Best Payroll Software for Mac Users 2020

It’s not always easy for Mac users to find software that’s compatible with their operating system, and when it comes to payroll software, some options are off limits. Mac users looking for payroll software have the option of some specific stand-alone programs or cloud-based payroll applications.

We verified seven programs that work with Mac. The stand-alone software ranges from $200 to $500 a download, plus an annual fee or reload for updated tax tables. Cloud-based software are accessible through any device and remain up-to-date, but they require monthly fees.

7 Top Payroll Software for Mac Users

All of the Mac payroll software we reviewed can manage salary and hourly wages, making it easy for you to do payroll. Most handle tips and commission, plus calculate deductions for taxes, Social Security, and benefits. The best file taxes or at the very least help you prepare the reports.

Overall, we found Gusto to be the best because its plans are cost effective for the features it provides. Cloud-based, Gusto works equally well for Mac and PC, and it automatically files your taxes. Still, be sure to assess your business’ core needs before choosing a payroll provider.

Gusto Payroll: Best Overall Mac OS Payroll Software

Gusto is a popular cloud-based payroll program, which means Mac users can take advantage of its features as well. With a wide range of plans, it’s cost-effective if you only work with contractors (there’s no base monthly fee) yet robust enough to handle complex business needs, including onboarding support and HR consulting. Plans run from $39 per month + $6 per employee to $149 per month + $12 per employee with a full HR package.

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Gusto Pricing

Gusto charges $6 per independent contractor for payments, record-keeping, and 1099 filing. If you have wage-earning employees, then the prices start at $45 per month for one employee.

Gusto Features

• Ease of use: Modern and intuitive interface, a searchable support center, and video guides.
• Payroll features: Unlimited payrolls, direct deposit or checks, garnishments for child support in 49 states. Employees can access funds between paydays.
• Tax compliance: Automatic payroll tax filing; tracks changing tax laws, updating calculations as needed.
• Customer service: Get live chat during setup, customer support via email, and phone service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time.
• Software integration: Syncs with Xero, TSheets, QuickBooks online, Clover, to name a few.
• Reviews: 4.8 of 5 stars. Gusto users say it’s easy for employers and employees to use. The few complaints involve glitches or problems with slow response to issues.

For more about Gusto’s features and real user experiences, check our Gusto review.

Rippling: Best Payroll Software for Mac OS for Integrations

Rippling offers highly adaptable payroll software. It begins with a general employee management platform for basic management functions then requires the payroll add-on. It’s easy to use, cloud-based, offers integrations, and starts at $8 per employee per month.

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Rippling Pricing

Rippling works on an a la carte system, with prices starting at $8 per employee, per month, and increasing depending on what modules you need. You must get the Employee Management Platform to begin. You must call for a quote to design a program specific to your needs.

Rippling Features

• Employee Management Platform: Onboarding, database, task management, document and workflow management.
• Ease of use: Intuitive platform, automations, unified database with HR
• Payroll features: Direct deposit, paychecks; employee portal for pay stubs, PTO requests; time tracking; reimbursements and other pay types; deductions from insurance to 401(k); global pay runs.
• Tax compliance: Automatic federal, state, and local tax filing.
• Customer service: The online help center requires a login. Help Desk support lets you call or email certified HR professionals.
• Software integration: Mobile app integrates with over 500 apps.
• Reviews: Rippling earned between 4.2 and 4.9 out of 5 stars on various sites. Users raved about the interface. One complaint was that some information, such as salary, should be defaulted to private.

To learn more about Rippling’s features, check our Rippling review.

Aatrix Payroll: Best Mac OS Payroll Software for the Budget-Conscious

Aatrix offers payroll software “designed by Mac users for Mac users.” It offers two plans for payroll and two options for filing taxes. At $259 per year, it’s one of the most affordable payroll solutions for Mac. While not cloud-based, it is updated regularly and has the latest tax tables.

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Aatrix Pricing

Aatrix provides downloadable software with a subscription to its tax-table service. There are two programs: the Top Payroll program and the Ultimate program. Both cost $259, with the Ultimate program having more features but fewer tax tables. Regardless, it is one of the most affordable options for Mac payroll software. There’s also a free demo.

• Tax filing costs between 99 cents to $1.99 per employee per filing, with a minimum spend of $24.95.
• If you purchase Aatrix’s Payroll Reports for Mac software for $79.95 annually, the W2 filing is reduced to 69 cents to $1.29 per employee, also with a minimum spend of $24.95.

Aatrix Features

• Ease of use: Aatrix has a straightforward interface, a knowledge base with illustrated articles, and some training videos.
• Payroll processing: Track hours and PTO, automatically calculate deductions and liability payments, handle tips and business reimbursements; Direct deposit and check payment options; Aatrix Ultimate Payroll includes business forms related to payroll and employee management.
• Tax compliance: Aatrix Print & Mail Payroll Reports completes over 330 state and federal reports from your payroll data; manual tax filing.
• Customer service: Support plans run $99 to $995 per year, or you can call support for $40 for the first 10 minutes + $4 each additional minute, or pay $15 per email question.
• Reviews: There are few reviews online, but they all said the software is easy to use and does the job well.

To learn more about Aatrix’s features, check out our Aatrix review.

ADP: The Best Payroll Software for Mac OS for International Businesses

ADP has over 70 years of experience in HR, benefits, and payroll. It’s a full-service payroll system with a cloud interface and international reach. It has plans for all sizes of businesses. Its software is feature-rich and accessible via the cloud, has automations, multi-level payroll reporting, and built-in compliances.

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ADP Payroll Pricing

ADP offers two payroll plans for small businesses. The Small Business Payroll is recommended for up to 50 employees, although it can work for more. Its prices are listed below, with the first three months free.

The Full-Service Payroll Plan is recommended for businesses with over 50 employees because it includes the Affordable Care Act compliance. That plan is priced a la carte by services and number of employees. Call for a quote.

ADP Payroll Features

• Ease of use: Clear interface, intelligent technology to flag possible errors.
• Payroll features: Direct deposit, checks, pay cards; employee portal for viewing pay and filling out forms.
• Tax compliance: Automated calculations and tax withholdings, filing, and state and federal forms.
• Customer service: Online, there are a lot of articles and insights, but no how-to guides. There is a help button in the program.
• Software integration: Integration with time tracking and accounting software.
• Reviews: Our user-reviewers give ADP 4.2 out of 5 stars. They find it easy to use and like having all their payroll and HR tools in one spot. However, they say customer service is not good, with long delays, unhelpful representatives, and often being transferred from service rep to service rep.

Find out more about ADP Payroll’s features, check our ADP review.

CheckMark Payroll: Best Mac OS Payroll Software for Businesses With Multiple Payrolls

CheckMark offers a downloadable payroll program (not cloud-based) for Mac OS that lets you run unlimited payroll and prepare tax reports. It does not automatically file for you. It charges for customer support plans and cloud backup and requires you to purchase the software each year to get current tax tables. Prices start at $429 a download.

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CheckMark Payroll Pricing

CheckMark is a downloadable program. For $429, you get the program, 90 minutes of support every 12 months, and online access to program fixes. For $499, you get the program, 300 minutes of support, an exclusive help line number, reduced data recovery rates, online access to program fixes, and a live support chat. You can add cloud backup for $59 a year or $6 a month. There’s a free 60-day trial.

CheckMark Payroll Features

• Ease of use: Clear interface, online tutorials, and a payroll manual under the Help menu plus a knowledge base.
• Payroll features: Unlimited payrolls, timecard import; cash, check, or direct deposit; multiple incomes and deductions, including 401(k), additional income, garnishments including child support.
• Tax compliance: Tax tables are updated the first year, then it updates tax rates as program patches throughout the year. For an annual fee, it monitors IRS forms and tax tables. Print forms; e-file available in most states.
• Customer service: Support options are in the packages. Technical support is available by phone or email.
• Software integration: Integrates with QuickBooks.
• Reviews: Our user reviewers give it 4 out of 5 stars. Users say it’s easy to use and appreciate the flat price for unlimited use. However, others don’t like that you have to purchase a new license each year to get the updated tax tables.

Read our CheckMark review to learn more about CheckMark Payroll’s features.

SurePayroll: Best Payroll Software for Mac OS for Small or Microbusinesses

While SurePayroll lets you run unlimited payrolls, it focuses on small and micro-businesses, even homes that hire nannies or other full-time housekeeping staff. Prices start at $19.99 +$4 per employee, per month, but you need the more expensive plan if you want automatic tax filing. It takes four days from filing a payroll run for employees to be paid, but you can access all features via the cloud.

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SurePayroll Pricing

SurePayroll’s self-service plan runs $19.99 + $4 per employee, per month, but does not cover tax filing. The full-service plan costs $29.99 + $5 per employee per month. It charges extra for certain integrations and functions like expedited payroll. It charges for software integrations. There’s a two-month free trial.

SurePayroll Features

• Ease of use: Large, modern interface and thorough library of how-to videos.
• Payroll features: Direct deposit and checks, split payment capabilities, unlimited payroll, automatic payroll, employee portal, time tracking through integrations; expedited payroll for an additional fee.
• Tax compliance: Local taxes cost an additional $9.99 per month. No-penalty tax filing guarantee with the full-service plan and a tax calculation guarantee with the self-service plan.
• Customer service: Live chat on weekends and evenings plus online videos on its YouTube channel.
• Reviews: Reviews on Sure Payroll run hot and cold. Our user-reviewers give it 2.3 stars, while reviewers elsewhere rate it 4.3 of 5 stars. Ease-of-use was the main praise, while complaints covered customer service and add-on charges.

To learn more about SurePayroll’s features, check our SurePayroll review.

Intuit Payroll: Best Payroll Software for Mac OS for Experienced QuickBooks Users

QuickBooks Payroll does not work on Mac. If you are using QuickBooks for Mac and want payroll software, consider Intuit Online Payroll. It works for up to 150 employees with one employer identification number (EIN) per account, is cloud-based, and will export to QuickBooks for Mac. Intuit also has a full-service payroll solution that includes tax filing.

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Intuit Payroll Pricing

Intuit Payroll has two plans: Intuit Online Payroll and Intuit Full-Service Payroll. Full Service is best for people who lack accounting experience or don’t have a lot of time. Intuit Online runs $50 per month + $4 per employee, per month. Full-Service runs $109 per month + $4 per employee per month. You can get the first month free and a 20% discount for the first six months.

Intuit Payroll Features

• Ease of use: QuickBooks in general gets high marks for ease of use. Intuit Payroll users say the navigation flows smoothly and that once the information is set up, they could get payroll approved in as little as 16 seconds.
• Payment features: Create paychecks, pay with direct deposit (free), view paycheck history, download reports to import into QuickBooks for Mac.
• Tax compliance: E-pay taxes and e-file forms; Intuit Full-Service will file taxes with no-penalty guarantee.
• Software integration: Integrates with Intuit TSheets for timecards and QuickBooks accounting software.
• Reviews: The mobile app has 4.3 out of 5 stars on the Apple store. Reviews of the software itself vary wildly. Those that love it praise its ease of use. Many recent reviews say that customer service has plummeted, and there are problems with refunds and continued billing after they leave the service.

To learn more about Intuit Payroll, contact Intuit Sales.

Bottom Line

Having a Mac shouldn’t limit your payroll options. There are plenty of online payroll software services that are easily accessible using Mac OS or iOS. In addition, several companies offer stand-alone programs. All cover the basics of tracking payroll. Which is best for you depends on your needs.

That said, we believe Gusto is the best overall payroll software for Mac users. Cloud-based, it’s accessible anywhere through any device, offers a wide range of affordable plans, and is highly regarded by users. Starting at $45 monthly for one employee or $6 a month for one contractor it’s a great option for small businesses that want quality services at affordable prices.