9 Best Payroll Software of 2026

This list is for US small businesses with 1 to about 50 employees choosing a full-service payroll provider. We compared documented features and published prices; each price below was copied from the vendor's own page. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%. Most payroll is priced as a monthly base fee plus a fee per person paid, so we list the base fee as the starting price and show the per-person fee next to it.

1. 01Top value

   

   OnPay

   8.7/10

   Full-service payroll with HR, benefits and time tracking options for small and mid-sized businesses.

   Price

   $49per month plus $6 per worker

   $49 per month base fee plus $6 per worker per month; first month free

   “Starting at $49 /month Base Fee $6 /month Per Worker” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.8

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forSmall businesses that want one transparent price with HR support and free setup.

   OnPay earns the top spot because it combines a low published price with features that rivals charge more for. The base fee is $49 a month plus $6 per worker, the same as Gusto's entry plan, but OnPay includes pay for both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, automated tax filings and free expert setup, including migration of prior wages when you switch. Support is handled by a US-based team by phone, chat and email, and OnPay says there is no support paywall, so a one-person business gets the same help as a 100-person one. You can add integrated time tracking with geofenced mobile clock-in, HR compliance tools and health benefits, where OnPay's team handles ongoing plan administration. Those add-ons raise the bill, and there is no free plan, but the first month is free. For a 10-person team, the core service costs about $109 a month.

   • ✓Free expert setup and prior-wage data migration
   • ✓US-based support by phone, chat and email for every client
   • ✓Clear published pricing with no sales call needed

   • ✕Time tracking and HR compliance tools are add-ons
   • ✕No free plan
   • ✕Fewer built-in finance tools than Gusto

   Base fee:

   $49 per month

   Per worker:

   $6 per month

   Setup:

   Free expert setup and data migration

   Promotion:

   One month free

   Bottom line: The best value full-service payroll for small teams, with free setup and support for everyone. Budget for add-ons if you need time tracking.

   Visit onpay.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Gusto

   8.6/10

   Payroll, benefits and HR in one platform, with three published plans for small businesses.

   Price

   $49per month plus $6 per person

   Simple $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12; Premium $180 plus $22

   “Simple Run basic payroll in one state. $49/mo + $6/mo per person” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.0

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forGrowing small businesses that may need multi-state payroll, benefits and HR tools later.

   Gusto is the most complete payroll platform with published prices, and it is easy to use for owners who have never run payroll. The Simple plan costs $49 a month plus $6 per person and includes unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, payroll on AutoPilot, direct deposit or printable checks, contractor payments and employee and employer mobile apps. The catch is that Simple covers one state. Plus, at $80 a month plus $12 per person, adds multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next-day pay, contractor invoice management and workforce cost reports. Premium, at $180 plus $22, adds same-day and instant pay, HR guidance and a named advisor. Gusto also sells health, 401(k) and business insurance in the same platform. There is no contract and setup is free. On value, Simple ties OnPay, but the step to Plus doubles the per-person fee, so remote teams across states pay noticeably more.

   • ✓No contracts and free account setup
   • ✓Employee and employer mobile apps
   • ✓Benefits, 401(k) and insurance available in the same platform

   • ✕Simple covers payroll in one state only
   • ✕Plus costs $80 plus $12 per person, a big jump
   • ✕Contractor invoice uploads and cost reports need Plus

   Simple:

   $49/mo + $6/mo per person, one state

   Plus:

   $80/mo + $12/mo per person

   Premium:

   $180/mo + $22/mo per person

   Contract:

   None, cancel anytime

   Bottom line: The best all-round platform for a team that will grow into benefits and HR. Multi-state teams should price Plus, not Simple.

   Visit gusto.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Square Payroll

   8.5/10

   Full-service and contractor-only payroll connected to Square's point of sale and team tools.

   Price

   $35per month plus $6 per person paid

   Full-service $35 per month plus $6 per person paid; contractor-only $6 per person paid

   “For full-service payroll, the cost is $35 per month, plus $6 per person paid per month.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forSquare sellers with hourly and tipped staff.

   Square Payroll costs $35 a month plus $6 per person paid, which undercuts Gusto and OnPay by $14 a month at any team size. Full-service payroll includes unlimited pay runs, automated federal and state tax filings, multistate payroll, multiple pay rates, off-cycle payments, next-day direct deposit and new-hire reporting. Its real advantage is the link to Square's point of sale: timecards import from Square POS or the Square Team App, tips are tracked and imported, and overtime is calculated automatically, which saves restaurants and shops a lot of manual work. Employees can be paid by check, direct deposit or Cash App. A contractor-only plan costs $6 per person with no base fee, and seasonal businesses do not pay while inactive. Health insurance and 401(k) are add-ons, and HR tools are thinner than Gusto's. If you do not run Square, the price advantage is smaller than the setup convenience you would miss.

   • ✓Lower base fee than Gusto or OnPay
   • ✓Contractor-only plan has no base fee
   • ✓Free seasonal inactivity on full-service payroll

   • ✕Health insurance and 401(k) are add-ons
   • ✕Best value only if you already use Square
   • ✕Support hours are weekdays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT

   Full-service:

   $35/mo + $6 per person paid

   Contractor-only:

   $6/mo per person paid

   Paper W-2/1099 mailing:

   $3 per form per year, optional

   Contract:

   No long-term contract

   Bottom line: The best value for Square sellers with hourly and tipped staff. Businesses outside Square get more from OnPay or Gusto.

   Visit squareup.com ↗

4. 04

   

   SurePayroll

   8.3/10

   An online payroll service for small businesses and household employers.

   Price

   $29per month plus $7 per worker

   $29 per month plus $7 per worker; multi-state $9.99 per month; year-end forms $50 plus $5 per form

   “Unlimited payroll runs, one predictable price Starting at $29/month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   7.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forVery small businesses in one state that want the lowest base fee.

   SurePayroll has the lowest base fee on this list at $29 a month, plus $7 per worker, and its first-year promotion makes every other month free for 12 months. The service covers unlimited payroll runs, calculation and filing of federal and state payroll taxes, free 2-day direct deposit, scheduled automatic payroll, multiple pay rates and bonuses, new hire reporting, online pay stubs and a mobile app. Live phone and chat support and free onboarding are included. The fine print matters more here than elsewhere. Multi-state payroll adds $9.99 a month, and year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms are billed annually at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form. Accounting integration costs $4.99 a month. At five employees in one state it is the cheapest service we compared, but at 20 or more the higher per-worker fee erases the base-fee advantage.

   • ✓Lowest base fee on this list
   • ✓Live phone and chat support
   • ✓Free onboarding with help from staff

   • ✕Per-worker fee of $7 is higher than most rivals
   • ✕Multi-state payroll costs $9.99 a month extra
   • ✕Year-end W-2 and 1099 forms cost $50 plus $5 per form

   Base fee:

   $29 per month

   Per worker:

   $7 per month

   Multi-state:

   $9.99 per month

   Promotion:

   Alternate months free in the first 12 months

   Bottom line: The cheapest full-service payroll for very small teams in one state. Add the year-end form fees before comparing it to OnPay.

   Visit surepayroll.com ↗

5. 05

   

   QuickBooks Payroll

   8.2/10

   Intuit's full-service payroll, sold as Workforce plans that connect to QuickBooks Online.

   Price

   $50per month plus $7 per employee

   Workforce Payroll $50 per month plus $7 per employee (promo $25 for 3 months); Premium $88 plus $13; Elite $134 plus $17

   “Workforce Payroll Pay your team and get payroll taxes done for you. $50 + $7/employee $25 / mo + $7/employee/mo 50% off for 3 months*” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.6

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forQuickBooks Online users who want payroll posted directly into their books.

   QuickBooks Payroll makes the most sense for businesses already on QuickBooks Online, because payroll entries land in the same books without an integration to maintain. The entry Workforce Payroll plan costs $50 a month plus $7 per employee, with the base fee halved to $25 for the first three months. It calculates, files and pays payroll taxes, handles garnishments and deductions, runs auto payroll for salaried staff on direct deposit, e-files unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms and offers next-day direct deposit. Employees get a portal for pay stubs, W-2s and tax details, and payroll experts are available by phone and chat. Time tracking only arrives with Workforce Premium at $88 plus $13 per employee, and Elite at $134 plus $17 is the top tier. On value, a 10-person team pays $120 a month on the entry plan, about $11 more than OnPay or Gusto, so the case rests on the QuickBooks link.

   • ✓Posts straight into QuickBooks Online
   • ✓Garnishments and deductions handled
   • ✓Phone and chat payroll support

   • ✕Per-employee fee of $7 on the entry plan
   • ✕Time tracking requires Workforce Premium at $88 plus $13
   • ✕Most useful only if you already run QuickBooks

   Workforce Payroll:

   $50 + $7 per employee

   Workforce Premium:

   $88 + $13 per employee

   Workforce Elite:

   $134 + $17 per employee

   Promotion:

   50% off base fee for 3 months

   Bottom line: The natural choice for QuickBooks Online users. Without QuickBooks, OnPay or Gusto give more for less.

   Visit quickbooks.intuit.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Rippling

   8.0/10

   A modular HR, IT and finance platform with US and global payroll, sold per employee with a base fee.

   Price

   $8per employee per month, plus base fee

   From $8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee; custom quote required

   “Rippling plans start at $8 per employee per month, with a monthly base fee.” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.0

   Features (35%)

   9.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.8

   Best forGrowing companies that want payroll tied to HR, device management and spend tools.

   Rippling is the most capable platform on this list and the hardest to price. Its pricing page says plans start at $8 per employee per month with a monthly base fee, but the base fee is not published and Rippling Payroll pricing depends on the products and headcount you choose, so you need a quote. What you get is breadth: US payroll, contractor payments, global payroll, employer of record and PEO options, time and attendance, scheduling, identity and device management, expense management, corporate cards and bill pay, all sold as modules on one platform. Rippling also supports switching mid-year and imports year-to-date payroll data from your previous provider. For a 10-person team that only needs payroll, this is more system than necessary, and the bill climbs with each module. For a company adding IT and finance tools, the shared data is worth paying for.

   • ✓Payroll, HR, IT and spend tools on one platform
   • ✓Can switch mid-year with year-to-date data import
   • ✓Scales from small teams to global companies

   • ✕Base fee is not published; you need a quote
   • ✕Total cost rises with every module you add
   • ✕More setup than payroll-only services

   Starting price:

   $8 per employee per month plus base fee

   Quote:

   Required for exact pricing

   Global options:

   Global payroll, EOR, contractor of record

   Switching:

   Mid-year switch supported

   Bottom line: The best choice when payroll is one part of a wider HR, IT and finance setup. Overkill and opaque on price for payroll alone.

   Visit rippling.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Wave Payroll

   7.9/10

   Payroll add-on for Wave's accounting software, covering employees and contractors.

   Price

   $40per month plus $6 per person paid

   $40 per month base fee plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid; 30-day free trial

   “Monthly fee $40 USD base fee + $6 per active employee + $6 per independent contractor paid” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   8.4

   Features (35%)

   7.2

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forSmall businesses already using Wave's free accounting.

   Wave Payroll is a sensible add-on for the many small businesses that already keep their books in Wave's free accounting software. It costs $40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid, with no setup fees and a 30-day free trial. Wave automatically pays and files state and federal payroll taxes, though 1099 filings are excluded, and it generates W-2, W-3 and 1099-NEC forms. Direct deposits are unlimited and free, payroll creates journal entries in your Wave books automatically, and employees get a portal for pay stubs, W-2s and leave balances. The value case is about the combination: free accounting plus $40 payroll costs less than most paid accounting and payroll pairs. On its own, Wave Payroll offers fewer HR, benefits and time tracking tools than Gusto or OnPay, and its base fee is $5 higher than Square's. Pick it for the bookkeeping link.

   • ✓Posts payroll straight into Wave's free bookkeeping
   • ✓No setup fees
   • ✓30-day free trial

   • ✕Automatic filing excludes 1099 filings
   • ✕Fewer HR and benefits tools than Gusto or OnPay
   • ✕Only worth it if you use Wave for accounting

   Base fee:

   $40 per month

   Per person:

   $6 per active employee or contractor paid

   Free trial:

   30 days

   Setup fee:

   None

   Bottom line: Good value when paired with Wave's free accounting. Choose a dedicated provider if you need HR or benefits tools.

   Visit waveapps.com ↗

8. 08

   

   RUN Powered by ADP

   7.7/10

   ADP's payroll and HR platform for small businesses, sold in four quote-based packages.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending); ADP publishes no prices and quotes each package

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.4

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forSmall businesses that want a large provider with HR support and are willing to negotiate a quote.

   RUN Powered by ADP is ADP's payroll and HR platform for small businesses, aimed at companies with 1 to 49 employees. It comes in four packages. Essential covers payroll, taxes and compliance help; Enhanced adds ZipRecruiter, state unemployment insurance management and a garnishment payment service; Complete adds basic HR support; and HR Pro adds enhanced HR support and perks. RUN deducts and files federal, state and local payroll taxes, ADP Assist flags errors before they happen, and RUN & DONE puts recurring payroll on autopilot. Employees can be paid by direct deposit, the Wisely Direct pay card or ADPCheck, and they get a mobile app. The value problem is transparency: every package shows only a get pricing button, so we could not verify a starting price. ADP advertises up to six months free for new payroll customers. Get quotes from OnPay or Gusto first so you know what a fair price looks like.

   • ✓Packages scale from payroll only to full HR support
   • ✓Enhanced adds state unemployment insurance and garnishment payment services
   • ✓Large provider with employee mobile app

   • ✕No published prices; every package says get pricing
   • ✕HR support starts only on Complete
   • ✕Harder to compare costs than transparent rivals

   Packages:

   Essential, Enhanced, Complete, HR Pro

   Target size:

   Businesses with 1 to 49 employees

   Promotion:

   Up to 6 months free, terms apply

   Pricing:

   Quote only

   Bottom line: A capable, full-featured platform from a long-established payroll provider. Its quote-only pricing makes it hard to call good value without negotiating.

   Visit adp.com ↗

9. 09

   

   Paychex

   7.5/10

   Payroll and HR services for small businesses, sold in four quote-based packages.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending); Paychex publishes no prices and quotes each package

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.2

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.6

   Best forBusinesses that want an established provider with HR business partners and local tax handling.

   Paychex sells small-business payroll in four packages, Basic, Foundations, Advanced and Complete, moving from essential payroll and HR to a full suite with workforce and talent management. Every package calculates, withholds and files federal, state and local taxes and prepares W-2s and 1099s. Paychex has added AI automations that flag missing time punches, verify employee data and handle timesheet entries, and employees get a 24/7 online portal with pay stubs, W-2s and chat support, plus free lifestyle perks. Paychex HR business partners are available for compliance questions, and benefits, time tracking and HR tools can be added without switching systems. As with ADP, Paychex publishes no prices, so we could not verify a starting price, and buying involves a sales conversation. That makes it hard to recommend on value alone. It suits owners who want an established provider and hands-on support, after benchmarking against published prices from OnPay, Gusto or Square.

   • ✓Handles local taxes as well as federal and state
   • ✓Same platform adds benefits, time tracking and HR
   • ✓Free lifestyle perks for employees

   • ✕No published prices; quote required
   • ✕More sales process than self-serve rivals
   • ✕Hard to judge value against transparent providers

   Packages:

   Basic, Foundations, Advanced, Complete

   Tax filing:

   Federal, state and local

   Employee portal:

   24/7 online access

   Pricing:

   Quote only

   Bottom line: Full-featured payroll with strong local tax handling and HR support. Quote-only pricing puts it at the bottom of a value ranking.

   Visit paychex.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.