9 Best Human Resources Payroll Software for 2023
Charlette has over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance and 2 years of partnering with HR leaders on freelance projects. She uses this extensive experience to answer your questions about payroll.
Robie has more than five years of content writing experience and specializes in writing about payroll and human resources software for small businesses.
This article is part of a larger series on Payroll Services.
Human resources payroll software combines both HR and payroll features in one platform. By sharing information between the two functions, you can save time and increase accuracy. The best human resource and payroll software not only offer solutions that integrate well with each other but have reasonably priced plans and online tools that are easy to learn and use.
In this guide, we researched and compared 13 popular options and narrowed the list down to our top nine recommendations.
- Gusto: Best overall human resource payroll software for businesses needing payroll, team, and project tracking tools
- Rippling: Best for tech-heavy companies wanting modular HR, payroll, and IT solutions
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for QuickBooks accounting users
- Paychex: Best for solopreneurs and employers needing dedicated payroll support
- TriNet Zenefits (formerly Zenefits): Best for businesses in highly regulated industries
- Square Payroll: Best for small retail and restaurant businesses
- ADP: Best for growing companies looking for scalable plans
- OnPay: Best human resource and payroll software with robust system permissions
- SurePayroll: Best low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) payroll service (although it also offers a full-service package)
Top Human Resource Payroll Software Compared
Free Trial* | Starter Monthly Pricing | Full-service Payroll | Payroll Tax Filings and Year-end Reporting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 30 days | $6 per employee + $40 base fee | ✓ | ✓ |
 | ✕ | $8 per employee + $35 base fee** | Included in monthly pricing** | ✓ |
 | One month | $5 per employee + $45 base fee | ✓ | ✓ |
 | Three months | $5 per employee + $39 base fee | ✓ | Year-end reporting costs extra |
 | 14 days | $10 per employee | $6 per employee | ✓ |
 | ✕ | $5 per employee + $35 base fee | ✓ | ✓ |
 | Three months | $2.50 per employee, per weekly pay run + $49 base fee | ✓ | Year-end reporting costs extra |
 | One month | $6 per employee + $40 base fee | ✓ | ✓ |
 | Up to six months | $5 per employee + $29.99 base fee*** | ✓ | $9.99 monthly for OH/PA local tax filings |
*Free trial offers may change at any time. Visit the provider’s website for the latest promo on offer.
**Pricing is based on a quote we received (includes time tracking, onboarding, and payroll)
***SurePayroll also offers a DIY tax filing plan priced at $19.99 + $4 per employee monthly
All of the human resource and payroll software we reviewed offer payroll, employee information management, and state new hire reporting tools. Below are some of the standout features.
Health Benefits in All States | Applicant Tracking and Job Postings | Time Tracking | Advanced HR Solutions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 states only | ✓ | ✓ |
|
| ✓ | Paid add-on | ✓ | |
| HI, VT, and DC are not covered | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| ✓ | Hiring services cost extra | Paid add-on |
|
 | Hawaii isn’t covered | Hiring packages start at $62 monthly | ✓ |
|
| ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| ✓ | ✓ (job postings to 25,000 job sites) | ✓ |
|
| ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
|
HR Payroll Software Pricing Calculator
Do you want to compare costs? Use our online calculator to compute the estimated monthly and annual costs of our top recommended human resource and payroll software.
Gusto: Best Overall Human Resources Payroll Software
Overall Score:
4.53 / 5
Pros
- Full-service payroll with tax payments and filings included in all plans
- Offers an affordable contractor-only option
- Employee benefits plans include non-standard options (like 529 college savings)
- Unlimited and automatic pay runs
Cons
- Health insurance coverage limited to 37 states
- Lacks payroll mobile app
- No dedicated payroll specialist
- Time tracking, hiring, and performance reviews included in higher tiers
Plans & Pricing
- Simple: $40 per month plus $6 per employee monthly
- Plus: $80 per month plus $12 per employee monthly
- Premium: Custom priced
- Contractor-only payroll plan: $35 plus $6 per contractor monthly
- Full-service payroll, four-day direct deposits, and state new hire reporting
Add-ons
- State payroll tax registration: Pricing varies per state
- HR advisory services for Plus plan only: $8 per employee monthly (this is included for free in the Premium tier)
- International contractor payments across 90-plus countries: Custom-priced
Gusto is a highly rated and popular small business payroll software with basic HR functions (such as time tracking, hiring and onboarding, new hire reporting, and performance reviews) in its higher-tier plans. It can process both employee and contractor payroll, files the applicable payroll taxes and year-end W-2/1099 reports, and even handles tip credits. Health benefits options are also available, although the coverage is limited to 37 states as of this writing.
Since Our Last Update: Gusto is no longer offering the Cashout program, which enabled employees to access a portion of their earned salaries between paydays. In addition, Gusto has increased the pricing of its contractor-only payroll plan—from $6 per worker monthly to $35 plus $6 per contractor monthly. As part of a new promo, new clients who sign up for this plan will get discounted pricing of only $6 per contractor monthly (no base fee) for the first six months. After this period, you will be charged the regular monthly fee.
Scoring 4.53 out of 5, Gusto earned the highest overall rating in our evaluation due to its intuitive interface, solid payroll tools, reasonably priced plans, and reporting capabilities. Many users also love its user-friendly platform that makes processing employee payments easy for them. However, Gusto lost some points for not providing health insurance in all 50 states and a robust HR solution suite like ADP, Paychex, TriNet Zenefits, and Rippling do.
Gusto’s payroll tool (Source: Gusto)
Gusto Overview
Rippling: Best for Tech-heavy Businesses Needing Modular HR, Payroll & IT Tools
Overall Score:
4.36 / 5
Pros
- Offers modular HR, payroll, benefits, and IT solutions that integrate seamlessly; you can choose only modules that you need
- IT tools streamline computer and app provisioning and deprovisioning processes
- Integrates with 500+ third-party software and apps
- Unlimited and automated payroll
Cons
- You must purchase its core “Rippling Unity” workforce management platform before you can get its other modules
- Can get pricey as you add more solutions/modules
- HR help desk option with phone and email support costs extra
Rippling Plan & Pricing*
- $35 plus $8 per employee monthly
- Includes Rippling’s core workforce management platform, employee onboarding and offboarding, full-service payroll, time tracking, and software integrations
Add-ons*
- App, device, and computer inventory management: $8 per employee monthly
- Benefits administration: Pricing varies, depending on your insurance broker
- HR help desk: Custom-priced
- Global payroll: $20 per employee or contractor monthly
- EoR services: $599 per employee monthly
*Pricing is based on a quote we received.
Rippling is a highly adaptable human resource payroll software. Its core platform is a workforce management solution that includes onboarding/offboarding tools, document management, system permissions, workflow automations, and a unified database. Depending on your HR needs, you can add other modules to its platform if you want full-service payroll, benefits, time and attendance, applicant tracking, and learning management functionalities. It even has IT tools for managing the business software and computers that employees use. This makes Rippling optimal for tech-heavy businesses as it can streamline and automate HR, payroll, and basic IT processes.
Since Our Last Update: Rippling has released a new headcount planning and compensation bands solution. This feature provides you with a single source of truth for all your headcount numbers and compensation costs, streamlining the process of tracking approved headcount for new hires while preventing out-of-compensation band salary offers.
Scoring 4.36 out of 5, Rippling earned top marks for reporting, pricing, user popularity, HR functions, and payroll features. It lost points because live phone support with an HR expert costs extra and it doesn’t provide a dedicated payroll specialist like Paychex does. Nonetheless, many users left positive reviews on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra, wherein they praised its intuitive platform, robust HR functions, and seamless third-party software integrations.
Rippling’s feature-rich platform not only manages HR and payroll, but also helps you track business apps, passwords, and computer devices. (Source: Rippling)
Rippling Overview
QuickBooks Payroll: Best for QuickBooks Users
Overall Score:
4.32 / 5
Pros
- Offers next- and same-day direct deposits
- Unlimited and automatic payroll
- Tax penalty protection program; QuickBooks to cover tax penalties (up to $25,000/year) regardless of who makes the mistake
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks Accounting
Cons
- Time tracking and local tax filings included in premium tiers
- Tax penalty protection available only in highest plan
- Integrates mostly with QuickBooks products; you need its accounting platform to access third-party software integrations
- Basic HR features
- Health insurance coverage is limited (unavailable in HI, VT, and DC)
QuickBooks Payroll Plans & Pricing
- Core: $45 per month plus $5 per employee monthly
- Premium: $75 per month plus $8 per employee monthly
- Elite: $125 per month plus $10 per employee monthly
- Contractor payments plan: $15 monthly for 20 workers, plus $2 per additional contractor
- Ideal for businesses that only pay contract workers
If you use QuickBooks accounting and want a simple HR payroll solution that connects seamlessly with it, then QuickBooks Payroll may be right for you. It allows unlimited pay runs with automated payroll tax payments and filings, including year-end tax reporting. What sets QuickBooks Payroll apart from the other human resources and payroll software in this guide is its fast direct deposits, wherein its standard processing timeline is a next-day option. Other providers may offer a similar service but will require you to either subscribe to its higher tiers (such as Gusto) or use its online payment solution (like Square Payroll with its Square Payments tool).
Since Our Last Update: QuickBooks has released a Contractor Payments package that’s optimal for businesses with only contract workers. For $15 per month, you can process payments for up to 20 workers (plus $2 for each additional contractor), e-file 1099 forms, and pay contractors via next-day direct deposits.
QuickBooks Payroll earned 4.32 out of 5 in our evaluation with high ratings (4 and above) in reporting, payroll functionalities, pricing, and ease of use. It didn’t rank higher on our list because it doesn’t offer advanced HR tools like TriNet Zenefits’ compensation planning module, Rippling’s and Paychex’s learning management solutions, or ADP’s job postings to 25,000+ job sites. However, users still appreciate its efficient pay processing tools and fast payment options.
QuickBooks Payroll’s main dashboard (Source: QuickBooks Payroll)
QuickBooks Payroll Overview
Paychex: Best for Solopreneurs & Businesses Needing Dedicated Payroll Support
Overall Score:
4.32 / 5
Pros
- Special package for solopreneurs includes payroll, incorporation support, and access to a 401(k) plan
- Has multiple HR and payroll plans
- Offers a dedicated payroll specialist
- Automated payroll and payroll tax filings
Cons
- Pricing isn’t all transparent
- Dedicated HR support costs extra
- Learning management tools and access to a dedicated payroll specialist are included in higher tiers
- Time tracking is a paid add-on
Paychex Plans & Pricing
- Paychex Flex Essentials: $39 monthly plus $5 per employee monthly
- Paychex Flex Select: Custom priced
- Paychex Flex Pro: Custom priced
Paychex Plan for solopreneurs and the self-employed
Paychex is a feature-rich human resource and payroll software. It has a wide range of tools and services that help you manage the entire employee lifecycle—from hiring to retiring. What’s great about Paychex is that apart from providing 24/7 customer support, it assigns a dedicated payroll specialist to its clients. Plus, it has small business tiers that are perfect for startups and a special plan for solopreneurs. The other providers in this guide don’t offer dedicated payroll support and solopreneur options.
In our evaluation, Paychex earned a 4.26 out of 5 with perfect marks in HR features, reporting, and popularity among users. Many like its efficient payroll, onboarding, and employee self-service tools. However, it scored the lowest in pricing because most of its products and plans are custom-priced (except for the starter tier of its Paychex Flex solution).
Paychex Flex’s “People View” tool lets you add new employees and invite them to accomplish onboarding tasks, such as filling up forms and updating their personal info. (Source: Paychex)
Paychex Overview
TriNet Zenefits: Best for Highly Regulated Businesses
Overall Score:
4.01 / 5
Pros
- Reasonably priced plans with multiple options
- Strong compliance tools with HR advisory services
- Time tracking and employee scheduling included in all plans
- Unlimited pay runs
Cons
- Payroll and advisory services are paid add-ons
- Medical, vision, and dental plans not available in Hawaii
- All plans and add-ons have a minimum five employee requirement
TriNet Zenefits Plans & Pricing*
- Essentials: $10 per employee monthly
- Growth: $20 per employee monthly
- Zen: $27 per employee monthly
- Contingent workers: $6 per worker monthly with any plan
Add-ons*
- Payroll: $6 per employee monthly
- HR advisory services: $10 per employee monthly
- Benefits administration if you have your own broker: $5 per employee monthly
- Recruiting: Starts at $62 per month
*All plans and add-ons require at least five employees. Annual plans are also available with slightly lower rates.
TriNet Zenefits (formerly Zenefits) is an HR program to which you can add payroll and HR advisory services—even its most basic plan comes with hiring, onboarding, PTO and time tracking, and document management solutions. It works with insurance brokers to provide health plans in 49 states—Hawaii not included. We found TriNet Zenefits optimal for businesses in highly regulated industries because of its solid tools that not only automate HR and benefits compliance but also monitor your compliance status.
Earning an overall rating of 4.01 out of 5, TriNet Zenefits scored well (4 and up) in nearly all of our criteria, given its efficient HR and reporting functionalities. Users also like its user-friendly interface and how well its solutions integrate with each other. However, it didn’t rank higher on our list since it doesn’t offer automatic pay runs, dedicated support, health insurance coverage across all US states, and check printing/signing services (which both ADP and Paychex offer).
TriNet Zenefits’ “Compliance Assistant” tool allows you to track federal compliance requirements and even create custom deadlines. (Source: TriNet Zenefits)
TriNet Zenefits Overview
Square Payroll: Best for Small Retail & Restaurant Businesses
Overall Score:
3.96 / 5
Pros
- Has a low-cost contractor-only plan
- Seamless integration with Square POS
- Offers fast direct deposits, including an instant payment option
- Automatic and unlimited payroll
Cons
- Standard direct deposit has a four-day processing timeline
- A Square Payments account is needed for next-day direct deposits and instant payments
- Limited HR solutions; doesn’t offer hiring, job posting, and learning management tools
Square Payroll Plans & Pricing
- Pay employees and contractors: $35 per month plus $5 per employee monthly
- Pay contractors only: $5 per contractor monthly
Most people know Square for its POS and payment processing, but it also handles payroll and basic HR functions through its Square Payroll solution. It sets itself apart from most other human resource and payroll software on our list in that it has a low-cost plan for contractors, offers an instant payment option, and connects seamlessly with Square POS (which is popular among small retail and restaurant businesses).
With an overall score of 3.96 out of 5, Square Payroll didn’t rank high on our list because it lacks expert HR advisers on staff and has limited HR functions. However, its payroll features are strong with tools that include multiple payment options, automatic and unlimited pay runs, year-end W-2/1099 reporting, and automatic payroll tax filings. Users who left reviews on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra also rated it positively for ease of use, affordability, and payroll functionalities.
Square Payroll’s main dashboard contains helpful links for running different types of payroll such as contractor pay runs and off-cycle payments. (Source: Square Payroll)
Square Payroll Overview
ADP: Best for Growing Companies Looking for Scalable Plans
Overall Score:
3.96 / 5
Pros
- Feature-rich platform; comes with job posting, background checks, new hire onboarding, payroll, benefits, and training solutions
- Has multiple products and flexible plans that cater to different business sizes
- Offers secure paychecks with advanced fraud protection
- Automated payroll and tax filings
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing
- Year-end tax reporting and form delivery cost extra
- Time tracking, workers' compensation, and benefits plans are add-on products
ADP Run Plans & Pricing
- Essential: $49 base monthly plus $2.50 per employee, per weekly pay run
- Enhanced: Custom-priced
- Complete: Custom-priced
- HR Pro: Custom-priced
Add-ons
- Time and attendance: Custom-priced
- Employee benefits: Custom-priced
ADP is optimal for those needing a human resource and payroll software for managing a wide range of functions. It has a comprehensive solution suite with flexible plans that can handle basic to complex HR and payroll processes. This makes ADP a good choice for growing businesses that don’t want to deal with the hassle of switching companies because they’ve outgrown the one they’re with.
Scoring 3.96 out of 5 in our evaluation, ADP’s robust solution suite that includes payroll, employee benefits, onboarding, online training, and hiring tools contributed to its high scores. Users also appreciate its ease of use and how its payroll solution helps them save time and simplify processes. However, it lost points due to its non-transparent pricing.
Aside from letting you run payroll, ADP Run’s dashboard shows your to-do list and details of your last pay run. (Source: ADP)
ADP Overview
OnPay: Best HR Payroll Tools With Robust System Permissions
Overall Score:
3.89 / 5
Pros
- Has an affordably priced plan
- Offers full-service payroll with automatic tax filings
- Files Form 943 for agriculture companies
- Unlimited pay runs
Cons
- Lacks multiple tiers that cater to varying payroll and HR needs
- Eligibility for either two- or four-day direct deposits is based on OnPay’s risk assessment
- Limited third-party software integrations
- Basic HR features
OnPay Plan & Pricing
- $40 per month + $6 per employee monthly
OnPay offers one of the most affordable full-service packages among the human resource payroll software that we reviewed. It only has one plan (priced at $40 + $6 per employee monthly), which comes with all of its features—from multistate pay processing and employee benefits to PTO tracking and full customer support. This means that you don’t need to upgrade to higher plans to unlock additional features as you would with other providers like Gusto (whose starter “Simple” tier only covers payroll for one state, but costs the same as OnPay).
Its payroll and tax filing services even cover unique industries, such as farm and agricultural businesses, enabling it to handle Form 943 (Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees) filings and tax processing for workers on H-2A visas with ease. However, its HR features aren’t as robust as the other human resources payroll software on our list—OnPay only provides essential tools for onboarding, new hire reporting, and online document management. It does, however, have extensive permission settings (six levels) for determining who can access specific tools.
Scoring 3.89 out of 5 in our evaluation, OnPay received high ratings (4 and up) in reporting and pricing. Its direct deposits that take longer than two days, lack of expert advisers on staff, and limited advanced HR functionalities (such as learning management and performance reviews) contributed to its low scores. However, users still like its affordability and intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate.
OnPay’s intuitive interface allows you to easily toggle between employee PTO view options and approve/disapprove requests. (Source: OnPay)
OnPay Overview
SurePayroll: Best for Small Businesses Looking for a DIY Option
Overall Score:
3.70 / 5
Pros
- Affordably priced
- Offers a full-service plan and a basic option with do-it-yourself (DIY) tax filings
- Unlimited and automatic pay runs
- Has pre-employment screening solutions that include background checks and online skills testing
Cons
- Charges additional fees for Ohio/Pennsylvania local tax and multiple state tax filings
- Software integrations are limited and cost extra
- Lacks online onboarding
- Basic HR tools
SurePayroll Plans & Pricing
- Self-service “No Tax Filing” plan: $19.99 monthly + $4 per employee
- Requires do-it-yourself (DIY) tax filings
- Full-service package: $29.99 monthly + $5 per employee
Add-ons
- Multistate tax filings: $9.99 per month
- Ohio/Pennsylvania local tax filings: $9.99 per month
- Accounting integration: $4.99 per month
- Time clock integration: $9.99 per month
Small businesses with only a handful of employees can benefit from using SurePayroll’s self-service DIY plan. Its low-cost “No Tax Filing” option (priced at $19.99 plus $4 per employee monthly) not only saves you money but also provides the tools you need to calculate earnings/deductions and pay employees—provided you’re willing to handle tax payments and filings yourself. It also provides access to employee benefits plans, pre-employment screening, and state new hire reporting tools. For employers who don’t want DIY tax filings, SurePayroll has a full-service package that takes the hassle out of remitting tax payments and submitting tax forms, including year-end reports. It can even handle the payroll and tax administration needs of household employers, making it our top-recommended nanny payroll service.
Scoring 3.70 out of 5, SurePayroll’s pricing, reporting capabilities, and pay processing tools helped boost its ratings. However, its limited payment and integration options prevented it from getting a higher score in our evaluation. It also didn’t help that its average number of user reviews on Capterra and G2 is below 500 as of this writing, which pulled its user popularity rating down. Although, this doesn’t mean that SurePayroll isn’t highly regarded by its actual users. Many reviewers left positive feedback online that highlighted its user-friendly interface, affordability, and good customer support as its best features.
With SurePayroll, you can process payroll for hourly, salaried, and contract employees in just one pay run. (Source: SurePayroll)
SurePayroll Overview
HR vs Payroll Software: What’s the Difference?
While some of the systems we considered have basic HR features along with payroll, others have core HR products that are pretty robust and allow you to add on payroll services. To help you find the right solution for your business, it’s useful to see the differences in the software types and when each might be your best fit.
How We Chose the Best Human Resources Payroll Software
We selected human resource payroll software that processed paychecks for hourly, salaried, and contract workers and can handle direct deposits and checks. We also looked for solutions that can calculate deductions and tax withholdings, file tax reports, and provide basic payroll reports. Lastly, all the companies we reviewed either include HR tools in their payroll system or have HR products that work with their payroll module.
Click through the tabs below for a more detailed breakdown of our evaluation criteria.
35%
HR Features
20%
Payroll Features
20%
Ease of Use
15%
Pricing
5%
Reporting
5%
Popularity
35% of Overall Score
We looked for HR services and functions like online onboarding, state new hire reporting, self-service portals, and a staff of expert advisors. We also gave additional points to software providers offering health insurance available in all 50 states and advanced HR solutions like hiring, compensation, learning, and performance management.
20% of Overall Score
We gave the most credit to solutions that process direct deposits in two days or less, have multiple payment options, handle year-end tax reporting, manage tax payments and filings (federal, state, and local taxes), and offer a penalty-free guarantee.
20% of Overall Score
We looked for features that make the software easy to use, such as having an interface that’s intuitive and customizable. Extra points were given to providers that offer integration options, set-up assistance, live phone support, and a dedicated representative.
15% of Overall Score
We checked to see if the provider has transparent pricing, zero setup fees, and multiple plan options with unlimited pay runs. We also gave additional points to those with plans that cost $1,200 or less per year for 10 employees.
5% of Overall Score
Preference was given to software with built-in basic payroll reports and customization options.
5% of Overall Score
We considered online user reviews—including those of our competitors like G2 and Capterra—based on a 5-star scale, wherein any option with an average of 4+ stars is ideal. Also, software with 1,000 or more reviews on third-party sites is preferred.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
A platform that has a combination of HR and payroll functions not only streamlines processes but also provides a unified database to store employee information. It can make tasks like onboarding, benefits administration, and performance reviews easier to handle since you don’t have to use separate systems to manage HR functions.
We found that Gusto offers the essential human resource and payroll features that small businesses need. While its health insurance is not available in all states, businesses located in areas where it does offer health plans can take advantage of its affordable pricing and intuitive interface with solid payroll and HR tools. Sign up for a Gusto plan today.
