For Mac users, finding a software that’s compatible with their operating system (OS) can be challenging. When it comes to payroll software, some solutions may even be off-limits. In this guide, we looked at six payroll software that work with Mac. Some are stand-alone systems that cost anywhere from $250 to $500 a download, while others are cloud-based programs that require monthly fees that range from $8 to more than $50 per employee.
Top Payroll Software for Mac Users
Payroll Software for Mac | Best for |
---|---|
(Best overall) Small businesses (<100 employees) that work with contractors and need basic HR support | |
Companies needing flexible plans that scale with their business | |
Businesses wanting to integrate their current software and have tax filing automated | |
Small and microbusinesses needing a simpler payroll solution | |
QuickBooks users who employ up to 150 employees | |
Budget-conscious employers that don’t need cloud-based software |
How We Evaluated the Top 6 Payroll Software for Mac
We compared several reputable providers that offer Mac payroll software for managing salaries and hourly wages. We looked for essential features like automatic payroll runs, direct deposits, payroll tax calculations and filings, dedicated customer support, and the availability of basic and customizable payroll reports. Then, we rated each based on the following criteria:
25% of Overall Score
Aside from the low or high cost of monthly subscriptions (wherein anything below $50 per employee is best), we looked at whether the provider offered multiple plan options, unlimited payroll runs, and zero setup fees.
10% of Overall Score
The best payroll software includes at least simple HR tools, such as online onboarding, new hire reporting, and employee benefits (like health insurance plans and workers’ compensation) that are available in many U.S states. Plus, having access to HR experts and a self-service portal are also ideal.
25% of Overall Score
Automatic payroll runs, payroll tax processing (federal, state, and local), year-end tax report preparation and filing, and direct deposits within two days are just some of the essential functionalities that we looked at. We also checked whether or not the provider offered a penalty-free guarantee—in case they make a mistake when processing the client’s payroll.
5% of Overall Score
Aside from having access to basic payroll summaries, users should be able to customize and create new reports within the system.
25% of Overall Score
Having a payroll platform that’s intuitive and easy to learn is a must. We also looked at whether the provider offers how-to guides, live phone support, and a dedicated customer representative.
10% of Overall Score
We checked reviews that actual users left on third-party sites like G2, Capterra, and Software Advice.
Based on our evaluation criteria, we found Gusto to be the best because its plans are cost-effective for the features it provides. It offers unlimited payroll runs, online onboarding, good customer support, payroll tax filing, and a variety of payment options (such as direct deposits and pay cards). Still, be sure to assess your business’ core needs before choosing a payroll provider.
Gusto
PROS
- Inexpensive contractor-only payroll plan
- Variety of payment options, including payroll card and on-demand pay
- HR and payroll support in all plans with a highly rated customer service
CONS
- Not ideal for businesses with more than 100 employees
- Insurance benefits not offered in all US states
- Limited integration options; lacks performance and compensation management tools
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 4.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 4.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 4 | OUT OF | 5 |
Gusto offers a cloud-based payroll software that works well for both Mac and Windows computers. It can process paychecks for employees and contractors, plus its full-service payroll covers all US states.
Gusto also has a wide range of plans that come with basic to robust tools for payroll, employee onboarding, health insurance and workers’ compensation administration, employee offers, and document management. And, if you’re employing mostly contractors, then Gusto’s contractor-only package is the least expensive option in our list of best Mac OS payroll solutions—costing only $6 per person, per month.
Pricing
- Basic plan: $19 plus $6 per employee, per month (Beta plan for one to two employees)
- Core plan: $39 plus $6 per employee, per month
- Complete plan: $39 plus $12 per employee, per month
- Concierge plan: $149 plus $12 per employee, per month
- Contractor-only plan: $6 per person, per month
Gusto Features
- Unlimited payrolls, automatic pay runs, and multi-state processing
- Garnishments for child support in 49 states
- Multiple pay options (such as direct deposits, paper checks, and pay cards)
- Direct deposits include next-day, two-day, and four-day options
- Payroll tax calculations and payments (federal, state, and local), Form W-2s and 1099s, and automatic filings
- Paid time-off (PTO) policies, employee offers, and document management
- Workers’ compensation administration
- Health insurance available in 39 states
- PTO requests, time tracking, workforce costing, employee directory and surveys, and project tracking (available in higher tier plans)
- Employee self-service and onboarding tools
- Software integration options include FreshBooks, Xero, QuickBooks, TSheets, When I Work, Homebase, and Expensify
ADP Run
PROS
- Feature-rich with strong HR tools; includes tax payments and filing
- Flexible product plans
- 24/7 customer support
CONS
- Pricing for full-service payroll isn’t transparent
- ADP is feature-heavy for those wanting simple payroll
- Inconsistent customer support quality
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
ADP Run provides a suite of cloud-based payroll and human capital management solutions. It has products and plans for all sizes of businesses, providing you with a wide selection of packages to fit your company’s growing HR and payroll software needs.
Its small business payroll solution, called RUN Powered by ADP, is an ideal option for those who employ up to 49 employees. It has all of the basic functionalities that you need to process employee salaries and payroll taxes. It even includes several HR tools, like employee onboarding, workers’ compensation and health insurance administration, and new hire reporting. Plus, ADP Run comes with background checks, time and attendance management, and access to ZipRecruiter for posting open positions to over 100 job boards.
For pricing, you have to contact ADP to request a quote. We were quoted a fee of around $14 to $15 per employee, per month for its base program. You also have to pay extra to access time tracking, workers’ compensation, retirement plans, and health insurance administration.
However, if you want to handle payroll yourself, ADP has a DIY option with a fee that starts at $59 plus $4 per employee monthly. Ideal for those who employ up to 9 staff, this package includes unlimited pay runs, payroll tax filings, Form W-2s and 1099s, direct deposits, new hire reporting, and an employee portal for viewing pay stubs.
Pricing
- Call for pricing. We were quoted approximately $14–$15 per employee monthly when factoring in all payroll fees, including year-end reporting, excluding benefits and other products.
- Tiered pricing; four product plans
- DIY payroll option (for up to nine employees) starts at $59 plus $4 per employee monthly
ADP Run Features
- Unlimited pay runs and multiple pay options (direct deposit, pay check, and pay card)
- Payroll tax calculations and filings, generates and sends Form W-2s and 1099s, and automatic updates of state and federal tax laws (covers all US states)
- New hire reporting
- Access to ZipRecruiter, background checks, HR forms and documents, employer and employee training, legal assistance, and dedicated support (for higher tier plans)
- Paid add-ons for time tracking, workers’ compensation administration, retirement plans, and group health insurance options (available in 50 states)
- Employee self-service and onboarding tools
- PEO option
- Integration options include QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, SAP Success Factors, Workday, TSheets, Homebase, iCIMS, Docufree, OrgChart Now, Slack, and Pingboard
Rippling
PROS
- Works internationally; good for businesses with up to 1,000 employees
- Offers IT management of employee apps and devices; has an applicant tracking add-on
- More than 500 integrations options
CONS
- Payroll module isn’t available as a standalone product
- Limited advanced HR features (no compensation or performance management)
- Live phone support costs extra (HR help desk)
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 2.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
Rippling offers a suite of cloud-based solutions for managing staff information, documents, payroll, benefits, devices, and apps. Its base program is an employee management platform with full-service payroll as an add-on module. It also comes with automatic tax calculations and filings (federal, state, and local) and a global payroll functionality that lets you process salaries of employees and contractors located across the world.
What’s also great about Rippling is that it has robust integration options, allowing you and your employees to connect to more than 500 software. You can purchase a device management add-on that lets you buy, set up, secure, and monitor software and company devices (like computers and mobile phones) that are issued to employees.
However, pricing isn’t transparent and you have to contact Rippling to request a quote. Moreover, it doesn’t provide advanced HR tools that enable you to manage employee performance, training, and compensation.
Pricing
- Employee management (must purchase): $10 per employee monthly
- Payroll: $8 per employee monthly
- Employee benefits: $6 per employee monthly
- Flex HSA and FSA benefits: $6 per employee monthly
- HR Help Desk: $100 monthly
- Device management: $8 per employee monthly
- App management: $8 per employee monthly
- Applicant tracking: $6 per employee monthly
Rippling Features
- Unified employee database, onboarding and offboarding automation, electronic document management, customizable reporting, and task management
- Automated payroll and payroll tax filing, direct deposits and paychecks, job codes, and multiple pay rates
- Workers’ compensation and garnishments
- Form W-2, W-4, and 1099 and new hire filing
- Access to medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) plans with third-party broker support and online open enrollments
- FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits
- ACA and COBRA administration
- Applicant tracking
- HR help desk with one-on-one HR support
- IT tools for managing employee devices and apps
- Over 500 integration options that include TSheets, Homebase, When I Work, GoodHire, Checkr, SurveyMonkey, Greenhouse, Guru, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Slack, Asana, DocuSign, and Adobe Sign
SurePayroll
PROS
- Unlimited and automatic pay runs
- Affordable and transparent pricing
- Offers extended weekday evening and weekend support
CONS
- Charges add-on fees for multiple state filing
- Software integration costs extra; with limited options
- Lacks online onboarding
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 1.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
SurePayroll is an ideal payroll solution for small and microbusinesses, including household employers that want to pay their housekeeping staff and nannies. The provider offers a self-service payroll package (which costs $19.99 plus $4 per employee monthly) that includes unlimited payroll runs, payroll tax calculations, multiple pay rate and bonuses, direct deposits, and online pay stubs. However, you’ll have to handle tax filing yourself.
If you want automatic tax calculations, payments, and filings, then you may want to consider SurePayroll’s full-service plan (which is priced at $29.99 plus $5 per employee monthly). One of the advantages of this plan is that it offers a two-day payroll processing timeline. This is faster than the self-service package’s four-day timeline—although you can opt to upgrade that into a two-day option by paying $7.99 per month.
Pricing
- Self-service payroll: $19.99 plus $4 per employee monthly
- Full-service payroll: $29.99 plus $5 per employee monthly
- Multi-state filing: $9.99 per month
- Ohio and/or Pennsylvania local service tax filing: $9.99 per month
- Accounting software integration: $4.99 per payroll
- Timeclock software integration: $9.99 per month
- Access to its StratusTime integrated time clock: $5 plus $3 per employee monthly
SurePayroll Features
- Unlimited pay runs, automated payrolls, multiple pay rates and bonuses, and direct deposits
- Two-day and four-day payroll processing timelines
- Payroll tax calculations and filings
- Online pay stubs
- Wage garnishment calculations
- Workers’ compensation coverage and access to 401(k) plans and health insurance
- Live help with extended weekday evening and weekend support hours
- Integrates with accounting and timeclock software (contact SurePayroll to get information about its partner systems)
QuickBooks Payroll
PROS
- Free direct deposits
- Free support from payroll experts
- Mac users have two options for processing payroll
CONS
- Lacks a desktop payroll software for Mac
- Limited to 150 employees
- Inconsistent customer support quality
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.5 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 1.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 1.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 3.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 4 | OUT OF | 5 |
QuickBooks doesn’t have a desktop payroll software for Mac. Instead, what the provider offers are two online Mac payroll software, called QuickBooks Payroll for Mac and QuickBooks Online Payroll. Both are cloud-based, wherein the first solution integrates with QuickBooks for Mac (versions 2006 and higher). It can handle payroll for up to 150 employees and comes with instant paycheck calculations, free direct deposits, free support from payroll experts, and payroll tax payments and filings that cover multiple states.
Note that QuickBooks Payroll for Mac is one of the provider’s legacy products. It isn’t advertised online, but you can contact QuickBooks to request more information, including pricing details, about the said solution.
If you’re looking for full-service payroll, then you may want to consider QuickBooks Online Payroll. Compared to QuickBooks Payroll for Mac, it offers more features like automated taxes and forms, next-day and same-day direct deposit options, access to health benefits and 401(k) plans, and expert product support. You can also choose from three pricing plans that cost anywhere from $45 plus $4 per employee monthly to $125 plus $10 per employee monthly.
Pricing
- QuickBooks Payroll for Mac online payroll service: Call for pricing
- QuickBooks Online Payroll: Starts at $45 plus $4 per employee monthly
QuickBooks Payroll for Mac Features
- Instant paycheck calculations
- Pay and file taxes in multiple states
- Electronic tax payments and filings (available for federal and most states)
- Free direct deposits and support from payroll experts
- Email reminders (payroll-related)
QuickBooks Online Payroll Features
- Unlimited pay runs, automatic payroll, check payments, and next day direct deposits
- Automated payroll taxes and forms, including year-end filings
- 1099 electronic filings and payments
- Access to health benefits and 401(k) plans
- Online employee portal for viewing pay stubs, W-2s, and PTO balances
- Workers’ compensation administration, time tracking, and next-day direct deposits (for higher tier plans)
Aatrix
PROS
- Integrates with QuickBooks
- Handles multiple payrolls
- Access to a free time tracking program
CONS
- Not cloud-based
- Electronic tax filings costs extra
- Lacks employee benefits options and online onboarding
RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5 | OUT OF | 5 |
HR Features | 0.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Popularity | 2.5 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Reporting | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Payroll Features | 2.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
Ease of Use | 3.5 | OUT OF | 5 |
Unlike Gusto and most of the software mentioned in this article, Aatrix doesn’t offer a cloud-based solution. Instead, it provides downloadable software with a subscription to its tax-table service.
There are two programs, Top Pay and Ultimate Payroll. Each comes with direct deposit and check options, PTO tracking, payroll runs for unlimited number of employees, and free access to Aatrix’s “TimeCard” software for capturing employee time-ins/outs. Both programs cost $259.95 per year, with the Ultimate Payroll option having more features like small business forms (employee- and payroll-related) and a sample employee handbook.
Pricing
- Top Pay and Ultimate Payroll solutions for Mac: Both are free to download, provided you purchase Aatrix’s tax table service ($259.95 per year)
- E-filing services for W-2s, 1099s, and ACA 1095s: Fees range from 49 cents to $1.99 per employee, per filing (with a minimum spend of $24.95)
- Aatrix’s “Print and Mail Payroll Reports” tool: $79.95 per year
Aatrix Features
- Payroll processing for unlimited employees and departments, including contractors
- Automatic deduction calculations and liability payments
- Direct deposit and check payment options
- PTO and employee time tracking
- Automatic updater for tax table changes and tax form updates
- Access to a “Print and Mail Payroll Reports” tool that automatically completes more than 300 state and federal forms, including new hire reports, using your payroll data
- Small business forms (payroll and employee management related)
- Integrates with QuickBooks
Bottom Line
Just because you’re a Mac user doesn’t mean that you get limited access to payroll software. There are plenty of online payroll solutions that are easily accessible using Mac OS or iOS. Several software companies even offer stand-alone programs. All of these options have the basic tools you need to process employee salaries. What’s important is finding the best payroll service that can handle your company’s needs.
Based on our evaluation, we found Gusto to be the best overall payroll software for Mac users. With its cloud-based platform, you can easily access it through any device. It also offers reasonably-priced plans with fees that start at $39 plus $6 per employee monthly, plus a contractor-only option that costs $6 per person monthly. This makes Gusto an ideal option for small businesses that want quality services at affordable rates.
Robie Ann Ferrer contributed to this article
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