Cheapest Payroll Software For Businesses

Gusto offers three pricing plans for businesses that need to pay employees (or employees and contractors).

There’s also an affordable Contractor-Only plan if you need to just pay contractors. The Solo plan is also available for solopreneurs who need to pay themselves while remaining compliant.

Additional services such as benefits administration, international contractor payments, and spending accounts come with an additional fee.

Gusto has a wealth of features for small to mid-sized businesses looking for payroll and HR combined into a single solution. Gusto offers the following payroll features and add-ons:

• Gusto’s Simple plan doesn’t include built-in time tracking. Businesses that need Gusto’s time tracking tools will need to choose a higher-tier plan or use a time tracking integration.
• Gusto’s Simple plan also doesn’t include next-day direct deposit. If faster direct deposit timing matters, you may need to upgrade to a higher-tier plan.
• Gusto isn’t the cheapest payroll software on this list. Businesses that only need basic payroll may find cheaper options, such as Patriot Payroll, Square Payroll, Payroll4Free, or SurePayroll.

Users may also choose to add time tracking and HR software for an additional cost.

Patriot Payroll’s solid range of features aims to streamline payroll for small and growing businesses. Here’s a breakdown of Patriot Payroll’s features for small businesses:

• Patriot Payroll’s Basic plan does not include payroll tax filing. Businesses that want Patriot to handle federal, state, and local payroll tax filings and deposits will need the Full Service Payroll plan.
• Multistate tax filing costs extra. Patriot supports tax filing in all 50 states, but charges an additional fee for each extra state.
• Patriot’s benefits administration is limited. Patriot supports certain benefits-related integrations and deductions, but it is not as robust as payroll providers with built-in health, dental, and vision benefits administration.

Paychex does not publish prices for its Flex Select and Pro plans.

Pricing for add-on services is also unpublished, so if you’re looking to add services, such as time tracking or integrations, you’ll need to get in touch with Paychex to customize your payroll package.

Paychex offers a generous feature set, even on its most basic plan. No matter which plan you choose, you’ll get everything you need to handle the payroll basics. Here’s a look at Paychex’s features:

• Paychex’s pricing is not fully transparent. Some Paychex pricing may be available for entry-level packages, but many plans and add-ons require a custom quote. Make sure to ask about base fees, per-employee fees, payroll-run fees, setup fees, and add-on costs before signing up.
• Paychex add-ons can increase your total cost. Time tracking, HR tools, benefits, insurance, retirement services, and other add-ons may make Paychex more expensive than simpler payroll software.
• Paychex may be more than very small businesses need. If your business only needs basic payroll at the lowest possible price, a simpler provider such as Patriot Payroll, Square Payroll, or Payroll4Free may be a better fit.

Square offers competitive pricing, especially on its contractors plan, which charges no base monthly fee.

Add-ons can increase your total costs.

Square Payroll is both affordable and fully functional. Though Square Payroll doesn’t have many bells and whistles, the software includes all the essential payroll features a small business could need, including:

• Square Payroll works best inside the Square ecosystem. If your business already uses Square, Square Payroll can be very convenient. If you rely on a larger HR, accounting, or workforce management software stack, Square’s outside integration options may feel more limited.
• Square Payroll has limited advanced HR features. It covers core payroll well, but businesses that need deep HR tools, advanced compliance support, or highly customizable payroll workflows may need a more robust provider.
• Square Payroll does not support every worker type. Square says its payroll product does not support household employees or agricultural employees, so businesses in those categories will need another payroll option.

OnPay utilizes a single payment plan tier. The only additional fees from OnPay are those incurred for insufficient balances and tax form printing and mailing services.

OnPay offers a ton of payroll and HR features for small businesses at an affordable price. Here’s a breakdown of OnPay’s payroll and HR features:

• OnPay doesn’t include built-in time tracking. Businesses that need time and attendance tools will need to use an integration with a third-party provider.
• OnPay’s accounting integrations are limited. OnPay integrates with popular accounting tools such as QuickBooks and Xero, but businesses using other accounting platforms should confirm compatibility before signing up.
• OnPay’s mobile tools are more limited than the desktop version. OnPay’s mobile app is primarily employee-facing, letting employees view pay stubs, update bank details, request time off, and manage personal information. Employers who want a full mobile payroll experience may find the desktop version more useful.

ADP’s pricing is quote-based, so businesses need to contact ADP for a custom quote. Pricing can vary based on company size, selected package, payroll needs, payroll frequency, add-ons, integrations, benefits, and contract terms.

Before signing up, ask ADP for a detailed quote that explains base fees, per-employee fees, payroll-run fees, year-end form fees, setup fees, discounts, contract terms, and add-on costs.

ADP offers a great number of features and add-ons to create a truly customized payroll plan for businesses of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of what’s offered:

• ADP’s pricing is quote-based. You’ll need to request a personalized quote, and your total cost may vary based on payroll needs, employee count, payroll frequency, add-ons, integrations, and contract terms.
• ADP does not offer a free trial. ADP offers self-guided demos for some products, but businesses that want hands-on software testing before committing may find the buying process less convenient than providers with free trials.
• ADP may be overkill for smaller businesses. If you only need simple payroll at the lowest possible price, a simpler provider such as Patriot Payroll, Square Payroll, Payroll4Free, or Roll by ADP may be a better fit.

Fees will apply if you pay 10 or more employees monthly or sign up for add-ons like payroll tax filing.

Although the Payroll4Free software doesn’t have many bells and whistles, it boasts essential payroll features that should be sufficient for businesses with basic payroll needs, including:

• Payroll4Free’s free service is limited. Payroll4Free’s free basic service is available for businesses paying 9 or fewer employees monthly. If your business grows beyond that limit, additional fees may apply.
• Payroll tax filing costs extra. Payroll4Free can calculate payroll taxes and generate completed tax forms, but payroll tax filing and deposits are paid services.
• Direct deposit may cost extra depending on setup. Businesses can use direct deposit from their own bank, but Payroll4Free’s direct deposit bank service costs extra.
• Payroll4Free is Windows-based and ad-supported. Mac users may need a Windows environment to run the software, and free users will see ads inside the platform.

SurePayroll’s Self-Service plan is best for businesses that want to manage their payroll tax filing and remittance in-house or with an accountant, while the Full-Service plan is best for businesses that want their payroll tax filing and remittance handled for them.

SurePayroll doesn’t have the most advanced features on this list, but it more than covers the basics. Here’s some of what to expect:

• SurePayroll’s time tracking costs extra. Businesses that need integrated time tracking may need to pay for StratusTime or another time clock integration.
• Some integrations cost extra. SurePayroll charges extra for certain integrations, such as accounting software integration, local tax filing, multistate tax filing, and time clock integrations.
• SurePayroll is simpler than some competitors. That simplicity is useful for beginners, but businesses that need advanced HR tools, deep reporting, or a large integration marketplace may outgrow it.