Intuit QuickBooks offers various software products, with payroll processing being one of its core solutions. It makes payroll faster, accurate, and enables its users to benefit from expert help – from initial implementation to tax season. QuickBooks Payroll can be bundled with the platform’s bookkeeping and accounting products or purchased as a standalone product. Depending on your team size and requirements, you can choose the plan that best suits your operations. However, to ensure that you have all the necessary information before choosing a plan, we have compiled this pricing guide on the payroll + accounting bundle that leverages extensive reviews and buyer interactions.
QuickBooks Payroll Pricing
An overview of QuickBooks Payroll pricing plans to help you choose the best option for your team and budget.
Workorce Payroll + Simple Start
Workforce Payroll + Essentials
Workforce Premium + Plus
$88 + $6.50 per employee per month
$125+6.50 per employee per month + employee per month
$203+13 per month + employee per month
Full-service Payroll
Expert Product Support
Next-Day Direct Deposit
Auto Payroll
1099 E-file And Pay
Document Uploading and Sharing
Employee Portal
Worker’s Comp’ Administration
401(k) Plans
Everything in Payroll Core+Simple Start, plus:
Run Enhanced Reports
Includes 3 Users
Connect 3 Sales Channels
Manage Bills
Enter Time
Everything in Payroll Core + Essentials, plus:
Track Time On The Go
Same-Day Direct Deposit
Expert Review
Document E-Signature
Automated I-9
HR Support Center
Connect All Sales Channels
Includes 5 Users
Track Project Profitability
Disclaimer: The pricing details were last updated on Sep 02, 2026 from the vendor's website. Please contact us for a tailored pricing list.
The pricing for QuickBooks Payroll is based on a base fee plus a per-employee fee/month. The Payroll Core + Simple Start plan offers complete payroll processing and payroll taxes, along with basic accounting tools. However, the other two plans also offer billable hour tracking, HR tools, and benefits management, etc.
Payroll Core+Simple Start
Ideal for: Small businesses with straightforward payroll and accounting needs.
What to know about this plan: This plan covers all the payroll and accounting basics. It is suited for teams that just need full-service payroll, tax filings done, next-day direct deposit, and a basic employee self-service portal for pay stubs and tax information.
Payroll Core+Simple Start plan features:
Full-service payroll with automated tax filing for accurate and faster payments
Next-day direct deposit ensures quicker employee payouts
Employee portal offers pay stubs, W-2s, and tax information
Unlimited 1099 e-filings for contractors
Automated payroll for salaried employees
Connects one sales channel
Payroll Core+Essentials
Ideal for: Growing Businesses that need payroll plus basic accounting and billable hour tracking.
What to know about this plan: In addition to the core payroll features, this price plan includes bill payment, project time tracking, and enhanced reporting. It supports three sales channels and three users.
Payroll Core+Essentials plan features:
All Core+Simple Start features
Bill management and online payments
Enhanced reporting for sales, accounts receivable, and accounts payable
Entering employee time by client/project
Payroll Premium+Plus
Ideal for: Growing businesses that want better support, time tracking, and faster direct deposits.
What to know about this plan: Premium builds on Core with same-day direct deposit, mobile time tracking, and a guided review of your setup. It’s a strong choice if you manage hourly teams or want access to HR tools without moving to the top tier.
Payroll Premium+Plus features:
Everything in Core plus same-day direct deposit
Mobile time tracking for teams on the go
Expert review to confirm your payroll is set up correctly
Connect all sales channels and include 5 users
HR support center with templates and policies
Automated I-9 and document e-signatures
What Users Are Saying About QuickBooks Payroll Pricing
Many users mention that “multistate businesses will incur extra charges for each state beyond the first”
Some users noted that there are some useful tools, like time tracking and HR features, but require unlocking high-priced tiers
Several users complain about “high and increasing subscription costs,” especially for small businesses
According to user reviews, customer support can be frustrating or unhelpful when dealing with complex payroll issues
Additional Costs To Consider
Cost Category
Applies to
Description
Additional state tax filings
All plans
Each plan includes payroll tax filing for one state. Filing payroll taxes in extra states usually costs an additional monthly fee/state
Workers’ compensation administration
Mostly Core plans
If you enable pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation, an admin fee applies. Insurance premiums are separate and vary by provider
Employee benefits (health, dental, vision)
All plans
These are optional add-ons offered through partnered providers. The cost depends on the insurance plan you choose
401(k) retirement plans
All plans
Retirement plans are available through third-party partners and are billed separately depending on the plan structure
Bookkeeping add-ons (if not in your bundle)
When features exceed the included tier
Some advanced accounting features in QuickBooks Online may require upgrading your accounting tier beyond Simple Start, Essentials, or Plus
Choosing The Right QuickBooks Payroll Pricing Plan
Selecting the pricing plan that best matches your team's requirements and has all the features that you want in your software can be a daunting task. Here’s how you can decide:
Start by listing every pay structure you handle so you know how much complexity the software must support
Note how often payroll changes each cycle because frequent edits require stronger automation
Check your latest possible payroll cutoff to decide what deposit speed you realistically need
Identify any HR tasks you want folded into payroll instead of juggling extra tools
Review who enters hours, approves time, or runs payroll to see if you need built-in time tracking and syncing
Look at how many contractors you pay and whether you want their payments processed through the same system
Confirm whether you need help with compliance tasks like garnishments or multistate rules
Estimate your real monthly cost by multiplying the per-employee fee by your current team size
Repeat that calculation for your projected headcount in the next 6 to 12 months to avoid surprise cost jumps
Compare the extra features you’d gain against the hours and external tools they replace to see if the upgrade pays for itself
Is QuickBooks Payroll Worth It?
Whether QuickBooks Payroll is worthy of your investment really comes down to your payroll requirements. However, you can take the following aspects into consideration:
Value For Money
Analysis of verified user reviews from various third-party platforms reveals that QuickBooks Payroll has a value-for-money rating of 4.3/5. Users appreciate the combination of payroll and accounting tools in one package, though some note that add-ons and extra employee fees can increase the overall cost for larger teams.
Ease of Use And Its Impact On Value
QuickBooks Payroll earns an ease-of-use rating of 4.4/5 stars. The platform’s intuitive interface and seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software make setting up payroll and running paychecks straightforward. Many users mention that simplicity reduces administrative time and errors, which adds to the overall value of the product.
Alternatives To QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is a highly used tool with an overall rating of 4.4/5. Let’s now take a look at some of its competitors, comparing their price points and overall ratings for similar capabilities.
Alternative
Starting Price
Overall Rating
Gusto
Starts at $49/month
4.5
RUN Powered by ADP
Custom Pricing
5
Paychex Flex
Custom Pricing
4
Rippling HR
Custom Pricing
4.9
Paylocity HR & Payroll
Custom Pricing
4.3
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Making The Final Decision
Based on the scoring given by verified reviews, QuickBooks Payroll has received the following scores:
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Ease of use: 4.4/5
Value for money: 4.3/5
The right price plan for you will be the one that best matches your business size, payroll complexity, and the features you need. Small businesses with straightforward payroll may find the Payroll Core+Simple Start plan sufficient, while companies that need HR support, time tracking, or tax penalty protection might benefit from the Payroll Core+Essentials or Payroll Premium+Plus plans. Consider the number of employees, pay schedules, and any add-ons to ensure you’re getting the most value without paying for unnecessary features.
FAQs
Yes, the software offers a plan simply for running payroll. The payroll plan includes three pricing tiers: Payroll Core, Payroll Premium, and Payroll Elite. The pricing starts at $50/month with $6.50/employee/month. Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
It all depends on the size of your team, its requirements, the location of your operation, and how your payroll is designed or how complex it can be.
It can be a real asset for businesses already using QuickBooks Online, due to its integrations, automated tax filing, and reporting capabilities. It is also a cheaper option compared to some other popular solutions in the industry.
The platform payment fees depend on the method being used, such as 1% for ACH bank transfers, but are different for credit card transactions, which vary based on whether they are swiped, keyed in, or used online. Additional fees can also include charges for international cards, chargebacks, etc. Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Methodology
The pricing information has been sourced from the official QuickBooks website and its publicly available documents as of November 2025. All listed pricing elements and feature details were taken from the vendor’s published materials. We have also analyzed user sentiments based on reviews from our own website for additional plan insights, real-world considerations, and noted comment sentiment patterns around value, usability, and feature limitations.
