14 Best Payroll Software Services in 2026

Gusto merges basic payroll and HR services in an easy-to-use platform based in the cloud. You should use Gusto if you are a small business owner looking to move away from manual payroll processing to cloud-based, user-friendly payroll with basic HR analytics.

Who uses Gusto?

Gusto is primarily designed for small to medium-sized businesses and is heavily used by software companies, accounting agencies, and financial service providers.

What do you get?

With all of Gusto's plans, you'll get full-service payroll including direct deposit and tax deductions, employee profiles and self-service, health insurance administration, employee benefits, and a full range of software integrations. Beyond payroll, Gusto also offers basic time tracking, hiring and onboarding, HR tools, and even Gusto Wallet for employees to directly access and spend their money.

How much does Gusto cost?

Gusto's Simple plan starts at $49 per month plus $6 per user, while the Plus plan costs $80 per month plus $12 per user. Premium plans start at a higher tier and are typically priced on a custom quote basis depending on business needs.

One of the oldest payroll software providers on the market, ADP is ideal for those looking for an extremely reliable solution that combines the basics like tax filing, benefits, and direct deposit with other functions like time tracking, talent management, and scheduling. However, it tends to be a costly option, charging additional fees for many features and its time clocks. ADP is also best suited for paying salaried staff or hourly employees with extremely straightforward schedules.

Who uses ADP?

ADP has products available for businesses of any size. There's ADP RUN for businesses with under 50 staff, ADP Workforce Now for mid-sized companies, and ADP Vantage for enterprise companies. Workforce Now is the most popular, particularly in the retail and IT industries.

What do you get?

Businesses usually choose ADP to streamline HR and payroll into a single system. It offers detailed HRIS analytics that are directly linked to payroll for more accurate BI reporting. You'll get all your basic payroll and year-end tax filing functions with ADP Workforce Now. You'll need to pay extra to get enhanced HR features like compliance reporting, onboarding, talent acquisition, and performance management, or add-ons like timekeeping.

How much does ADP cost?

ADP has quote-based pricing, so you must contact their sales team to determine the cost.

Paycom is a full-service HCM solution that specializes in detailed payroll processing, reporting, and user-self service. The only thing that makes Paycom stand out from other providers is that it allows employees to approve and submit their own payroll via an app. This, of course, is an optional feature. But, for companies looking for extreme self-service features, Paycom could be the right choice.

Who uses Paycom?

Paycom offers a full range of payroll analytics and features that are mostly unnecessary for small businesses. Mid-sized businesses in FinTech, healthcare, and IT tend to choose Paycom for its ability to pair comprehensive and speedy payroll processing with essential human resources functions.

What do you get?

At its core, Paycom specializes in providing comprehensive payroll and HR services. Additionally, they offer talent management, time and attendance, and scheduling to round out an all-in-one mid-market solution.

How much does Paycom cost?

Paycom uses quote-based pricing, so you'll need to speak with their team to get exact pricing.

UKG, or Ultimate Kronos Group, is the merger of the workforce management company Kronos and the HRIS software Ultimate. You should use UKG if you are a large healthcare organization with complex payroll and tax filing requirements and want to offload some of that work to staff via mobile self-service. However, know that UKG does not handle complicated scheduling and time-tracking requirements well, specializing more in paying and managing benefits for salaried staff. Because of this, it might be better for smaller, shift-based businesses to look into a different payroll system.

Who uses UKG?

UKG is primarily used by mid-sized to enterprise organizations, especially in industries like healthcare and financial services. It's popular with HRIS and payroll teams that need robust reporting and workforce management capabilities, but its cost and complexity make it better suited to companies with dedicated payroll departments.

What do you get?

UKG offers two primary suites: UKG Pro and UKG Ready. Pro is built for mid-market to enterprise organizations with complex payroll and workforce management needs, while Ready targets small to mid-sized businesses that need a more straightforward system. Both include payroll, tax filing, benefits administration, reporting, time tracking, and scheduling, with Pro offering more advanced analytics and customization.

How much does UKG cost?

UKG does not provide upfront pricing information on its site and is entirely quote-based. For more information about their features or to look into pricing, reach out to their sales department.

Workday is a cloud-native software vendor offering financial management, human capital management, student information systems, and payroll. It's best suited for organizations looking for a comprehensive HCM platform with payroll built in, rather than a payroll-first solution.

Who uses Workday?

Workday is most commonly used by enterprise organizations for HR, talent management, and financial management. While it does offer payroll, it's typically implemented as part of a broader HCM strategy rather than as a payroll-first solution. Organizations with more complex payroll or workforce needs may supplement it with specialized tools.

What do you get?

Workday Payroll is part of its broader HCM platform, combining payroll, time tracking, and reporting in a single system. While it handles core payroll well, organizations with more complex workforce management needs may need additional tools.

How much does Workday cost?

Workday uses custom, quote-based pricing depending on company size and modules selected. It's typically positioned at the higher end of the market and is billed annually.

Paychex provides integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, employee benefits, and business insurance. Small businesses in need of attentive support, basic online payroll processing, and intuitive benefits administration should use this platform.

Who uses Paychex?

Paychex is primarily used by small to mid-sized businesses in the US, particularly those that need payroll with built-in HR and compliance support. It's especially popular in industries like construction and real estate.

What do you get?

Paychex combines payroll with HR tools, benefits administration, and employee self-service in a single platform. Core payroll includes tax filing, while additional HR and compliance features expand in higher-tier plans. Time tracking is available as an add-on.

Plans typically range from Select to Enterprise, with higher tiers adding more advanced HR, benefits, and compliance features.

How much does Paychex cost?

Paychex uses quote-based pricing, so you'll need to contact their team to get exact costs based on your business size and needs.

Ceridian Dayforce is a cloud-based HCM platform that brings together payroll, tax management, HR, and talent management in one system. While it markets itself as all-in-one, its real strength is its continuous payroll calculation engine, along with solid talent and performance management features.

Who uses Dayforce?

Dayforce is best suited to mid-market and enterprise organizations, particularly in retail and financial services. It's designed for complex operations, which also means it can be overkill for smaller businesses with simpler needs.

What else do you get?

Beyond payroll and tax filing, Dayforce offers a full HCM suite that includes workforce management, HR analytics, benefits administration, leave management, and talent management.

How much does Dayforce cost?

Like many of its alternatives, Dayforce pricing is quote-based, so you'll need to contact sales directly.

Unlike the rest of the competitors listed, Bookkeeper.com is not a software vendor. Instead, it specializes in outsourcing all your payroll needs to teams of real-life payroll specialists. You simply provide them with all your employee data and they handle the rest. Bookkeeper.com's payroll services cover things such as tax liabilities and forms, custom payroll reports, direct deposit, tax deposit, W-2s, and 1099s.

Who uses Bookkeeper.com?

Due to its limited visibility and minimal configuration, Bookkeeper.com is strictly meant for small businesses with extremely basic payroll needs. This hands-off approach for paying employees works best for businesses that wish to avoid the manual process of running payroll and need little to no insight into payroll and HR analytics.

What do you get?

In addition to payroll, Bookkeeper.com also offers tax filing, financial planning, accounting, and bill-paying services.

How much does Bookkeeper.com cost?

Bookkeeper.com's bookkeeping plans start at $499 per month, while payroll starts at around $135 per month and tax services begin at $600.

Square Payroll is built directly into Square's POS ecosystem, making it a natural fit for businesses already using Square. It offers full-service payroll across your Square devices, with seamless POS and time tracking integration. As long as you don't need advanced HR analytics—or already have a separate system for it—it's a simple and efficient option.

Who uses Square Payroll?

Square Payroll is most commonly used by small businesses in food and beverage, hospitality, and retail. It keeps payroll simple and fast, but offers limited support for HR, onboarding, and talent management.

What do you get?

Square Payroll integrates directly with Square POS and includes payroll processing, tax filing, time tracking, and instant payments. Its tight integration with the Square ecosystem makes it especially convenient for businesses already using Square tools.

How much does Square Payroll cost?

Square Payroll has a flat rate of $35/month plus a $6/month per person paid. Contractor pricing also exists at $6/month per person paid.

Rippling is a modern take on the "one-stop-shop" platform, combining payroll with HR, time tracking, and IT management in a single system. While it covers a wide range of use cases, it's especially well-suited for fast-growing companies with distributed teams that want a user-friendly solution.

Who uses Rippling Payroll?

Rippling is designed with tech start-ups and mid-market IT companies in mind. It is also used heavily in the financial services and advertising industries.

What else do you get?

Beyond payroll, Rippling offers a broad suite of tools across HR and IT. Its IT cloud includes app and device management, while its HR cloud covers benefits administration, time tracking, learning management, and talent management.

How much does Rippling Payroll cost?

Rippling uses quote-based pricing, meaning you'll need to go through sales to understand what you'll actually pay depending on the features you choose.

OnPay is a full-service online payroll, tax, and HR software built around simple and transparent pricing. If you are a small business looking to fulfill basic payroll and HR functions in a single system, you should consider using OnPay.

Who uses OnPay?

OnPay is most commonly used by small businesses, including those in construction, legal, and real estate. It's not the flashiest platform, but it's reliable, cost-effective, and gets the job done.

What do you get?

Beyond payroll, OnPay includes HR tools, leave management, and benefits administration in its base pricing. Its benefits offering is particularly strong for small businesses, with broad coverage and support.

How much does OnPay cost?

OnPay Payroll has a base fee of $45/month, plus an additional $6/month per user. They also offer an HR add-on for $15 base and $2/month per user.

If you're already using QuickBooks for accounting or time tracking, QuickBooks Payroll is an easy add-on, especially for job-costing businesses. It integrates tightly with the rest of the QuickBooks ecosystem and handles payroll and tax filing across all 50 states.

However, it's built with smaller, project-based businesses in mind. As companies grow, the platform can feel more rigid.

Reporting can be a pain point. Customization is limited, and reports can be difficult to build and interpret, especially for users who aren't already familiar with the QuickBooks ecosystem.

Who uses QuickBooks Payroll?

QuickBooks Payroll is popular with small, project-based SMEs in construction, trade, engineering, finance, and IT.

What do you get?

Beyond payroll, the platform also offers time tracking, HR support, workers' compensation, and retirement plans.

How much does QuickBooks Payroll cost?

QuickBooks has three distinct pricing tiers. Starting with Core at $50/month plus $6.50/employee per month, you'll get full-service payroll and next-day direct deposit. Premium costs $88/month plus $10/employee per month and gets you same-day direct deposit and time tracking. Finally, Elite is $134/month plus $12/employee per month and gets you time and project tracker, tax penalty protection, and a personal HR advisor.

Patriot Payroll is a simple, affordable payroll solution designed for small businesses. It offers both Basic Payroll, a more hands-on option, and Full-Service Payroll, which automates federal, state, and local tax filings.

While it stands out for its affordability and ease of use, it can feel limited for businesses that need robust integrations, built-in HR tools, or full mobile payroll capabilities.

Who uses Patriot Payroll?

Patriot Payroll is used by small business owners, sole proprietors, payroll administrators, and accounting professionals, as well as nonprofits. It's best suited for smaller organizations, typically under 100 employees, that need straightforward, no-frills payroll.

What do you get?

Patriot offers two plans: Basic and Full Service Payroll. Both include employee and contractor payments, unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, tax calculations, and reporting. Automatic tax filing, deposits, and year-end forms are only available with the Full Service plan.

How much does Patriot Payroll Software cost?

The Basic plan costs $17 per month plus $4 per worker and the Full Service plan costs $37 per month plus $5 per worker. Time and attendance and HR software features are add-ons and cost extra.