10 Best Payroll Software for Small Business of 2026

This list is for US employers with roughly 1 to 50 people who want to compare what payroll really costs: the monthly base fee, the fee per employee, and whether federal, state and year-end tax filing is part of the plan or extra. We compared documented features and published prices from each vendor's own pages in November 2026. Rankozo scores value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%. The starting price shown is the base fee; the per-person fee sits beside it, and the buying guide works out monthly totals at common team sizes.

1. 01Top value

   

   Gusto

   8.7/10

   Payroll, benefits and HR platform with three tiers, each including tax filings and payments.

   Price

   $49per month plus $6 per person

   Simple $49 per month plus $6 per person (one state); 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 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.2

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.0

   Best forSingle-state small businesses that expect to add benefits, time tracking or more states later.

   Gusto matches OnPay's entry price at $49 a month plus $6 per person, and its pricing table marks tax filings and payments as included on all three plans. The difference is scope. Simple is described as basic payroll in one state, so an employer with a hire in a second state moves to Plus at $80 a month plus $12 per person, which for 10 people is $200 a month instead of $109. Plus also adds time tracking, scheduling, next day pay and contractor invoice management, and Premium at $180 plus $22 adds a named advisor, HR guidance and compliance tools. Every plan includes unlimited payrolls, payroll on AutoPilot, domestic contractor payments and an employer mobile app. Extras are priced openly: state tax registration varies by state, next-day pay is $15 a month plus $3 per person on Simple, and R&D credit work costs 15% of credits found. Gusto has no contracts and free setup. It is the most polished option here, and the most expensive once you outgrow one state.

   • ✓Tax filing included even on the cheapest tier
   • ✓Clear upgrade path from Simple to Plus to Premium
   • ✓No contracts and free account setup

   • ✕Simple covers payroll in one state only
   • ✕Multi-state payroll means Plus at $80 plus $12 per person
   • ✕State tax registration is a paid add-on priced by state

   Base fee:

   $49 per month (Simple)

   Per person:

   $6 per month (Simple)

   Tax filing:

   Included on all plans

   Multi-state payroll:

   Plus and Premium

   Contracts:

   None, cancel anytime

   Bottom line: Excellent software with tax filing on every tier, held back by the one-state limit on Simple. Best for teams that will stay in one state for now.

   Visit gusto.com ↗

2. 02

   

   OnPay

   8.7/10

   Single-plan payroll service that files federal, state and local payroll taxes and adds HR and benefits on request.

   Price

   $49per month plus $6 per worker

   $49 per month base fee plus $6 per worker; multi-state payroll, local taxes and year-end filings included

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

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   8.9

   Features (35%)

   8.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forSmall employers that want tax filing, multi-state payroll and year-end forms in one published price.

   OnPay ranks first because its one plan answers the question small employers ask most: what does full tax filing cost, all in. The price is $49 a month plus $6 per worker, and OnPay lists multi-state payroll, local taxes, accounting integrations and year-end filings among the essentials included in that price. Calculations, filings and tax payments are automated and backed by an accuracy guarantee. That matters because rivals at a similar headline price either limit the entry plan to one state or bill year-end forms separately. For a 10-person team the bill is $109 a month, the same as Gusto's entry tier, but with fewer limits. OnPay sets up the account for you and imports prior wages when you switch mid-year, and it says every client gets the same support by phone, chat and email. The trade-offs are the add-ons: time tracking, HR compliance tools and benefits raise the monthly cost, and there is no cheaper plan for paying contractors only.

   • ✓Tax filing, multi-state and local taxes are not upsells
   • ✓Free expert setup and migration of prior payroll data
   • ✓Same phone, chat and email support for every client

   • ✕No free plan
   • ✕Time tracking and HR compliance cost extra
   • ✕Base fee is $20 higher than SurePayroll's

   Base fee:

   $49 per month

   Per worker:

   $6 per month

   Tax filing:

   Included, federal, state and local

   Multi-state payroll:

   Included

   Setup:

   Free, with data migration

   Bottom line: The most complete tax filing package for the price, with multi-state and year-end work included. Pick it when you want one predictable bill.

   Visit onpay.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Square Payroll

   8.5/10

   Payroll from Square with a full-service plan and a contractor-only plan that has no base fee.

   Price

   $35per month plus $6 per person paid

   Full-service $35 per month plus $6 per person paid; contractor-only $6 per person paid with no base fee

   “$35/mo +$6 monthly fee per person paid” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.1

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.7

   Best forSquare sellers and hourly teams that want low base fees and timecards imported from the POS.

   Square Payroll has the lowest published cost for a typical small team: $35 a month plus $6 per person paid, or $95 a month for 10 people. Square's pricing table shows that the full-service plan includes automated federal and state tax payments and filings, new-hire reporting, multistate payroll and multiple tax jurisdictions, so the low base fee does not hide a tax filing upsell. Hourly businesses gain the most, because timecards import from Square POS or the Square Team App, and direct tips, overtime and labor-cost reports are built in. Employees can be paid by check, direct deposit or into Cash App. The contractor-only plan costs $6 per person paid with no base fee, a fair deal for businesses with no W-2 staff, but it does not file federal or state payroll taxes. Weak spots: health insurance and 401(k) are add-ons, paper W-2 and 1099 mailing costs $3 per form, and specialist support is limited to weekday hours.

   • ✓Lowest per-employee total among published full-service prices at 10 people
   • ✓Multistate payroll at no extra charge
   • ✓Contractor-only plan with no base fee

   • ✕Contractor-only plan does not file federal or state taxes for employees
   • ✕Mailed paper W-2s and 1099s cost $3 per form a year
   • ✕Phone support runs weekdays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT only

   Base fee:

   $35 per month (full-service)

   Per person paid:

   $6 per month

   Tax filing:

   Federal and state, full-service plan

   Contractor-only:

   $6 per person paid, no base fee

   Paper forms:

   $3 per mailed W-2 or 1099

   Bottom line: The cheapest full-service option with tax filing for most team sizes, and the natural pick for Square sellers. HR depth is thinner than OnPay or Gusto.

   Visit squareup.com ↗

4. 04

   

   QuickBooks Payroll

   8.2/10

   Intuit's payroll, sold as Workforce plans that connect to QuickBooks Online accounting.

   Price

   $50per month plus $7 per employee

   Workforce Payroll $50 per month plus $7 per employee (50% off base 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” 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 taxes filed and 1099s e-filed inside the same account.

   QuickBooks Payroll is the obvious choice if your books already live in QuickBooks Online. The entry Workforce Payroll plan costs $50 a month plus $7 per employee, with 50% off the base fee for the first 3 months, and Intuit says it will calculate, file and pay your payroll taxes. It also creates and e-files unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms and sends copies to contractors, which several rivals charge for. Auto payroll handles salaried staff on direct deposit, next-day deposit is included, and a payroll AI gathers hours from employees and flags anomalies before you approve the run. The cost is higher than average: 10 employees come to $120 a month, $11 more than OnPay or Gusto Simple, and time tracking plus HR tools require Premium at $88 a month plus $13 per employee. Elite at $134 plus $17 adds more expert help. For non-QuickBooks users the value case is weaker, since the main advantage is payroll entries landing in the same ledger.

   • ✓Payroll data posts straight into QuickBooks Online
   • ✓1099 e-filing included on the entry plan
   • ✓Phone and chat support from payroll experts

   • ✕$7 per employee makes it pricier than Gusto or OnPay at 10 people
   • ✕Time tracking and HR tools need Premium at $88 plus $13
   • ✕Intro discount applies to the base fee for only 3 months

   Base fee:

   $50 per month (Workforce Payroll)

   Per employee:

   $7 per month

   Tax filing:

   Included, with 1099 e-file

   Promotion:

   50% off base fee for 3 months

   Higher tiers:

   $88 plus $13, $134 plus $17

   Bottom line: Strong tax filing with free 1099 e-filing, priced above the leaders. Worth it mainly for QuickBooks Online users.

   Visit quickbooks.intuit.com ↗

5. 05

   

   SurePayroll

   8.2/10

   Online payroll from Paychex for very small employers, with a full-service plan and a cheaper plan without tax filing.

   Price

   $29per month plus $7 per employee

   Full Service $29 per month plus $7 per employee; No Tax Filing $20 plus $4; multi-state $9.99 per month; year-end forms $50 plus $5 per form

   “Full Service Pay employees in minutes, easily access reports, and get payroll taxes filed and deposited automatically. $29 /mo plus $7 per employee” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.2

   Best forVery small teams in one state that want the lowest base fee, or owners who file payroll taxes themselves.

   SurePayroll fits the angle of this list better than any rival because it publishes two prices: one with tax filing and one without. Full Service costs $29 a month plus $7 per employee and files and deposits federal and state payroll taxes for you. The No Tax Filing plan drops to $20 a month plus $4 per employee, but you take on every filing and deposit yourself, which suits a bookkeeper or accountant who already handles that work. Watch the extras. Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms are billed once a year at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form, and multi-state payroll costs $9.99 a month. For a two-person team in one state, Full Service is $43 a month, the lowest here. At 10 employees it is $99, still below Gusto and OnPay before year-end fees. New customers get every alternating month free during their first year, and accounting software sync costs $4.99 a month. Features are basic: no built-in HR or time tracking without add-ons.

   • ✓Lowest full-service base fee on this list
   • ✓Only provider here with a published plan that leaves tax filing to you
   • ✓Every other month free during the first 12 months

   • ✕Year-end W-2 and 1099 forms billed at $50 plus $5 per form
   • ✕Multi-state payroll adds $9.99 a month
   • ✕Per-employee fee of $7 overtakes cheaper rivals as headcount grows

   Base fee:

   $29 per month (Full Service)

   Per employee:

   $7 per month

   Without tax filing:

   $20 per month plus $4 per employee

   Multi-state:

   $9.99 per month

   Year-end forms:

   $50 base plus $5 per form, annually

   Bottom line: The cheapest way for a micro business to get taxes filed, with a lower-cost plan if you file yourself. Add year-end form fees before comparing.

   Visit surepayroll.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Roll by ADP

   8.1/10

   ADP's app-based payroll for small businesses, run through a chat interface with one published price.

   Price

   $59per month plus $7 per employee

   $59 per month plus $7 per employee; three months free for new customers

   “$59/mo. + $7 per employee Unlimited payroll” Quoted from the pricing page, November 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   7.8

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forOwners who want to run payroll from a phone in minutes and need workers in more than one state.

   Roll is ADP's answer to Gusto for the smallest employers, and unlike RUN Powered by ADP it publishes a price: $59 a month plus $7 per employee, with three months free for new customers. One plan covers unlimited payroll, taxes calculated, deducted and paid, W-2 and 1099 workers, and payroll in all 50 states, including people who live and work in different states. That last point makes Roll cheaper than Gusto for a small multi-state team: 10 employees cost $129 a month, against $200 on Gusto Plus. The app is built around chat, so you type a request and Roll walks through the pay run, with AI error checks and reminders before deadlines. Same-day and next-day direct deposit are available, and it syncs with QuickBooks Online. Garnishments and benefit and retirement deductions are handled. Roll stops at payroll: there are no HR tiers, benefits brokerage or onboarding tools, so growing teams may later move to RUN.

   • ✓All 50 states and multi-state workers in the single plan
   • ✓Chat-style app makes a pay run very quick
   • ✓Three months free for new accounts

   • ✕Highest published base fee on this list at $59
   • ✕No HR or benefits administration tiers
   • ✕Fewer reporting and HR tools than full HR suites

   Base fee:

   $59 per month

   Per employee:

   $7 per month

   Tax filing:

   Calculated, deducted and paid

   States:

   All 50, multi-state workers included

   Promotion:

   Three months free

   Bottom line: A fast, phone-first payroll with multi-state included in one price. The base fee is high for a single-state team.

   Visit rollbyadp.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Wave Payroll

   8.0/10

   Payroll add-on to Wave's small business accounting software, with tax service in all 50 states.

   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 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Free trial

   30 days

   Value (40%)

   8.6

   Features (35%)

   7.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.3

   Best forSole owners and micro businesses already using Wave for invoicing and bookkeeping.

   Wave Payroll is a lean, low-cost option that makes the most sense if you already keep your books in Wave. The US price is $40 a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid, so a 10-person team pays $100 a month. Wave says its tax service automatically transfers tax payments and files the paperwork with your state tax agency and the IRS, excluding 1099 filings, and since April 2025 that service covers all 50 states at one price. Payroll entries post into Wave's accounting, and employees get a portal for pay stubs, W-2s and vacation leave. Direct deposits are unlimited and free. The 30-day free trial starts when you process your first payroll. The limits are real: 1099 filing is left to you, there are no time tracking or HR modules comparable to OnPay or Gusto, and benefits administration is not part of the product. For a micro business that wants payroll and bookkeeping in one login, it is good value.

   • ✓Low price for teams of a few people
   • ✓Payroll and books in one place
   • ✓30-day free trial after the first payroll

   • ✕Tax service excludes 1099 filings
   • ✕Fewer HR and benefits features than the leaders
   • ✕Per-person fee also applies to each contractor paid

   Base fee:

   $40 per month

   Per person:

   $6 per employee or contractor paid

   Tax filing:

   State and IRS, excluding 1099 filings

   States:

   All 50

   Free trial:

   30 days

   Bottom line: Good value for Wave accounting users with a few employees. Plan to file contractor 1099s yourself.

   Visit waveapps.com ↗

8. 08

   

   Rippling

   7.9/10

   Modular HR, IT and finance platform where payroll is one product among many.

   Price

   $8per employee per month, plus base fee

   From $8 per employee per month plus an undisclosed 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 6, 2026.

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.8

   Features (35%)

   9.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.6

   Best forGrowing companies that want payroll tied to device management, apps and HR in one system.

   Rippling is the most capable platform here, but it is the hardest to price for a small employer comparing base fees. Its pricing page says plans start at $8 per employee per month with a monthly base fee, and that your total depends on the products and services you choose, with a custom quote required. That means the headline figure is not comparable to Square's $35 base or OnPay's $49, because the base fee is never shown. What you get for the effort is depth: payroll runs from the same employee record as HR, benefits, device management and app access, so a new hire's pay, laptop and accounts can all be set up together. Rippling also helps migrate payroll, tax filings and employee data from a previous provider, and it integrates with hundreds of third-party apps. For a five-person shop that just needs taxes filed, this is more system than needed. For a 30-person company with IT and HR needs, it can replace several tools.

   • ✓Broadest feature set on this list
   • ✓Payroll, HR and IT changes flow from one employee record
   • ✓Scales well beyond small teams

   • ✕Base fee is not published, so total cost needs a quote
   • ✕More setup than single-purpose payroll tools
   • ✕Paying for modules you do not need is easy

   Starting price:

   $8 per employee per month

   Base fee:

   Monthly, amount not published

   Quote:

   Custom quote required

   Pricing model:

   Modular, by products and headcount

   Bottom line: Excellent depth for growing teams, poor price transparency for small ones. Get a written quote including the base fee.

   Visit rippling.com ↗

9. 09

   

   RUN Powered by ADP

   7.6/10

   ADP's small business payroll and HR platform sold in four quoted packages.

   Price

   Check price

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending); ADP quotes each of four packages

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   No

   Value (40%)

   6.2

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.9

   Best forSmall businesses that want a large provider with HR support tiers and can wait for a sales quote.

   RUN Powered by ADP is the small business product of the largest US payroll company, and ADP says over 900,000 small businesses use it. It comes in four packages. Essential Payroll covers payroll, taxes and compliance help. Enhanced Payroll adds ZipRecruiter, State Unemployment Insurance and a garnishment payment service. Complete Payroll and HR+ adds basic HR support, and HR Pro adds enhanced HR support and perks. That ladder is useful, but ADP does not publish a price for any of them, so you cannot see the base fee, the per-employee fee or which tax services cost extra without a sales call. ADP advertises up to 6 months of free payroll for new customers, which helps in year one but makes the ongoing price even harder to judge. If you want ADP and published pricing, Roll by ADP is the alternative. For RUN, get quotes from two transparent providers first and use them to negotiate.

   • ✓Four packages from payroll only to HR Pro
   • ✓Large provider used by over 900,000 small businesses
   • ✓Promotions of up to 6 months of free payroll

   • ✕No published prices for any package
   • ✕Comparing tax filing scope needs a sales conversation
   • ✕Features split across tiers, so the base package is narrow

   Packages:

   Essential, Enhanced, Complete, HR Pro

   Pricing:

   Quote only

   Customers:

   Over 900,000 small businesses

   Promotion:

   Up to 6 months free payroll

   Bottom line: Deep features and HR tiers from a major provider, scored down for hidden pricing. Request a quote that itemizes base, per-employee and tax fees.

   Visit adp.com ↗

10. 10

    

    Paychex Flex

    7.4/10

    Paychex's payroll and HR platform for small and mid-sized businesses, priced by quote.

    Price

    Check price

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending); Paychex quotes each package

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan

    No

    Value (40%)

    6.0

    Features (35%)

    8.8

    Ease of use (25%)

    7.5

    Best forEmployers that want a large payroll provider with HR, benefits and insurance options as they grow.

    Paychex Flex is the main platform of Paychex, which says it serves about 840,000 customers across payroll, HR and benefits. For small employers, Flex handles payroll and tax filings, calculates pay automatically and flags issues before payroll is due. Paychex helps set up the account and run the first payroll, and Paychex Promise gives up to 7 days of flexibility when cash for payday is short, a feature none of the transparent providers here offer. Flex connects to dozens of other business applications, and the same vendor sells 401(k), health insurance, workers' compensation and PEO services when you need them. The drawback for this list is cost visibility. Paychex shows no prices and asks you to request pricing, so you cannot compare base and per-employee fees against Square, OnPay or Gusto without a sales call. Paychex also owns SurePayroll, which publishes its prices and suits very small teams better.

    • ✓Large provider serving about 840,000 customers
    • ✓Payroll grows into HR, benefits and insurance from one vendor
    • ✓Help running your first payroll

    • ✕No published prices
    • ✕Package details need a sales conversation
    • ✕More than a very small team usually needs

    Pricing:

    Quote only

    Customers:

    About 840,000

    Tax filing:

    Automatic filings included

    Cash flow feature:

    Paychex Promise, up to 7 days

    Bottom line: Capable payroll with a long runway into HR and benefits, scored down for quote-only pricing. Very small teams should look at SurePayroll first.

    Visit paychex.com ↗

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