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The 8 Best Payroll Software For Accountants

These payroll software programs for accountants are loaded with features and benefits to help you manage your accounting firm and provide excellent service to your clients.

    Davina Ward
  • Last updated onUpdated

  • Erica Seppala
  • REVIEWED BY

    Erica Seppala

    Editor & Senior Staff Writer

Our content reflects the editorial opinions of our experts. While our site makes money through referral partnerships, we only partner with companies that meet our standards for quality, as outlined in our independent rating and scoring system.

The best payroll software for accountants is easy to use and includes accounting software integrations, full-service payroll, discounts, and strong reporting tools. Additional perks you might want to look for include free or low-cost pricing plans, revenue sharing, free CPE credits, and marketing tools.

We reviewed ten of the top payroll software solutions to determine which payroll software offered the best mix of value and features. This post will look at the top payroll processing software for accountants, so keep reading to find your payroll solution.

Learn More About Our Top Picks

CompanyBest ForNext StepsBest For
Gusto

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  • Overall best payroll software for accountants
  • $40-$80/month + $6-$12/month per employee
  • Includes HR & benefits administration
  • Overall best payroll software for accountants
  • $40-$80/month + $6-$12/month per employee
  • Includes HR & benefits administration

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Paychex

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  • Best payroll software for growing accounting firms
  • Custom pricing
  • Includes HR, benefits, & insurance
  • Best payroll software for growing accounting firms
  • Custom pricing
  • Includes HR, benefits, & insurance

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ADP Payroll

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  • Best free payroll software for accountants
  • Custom pricing
  • Advanced features and reporting
  • Best free payroll software for accountants
  • Custom pricing
  • Advanced features and reporting

Get A Quote

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Intuit Online Payroll

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  • Most popular payroll software for accountants
  • $35-$91/month + $5.10-$9.35/month per employee
  • Free QuickBooks Online & QuickBooks Time subscriptions
  • Most popular payroll software for accountants
  • $35-$91/month + $5.10-$9.35/month per employee
  • Free QuickBooks Online & QuickBooks Time subscriptions

Visit Site

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Rippling

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  • Best payroll software for large accounting firms
  • Starts at $8/month per employee
  • A full PEO that includes HR & IT support
  • Best payroll software for large accounting firms
  • Starts at $8/month per employee
  • A full PEO that includes HR & IT support

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Patriot Payroll

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  • Best for accounting & payroll software combined
  • $26.60-$35.15/month + $3.20-$3.80/month per employee
  • Free option available for 6+ clients
  • Best for accounting & payroll software combined
  • $26.60-$35.15/month + $3.20-$3.80/month per employee
  • Free option available for 6+ clients

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SurePayroll

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  • Best payroll software for small accounting firms
  • $19.99-$29.99/month + $4-$5/month per employee
  • Free option available for 10+ clients
  • Best payroll software for small accounting firms
  • $19.99-$29.99/month + $4-$5/month per employee
  • Free option available for 10+ clients

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OnPay

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  • Easiest payroll software for accountants
  • $40/month + $6/month per person
  • Intuitive UI with popular accounting integrations
  • Easiest payroll software for accountants
  • $40/month + $6/month per person
  • Intuitive UI with popular accounting integrations

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Read more below to learn why we chose these options.

The 8 Best Payroll Software For Accountants

The best payroll software for accountants offers discounts for accountants and their clients, full-service payroll, reporting, strong integrations, and more. The top payroll software for accountants include:

Top Payroll Software For Accountants Comparison

Client PricingFree For AccountantsClient DiscountRevenue Sharing
Gusto$40-$80/month + $6-$12/month per employeeMust onboard 1 new client/year
PaychexCustom
ADP PayrollCustom
Intuit Online Payroll$35-$91/month + $5.10-$9.35/month per employee
RipplingStarts at $8/month per employee
Patriot Payroll$26.60-$35.15/month + $3.20-$3.80/month per employee6+ clients
SurePayroll$19.99-$29.99/month + $4-$5/month per employee10+ clients
OnPay$40/month + $6/month per person3+ clients

Gusto: Overall best payroll software for accountants

Total Rating 4.4
Pricing3.7

Ease Of Use4.9

Features4.6

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews3.9

Payroll Processing Time

Next day-4 days

Pricing Range

$40/month + $6/person - $180/month + $22/month per person

Business Size

Small-medium sized businesses with up to 650+ users

Pros

  • Free payroll subscription
  • Client discounts
  • Intuitive UI
  • Comprehensive payroll and HR solution

Cons

  • Limited reporting
  • Client pricing could be cheaper
  • Benefits administration not available in all 50 states

Why We Chose Gusto Pro For Accountants

Full-service payroll, benefits administration, HR support, numerous software integrations, and solid customer support make Gusto Pro a top choice among accountants who are looking for a free payroll software option.

Gusto earned an overall 4.4/5 star rating, largely due to the software's excellent all-around performance as a small business payroll service. For accountants, revenue sharing, client discounts, and ease of use are just a handful of extras that add to the value of this payroll software.

Gusto Pricing

Gusto Plans Price  When To Use
Simple $40/month + $6/person If your small business needs reliable, basic payroll software
Plus $80/month + $12/person If your business needs tools to handle complex payroll and team management needs
Premium $180/month + $22/month per person If your medium to large-sized business needs advanced HR and compliance tools
Contractor Only $35/month + $6/person per month If your growing business needs basic payroll and only pays contractors

Gusto Pro is free for accountants, provided you onboard at least one new client every 12 months. For your clients, Gusto pricing plans range from $40-$80/month + $6-$12/month per employee. With your Gusto Pro plan, you can potentially receive discounts of up to 20% off to pass down to your clients.

Gusto Pro Features

As a Gusto Partner, you’ll get a generous set of features within Gusto Pro. Most notably, you’ll receive:

  • Free Gusto Complete payroll by onboarding a new client every 12 months
  • Free trials for clients
  • Dedicated account rep
  • Discounts to pass to clients or keep as revenue share
  • Full-service payroll
  • Benefits management
  • Compliance and HR support
  • Opportunities to earn CPE credits from live webinars
  • Integrations with software and apps, including QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Expensify

gusto pro dashboard

Gusto Pro Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • Gusto’s benefits administration isn’t available in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
  • Gusto does not have a mobile app but can be used on mobile web browsers.
  • At higher plan tiers, Gusto may be too expensive for many small business clients.

When To Use Gusto Pro

  • Your clients are smaller businesses
  • You’re looking for payroll software with revenue sharing or client discount options
  • You prefer software with a modern UI
  • You need payroll software that supports multiple accounting software integrations

Get Started With Gusto

Read our in-depth review

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Paychex: Best for growing accounting firms

Total Rating 4.1
Pricing2.2

Ease Of Use4.4

Features4.6

Customer Service3.8

User Reviews3.9

Payroll Processing Time

2 days (can pay for faster processing times)

Pricing Range

$39/month + $5/employee or custom pricing

Business Size

Self-employed contractors to enterprises with 1,000+ employees

Pros

  • Scalable
  • Easy to use
  • Strong reporting
  • Robust feature set

Cons

  • Non-transparent pricing
  • Customer complaints
  • No automated payroll processing

Why We Chose Paychex For Accountants

Paychex is a cloud-based payroll and HR solution with an impressive 4.1/5 star overall rating. As an accountant, you can sign up for Paychex's partner program, which allows you to access and manage client data easily through a single dashboard, even clients with more complex payroll and HR needs.

With payroll, strong reporting, and solid customer service, Paychex is a robust and scalable option for growing businesses and accounting firms.

Paychex Pricing

Unfortunately, Paychex isn’t very forthcoming on its website with the pricing of its products. You will need to contact the company directly to receive a quote for services.

Paychex Features

This cloud-based software offers a number of features for its users, including a nice set of perks for accountants.

Here’s what to expect from Paychex:

  • Accountant-specific dashboard in Paychex Flex to manage your client data
  • Financial calculators
  • Federal and state tax forms
  • Free CPE credits through online courses and webinars
  • Integration with Paychex General Ledger
  • Year-end accounting tools and resources
  • Numerous integrations with business apps and software, including QuickBooks and Xero
  • 100+ reports
  • Offer clients professional HR support through Paychex’s Accountant HR Support
  • ERC services
  • Full service payroll, time tracking, and benefits solutions
  • Discounted retirement plan options
  • One month of free payroll, HR, and retirement services for your clients

paychex flex dashboard screen

Paychex Flex Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • Paychex pricing may be prohibitive for smaller businesses looking for a simple pricing structure with few fees.
  • Compared to other payroll providers on this list, Paychex offers fewer accountant-specific benefits.
  • Paychex earned a significant number of negative reviews citing issues with its tax services and payroll inaccuracies.

When To Use Paychex

  • Your accounting firm is growing
  • Your accounting firm manages many clients of different sizes
  • Your clients have complex payroll needs
  • You’re in need of payroll software with a well-rated mobile app

Get Started With Paychex

Read our in-depth review

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ADP Payroll: Best free payroll software for accountants

Total Rating 4.0
Pricing1.1

Ease Of Use4.8

Features4.6

Customer Service3.7

User Reviews3.3

Payroll Processing Time

2-5 days

Pricing Range

Custom pricing

Business Size

Small to enterprise-sized businesses with 1,000+ employees

Pros

  • Free accountant portal
  • Cloud-based
  • Single sign-on access for ADP clients
  • Comprehensive feature set for complex payroll needs

Cons

  • Non-transparent pricing for clients
  • Additional fees
  • Doesn’t offer free payroll processing for firms

Why We Chose ADP Accountant Connect For Accountants

ADP Accountant Connect is completely free for accountants and enables accountants to easily access payroll data, tax forms, and other important information for their clients who use Run by ADP, ADP Workforce Now, and ADP TotalSource.

ADP Accountant Connect is a great tool for accountants who work with one or more small- to mid-sized businesses already using ADP Payroll. As ADP earned an overall 4/5 star rating as a payroll service for small businesses, it shouldn't be too hard to convince clients to switch.

ADP Pricing

ADP Payroll Plans Price  When To Use
RUN Powered By ADP Essential Custom If you need basic payroll for up to 49 users
RUN Powered By ADP Enhanced Custom If you need basic payroll and advanced hiring and onboarding tools for up to 49 users
RUN Powered By ADP Complete Custom If you need basic payroll and HR support for up to 49 users
RUN Powered By ADP HR Pro Custom If you need advanced payroll and HR support for up to 49 users
ADP Workforce Now Payroll Essentials Custom If you need basic payroll for 50+ users
ADP Workforce Now Plus Custom If you need payroll and enhanced HR tools for 50+ users
ADP Workforce Now Hiring Advantage Custom If you need advanced recruitment and hiring support for 50+ users
ADP Workforce Now Performance Plus Custom If you need performance analytics and improvement tools for 50+ users

ADP Accountant Connect is absolutely free. However, your clients will need to subscribe to one of ADP’s payroll plans. Unfortunately, ADP is not transparent when it comes to payroll pricing, so your clients will have to connect with an account rep for more information.

However, you can easily refer clients to ADP through your Accountant Connect dashboard. Simply enter client information, and an account rep will reach out to help them get started.

ADP Accountant Connect Features

ADP Accountant Connect makes it easy to manage payroll for multiple clients. Standout features include:

  • Single sign-on access for all authorized accounts
  • Multi-client payroll reports
  • Easy onboarding
  • Client Insights feature provides transparency, tips, and emerging trends
  • Compensation Benchmarking
  • Access to Wolters Kluwer IntelliForms for current tax forms and instructions
  • Numerous accounting software and business app integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, and Slack
  • Hundreds of client letter templates
  • Payroll, tax, and retirement calculators
  • Accounting Marketing Toolkit

adp accountant connect dashboard screen

ADP Accountant Connect Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • ADP charges on a per-payroll run basis, which can raise costs for your clients.
  • The full breadth of ADP’s features may be too complex for smaller clients.
  • ADP’s customer reviews tend to be lukewarm, with complaints citing poor customer service and trouble with 401(k) accounts and services.

When To Use ADP Accountant Connect

  • Your clients have complex payroll needs
  • You manage payroll for large employers or have a large firm
  • You need excellent reporting features and customization options
  • You need software with an extensive integration list and an API

Get Started With ADP Payroll

Read our in-depth review

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Intuit Online Payroll

Total Rating 4.2
Pricing2.6

Ease Of Use4.1

Features4.4

Customer Service4.6

User Reviews4.4

Payroll Processing Time

Same-day-5 days

Pricing Range

$50/month + $6/per person - $130/month + $11/per person

Business Size

Small to medium-sized businesses with up to 150 employees

Current Deal: Get 50% off for three months when you sign up now. Save 50% Today

Pros

  • Integrates with QuickBooks Online
  • Client discounts
  • Free QBO Elite Payroll subscription for accountants
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Poor customer support
  • Payroll processing is capped at 150 employees
  • Tends to have many extra fees

Why We Chose QuickBooks Online Accountant For Accountants

Intuit Online Payroll (also known as QuickBooks Online Payroll) is cloud-based software that seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online. For accountants, signing up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and QuickBooks ProAdvisor offers a number of perks — from free software subscriptions to client discounts and more.

If you're already a QuickBooks Online user, it makes sense to sign up for QuickBooks Online Payroll. QuickBooks Online earned a solid 4.2/5 star overall rating bolstered by its robust feature set, ease of use, and full-service payroll processing. Add in free benefits for accountants, and it's easy to see why this software is a top pick.

QuickBooks Online Accountant Pricing

It is free to sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and the ProAdvisors Program. You can also pass down your ProAdvisor pricing to your clients, helping them save 30% off QuickBooks Online Payroll. Plans range from $35-$91/month + $5.10-$9.35/month per contractor or employee.

QuickBooks Online Accountant Features

QBO users already know the benefits of using this robust accounting software. But there are even more benefits to signing up for QuickBooks Online Accountant and the ProAdvisor Program, including:

  • Free QuickBooks Online Elite Payroll software for accountants
  • Free QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Time Pro for your firm
  • Billing options for your firm or directly to your clients
  • 30% off discounts for QuickBooks Online accounting software
  • 30% off discounts for QuickBooks Online Payroll
  • ProConnect Tax Online for syncing QBO data to tax returns
  • Marketing resources
  • Free training and opportunities to earn CPE credits

quickbooks accountant dashboard screen

QuickBooks For Accountants Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • QuickBooks Online doesn’t offer free payroll services for accountants, while some competitors, such as Gusto, do offer them at no cost.
  • QuickBooks Online Payroll only supports businesses with fewer than 150 contractors or employees.
  • While QuickBooks Online Payroll includes a mobile app, it is not well-received, with users citing bugs and glitches.

When To Use QuickBooks Online Accountant

  • Your business already uses a QuickBooks Online product
  • You’re looking for an integrated payroll and accounting solution for your firm
  • You want free accounting software for your firm
  • You want to offer your clients discounts on QuickBooks software

Get Started With Intuit Online Payroll

Read our in-depth review

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Rippling: Best for large accounting firms

Total Rating 4.3
Pricing2.4

Ease Of Use4.6

Features4.7

Customer Service4.2

User Reviews4.7

Payroll Processing Time

2 days

Pricing Range

$8/month per employee+

Business Size

Small-businesses to enterprises with 2-2,000+ users

Pros

  • Suitable for large accounting firms
  • HR and IT management features
  • Numerous integrations
  • Excellent customer support

Cons

  • Non-transparent pricing
  • It may be unsuitable for smaller firms
  • Payroll requires Rippling Unity subscription

Why We Chose Rippling For Accountants

Rippling is a professional employer organization (PEO) solution that provides payroll, HR, and IT management services. Rippling For Accountants boasts numerous integrations for additional automation and excellent support to help you get the most out of the software.

Rippling is best suited for larger firms that serve clients with complex payroll, HR, and IT needs. As it scored a high 4.3/5 overall star rating and ranks among the best PEO companies for businesses, Rippling could offer accountants the unique opportunity to outsource payroll completely.

Rippling For Accountants Pricing

Rippling Plans Price  When To Use
Rippling Unity Custom pricing starts at $8/month per user This core plan is required to add on Rippling’s payroll, HR, and IT solutions

Rippling does not disclose its pricing online, only stating that plans start at $8/month per user. You must contact Rippling to receive your custom quote.

Rippling For Accountants Features

Rippling is designed to help you automate your payroll processes and improve accuracy, whether you have a single client or thousands. Here’s what to expect when you subscribe to this software:

  • Free Rippling payroll and HR for your firm
  • All-in-one payroll, HR, benefits, time, and attendance system
  • Pay rate auto-calculations
  • Integrates with accounting software, including QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct
  • Integrates with time-tracking tools, including QuickBooks Time
  • Dedicated support line for accounting firms
  • White-glove client payroll migrations
  • 20% payroll and HR discount for clients
  • Tax support and compliance
  • Job costing
  • 90-second employee onboarding

rippling payroll dashboard screen

Rippling Payroll Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • Rippling isn’t suited for smaller clients, as its pricing and overly complex feature set may be prohibitive for small business owners.
  • Rippling requires businesses to purchase its base plan to access its the Rippling payroll add-on.
  • Rippling doesn’t offer a free trial.

When To Use Rippling For Accountants

  • Your firm manages payroll for large employers
  • Your firm requires strong IT management features
  • Your clients include employers with international employees
  • You want to automate most payroll processes

Get Started With Rippling

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Patriot Payroll: Best combined accounting and payroll software for accountants

Patriot Payroll

Total Rating 3.9
Pricing4.0

Ease Of Use3.4

Features3.5

Customer Service4.6

User Reviews4.8

Payroll Processing Time

2-4 days

Pricing Range

$17/month +$4/month per person - $37/month + $4/month per person

Business Size

Small to mid-sized businesses with up to 500 employees

Pros

  • Free accounting and payroll subscription
  • Client discounts
  • Excellent customer support
  • 30-day free trial

Cons

  • Limited benefits and HR
  • Limited customization options
  • Doesn’t support new-hire reporting

Why We Chose The Patriot Partner Program For Accountants

Patriot Payroll is cloud-based software that features everything you need in payroll software, along with excellent customer support and tax support. For accountants, Patriot's Partner Program includes free accounting and payroll software and discounted client pricing.

What Patriot lacks (such as benefits, HR management, and a customizable dashboard), it makes up for usability and affordability — helping it earn an overall 3.9/5 star rating. For accountants managing one or more small business clients with basic payroll, Patriot offers just enough features and integrations to fulfill that need.

Patriot Partner Pricing

You can receive your Patriot software at a discounted rate when you sign up for its Partner Program.

Pricing is based on your number of clients and ranges from $29.60-$35.15/month + $3.20-$3.80/month per employee or contractor.

You can also receive Patriot’s accounting and payroll software for free if you have six or more active clients.

Patriot Partner Features

Patriot’s Partner Program is a free program open to accountants, bookkeepers, and CPAs. Here’s what to expect when you sign up:

  • Discounts of 5%-20% on your payroll software
  • Free payroll and accounting software for users with six or more clients
  • Consolidated billing
  • Free two-day direct deposit for qualified clients
  • Free co-branding
  • Summarized Partner Reports to easily view client data
  • A single sign-in to access all client accounts
  • Bonuses for referring new clients
  • Easy data migration for clients

patriot payroll partner program

Patriot Partner Program Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • Patriot Payroll does not handle new-hire reporting.
  • Patriot can get expensive when combining its time tracking, HR, and payroll solutions.
  • Patriot Payroll’s third-party integrations are limited compared to other options.
  • Patriot Payroll is not suited for larger clients with more complex payroll needs.

When To Use Patriot's Partner Program

  • Your firm manages smaller business clients with simple payroll needs
  • You’re looking for free payroll and accounting software for your firm
  • You want to offer clients a cheap payroll solution
  • You value good customer support

Get Started With Patriot Payroll

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

SurePayroll: Best for small accounting firms

Total Rating 3.7
Pricing3.4

Ease Of Use3.5

Features3.8

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews3.7

Payroll Processing Time

2 days

Pricing Range

$20/month + $4/employee - $39/month + $7/employee

Business Size

Small to mid-size businesses

Pros

  • Free payroll subscription
  • Accounting software integrations
  • Good customer support
  • Mobile app

Cons

  • Non-transparent pricing
  • Unsuitable for businesses with advanced payroll needs
  • Lacks built-in time tracking

Why We Chose SurePayroll For Accountants

Accountants can partner with SurePayroll by becoming a SurePayroll Reseller. This cloud-based software boasts an 3.7/5 star overall rating, an easy-to-use dashboard with single sign-on access, and a mobile app to handle payroll on the go.

SurePayroll For Accountants is most suitable for smaller firms with small clients, including individuals that have household employees. White-label options, custom billing, and accounting software integrations should make it easy to provide payroll services to your clients.

SurePayroll Pricing

SurePayroll Plans Price  When To Use
No Tax Filing Plan $20/month + $4/employee If your business needs essential payroll features
Full-Service $39/month + $7/employee If your business needs payroll features with comprehensive tax support

You can get started with SurePayroll For Accountants with a free Reseller Dashboard. Your payroll software is also free if you bring on 10 clients.

If you don’t receive your product for free, you will receive wholesale pricing as a Reseller.

Typical pricing for SurePayroll is $19.99-$29.99/month + $4-$5/month per employee.

SurePayroll Features

SurePayroll For Accountants has a wide selection of features designed to help you manage payroll while boosting your brand and revenue.

Highlights include:

  • Free software for your firm by bringing on 10 clients
  • White-label option available
  • Dedicated Sales and Enrollment specialist and support from a team of payroll experts
  • Revenue Share and Direct Invoice consolidated billing options
  • Free integrations with accounting software, including QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books, Xero, AccountEdge, and Sage 50
  • Marketing tools and other resources for accountants

SurePayroll dashboard screen

SurePayroll Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • Compared to other payroll software solutions, SurePayroll’s features are limited and may struggle to handle the needs of larger businesses or those with complex payroll needs.
  • SurePayroll doesn’t support built-in time tracking, so you and your clients will be limited to tracking time via one of the software’s few integrations.
  • SurePayroll tends to be a little fee-heavy.

When To Use SurePayroll

  • Your firm’s client base is made up of smaller businesses with simple payroll needs
  • You’re looking for payroll software with white-label options
  • You’re looking for free payroll for your firm (10+ clients)
  • You need dedicated customer support

Get Started With SurePayroll

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

OnPay: Best for ease of use

Total Rating 4.2
Pricing3.0

Ease Of Use4.5

Features4.4

Customer Service4.1

User Reviews4.7

Payroll Processing Time

2-4 Days

Pricing Range

$40/month + $6/month per person

Business Size

Small to mid-sized businesses (1-500 employees)

Pros

  • Free payroll subscription
  • Revenue sharing and discounts
  • Marketing resources
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Limited accounting integrations: QuickBooks (Online or Desktop) or Xero
  • Doesn’t support built-in time tracking
  • No free trial
  • No support for automated payroll runs

Why We Chose OnPay For Accountants

OnPay earned an outstanding 4.2/5 star rating as a small business payroll software solution. Accountants enrolled in OnPay's Partner program gain access to marketing resources, accounting software integrations, revenue sharing, client discounts, and free payroll processing for firms with 3+ clients.

OnPay is easy to use, affordably priced, and has a comprehensive feature set. OnPay also provides good customer support and is available to help you get your firm (and your clients) efficiently set up for payroll processing.

OnPay Pricing

OnPay Plans Price  When To Use
OnPay Monthly Plan $40/month + $6/month per person If you need essential payroll and basic HR features for up to 500+ employees

It is free to become an OnPay partner. For your clients, OnPay has a single pricing plan priced at $40/month + $6/month per person. Depending on the number of clients you have, you can receive discounts of up to 20% that can be passed along to your clients.

OnPay Features

The OnPay Partner Program is designed to help you streamline your accounting business, manage your clients, and even boost your revenue.

Standout features available to OnPay partners include:

  • Free payroll software for your accounting business
  • Intuitive dashboard to manage multiple clients in one place
  • Multiple user permissions
  • Integrations with QuickBooks and Xero
  • Discounts of 10%-20% that can be passed to clients or used as revenue sharing
  • Marketing resources
  • OnPay experts available for support, dashboard setup, and client transitions
  • Co-branding available for larger firms

onpay payroll partner dashboard screen

OnPay Payroll Partner Dashboard

What To Watch Out For

  • OnPay doesn’t offer a free trial.
  • Although OnPay offers several integrations with popular accounting and other third-party software solutions, OnPay’s integrations are limited compared to other software solutions, such as Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks.
  • OnPay doesn’t support built-in time tracking, so you and your clients will need to use a third-party solution to track time when using OnPay.

When To Use The OnPay Partner Program

  • Your firm has 3+ clients and wants free payroll processing
  • You want to offer your small business clients an affordable payroll service
  • You want the option of revenue sharing or client discounts
  • Your large firm wants co-branding options

Get Started With OnPay

Read our in-depth review

Jump back to comparison chart

Methodology

Merchant Maverick has been researching and reviewing payroll providers since 2018. Our writers have tested more than 75 different payroll software systems, evaluating pricing, features, ease of use, customer service, and user reviewers. Read more about how we rate payroll providers.

Weighted Rating Breakdown

Features 40%
Ease Of Use 20%
Customer Service 20%
Pricing 10%
User Reviews 10%

When comparing different apps, we consider over seventy data points, including the speed and cost of payroll runs, federal and state tax filing features, HR integrations, employee management tools, time tracking, and more. Our lists of the best providers include only apps we’ve deemed worthwhile from several vantage points. The payroll apps we pick are widely available and relatively easy to train on, with robust features and reasonable pricing. We also look carefully at features such as employee and client portals, user onboarding services, PTO management, benefits administration, multistate compliance, and more.

We spend an average of 10-15 hours researching and updating each one of our lists, making sure the providers included meet our internal standards for quality and reputation.

75+

Vendors evaluated

76

Attributes assessed per vendor

26

Features weighed

20+

Combined years of experience


Do Accountants Process Payroll?

Some accountants do process payroll as part of their services for small business owners. These accountants work hand-in-hand with their clients to ensure that payroll is processed promptly and accurately. Many accountants work with multiple clients, so choosing the right payroll software is important.

Which Payroll Software Is Right For Your Accounting Firm?

The best payroll software for your accounting firm should be robust enough to handle the many needs of your clients. Keep in mind your budget (and your clients’ budgets), as affordability should be a significant consideration when making your final decision.

Look at the quality and quantity of features and integrations, customer support options, and additional benefits that can help you better meet your clients’ needs and grow your business. Modern software with an intuitive UI, mobility, and an easy-to-use dashboard that allows you to access client data quickly are additional things to keep in mind when choosing your payroll software.

If you’re on the fence, don’t forget about testing out the software with free accountant dashboards or free trials.

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Davina Ward

Davina Ward

Expert Contributor
Davina began writing for small businesses in 2018 and has since gained expertise in the SaaS industry. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in English Literature from SUNY Geneseo in 2018. She currently resides in New York.
Davina Ward
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