Managing payroll is more than sending checks. It is about keeping taxes accurate, deadlines met, and employees informed. Even small errors in these areas can disrupt cash flow, trigger compliance issues, and create unnecessary administrative strain.
Cloud-based payroll software promises to unify these tasks, but not all platforms deliver seamless results.
We evaluated leading solutions based on real-world performance, focusing on how well they handle payments, tax filings, and reporting without friction. This guide highlights the tools that help businesses streamline payroll, stay compliant, and give staff timely, accurate pay from a single cloud-based platform.
Software | Our Rating | Trial Info | Best For | Features | Pricing |
4.5/5 | Free trial available | Small to mid-sized restaurants and hotels |
| 4 plans · Starting from $49/month + $6/person | |
4.9/5 | 14-day free trial | Multi-location restaurants and hotel chains |
| 2 core plans (Core, Pro) · Starting from $8/month | |
5/5 | 30-day free trial | Accounting, HR, payroll |
| 2 plans · Starting from $17/month (+ $4/worker) | |
3.8/5 | No free trial available | HR, insurance, finance |
| 3 plans (Flex Select, Flex Pro, Flex Enterprise) · Custom pricing | |
4.3/5 | No free trial available | Education, healthcare, retail |
| Multiple module-based plans · Custom pricing | |
4.5/5 | 3 months free trial | Manufacturing, construction, retail |
| 7 plans total (4 small-business plans + 3 mid/large plans) · Custom pricing | |
4.4/5 | 30-day free trial | Manufacturing, construction, retail |
| 4 plans · Starting from $19/month + a 30-day free trial |
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, particularly in tech or service-oriented sectors.
Gusto HR software is an all-in-one solution that offers tools for benefits administration, payroll, time and attendance, hiring, onboarding, and more. With its ‘Instant Pay’ feature, you can hold on to your cash until the very last minute while still ensuring your employees get paid on time. It also lets you pay contractors with ease in more than 120 countries, making it a good choice if you need to hire global talent for different projects.
Moreover, the platform offers extensive benefits options and integrates directly with popular brokers, making it easy for you to provide the best benefits to your employees and make deductions seamless.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Relieves users of worry by handling tax filings and compliance Saves a lot of time by automating wage calculations Reduces back and forth by enabling employees to view their pay stubs, benefits, and time off requests | Reporting features might feel limited to some users Doesn’t offer a feature to search transactions by keywords |
Pricing
Gusto has a starting price of $49/month. The vendor offers tiered pricing plans to cater to evolving payroll needs of entrepreneurs and companies. Following are four pricing plans offered by the vendor:
- Simple - $49/month + $6/month/person
- Plus - $80/month + $12/month/person
- Premium - $180/month + $22/month/person
- Solo - $49/month + $6/month/person
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
What really makes Gusto secure a spot in the best cloud-based payroll software list is its ability to handle complex payroll tasks without requiring deep HR expertise. It helps minimize errors with automated tax calculations and filings. Additionally, features like automatic direct deposit and contract payments simplify remote payroll – solving issues like late and missed contractor payments.
Best For: Medium to large businesses, especially those managing global teams.
Rippling HR is a comprehensive platform that offers solutions for both payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM). Its payroll features include a ‘Pay Run Comparison’ that lets you compare the current pay run with previous runs, helping you view changes and identify any mistakes.
Moreover, the platform offers global payroll capabilities. Rippling handles all local taxes and legal requirements to ensure that no matter where you are paying your employees, your company is always compliant with local laws.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Integrates multiple functions like HR, payroll, benefits, and IT Instantly syncs employee data across the platform, reducing the chances of errors The automation features for updating benefits and onboarding employees save a lot of time | Offers no tool for creating invoices Updates are sometimes rolled out without prior notice |
Pricing
Rippling HR has a starting price of $8/employee/month with a monthly base price of $35/month. The vendor offers two pricing plans, Core and Pro, with the actual cost depending on the company’s needs and selected add-ons.
Disclaimer: The pricing is updated on 4 February 2026 and is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Rippling HR made the cut in the list of best cloud-based payroll software due to its ability to synchronize employee data across HR, IT, and payroll departments. This feature eliminates duplicate entries and prevents errors in case of change in employee roles and wage rates. Rippling HR works best for companies with complex workflows and requires continuous accuracy in payroll processing.
Best For: Businesses looking for a simple solution for accounting and payroll.
Patriot Payroll is an accounting and payroll software that also offers tools for time tracking and employee attendance. You can access it online using a number of devices, including mobile, desktop, or tablet. Employees also get a mobile app that they can use to access their payroll information, view paychecks, and edit federal tax withholding.
Due to its simplicity, you can process payroll by just adding employee hours, having the system automatically do the calculations, and paying employees by printing checks or through direct debits.
Key Features:
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Direct deposit and automatic tax filing make it easy for HR to manage processes Handles local, federal, and state payroll taxes, ensuring businesses stay compliant with regulations Enables users to create a range of reports, helping them make better decisions | Doesn’t integrate with some of the time tracking apps in the market Setting up the software initially can be a bit difficult |
Pricing
Patriot Payroll has a starting price of $17/month, plus $4/worker paid for the Basic Payroll plan. They also offer a Full-Service Payroll plan, which is priced at $37/month, plus $5/worker paid. The vendor also offers a 30-day free trial.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Patriot Payroll is added to our list because of its simplicity combined with automation features for recurring pay runs. The software ensures transparency with reporting and employee self-service portals while reducing HR department’s intervention. This makes it ideal for businesses that are looking to implement a simple payroll system and reduce manual data entry.
Best For: Medium to large-sized businesses in compliance-heavy industries such as healthcare and education.
Paychex Flex is another comprehensive payroll platform designed to help mid-to-large-sized businesses streamline their payroll and HR tasks. You can create detailed reports, including pay journals and cash requirements, allowing you to better plan your company’s finances and make better decisions.
Its automatic tax administration service calculates, pays, and files taxes on your business’s behalf, freeing up your resources and saving time. Overall, it’s a simple, reliable solution for growing businesses.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
It’s easy to create reports once the payroll has been processed Enables users to manage onboarding, tax filing, and time tracking with ease Users can use it online without needing to download any application | Time and attendance features need improvement Navigating between some sections is a bit difficult |
Pricing
The vendor offers three plans for its payroll module with custom pricing. These plans include Paychex Flex Select, Paychex Flex Pro, and Paychex Flex Enterprise.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Best For: Mid to large-sized organizations operating in finance and manufacturing sectors.
Paylocity HR & Payroll is a cloud-based platform that offers solutions for scheduling, payroll, time tracking, benefits, and more. It offers a multitude of features, including expense management, on-demand payment, and tax services.
What makes it unique from the rest of the options on this list is how it supports global payroll. With its ‘Global Expansion’ service, you can have your business registered anywhere in the world while ensuring you meet all the compliance regulations.
Moreover, by getting the ‘Global Consulting Services’, you can get assistance on company formation, expansion, and retraction, making it a good choice for you if your business operates globally.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Easily scales with an organization’s growing needs HR, payroll, and time modules work really well together when fully implemented Simplifies the whole employment process, including applicant tracking, hiring, and management | Some modules are not very customizable Changes for some sections need to be made in multiple places, manually |
Pricing
The vendor offers custom, quote-based pricing based on business requirements. Pricing may vary depending on the Paylocity solutions selected, including
- Payroll
- Talent
- Employee Experience Platform
- Time And Labor
- Benefits Admin
- Human Resources
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Best For: Medium to large-sized businesses, especially in finance, retail, and manufacturing sectors.
ADP Workforce Now is popular and one of the most comprehensive platforms on our list. It offers separate plans for businesses of all sizes. It automatically deducts and files local, state, and federal payroll taxes, ensuring businesses don’t get any hefty fines. You can set up recurring payroll to ensure employees get paid on time every time. Plus, the software also comes with an AI-enabled error flagging system that identifies errors in payroll and helps businesses avoid mistakes.
Moreover, ADP also helps businesses pay their employees globally. It has compliance experts in more than 140 countries, ensuring businesses pay their employees compliantly around the world.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
It lets employees view and download pay slips using the mobile application The dashboard shows all the actions someone needs to take on a day Helps manage everything in the same place, from time punches to onboarding | The timecard sometimes shows the wrong pay periods Doesn’t provide information on how much travel allowance someone gets per year |
Pricing
The vendor offers four pricing plans for small businesses and three plans for medium-to-large-sized organizations. All plans come at custom pricing tailored to your business requirements. Here are the plan details:
For Small Businesses:
- Essential Payroll
- Enhanced Payroll
- Complete Payroll & HR+
- HR Pro Payroll & HR
For Medium-to-Large Sized Businesses:
- Select
- Plus
- Premium
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, particularly in accounting-driven industries or finance-focused operations.
QuickBooks is primarily an accounting and bookkeeping tool that also offers solutions for payroll. It allows you to create scheduled payrolls to ensure your employees get paid on time at the end of every payroll cycle. Team members can also access their information directly from the app, including W-2s and pay stubs.
It makes a good option for your business if you are already using QuickBooks for your accounting, as the payroll module will integrate seamlessly with the accounting one, saving you a lot of time.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting, eliminating the need to use another app Initial setup is easy, and users get tons of options for customizations Reports are detailed and easy to access | There aren’t many options to make payments to employees Configuring webhook responses can be made easy |
Pricing
The vendor offers the four pricing plans, along with a 30-day free trial. The plans include:
- Simple Start - $38/month
- Essentials - $75/month
- Plus - $115/month
- Advanced - $275/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is updated on 4 February 2026 and subject to change.
Why We Like It
QuickBooks Payroll integrates accounting features with payroll scheduling capabilities. Cloud access ensures employees retrieve their pay information without HR interventions. The software is included in the list of best cloud-based payroll software because its streamlines administrative tasks and provides clear visibility into payroll processes for finance and HR teams.
Best For: Small to large businesses in technology, e‑commerce, marketing, and professional services hiring and paying international or remote teams
Deel is a cloud-based payroll platform that can help small companies streamline global workforce management. Automated pay schedules and integration with time-tracking systems helped Deel make the cut in our list of best cloud-based payroll software. Features such as tax form generation, custom pay structures and multi-currency support make this tool a top choice for businesses seeking automated compliance with global payroll standards.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Reduces the complexity of managing global teams Makes cross-border payments predictable and stress-free Improves day-to-day usability for HR and finance teams | Limited flexibility for highly customized workflows or edge cases Customer support may be unresponsive at times |
Pricing
Deel has a starting price of $29/employee/month for the Global Payroll plan. The actual cost depends on the specific payroll or workforce solution you choose and the number of employees or contractors you’re managing, as Deel offers modular pricing based on the services you need.
Other plans that fall under the payroll umbrella offered by Deel include:
- Employer of Record (EOR): Starts at $599/employee/month
- Contractor Management: Starts at $49/contractor/month
- Contractor of Record: Starts at $325/contractor/month
- PEO: Starts at $95/employee/month
- Deel US Payroll – Custom Pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is updated on 4 February 2026 and is subject to change
Why We Like It
Deel excels with automated international contractor payments, compliance tracking, and real-time payroll summaries. We like it because it simplifies cross-border payroll management, eliminating manual intervention while ensuring adherence to local labor laws. Deel works best for companies hiring global talent, managing multi-country payrolls, and needing cloud-based transparency.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses across industries such as restaurants, nonprofits, and professional services
OnPay Payroll offers an all-in-one cloud payroll solution focused on efficiency and integration. It provides seamless connections to accounting software, easy onboarding for new hires, and integrated benefits management. Its standout capabilities include flexible pay schedules, deduction management for benefits and garnishments, and time-off tracking, ensuring accurate payroll processing and smoother HR operations.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Makes payroll tasks much faster and less complex Empowers employees with self-service access Responsive customer support that allows for smooth onboarding experience | Reporting and data access can feel limited for some workflows Mobile experience is not as robust as desktop
|
Pricing
OnPay uses a simple, transparent pricing model with a flat base fee of $49 per month plus an additional $6 per active employee per month.
Disclaimer: The pricing is updated on 4 February 2026 and is subject to change
Why We Like It
We like OnPay because it combines automated deductions, tax filing reminders, and benefits tracking within the cloud. Its payroll alerts and audit-ready reporting provide confidence in compliance. The software is particularly useful for small businesses seeking a reliable, end-to-end cloud payroll system that minimizes manual HR administration.
Best For: Small businesses, especially in the retail and food service sectors.
Square Payroll simplifies payroll management for small businesses and service-based teams. It integrates seamlessly with Square’s point-of-sale system, making it easy to calculate wages for hourly and tipped employees. Top features include automated tax filings, direct integration with benefits providers, and tip and commission tracking, ensuring accuracy in employee payments while reducing administrative burden.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Makes payroll fast and hassle-free for small business teams Automates tax filings and compliance, giving peace of mind Keeps employee data and processes in one integrated system | Customer support responsiveness can feel inconsistent Limited flexibility in editing payroll once submitted |
Pricing
Square Payroll has a starting price of $35/month plus $6/employee/month for the Full Service Payroll plan. This plan supports payroll for both W‑2 employees and 1099 contractors, including unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filings, and direct deposit. For businesses that only need to pay contractors, Square also offers a Contractor Only plan at $6 per person per month.
Disclaimer: The pricing is updated on 4 February 2026 and is subject to change
Why We Like It
Square Payroll stands out with its simple direct deposit automation and integration with point-of-sale systems, making payroll seamless for hourly workers. We like it because it reduces manual calculations, ensures accurate tips and commissions, and is ideal for service and retail businesses relying on cloud access for payroll management.
Best For: Medium to large-sized businesses in industries such as healthcare and retail
Paycom is a cloud payroll and HR solution built to centralize workforce management. Its platform emphasizes real-time payroll processing, deduction and garnishment administration, and robust integrations with HR and timekeeping systems. These features allow payroll teams to manage complex wage structures efficiently, while also providing finance managers with reporting tools to monitor payroll costs and labor allocation.
Key Features
Pros And Cons
Pros | Cons |
Centralizes HR and payroll into one streamlined system Improves accuracy and visibility of employee data and processes Empowers employees with accessible self-service tools | Navigation of certain features can feel fragmented for employees Limited customizability in specific areas of the platform |
Pricing
Paycom offers custom pricing, and the actual cost depends on company size, selected modules, and service requirements.
Disclaimer: Pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Paycom is added to our list due to its advanced cloud reporting, real-time payroll analytics, and self-service employee tools. Its automated workflows reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve payroll accuracy. The platform works best for organizations that require centralized control of payroll, expense processing, and detailed workforce insights in a cloud environment.
Choosing the right cloud based payroll software is more than just selecting a popular tool. It is about finding a solution that aligns with your company’s size, industry, and operational workflows. The right software should simplify payroll processing, ensure compliance, improve accuracy, and provide flexibility as your business grows. Taking the time to assess your requirements carefully can save time, reduce errors, and improve employee satisfaction.
What Not to Overlook
- Your business size and specific payroll needs
- Compliance requirements in your region
- Integration with existing systems (HR, accounting, time tracking)
- Employee experience and self-service options
- Vendor support, training, and resources
- Pricing structure and scalability for future growth
- Security features and data protection measures
- Mobile accessibility for on-the-go management
Before making a final decision, try demos or free trials to see how the software fits your workflows. Engaging your team in the evaluation ensures the solution effectively addresses real business challenges while supporting future growth.