8 Best Human Resources Payroll Software

Plans

• Simple: $49 per month + $6 per person per month
• Plus: $80 base fee + $12 per employee monthly
• Premium: Custom priced
• Contractor-only payroll plan: $35 base fee + $6 per contractor monthly
• • Includes full-service payroll, four-day direct deposits, and state new hire reporting

Add-ons

• Gusto Global (EOR services): $599 per employee per month (limited time offer until 12/31/24; then $699 per employee per month)
• 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
• R&D tax credits: 15% of identified tax credits
• Health insurance and other benefits: Pricing varies by benefit

• Unlimited and automatic payroll runs: Unlike Paychex or ADP, Gusto lets you run payroll as many times as you need without having to pay extra. Plus, its AutoPilot, feature lets you process your payroll automatically each pay period and rivals similar tools like ADP Run.
• Simple to set up and use: Gusto’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for you to navigate through its different features. System setup also doesn’t require any coding knowledge. Its online setup wizard guides you through the steps of creating your company account and adding employees so you can start paying staff faster.
• Gusto-managed employee benefits: With Gusto as your broker, implementing employee benefits is easier compared to integrating your existing broker and health plans into Gusto’s system. This also saves you from paying Gusto’s fee for health insurance broker integration ($6 per eligible employee monthly). Plus, you get a wide range of options, such as commuter benefits, HSA/FSA, retirement plans, and financial management tools via its free Gusto Wallet app.
• Hiring tools in all plans: Unlike Rippling, Paychex, and TriNet HR Platform which offer hiring tools as a paid add-on or ADP Run that includes this in its highest tier, all of Gusto’s plans come with recruiting features. Gusto also lets you onboard and offboard employees, run analytic reports, and conduct online surveys to measure employee engagement and improve company culture and staff morale.

Gusto offers an efficient payroll system, but its HR tools aren’t as extensive as the other providers on our list. Plus, its health insurance isn’t available in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming (as of this writing).

We recommend these alternative HR payroll systems if you want an all-around solution and benefits that are available in all US states.

Better for: Multiple employee payments with strong payroll support	Better for: Process automation across HR, payroll, expense reporting, and IT solutions	Better for: Flexible HR payroll tools with legal advice & HR consulting services
Visit Paychex Flex	Visit Rippling	Visit ADP Run

Plans

• Paychex Flex Essentials: $39 base fee + $5 per employee monthly
• Paychex Flex Select: Custom-priced
• Paychex Flex Pro: Custom-priced

For solopreneurs and the self-employed

• Paychex Solo: Custom-priced
• • Includes payroll, self-employed 401(k), and incorporation services

• Multiple payment options: Paychex Flex can pay your employees through direct deposits, pay cards, paper checks, and same-day ACH transfers. It offers check signing and stuffing services, and similar to ADP Run and TriNet HR Platform, a pay-on-demand feature that grants employees access to earned wages in between paydays.
• Employee benefits: In addition to retirement, FSA/HSA, and health insurance, Paychex offers financial wellness tools—the other HR and payroll solutions we reviewed don’t have this (except Gusto), Plus, its health insurance is available in all states unlike Gusto that only offers benefits plans in 38 states + DC.
• HR tools: Paychex’s HR solution suite is similar to that of ADP but stronger than those of Square Payroll, OnPay, QuickBooks Workforce, and Gusto. These four mainly offer onboarding, document management, and new hire reporting functionalities, although Gusto also provides performance review tools. Paychex has all these features and more, such as learning management and PEO services.
• Strong support: Paychex assigns a highly trained payroll specialist to its clients to serve as their single point of contact for everything related to pay and tax processing. Plus, if you choose its PEO services, Paychex can help handle payroll compliance and other employee-related issues for you. It also provides 24/7 phone support with customer service reps that are all US-based.

Paychex Flex may have an HR payroll system that can handle both employee and contractor payments, but it lacks the separate contractor-only payroll plan that similar providers offer. If your business only pays contract workers, consider the following payroll and human resources software.

Better for: Contractor self-service tools with a low-cost package for paying workers	Better for: Multiple contractor payment options with flat per-worker monthly fees	Better for: Contractor new hire reporting with an optional global payments add-on
Visit QuickBooks Workforce	Visit Square Payroll	Visit Gusto

Rippling works with its clients to create a custom package based on the features that they need. Monthly fees start at $8 per employee, per month. Note, however, that you have to purchase its core Rippling platform before getting any of its modules.

For an HR payroll platform with time tracking, software integrations, and onboarding/offboarding tools, we were quoted a monthly fee of $35 plus $8 per employee. You can add Rippling’s IT solutions for managing business apps and computer devices for $8 per employee, per module monthly. Benefits administration services are also available, but pricing varies depending on the insurance broker.

Here are some of its add-on solutions and services:

• Global payroll: $20 per employee or contractor monthly*
• EOR services: $599 per employee monthly*
• PEO services: Custom-priced
• HR help desk: Custom-priced
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) & COBRA administration: Custom-priced
• Expense management: Custom-priced
• Headcount planning: Custom-priced
• Learning management: Custom-priced
• Applicant tracking: Custom-priced
• Employee surveys: Custom-priced

*Pricing is based on a quote we received

• US and global payroll: For US-based companies, Rippling offers unlimited pay runs, direct deposit payments, payroll tax filings, and year-end reporting. If you need to pay and hire international employees, Rippling offers EOR services to help manage your global workforce.
• IT solutions: Rippling can track computer inventories and set up app accounts for new hires. For your resigning staff, Rippling automatically revokes system access on your employee’s last working day. It can even remotely lock devices and wipe data from computers.
• Extensive software integrations: Rippling is the only provider in this guide that connects with over 500 third-party apps. Given its extensive network of partner systems, it’s highly likely that the business software you’re using is included in its integration options.
• HR tools: Rippling has the hiring tools you need to find and screen qualified candidates. It offers applicant tracking, job postings, onboarding, new hire reporting, and learning management solutions. Rippling can also streamline the process of tracking approved headcount for new hires and ensure consistent compensation practices with salary bands.
• Flexible PEO service: Rippling offers PEO services if you’re looking for a co-employment option to help manage your day-to-day HR, payroll, and benefits processes. ADP, TriNet, and Paychex also have PEO solutions but lack Rippling’s flexible services, which allow you to easily turn off its PEO and transition to its HR platform with a click of a button.

Rippling’s wide range of solutions and services may be more than what small businesses can afford or need. If you have a limited budget and only want payroll, benefits, and basic HR, consider these alternatives.

Better for: Full-service payroll with essential tools for managing employees and onboarding	Better for: System permissions for delegating payroll and basic HR tasks	Better for: More affordable pricing with unlimited pay runs and time tracking tools
Visit Gusto	Visit OnPay	Visit Square Payroll

Plans

• Essential: $49 base fee + $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
• Health insurance: Custom-priced
• Retirement plan: Custom-priced

*Pricing is based on a quote we received

• Flexible plans with robust HR tools: ADP and Paychex both have plans and products for businesses of all sizes. However, the features included in ADP’s plans are slightly stronger than Paychex. It comes with salary benchmarks, a wide job posting reach (up to 25,000 job sites via ZipRecruiter), and legal assistance, such as consultations for contract review and debt collection through Upnetic Legal Services.
• Payroll processing: ADP Run automatically calculates earnings, deductions, and tax withholdings, and can even handle payroll for global employees. It remits payroll tax payments and files tax forms for you. However, it lacks a contractor-only plan—an option that Gusto, QuickBooks Workforce, and Square Payroll offer.
• Multiple payment options: Salaries are remitted to employee accounts via direct deposits and Wisely Direct debit cards. Secure paychecks with check signing and stuffing services are also available in ADP’s higher tiers. Aside from Paychex, the other providers in this guide don’t have similar paycheck services.
• Employee discount programs: ADP allows your staff to get discounted pricing from its partner brands and retail shops. This helps employees to increase financial security by saving on daily needs and, in turn, enables them to focus more at work and boost employee productivity.

ADP Run may have a wide suite of HR and payroll solutions, but it can be pricey for small businesses, especially those that pay on a weekly basis. Plus, its HR tools and services may be too much for startups. For HR payroll systems with more reasonable pricing, consider the following solutions.

Better for: Full-service payroll with essential tools for managing employees and onboarding	Better for: Managing costs with its flat fee monthly pricing; also great for delegating payroll and basic HR tasks	Better for: More affordable pricing with unlimited pay runs and time tracking tools
Visit Gusto	Visit OnPay	Visit Square Payroll

Plans

• Workforce Payroll: $50 per month + $6.50 per employee monthly
• Workforce Premium: $88 per month + $10 per employee monthly
• Workforce Elite: $134 per month + $12 per employee monthly
• Contractor payments: $15 monthly for 20 workers, plus $2 per additional contractor

• Seamless integration with QuickBooks Accounting: QuickBooks Workforce connects with QuickBooks Accounting, which makes updating general ledgers after each payroll period easier.
• Fast direct deposits: QuickBooks Workforce processes direct deposits faster than the other providers on our list. It has same-day direct deposits included in its higher tiers and a next-day option as its standard processing timeline.
• Tax penalty protection: QuickBooks Workforce offers a tax accuracy guarantee and a tax penalty protection program. The first one covers penalties for late tax payments that its representatives make. The second option is only for its Elite plan subscribers, wherein QuickBooks will shoulder tax penalties (up to $25,000/year), regardless of who made the mistake. None of the providers on our list have a tax penalty protection program as strong.
• Basic HR services: You get time tracking tools and HR advisory services (provided through Mineral). Available for Elite plan subscribers, you can consult with certified HR professionals on critical HR issues either via phone or online. Benefits plans are also offered, but it lacks ADP’s employee benefits and Gusto’s and Paychex’s financial management tools.

QuickBooks Workforce’s HR features aren’t as advanced as the other providers in this guide. We recommend the following alternatives if you want more advanced HR tools:

Better for: Basic to advanced HR management (with a smart tool for tracking compliances)	Better for: Process automation across HR, payroll, expense reporting, and IT solutions	Better for: Flexible HR payroll tools with legal advice & HR consulting services
Visit TriNet HR Platform	Visit Rippling	Visit ADP Run

Plans

• Pay employees and contractors: $35 base fee + $6 per employee monthly
• Pay contractors only: $6 per contractor monthly

• Time tracking: Square Payroll captures staff clock-ins/outs directly through Square POS. If you don’t want to use its POS tool for time tracking, your employees can time in/out via the Square Team app and view their overtime hours, shift history, and more.
• On-demand pay via the Cash App: Similar to ADP, Paychex, and TriNet HR Platform, Square’s Cash App has an on-demand pay feature that enables employees to withdraw a portion of their earned wages in case of financial emergencies. Further, workers who use Square’s Cash App will receive their salaries instantly, even if paydays fall on weekends.
• Square POS integration: Given the seamless connection between Square Payroll and Square POS, you can easily import tips, commissions, and even employee time data for pay processing.

While it has a strong pay processing system, Square Payroll’s HR functionalities are relatively weak. If you need payroll software with HRIS features like onboarding and talent management, the following solutions are great alternatives.

Better for: Full-service payroll with essential tools for managing employees and onboarding	Better for: Solid pay runs with learning management tools to educate and develop employees	Better for: Process automation across HR, payroll, expense reporting, and IT solutions
Visit Gusto	Visit Paychex Flex	Visit Rippling

OnPay offers one plan, which costs $49 plus $6 per employee monthly. This includes access to all of its payroll, benefits, reporting, and basic HR features.

• Straightforward pricing: OnPay may not have multiple plans like the other HR software with payroll in this guide, but it offers a reasonably priced package. Providers like TriNet HR Platform appear to charge slightly lower monthly fees, but you actually end up paying more in a year, mainly due to either its high base monthly or per-employee fees.
• Niche payroll: For those with unique payroll and tax filing needs, such as farms and agricultural businesses, OnPay can file Form 943 and process taxes for workers on H-2A visas. OnPay can also handle payroll for churches, ministries, and non-profit organizations.
• PTO accrual policy: Apart from in-app PTO requests and approvals, OnPay allows you to add up to three PTO accrual rules for different factors, such as the employee type (hourly or salaried), work location, tenure, pay period, and a specific date (such start of the calendar year). The PTO policies of providers like Gusto and QuickBooks Workforce aren’t as flexible as OnPay’s.
• Pre-defined user roles: OnPay makes it easy for you to set up user permissions with its five user roles. Each comes with specific system restrictions and controls, so you only need to add the roles to the applicable employee profiles instead of manually setting up user permissions. For example, the Owner role has full view and edit access but the Approver role can only approve transactions and view employee profiles but can’t add and remove users.

OnPay is great if you require solid payroll tools and the essential HR features needed to manage employees and payroll compliances. However, if you prefer fast employee payments, we recommend:

Better for: Next-day direct deposits without having to upgrade to a higher plan	Better for: Square users that want to pay employees instantly via its Cash App	Better for: Same-day ACH transfers (plus you get dedicated payroll support)
Visit QuickBooks Workforce	Visit Square Payroll	Visit Paychex Flex

Plans*

• Essentials: $10 per employee monthly
• Growth: $20 per employee monthly
• Zen: $33 per employee monthly

Add-ons*

• Payroll: $6 per employee monthly (this is included for free in the Zen plan)
• HR advisory services: $8 per employee monthly
• Benefits administration if you have your own broker: $5 per employee monthly
• Recruiting (via JazzHR): Starts at $35 per month

*All plans and add-ons require at least five employees. Annual plans are also available with slightly lower rates.

• Feature-rich HR platform: Aside from processing payroll, its HR solutions can help onboard new hires, manage compensation plans, monitor performance reviews, and run employee surveys. However, it lacks the built-in hiring tools that Gusto offers in its higher tiers. Similar to Rippling and Paychex, you have to pay extra (monthly fees start at $35) to unlock its recruiting tools.
• Time and attendance tools in every plan: Time and attendance tools make it easy for you to capture actual employee time data for pay processing. Note that OnPay doesn’t have built-in time tracking tools, while Gusto and QuickBooks Workforce offer this in their higher tiers. Rippling, ADP, and Paychex also have time tracking functionalities, but as a paid add-on.
• Employee benefits: Aside from access to employee benefits options (like medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, and retirement plans), TriNet HR Platform comes with online tools to streamline benefits administration. You can use its partner brokers to manage your plans or pay a monthly fee ($5 per employee) to have your own broker administer your benefits.

TriNet HR Platform’s five-employee minimum for all its plans and add-ons can be a real downer for startups and very small businesses that employ fewer than five employees. Consider these alternative HR payroll systems if you want reasonably priced plans without headcount requirements.

Better for: Multiple employee payment options with payroll support	Better for: Full-service payroll with essential tools for managing employees and onboarding	Better for: Process automation across HR, payroll, expense reporting, and IT solutions
Visit Paychex Flex	Visit Gusto	Visit Rippling

This is the best of both worlds. Integrated HR payroll software operates payroll and HR functions together so that a change in one, such as adding a new employee, is reflected in the other—like getting the new employee’s information into the payroll. It can make it easier to do HR analysis, manage benefits, and prevent errors in employee information.

Straight payroll software handles the tasks of organizing and executing paying employees and filing taxes. It lets you track employee hours, wages, taxes, and deductions. Some print paychecks, while others remit salaries to pay cards or via direct deposits. It may have little to no HR support.

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If this is something that your business needs, read our guide to the best payroll software to see our top recommendations.

Payroll services handle all your payroll needs. You provide the information, and they run your payroll, ensure compliance, and get your people paid. Naturally, it’s more expensive than purchasing software—but you have the work done for you by payroll experts, and it may pay for itself in time with savings in HR labor costs. It might also be limited in HR support.

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Looking for a reliable provider? Check out our top payroll services guide for small businesses.