SurePayroll vs Paychex: Which Is Best for Your Business?
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.
Karina Fabian writes and reviews business software, services, and topics for starting a business, startups, and small businesses. She has more than seven years of business writing experience.
This article is part of a larger series on Payroll Services.
Even though SurePayroll and Paychex are both Paychex solutions, they are very different in offerings, especially in interfaces, and serve different customer bases. SurePayroll is less expensive and focused on smaller businesses with simpler needs, while Paychex can get pricey but grows with a business, from startup to large corporation. It can even work as a professional employer organization (PEO), taking on all your HR and payroll needs.
- SurePayroll: Best for startups, household payroll, and businesses on a tight budget
- Paychex: Best for solopreneurs and businesses that expect to grow into larger corporations and may want to go from simple payroll to full PEO services
Paychex vs SurePayroll At-a-Glance
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Startups, household employers, budget-minded businesses | Growing businesses, businesses needing HRIS + payroll |
Monthly fee | $19.99 + $4/employee or $24.99 + $5/employee | $39 + $5/employee (Paychex Flex Essentials); other plans require a quote |
Unlimited pay runs | ✓ | ✕ |
Pay types | Direct deposit | Direct deposit, pay card, check signing services |
Federal, state, and local taxes | With higher plan (local tax filings cost extra in OH and PA) | ✓ |
Health insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
Time tracking | ✕ | ✓ |
PTO management | ✕ | ✓ |
Employee app | 2.6 out of 5 on Android 4.7 out of 5 on iOS | 4.2 out of 5 on Android 4.8 out of 5 on iOS |
Onboarding | Limited | ✓ |
State New Hire reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
Benefits for accountants | Referral bonus, discount pricing, dedicated representative, firm account with 10 clients | Access to continuing education courses and resources |
Integrations | Accounting, time tracking | Accounting, hiring, time tracking, POS, banking |
HR tools | HR forms, compliance posters and access to an adviser ($9.99 monthly) | Hiring to retiring; learning management; access to advisers |
Payroll specialist | ✕ | ✓ |
Customer support | Phone, chat, email 7 a.m.–8 p.m. CT Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m. CT Sat | 24/7 phone, email, chat |
SurePayroll or Paychex may not be the best payroll solution for everyone. If you aren’t sure what to look for, read our guide on how to choose the right payroll service for your business.
You can find out more about how the two compare in our buyer’s guides.
When to Use Each
Best for Affordability: SurePayroll
| | |
|---|---|---|
Free plan/trial | Sometimes offers 2–3 months free | Sometimes offers 2–3 months free |
Minimum monthly fee | $19.99 + $4 per person* | $39 + $5 per person |
Maximum monthly fee | $29.99 + $5 per person | Call for quote |
Contract length | Annual | Annual |
Unlimited pay runs | ✓ | ✕ |
R&D tax credits | N/A | ✓ |
Workers’ comp fees | Call for quote | Call for quote |
Benefits broker integration fee | Call for quote | Call for quote |
Benefits fees | Call for quote | Call for quote |
401(k) savings | Call for quote | Call for quote |
529 college savings | Call for quote | Call for quote |
International fees | N/A | Call for quote |
Add-ons | Multiple state filing: $9.99/month Local tax filing: $9.99/month Time clock integration: $9.99/month Stratustime integrated time clock: $5/month + $3/employee/month Accounting integration: $4.99/month | Call for quote |
For simple payroll, SurePayroll is the obvious winner. While it does not post its pricing on the website and, like Paychex, says to call for a quote, we found pricing for its two plans:
- No Tax Filing ($19.99 + $4 per employee, per month): This includes unlimited payroll runs, four-day direct deposit, auto-payroll, benefits processing, and an employee portal. It calculates your taxes, but you need to handle paying taxes yourself.
- Full-Service Payroll ($29.99 + $5 per employee per month): This has everything in the other plan, plus two-day direct deposit and tax filing with a No Penalty Tax Filing Guarantee.
Additional fees include multistate tax filing, integrations, and two-day direct deposit with the No Tax Filing tier.
What You Need to Know About Paychex Pricing
Paychex Flex starts at $39 + $5 per person, at least $11 per month more than SurePayroll, but it offers a greater range of features and a more modern interface. (The cheapest plan is also only good for up to nine employees.) However, for its higher plans, it—like SurePayroll—requires you to call for a quote, so it can get expensive.
Paychex’s pricing also depends on how many pay runs you do in a month, whereas SurePayroll allows unlimited pay runs. Paychex often offers a few months for free and discounted rates in the first year. This means you may see a price increase when it comes time to renew—and we’ve been told that it is negotiable.
Best for Payroll: Paychex
| | |
|---|---|---|
Contractors | ✓ | ✓ |
Hourly | ✓ | ✓ |
Salary | ✓ | ✓ |
Set multiple pay schedules | May cost extra | ✓ |
Direct deposit payout | Next day to 4 days, depending on plan | Next day to 4 days, depending on plan |
Pay card available | ✓ | ✕ |
Checks | ✓ | Manual |
Pay out of schedule | ✕ | ✓ |
Advances | ✓ | ✕ |
Compliance assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
State and federal taxes | ✓ | ✓ |
Local taxes | ✓ | Costs extra |
State and federal unemployment insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
Automatic payroll | ✓ | ✓ |
Time tracking | Add-on or third-party integration | Add-on or third-party integration |
PTO tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
Employee self-service portal | ✓ | ✓ |
Paychex has a very versatile system for creating and running payroll. You can even customize it so that you get access to the information you need in the format that is comfortable for you. I also like the many checks and balances it offers, such as automated compliance checking and a pre-check service which adds an additional review cycle for employers and employees. However, you can also set it to run in as little as two clicks when payroll is basic.
It’s overall more powerful than SurePayroll, as it also has check signing and stuffing, while SurePayroll only allows you to print manual checks. (It does send electronic pay stubs to employees, however.) Paychex also has a pay card option not found with SurePayroll.
One drawback to Paychex is that you do not get unlimited pay runs. You are charged by the run, so while you can set different schedules, you are better off financially putting everyone on the same schedule.
Paychex Flex has a bright, modern interface that’s user-friendly.
(Source: Paychex demo video)
When To Use SurePayroll
While more basic, SurePayroll is very easy to use. It, too, lets you run payroll in a matter of minutes and has an autorun feature if you have the same payroll each month. It also is the better option if you want to pay employees on different schedules, as it allows unlimited pay runs.
SurePayroll makes it easy to create and approve payroll.
(Source: SurePayroll demo video)
Best for Benefits: Tied
| | |
|---|---|---|
Workers’ comp | ✓ | ✓ |
401(k) | ✓ | ✓ |
Health benefits (Brokering) | ✓ | ✓ |
HSA/FSA | Through Paychex | ✓ |
Health benefits | Through Paychex | ✓ |
Additional benefits | Through Paychex | ✓ |
Through Paychex | ✓ | |
SurePayroll uses Paychex for benefits brokering, so it can offer the same things as Paychex. Some of the services you can expect are:
- Workers’ compensation: Through The Hartford, Guard Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Travelers, and other agencies
- Health, dental, vision insurance: From standard health insurance plans to health maintenance organization insurance plans and telehealth
- Spending accounts: HSAs, FSAs, 529 educational savings
- 401(k): Each has its own plan; SurePayroll is focused on small businesses, whereas Paychex has more options
- Other insurances: Through their workers’ comp agencies, they can also secure discounts for you on commercial auto, general liability, EPLI, and other coverage
One advantage Paychex has over SurePayroll is, if you choose the PEO option, then it will handle all your benefits management. Also, since it groups you in with its other PEO clients, it has the advantage of bigger plans and lower rates because its employee base is larger.
Best for HR Features: Paychex
| | |
|---|---|---|
Reports | Performance evaluation | Basic |
Hiring tools | Many | Some |
Onboarding tools | Many | Some |
State New Hire reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
Benefits management | ✓ | ✓ |
Compliance tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
HR assistance (creating policy) | ✓ | Access to a rep |
Access to HR representative | ✓ | ✓ |
Employee surveys | ✓ | ✕ |
Performance evaluation | ✓ | Personal development inventories |
Learning tools | ✓ | ✕ |
PEO option | ✓ | ✕ |
When comparing Paychex vs SurePayroll for HR support, Paychex is definitely the strongest choice. Its tools take you from hiring to retiring, and it offers access to HR professionals. In addition, if you prefer to outsource your HR, Paychex PEO can handle all your tasks for you. Here are a few HR features it offers:
- Hiring: From job posting to analysis of what your competitors offer, plus background checks, drug testing, and more
- Onboarding: Review and sign documents online
- Documents: Handbook builders, electronic forms, contact employees in-app for information and track dates to make sure documents are current
- Performance management: Review scheduling, templates, and online training
- Learning management: Over 500 training videos, AI-powered learning system that makes recommendations to employees, interactive learning games
- Compliance management: Dedicated safety representative, compliance tracking, and notifications
Keep in mind, however, that Paychex may charge extra for some services—so it can get expensive as you add features.
Paychex has HR tools to help you throughout your employee’s time with your company.
(Source: Paychex demo video)
In addition, Paychex offers over 160 customizable reports that cover the gamut from payroll and job costing to compliance reports like Affordable Care Act reports or Equal Employment Opportunity reports. SurePayroll only offers some basic payroll reports.
When To Use SurePayroll
If you have your own HR team and just need a little help now and then or have a really small, simple business, SurePayroll does offer some tools. Its document library contains forms and templates, plus compliance posters. You can also pay to gain access to an HR Professional. Overall, it’s a cost-effective way to get some basic assistance.
SurePayroll offers multiple HR documents and forms for download.
(Source: SurePayroll demo video)
Best Mobile App: Paychex
| | |
|---|---|---|
Payroll approval | ✓ | ✓ |
Editing payroll (manager) | ✓ | ✓ |
Change profile information (employee) | ✓ | ✓ |
View paychecks, benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
Track PTO | ✓ | ✓ |
Time tracker | ✓ | ✕ |
Employee app | 4.2 out of 5 on Android 4.8 out of 5 on iOS | 2.6 out of 5 on Android 4.7 out of 5 on iOS |
Employer app | Same app; permissions give employer features | 3.2 out of 5 on Android 4.8 out of 5 on iOS |
When comparing SurePayroll vs Paychex in this category, Paychex takes the lead because its mobile app is more highly rated on both Android and iOS. Unlike SurePayroll, which has separate apps for employers and employees, the functions on its Flex app depend on the permissions you are granted. Thus, managers can edit and approve payroll and see their own paycheck and information on the same application.
Managers can also access employee profiles, pay slips, tax documents, and health enrollment information. Meanwhile, employees can look at pay stubs, tax forms, PTO balances, and their own information. Paychex Flex is even one of our best payroll apps for small businesses.
SurePayroll’s Mobile Apps
SurePayroll, meanwhile, offers two payroll apps. Both are highly rated on iOS but not great for Android, with lots of complaints about login issues and the app crashing.
For Employers
Managers can use the employer app to edit and approve payroll and view reports on earnings, taxes, deductions, and year-to-date totals. They can also access employee contact information and payroll reports.
SurePayroll’s employer app lets you edit and approve payroll. (Source: Google Play)
For Employees
SurePayroll’s employee app has the most common functions found in mobile payroll apps. This includes 1) handling payroll information; 2) viewing paycheck details, taxes, deductions, and PTO use and totals; and 3) checking wage rates and retirement contributions.
View paychecks, profile information, and deductions on SurePayroll’s employee app.
(Source: Google Play)
Best for Ease of Use & Customer Support: Paychex
| | |
|---|---|---|
Onboarding help | ✓ | ✓ |
Integrations | Accounting, hiring, time tracking, POS, banking | Accounting, time tracking |
UI | Modern | Somewhat dated |
Proactive compliance support* | ✓ | ✕ |
Live support | 24/7 phone, email, chat | Phone, email, chat (hard to contact live support) |
Online help articles | ✓ | FAQs (in-app help) |
Video tutorials | ✓ | ✓ |
Advanced training* | Webinars, classes | ✕ |
Advanced support* | ✓ | ✓ |
User reviews (averaged across multiple sites) | 4.12 out of 5 | 4.16 out of 5 |
User customer support rating (from Capterra) | 3.9 out of 5 (recent reviews are primarily 3–5 star) | 4.0 out of 5 (recent reviews are 1–2 star) |
*May cost extra
Real-world users say Paychex is easy to use and follow, particularly for employers, whereas employees complained about problems with logging in and using the time clock. The custom interface and wide range of integrations make it a versatile product, and it has dedicated representatives and additional assistance (such as help setting up your tax accounts if you are a household employer).
You’ll see in the chart above that its customer support rating is lower than SurePayroll; however, as we dug in, we saw a marked difference in support ratings come the post-COVID-19 pandemic. Paychex has done a much better job recently than SurePayroll, earning 3–5 stars from users, whereas SurePayroll most often earned only one.
What You Need To Know About SurePayroll’s Ease of Use
SurePayroll’s interface looks older but is still easy to follow—and most real-world users did not have many complaints about it. It does not offer the plethora of integrations that Paychex does, although it can integrate with time tracking and accounting software.
SurePayroll has more demo videos on its YouTube channel than Paychex and offers how-to tips on the software itself. However, its online knowledge base consists of general knowledge articles and FAQs, many of which say contact customer service.
Unfortunately, its customer service has gone downhill in the past couple of years. While its lifetime score is 4 out of 5, the ratings from 2021 and 2022 are mostly one star or zero. Clients complained of hold times lasting hours, support representatives providing unhelpful solutions, and generally feeling left on their own.
Bottom Line
Both Paychex and SurePayroll are good payroll services, and since SurePayroll is part of the Paychex family, they offer similar benefits. SurePayroll is less expensive and more limited in what it offers, however. Thus, if you are budget-minded, have simple needs, or are a household employer, SurePayroll is the better choice.
Paychex, meanwhile, offers more for SMBs while still being accessible to solopreneurs and startups. If you are a growing business that may need a wider range of tools in the future, it is the system that can grow with you. At any time, in fact, you can transition to a full PEO and let them handle all your payroll and HR work for you. Contact a Paychex representative to discuss your needs and get a quote to get started.
