Payroll Software

Best Payroll Software for Small and Mid-Size Businesses

Top payroll platforms ranked by tax filing automation, compliance accuracy, employee self-service, and total cost of ownership.

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01
QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

The seamless QuickBooks accounting add-on — QuickBooks Payroll's same-day direct deposit, automated tax payments, and single-platform accounting/payroll integration is the natural choice for existing QuickBooks Online users.

Steady·Score +14
02
Gusto

Gusto

The most loved payroll platform for US small businesses — Gusto's automated tax filing, new hire reporting, benefits administration, and contractor payments in one clean UI has earned it the highest Net Promoter Score in payroll.

Steady·Score +14
03
Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll

The most affordable full-service payroll in the US market — Patriot's $37/month full-service plan handles tax filing, direct deposit, and W-2/1099 production for small businesses that need accuracy without complexity.

Steady·Score +13
04
Paychex Flex

Paychex Flex

Paychex's scalable payroll solution serving 740,000 businesses — Paychex Flex's dedicated payroll specialist support, retirement plan administration, and compliance library make it ideal for businesses scaling to 100+ employees.

Steady·Score +10
05
Bambee (HR + Payroll for Micro-Businesses)

Bambee (HR + Payroll for Micro-Businesses)

Bambee pairs a dedicated HR manager with payroll services for businesses under 500 employees — providing compliance guidance, employee document management, and payroll at a cost previously only accessible to larger companies.

Steady·Score +10
06
Paylocity

Paylocity

Mid-market payroll and HCM platform known for exceptional employee self-service, modern UI, and community features that differentiate it from legacy providers — particularly strong for 50–1,000 employee organisations.

Steady·Score +7
07
S

Square Payroll

The most accessible payroll tool for Square POS users and small retail/restaurant businesses — Square Payroll's hourly employee scheduling integration, tip importing, and flat $35/month base pricing is unmatched for small teams.

Steady·Score +7
08
Deel

Deel

The global payroll and contractor platform purpose-built for distributed teams — Deel handles compliant employment in 150+ countries, making it the default choice for remote-first companies hiring internationally.

Steady·Score +7
09
OnPay

OnPay

Payroll professionals consistently rate OnPay among the best for accuracy, customer support quality, and transparent flat-fee pricing — OnPay covers all 50 US states with automatic tax filing and zero setup fees.

Steady·Score +7
10
Workday Payroll (Enterprise)

Workday Payroll (Enterprise)

The enterprise HCM platform's payroll module serves Fortune 500 companies — Workday's unified HR and payroll data model, global compliance engine, and real-time analytics make it the gold standard for large organisations.

Steady·Score +6
11
Rippling

Rippling

The unified people platform that combines payroll, HR, IT, and benefits in one system — Rippling's global payroll capability, device management, and automation rules make it the most powerful modern payroll solution.

Steady·Score +6
12
ADP Run

ADP Run

ADP's small business payroll solution backed by the world's largest payroll provider — ADP Run's compliance guarantee, HR advisory support, and Workers' Comp integration suit businesses that prioritise zero-error payroll.

Steady·Score +3
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QuickBooks Payroll

Currently ranked #1. Where will it be in 7 days?