range of HR add-ons
Trusted by thousands of mid-sized firms
700+ integrations
Cons
Pricing isn’t transparent
Add-ons cost extra
Support can be slow
Contractor payments require a separate tool
Pricing
Pricing is quote-based and varies by plan. Forbes reports starting costs of $79/month + $4/employee, but add-ons can drive costs up quickly. Features are tiered across four plans.
Free trial: Yes — 3 months free on select plans
Free plan: No
Justworks
Best PEO for small businesses
Overview
Justworks is a full-service PEO that takes HR, payroll, and compliance off your plate. It acts as a co-employer, handling benefits, taxes, onboarding, and more—so you can focus on running your business. The interface is user-friendly, support is available 24/7, and pricing is transparent. It’s a great fit for small teams that want enterprise-level HR support without hiring in-house.
Key Features
Full-service PEO with payroll, HR, and compliance
Self-service onboarding and admin controls
Benefits access and management included in Plus plan
Support for international contractors in 28+ countries
Off-cycle payroll, PTO, and expense management
Pre-set biweekly or bimonthly pay schedules
Mobile app for employee access
Dedicated HR support included
Pros and Cons
Pros
Affordable entry into PEO model
24/7 customer support via multiple channels
Takes HR and compliance off your plate
Smooth onboarding and self-service tools
Cons
Time tracking and benefits cost extra
Benefits only included with Plus plan
Fewer advanced HR tools than other PEOs
Payroll tool lacks depth for complex needs
Pricing
Basic plan starts at $59/employee/month (drops to $49 after 50 employees). Plus plan adds traditional benefits for $99/employee/month ($89 after 50 employees).
Free trial: Yes — 14 days
Free plan: No
Rippling
Best for tech-forward small businesses
Overview
Rippling unifies HR, payroll, IT, and finance in a single, modular system built for speed and scale. From automated onboarding to global payroll and device management, Rippling gives you deep customization and automation tools. It's best for mid-sized or fast-growing teams that want tight control over workflows—though the pricing model and complexity may be overkill for smaller teams.
Key Features
All-in-one HR, payroll, IT, and finance tools
Automated payroll with tax filing
Global payroll and EOR in 150+ countries
100% error-free payroll guarantee
Custom workflows, triggers, and notifications
Advanced reporting and job costing
500+ third-party integrations
Role-based access and device management
Pros and Cons
Pros
Industry-leading automation tools
Supports employees and contractors worldwide
Modular pricing—only pay for what you use
Grows easily with your team
Cons
No transparent pricing online
Features may overwhelm smaller teams
Contracts often require a 1-year minimum
Base modules required for all plans
Pricing
Base plan (Unity + payroll) starts around $35/month + $8/employee, based on public reviews. Global payroll and contractor services cost $20/worker/month; EOR is $599/employee/month. All plans require Unity.
Free trial: No
Free plan: No
Payroll4Free
Best free payroll for small businesses
Overview
Payroll4Free is a no-cost payroll tool for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. It handles basic payroll tasks, PTO tracking, and tax form generation, though direct deposit and tax filing cost extra. The platform is Windows-only and ad-supported, but for budget-conscious startups, it’s a practical stopgap until you're ready to upgrade.
Key Features
Free for up to 10 employees
Payroll, PTO tracking, and tax form generation
Direct deposit available (extra cost)
W-2 and 1099 support
Basic payroll reporting tools
QuickBooks Desktop integration
Employee self-service access
Pros and Cons
Pros
100% free for small teams
Handles core payroll needs
Includes PTO and tax form tools
Offers basic reporting and self-service
Cons
Extra fees for tax filing and direct deposit
No cloud or mobile access (Windows only)
Ad-supported software
No onboarding, benefits, or integrations
Pricing
Core services are free for 10 employees or fewer. Direct deposit and tax filing cost $25/month each or $30/month bundled.
Free trial: N/A
Free plan: Yes
QuickBooks
Best small business payroll for bookkeepers
Overview
If you're already using QuickBooks for accounting, QuickBooks Payroll is a natural add-on. It offers automated payroll, strong tax features, and bundled health and retirement benefits. However, key features like local tax filing and multi-state payroll are only available on higher tiers—and there’s no support for outside accounting software.
Key Features
Direct integration with QuickBooks accounting
Automated tax filing (federal and state in base plan)
Next-day and same-day direct deposit
Benefits and 401(k) included at all tiers
Employee self-service access
Automated payroll for salaried employees
Time tracking with Premium and Elite plans
24/7 chat support and extended phone hours
Pros and Cons
Pros
Bundles easily with QuickBooks accounting
Strong tax filing and compliance tools
Benefits included across all plans
Same-day direct deposit available
Cons
No integrations with non-Intuit accounting tools
Multi-state payroll only in Elite plan
Local taxes not included in base plan
Expensive compared to competitors
Pricing
Payroll-only plans start at $45/month + $6/employee. Premium and Elite plans add time tracking, HR tools, and higher-level tax support. Payroll + Accounting bundles start at $75/month.
Free trial: 30-day trial or 50% off for 3 months
Free plan: No
Compare All
| Pricing | Free Trial | Free Plan | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | Small businesses wanting an all-in-one payroll, HR, and benefits platform | ||
 | $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) | Small businesses needing simple, no-frills payroll with predictable pricing | |
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Small businesses paying international employees or contractors |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Quickly growing small businesses that need scalability and compliance | |
 | $59–$99/employee/mo | (on request) | Small businesses that want payroll fully outsourced via a PEO | |
 | ~$8/user/mo + base fee 35-$40/month + add‑ons | (varies by product) | Tech-forward small businesses needing advanced automation | |
 | Free core; add‑ons $10–$35 | Very small businesses looking for a free payroll solution | ||
 | $45–$125/mo + per employee | Not listed | Bookkeepers and small businesses already using QuickBooks |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| $59–$99/employee/mo | (on request) |
| ~$8/user/mo + base fee 35-$40/month + add‑ons | (varies by product) |
| Free core; add‑ons $10–$35 | |
| $45–$125/mo + per employee | Not listed |
FAQ
What is the best payroll program for small businesses?
Gusto is often considered the best all-in-one payroll software for small businesses. It balances powerful features—like automated tax filing, onboarding, and benefits—with an intuitive interface and transparent pricing. Other strong contenders include OnPay for simple needs and Rippling for advanced automation.
What is the easiest way to do payroll for a small business?
The easiest way is to use software that automates taxes, direct deposits, and year-end filings. Tools like Gusto and OnPay simplify payroll with guided onboarding, unlimited pay runs, and pre-filled tax forms—no spreadsheets required.
Can a small business do its own payroll?
Yes, a small business can manage payroll manually, but it’s risky and time-consuming. Payroll software reduces human error and compliance risk, and saves business owners hours each month.
Is QuickBooks Payroll worth it?
QuickBooks Payroll is worth considering if you already use QuickBooks for accounting. It integrates seamlessly and offers solid features—but it’s more expensive and less flexible than competitors like Gusto or OnPay.
What is the cheapest payroll service for a small business?
Payroll4Free is the cheapest option for teams under 10 employees, offering core payroll tools at no cost. However, OnPay and Square offer more robust features at affordable rates.
