Expert Comparison 2026
Best Payroll Software for US Small Businesses
Compare the top 10 US payroll solutions. Honest reviews, transparent pricing, and expert recommendations to help you choose the right payroll software for your business. First, calculate your employee costs to understand your budget.
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Quick Comparison Table
| Software | Pricing | Rating | Best For | Free Trial | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $40/mo + $6/employee | 4.8 | Startups | 30 days | View |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $45/mo + $5/employee | 4.5 | QuickBooks users | 30 days | View |
| ADP Run | $79/mo + $4/employee | 4.4 | Growing businesses | Contact sales | View |
| Paychex Flex | $60/mo + $4/employee | 4.3 | Mid-size businesses | Contact sales | View |
| OnPay | $40/mo + $6/employee | 4.9 | Small businesses | 30 days | View |
| Rippling | $35/mo + $8/employee | 4.7 | Tech companies | Contact sales | View |
| Square Payroll | $35/mo + $5/employee | 4.6 | Retail businesses | 30 days | View |
| BambooHR | $99/mo (custom pricing) | 4.6 | HR-focused companies | Contact sales | View |
| Justworks | $59/mo + $49/employee (PEO model) | 4.5 | Businesses wanting PEO | Contact sales | View |
| Patriot Payroll | $17/mo + $4/employee | 4.2 | Very small businesses | 30 days | View |
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Detailed Reviews & Comparisons
#1
Gusto
4.8(15,234)
The all-in-one platform for payroll, benefits, and HR
Pricing
$40/mo + $6
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Best For
StartupsSmall businessesTech companiesRemote teams
Key Features
Full-service payroll
Benefits administration
Health insurance
401(k) plans
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly interface
- Excellent benefits integration
- Great customer support
- Automatic tax filing
- Beautiful UI/UX
- Good for remote teams
- Payroll in all 50 states
Cons
- More expensive than basic options
- Limited advanced reporting
- No same-day direct deposit
- Can be overkill for very small businesses
Ready to try Gusto?
Start your 30-day free trial
#2
QuickBooks Payroll
4.5(8,932)
Payroll that works with your accounting software
Pricing
$45/mo + $5
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Best For
QuickBooks usersAccountantsEstablished businessesMulti-state payroll
Key Features
QuickBooks integration
Same-day direct deposit
Multi-state payroll
Contractor payments
Pros
- Seamless QuickBooks integration
- Same-day direct deposit available
- Comprehensive tax support
- Excellent for existing QB users
- Strong reporting features
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Requires QuickBooks subscription
- Interface less modern than competitors
- Can be complex for beginners
- Higher tier required for best features
Ready to try QuickBooks Payroll?
Start your 30-day free trial
#3
ADP Run
4.4(12,450)
Enterprise-grade payroll for growing businesses
Pricing
$79/mo + $4
No credit card required
Best For
Growing businessesMulti-location companiesEnterprise needsCompliance-focused
Key Features
Enterprise-grade
Dedicated support
Compliance tools
Multi-state support
Pros
- Industry leader with 70+ years experience
- Excellent compliance support
- Dedicated support representative
- Scales well for growing companies
- Strong reporting capabilities
- Great for multi-state businesses
Cons
- More expensive than competitors
- Interface can feel dated
- Longer onboarding process
- Some features require add-ons
Ready to try ADP Run?
Get started today
#4
Paychex Flex
4.3(7,821)
Complete payroll and HR solutions for businesses of all sizes
Pricing
$60/mo + $4
No credit card required
Best For
Mid-size businessesMulti-state operationsBusinesses needing HRScalability
Key Features
Scalable platform
24/7 support
HR administration
Multi-state capable
Pros
- Highly scalable platform
- Strong HR features
- 24/7 customer support
- Good for multi-state businesses
- Comprehensive compliance tools
- Long-standing reputation
Cons
- Can be expensive for small businesses
- Complex setup process
- Some users report slow response times
- Interface not as modern
Ready to try Paychex Flex?
Get started today
#5
OnPay
4.9(3,421)
Simple, powerful payroll that just works
Pricing
$40/mo + $6
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Best For
Small businessesBudget-consciousNonprofitsSimple payroll needs
Key Features
Unlimited payroll runs
15-min setup
Nonprofit discounts
Transparent pricing
Pros
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Excellent value for money
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Great customer service
- Quick setup (15 minutes)
- Transparent pricing
- Good for nonprofits
Cons
- Fewer integrations than competitors
- Limited advanced HR features
- No mobile app
- Basic reporting
Ready to try OnPay?
Start your 30-day free trial
#6
Rippling
4.7(5,632)
Manage payroll, benefits, computers, and apps in one system
Pricing
$35/mo + $8
No credit card required
Best For
Tech companiesRemote teamsFast-growing startupsIT management needs
Key Features
All-in-one platform
IT management
Global payroll
Custom automation
Pros
- All-in-one HR, IT, and payroll platform
- Modern, powerful interface
- Excellent for tech companies
- Great automation capabilities
- Device management included
- Global payroll support
- Fast implementation
Cons
- More expensive per employee
- Can be complex for simple needs
- Some features require add-ons
- Learning curve for full platform
Ready to try Rippling?
Get started today
#7
Square Payroll
4.6(4,125)
Payroll that's part of your business toolkit
Pricing
$35/mo + $5
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Best For
Retail businessesRestaurantsSquare usersShift workers
Key Features
Square POS integration
Tip management
Next-day deposit
Shift scheduling
Pros
- Perfect for Square ecosystem
- Great for retail/restaurants
- Easy tip management
- Next-day direct deposit
- Simple pricing
- Quick setup
- Good mobile app
Cons
- Limited HR features
- Best for Square users only
- Basic reporting
- Fewer integrations
Ready to try Square Payroll?
Start your 30-day free trial
#8
BambooHR
4.6(6,789)
The HR software that makes people want to do HR
Pricing
$99/mo (custom pricing)
No credit card required
Best For
HR-focused companiesGrowing businessesPeople operationsCulture-focused
Key Features
Best-in-class HR
Applicant tracking
Performance reviews
Culture tools
Pros
- Best-in-class HR features
- Excellent user experience
- Strong onboarding tools
- Great for company culture
- Robust reporting
- Beautiful interface
- Applicant tracking system
Cons
- Payroll via integration only
- More expensive
- Overkill for very small businesses
- Requires payroll partner
Ready to try BambooHR?
Get started today
#9
Justworks
4.5(4,521)
PEO services with payroll, benefits, and compliance
Pricing
$59/mo + $49
No credit card required
Best For
Businesses wanting PEOBenefits-focusedCompliance needsPremium health insurance
Key Features
PEO services
Premium benefits
Compliance support
Dedicated team
Pros
- Excellent benefits packages
- PEO reduces liability
- Premium health insurance access
- Strong compliance support
- Dedicated customer success team
- Great for remote teams
- Multi-state made easy
Cons
- Expensive per-employee cost
- PEO model not for everyone
- Less control over some aspects
- Minimum employee requirement
Ready to try Justworks?
Get started today
#10
Patriot Payroll
4.2(2,134)
Affordable online payroll that's easy to use
Pricing
$17/mo + $4
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Best For
Very small businessesBudget-consciousBasic payroll needsSimple operations
Key Features
Most affordable
Unlimited payroll
US-based support
Simple setup
Pros
- Most affordable option
- Simple and straightforward
- Good for micro businesses
- US-based customer support
- Free USA support
- Transparent pricing
- Quick setup
Cons
- Very basic features
- No mobile app
- Limited integrations
- Basic reporting only
- Dated interface
- No benefits administration
Ready to try Patriot Payroll?
Start your 30-day free trial
Frequently Asked Questions
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