Missed tax deadlines, messed-up timesheets, and unsatisfied employees – that is what you experience when you do not use payroll software. As a small business owner, you surely wouldn’t face all these issues. And the only way to avoid them is by selecting the right payroll software that’s particularly designed for small businesses.
With the help of the right system, all your employee info, payments, and filings live in one place, so that nothing goes missing. Using such a platform, Human Resources (HR) teams and owners can run payroll, track PTO, and stay compliant without stressing all the time about regulations. As a result, payday does not feel like a nuisance; instead, it feels like everything is under control.
In this guide, we’ve highlighted payroll tools that will make running a small business faster and far less stressful.
Software | Our Ratings | Top Features | Price |
Gusto | 4.4 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from $49/month |
QuickBooks Payroll | N/A |
| Starts from $88/month |
ADP RUN | N/A |
| Custom pricing |
Paychex Flex | 3.8 ★★★★★ |
| Custom pricing |
Rippling HR | 4.9 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from £7/user/month |
Square Payroll | 4.8 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from $6/person |
OnPay | 4.7 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from $6/month/person |
Patriot Payroll | 5 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from $17/month + $4/worker |
Wave Payroll | 4.5 ★★★★★ |
| Starts from $19/month |
Gusto HR software is built for small and growing teams that want a single place to manage new hires, manage HR operations, and most importantly, run payroll. It provides unlimited payroll runs, benefits administration, and employee onboarding.
The platform provides easy setup and a dashboard where pay stubs, W-2 forms, and time-tracking data are easily accessible. The result? No redundant paperwork.
Overall, Gusto stands out for its payroll-first approach combined with integrated benefits support, ideal for small teams that want everything in one place.
Top Features
- Pay Stubs
- W-2 And 1099s
- Time Tracking
- New Hire Reporting
Pricing
The vendor offers two modules, one for Teams and one Solo:
Pay Myself:
- Solo - $49/month + $6/person/month
Pay My Team:
- Simple - $49/month + $6/person/month
- Plus - $80/month + $12/person/month
- Premium - $180/month + $22/person/month
- Contractor Only - $35/month + $6/person/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
Tightly integrated with QuickBooks accounting, QuickBooks payroll helps small accounting teams keep payroll and financial books integrated. It includes automatic tax calculations, same-day or next-day direct deposit on higher tiers, and staffed payroll support for financial compliance. This allows small finance teams to manage payroll within a familiar accounting ecosystem and achieve accurate financial reporting.
Top Features
- Tax Compliance
- Automated Reports
- Penalty Protection
- Employee Support
Pricing
It offers three pricing plans for bookkeeping + payroll with a 30-day free trial:
- Payroll Core + Simple Start – $88/month + $6.50/employee/month
- Payroll Core + Essentials – $125/month + $6.50/employee/month
- Payroll Premium + Plus – $203/month + $10/employee/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
It is designed for small companies aiming to scale quickly. RUN Powered by ADP pairs payroll processing with ADP’s nationwide compliance and tax-filing infrastructure.
The platform offers packaged plans, HR add-ons, and integrations with common accounting and POS systems. This combination enables managers to manage rapid workforce expansion while maintaining full compliance with labor regulations and internal policies.
ADP’s strength is its scalable service model and vendor-managed compliance, giving small and growing teams access to reliable payroll and regulatory support.
Top Features
- AI Error Prevention
- Recurring Payroll
- Compliance Updates
Pricing
The vendor offers the following four pricing plans at custom pricing with 3 months free:
- Essential Payroll
- Enhanced Payroll
- Complete Payroll & HR+
- HR Pro Payroll & HR
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
Suitable for small businesses, Paychex Flex combines payroll processing with optional HR, retirement, and benefits administration. It stands out for its packaged HR plus payroll solution that centralizes employee management and financial planning.
The platform supports phone-assisted payroll submissions and mobile access, facilitating remote teams. It automates tax administration, further taking the burden off payroll administrators. Additionally, its ‘Paychex Promise’ feature provides peace of mind for business owners as they can extend fund collection by up to seven days.
Top Features
- Employee Self-Service
- HR Analytics
- Tailored Customer Support
- Retirement Services
Pricing
Paychex offers two modules for different needs:
- Small Business Essentials
- Paychex Flex Select
- Paychex Flex Pro
- Full-Service HR & Payroll
- Flex Enterprise
- HR Pro
- HR PEO
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
For organizations that want payroll integrated with HR and IT workflows, Rippling HR is the right choice. It unites payroll, benefits, device provisioning, and app access in one system. The platform handles the full employee lifecycle. Onboarding, management, and offboarding are all automated. Employee data stays consistent across apps and devices; therefore, teams always stay up to date.
Top Features
- Pre-Built Workflows Templates
- Custom Policies
- Role-Based Permissions
- Report Builder
Pricing
Starting from £7/user/month plus a base fee of £30/month, Rippling prices vary based on the selected modules and services:
- Rippling Platform
- Rippling HCM
- Rippling IT
- Rippling Spend
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
Square Payroll integrates directly with Square POS and timecards, automatically converting hours, tips, and sales into payroll runs. It supports hourly employees and contractors while providing payroll tax filing services. These features make it suitable for cafes, retail stores, and small restaurants, enabling them to process payroll directly from their sales dashboard.
The platform shines for POS-driven payroll, making shift-based and tip-based pay fast and accurate.
Top Features
- Timecards
- Instant Payments
- Pay Scheduling
- Square Team Management
Pricing
Square offers two plans, including:
- Full-Service Payroll - $35/month + $6/person paid
- Contractor-Only Payroll - $6/person paid
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
OnPay Payroll combines payroll, basic HR tools, and benefits management into a single platform. This eliminates the need for small business owners to juggle multiple tools as they can find all the required functionalities in one platform.
Its three-click payroll runs and free onboarding make it appealing to owners who prefer a straightforward product. Accounting teams will benefit from reliable tax filings and a simple interface that keeps multi-state payroll and reporting accurate.
Above everything else, OnPay differentiates itself with dependable support and a predictable, easy-to-use payroll experience.
Top Features
- Multi-State Payroll
- Unemployment Insurance Withholding
- Single Sign-On
- Prebuilt Reports
Pricing
The vendor offers the following plan with one month free:
- Base fee: $49/month
- Per Person: $6/month/person
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
Patriot Payroll stands out for guided setup, basic HR reporting, and optional full-service tax filing, targeting owners who want ‘Do It Yourself’ payroll.
Small accounting teams or solo accountants benefit from direct deposit and automation that simplify payroll steps without advanced HR features. The interface is intuitive, which means less time spent on training the staff.
Top Features
- Off-Cycle Payroll
- Easy Direct Deposit
- Free USA-Based Support
- Worker’s Compensation
Pricing
Patriot offers a 30-day free trial for all payroll and accounting plans:
Payroll Software
- Basic Payroll: $17/month + $4/worker
- Full Service Payroll: $37/month + $5/worker
Accounting Software
- Accounting Basic - $20/month
- Accounting Premium - $30/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
Appealing to freelancers, consultants, and very small companies, Wave Accounting Platform integrates payroll with Wave accounting, handling direct deposit, tax filings, and synced payroll journal entries. The service is best for microbusinesses that want minimal vendor complexity and seamless accounting connections.
Wave Payroll is unique for freelancers and solopreneurs, offering a lightweight, all-in-one payroll and accounting solution.
Top Features
- Invoicing
- Accounting
- Online Payments
- Dashboard
Pricing
Wave pricing model is as follows:
- Starter Plan: $0
- Pro Plan: $19/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Pros And Cons
On the whole, payroll doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right software, paying employees, handling taxes, and managing benefits becomes much simpler.
Additionally, features like automated tax filing, direct deposit, and benefits management save time and reduce mistakes. This makes life easier for business owners and HR teams. As a result, employees stay happy, compliance stays on track, and you can focus more on growing your business. If you’re unsure which tool fits best, we can help you find the right match.