Level Up Your Business Today
Join the thousands of people like you already growing their businesses and knowledge with our team of experts. We deliver timely updates, interesting insights, and exclusive promos to your inbox.
Join For FreeQuickBooks Online Payroll is a full-service payroll processing software solution from Intuit that works directly with QuickBooks Online.
Total Rating | 4.2 |
---|---|
Pricing2.6 | |
Ease Of Use4.1 | |
Features4.4 | |
Customer Service4.6 | |
User Reviews4.4 |
Payroll Processing Time
Same-day-5 daysPricing Range
$50/month + $6/per person - $130/month + $11/per personBusiness Size
Small to medium-sized businesses with up to 150 employeesCurrent Deal: Get 50% off for three months when you sign up now. Save 50% Today
Table of Contents
QuickBooks Online Payroll is a full-service payroll processing software solution from Intuit that works directly with QuickBooks Online. Small to mid-sized businesses with up to 150 paid employees or contractors can use QuickBooks Online Payroll to automate running payroll, manage HR, handle benefits administration, and manage payroll taxes.
There are two types of QuickBooks payroll products: QuickBooks Desktop Payroll and QuickBooks Online Payroll. While QuickBooks Online Payroll works with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop Payroll only works with QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. Both of QuickBooks’ payroll software options are feature-rich and on the higher end of the price scale.
Small businesses might find all those features dizzying, inflexible, and more expensive than other small business options, such as Gusto or Square Payroll, which keep things simple.
Pricing2.6 |
---|
Software Plans 3.0 |
Pricing Transparency 5.0 |
Pricing Customization 2.1 |
QuickBooks Online Payroll rated 2.6/5 stars in the pricing category due to its higher-than-average cost, lack of a discounted annual plan option, and pricey add-ons. However, the software gets points for pricing transparency and plans that are generously packed with features.
QuickBooks Online Payroll offers three payroll pricing plans, with each plan increasing features and benefits as you move up a tier. QuickBooks Online Payroll has month-to-month contracts and no early termination fees. Payments are monthly, and you can cancel your subscription at any time.
Here’s a quick look at QuickBooks Online Payroll’s pricing plans:
Intuit Online Payroll Plans | Price | When To Use |
---|---|---|
Core | $50/month + $6 per employee | If you need a basic payroll solution that integrates with QuickBooks |
Premium | $85/month + $9 per employee | If you need on-the-go time tracking for 25+ users |
Elite | $130/month + $11 per employee | If you need advanced HR support |
QuickBooks recently added a separate QuickBooks Contractor Payments pricing tier as a part of its payroll services. This plan serves businesses that only pay contractors and that only need basic payment support for contractors.
QuickBooks also runs promotions for its payroll product frequently, so be sure to check for any available discounts before purchasing. QuickBooks Online Payroll offers a 30-day free trial, but if you opt to try before you buy, you’ll miss out on a 50% off “buy now” promotion.
Compared to other top payroll options with transparent pricing such as Gusto or OnPay, QuickBooks Online Payroll’s pricing is a bit on the higher end. For example, neither OnPay nor Gusto charges you extra to offer direct deposit for contractors.
Additionally, while QuickBooks Online Payroll’s cheapest plan for paying both employees and contractors doesn’t include local tax filing and payment, both Gusto and OnPay’s cheapest plans do.
QuickBooks Contractor Payments standalone payroll plan for paying contractors costs $15/month for 20 contractors and adds a $2 per contractor fee starting with your 21st contractor, and includes:
QuickBooks Online Payroll Core costs $50/month + $6/per employee and includes:
QuickBooks Online Payroll Premium plan costs $85/month + $9 per employee and includes everything in the Core plan, plus:
QuickBooks Online Payroll Elite plan costs $130/month + $11 per employee and includes everything in the Premium plan, plus:
Intuit Online Payroll Extra Costs | Price |
---|---|
Workers' Comp | $5 admin fee (Core plan only) |
401(k) Retirement Plans | Variable premium costs |
Heath Benefits | Variable premium costs |
QuickBooks Simple Start | $30/month |
1099 e-Filing | $14.99 |
Multistate Payroll Processing | Starting at $12 per run (Core and Premium plans) |
Next-Day Direct Deposit For Contractors | $5/month |
QuickBooks Online Payroll has more than its fair share of extra costs and fees. In addition to common add-on costs for healthcare, users are expected to pay extra for benefits, such as 1099 e-filing, multistate tax filing, and access to QuickBooks Online Simple Start services.
Other providers roll the cost of 1099 e-filing into their plan costs, so having to pay extra for it may cause some businesses to pause. However, as the company partners with providers such as Guideline, SimplyInsured, and AP Intego to provide these services, the prices are on par with its competitors in the payroll software industry.
Ease Of Use4.1 |
---|
Set Up 4.1 |
Software Reliability 4.0 |
Everyday Use 4.4 |
Integrations 3.9 |
QuickBooks earned a 4.1/5 star rating in the ease of use category with balanced performance in the areas of setup, reliability, daily use, and integrations. The software’s lost points came from its lack of an API, some complaints of glitching, limited white glove setup options, and a poor selection of HR software integrations.
Onboarding is relatively straightforward but will take some time. As cloud-based software, QuickBooks Online Payroll operates with nearly all internet browsers so long as you have internet access.
I found QuickBooks relatively easy to navigate and enjoyed the guided approach to setting up your payroll system. You can play around with the software to get a feel for it before running your first payroll or adding your employees.
There are also desktop versions available, which rate higher among consumers for speed. To read forms and use the print checks feature, you need Adobe Reader 7.0+ or the Firefox PDF plugin. When you set up your check printing in QuickBooks, you’ll find a link to download the most recent version of Adobe Reader.
QuickBooks Online Payroll also has mobile apps for Apple products and Android products.
Features4.4 |
---|
Payroll Processing 4.5 |
Employee Management & PTO 5.0 |
Time Tracking 5.0 |
Payroll Tax Support 3.9 |
Reporting & Tax Forms 4.5 |
Onboarding & HR 4.1 |
Benefits Administration 4.0 |
Niche Features 4.0 |
QuickBooks Online Payroll earned 4.4/5 stars in the features category with plenty of features spanning payroll processing, employee management, time tracking, HR, and benefits administration. The bulk of the software’s lost points come from its local tax support limitations and limited HR integrations.
For the cost and wealth of features, Intuit is well-optimized for mid-sized businesses looking for a full-service payroll solution. As QuickBooks Desktop payroll service does not have a user cap, it’s a better option for companies that plan to grow beyond 150 employees.
Overall, QuickBooks Online Payroll boasts a range of features that make it a great option for businesses already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. As a standalone solution, though, it doesn’t stand out from the competition.
For small and micro businesses looking for self-service payroll, this is an expensive option for the features promised, and you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere.
Customer Service4.6 |
---|
Personal Support 4.1 |
Self-Service 5.0 |
QuickBooks Online Payroll scores remarkably well in the customer service category with a 4.6/5 star rating that is bolstered by the software’s wealth of support options, extended support hours, and generally favorable user reviews.
QuickBooks’s Online Payroll’s live customer support team works from 6 AM – 6 PM PT Monday through Friday and 6 AM – 3 PM PT on Saturday. Here are some of QuickBooks Online Payroll’s other customer support options:
Intuit Online Payroll Customer Service | Availability |
---|---|
Phone Support | |
Email Support | |
Support Tickets | |
Live Chat | |
Dedicated Support Representative | |
Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
Videos & Tutorials | |
Company Blog | |
Social Media |
Just be prepared to spend some time getting your questions answered if you run into problems.
While the people on the other end of the phone/chat/screen are well-intentioned, very few of them are actual payroll experts. It can take a long time to connect with someone who is.
Intuit QuickBooks is known for outsourcing its help centers, so you may have a hard time connecting with someone who can help.
QuickBooks Online Payroll is continuously expanding its integrations. QuickBooks is known for giving access to over 750 apps, and the Intuit Online program has many you might be familiar with, such as QuickBooks Time, Expensify, Shopify, and Chaser.
A QuickBooks Online Payroll API for time tracking and deductions is available on the platform’s developer sandbox.
User Reviews4.4 |
---|
Customer Feedback 4.0 |
Review Site Aggregate 4.5 |
QuickBooks Online Payroll’s 4.4/5 star rating in the user review category reflects its notably high 4.5/5 star rating across user review sites and its positive feedback on other platforms. However, the software isn’t without its share of complaints.
Positive reviews suggest that the software is easy to use and valuable if you are already within the QuickBooks ecosystem. Complaints include customer service issues, feature limitations, and high pricing.
The Better Business Bureau gives Intuit QuickBooks a good rating overall, but if you delve deeper into the reviews specifically for the payroll program, things turn ugly in a hurry.
There are a plethora of rants about misfiled taxes, miscommunications about payments, and the general ineptitude of the customer service representatives.
Generally, QuickBooks Online doesn’t experience data breaches frequently. Most recently, QuickBooks worked to mitigate its software’s security vulnerabilities to cybercriminals exploiting the logj4 code that QuickBooks software is built on. There is an active security threat at the time of writing. Cybercriminals have exploited logj4 coding present in QuickBooks software to steal data.
QuickBooks Online Payroll has substantial security features to protect its users against fraud and data theft, including monitoring to keep on top of security threats.
Here are some of QuickBooks Online Payroll security features:
QuickBooks Online | Gusto | ADP | |
---|---|---|---|
Price | $50/month +$6/person to $130/month + $11/person | From $40/month + $6/employee to $80/month + $12/employee | Variable |
Business Size | Small to mid-sized businesses | Small to large-sized businesses | Small to enterprise-sized businesses |
Number Of Employees | Up to 150 employees or contractors | Up to 650+ | 1,000+ |
Number Of States Supported | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Payroll Processing Time | Same-day to 5 days | Next-day to 4 days | Variable |
Quality Of Features | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Quality Of Support | Fair | Good | Good |
Gusto’s customer service, transparent pricing with few added fees, and proven bang for the buck make it a solid QuickBooks Online Payroll competitor.
QuickBooks boasts a fully-featured business software suite, including accounting, invoicing, and business financing, which tends to attract small business owners looking for a comprehensive solution that will support them from funding to finance management.
However, for businesses that are looking for a payroll software solution that offers extensive features without an exorbitant price tag, Gusto is the way to go.
Our Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll comparison takes a deeper look into the differences between QuickBooks Online Payroll and Gusto, including pricing, features, and more.
Both QuickBooks and ADP have a long-standing reputation in the B2B space: ADP for its outstanding payroll services and QuickBooks for its accounting software.
So, it’s no surprise that ADP wins out as a more feature-rich and reliable payroll software solution, while QuickBooks offers a solid payroll feature set and stands out for its integration within the QuickBooks Online ecosystem.
QuickBooks boasts transparent pricing, excellent native accounting software integration, and software designed for smaller businesses, while ADP boasts far more extensive payroll and HR features, scalability, and excellent payroll reporting features.
Our QuickBooks versus ADP comparison takes a deep dive into the differences between QuickBooks and ADP, providing a breakdown of each software’s strengths and weaknesses as a payroll software option for small businesses.
Intuit Online Payroll Review Summary | |
---|---|
Pricing Range | $50/month + $6/per person - $130/month + $11/per person |
Choose If You Need |
|
Intuit is undoubtedly a big player in the business software world, and the recent updates to its full-service platform demonstrate a willingness to adapt and improve. Companies might have to pay for the elite service with some add-ons to get the same price and level of features as other payroll platforms. However, Intuit is continuously adapting and reworking its payroll features. Many discounts and sales are available, so the top price is competitive with industry standards.
If you’re a huge fan of QuickBooks Online and its UI, Intuit Online Payroll might still win your heart. Brand loyalty goes a long way. Plus, the TurboTax integration for W-2 employees is tempting. However, it is hard to look past the poor customer support, negative reviews, and user cap.
For the average small business owner with fewer than 150 employees, if you don’t already use QuickBooks, other options offer more support, flexibility, and value for your money.
Check out our Gusto review or our ADP review for a look at two of the best alternatives to QuickBooks Online Payroll available.
We research, evaluate, and test each payroll software app that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate granular ratings.
Our exhaustive, 76-point rubric guides the star rating of each payroll provider we review, examining pricing, ease of use, features, customer service, and user reviews. Each section is weighted differently.
When rating payroll software, we are looking for very specific qualities. The speed and cost of payroll runs and the availability of tax filing services are given high weight, as are the quality and availability of accounting, time-tracking, HR integrations, and user onboarding services. We also look for the presence of client and employee portals, benefits administration, PTO and time management tools, and many more vital features.
Learn more about how we rate payroll software providers.
The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
Intuit Online Payroll |
---|
After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Intuit Online Payroll for yourself.
The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆
Intuit Online Payroll |
---|
After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Intuit Online Payroll for yourself.
Let us know how well the content on this page solved your problem today. All feedback, positive or negative, helps us to improve the way we help small businesses.
Give Feedback
Want to help shape the future of the Merchant Maverick website? Join our testing and survey community!
By providing feedback on how we can improve, you can earn gift cards and get early access to new features.
Help us to improve by providing some feedback on your experience today.
The vendors that appear on this list were chosen by subject matter experts on the basis of product quality, wide usage and availability, and positive reputation.
Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Our unbiased reviews and content are supported in part by affiliate partnerships, and we adhere to strict guidelines to preserve editorial integrity. The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.
"*" indicates required fields