Best Paychex Alternatives (2026)

Enterprise-grade payroll and HR that scales. RUN Powered by ADP is the 1–49 product (quote-based packages); Workforce Now is 50+. Optional dedicated support for growing and multi-state businesses.

ADP is the pick when you need to scale past payroll-only tools. For most small businesses the product is RUN Powered by ADP (1–49 employees, four packages, quote required). Workforce Now is ADP’s 50+ platform. Pricing is not a public RUN dollar card. For a very small crew that only needs payroll, Gusto, OnPay, or SurePayroll are often simpler; for growing businesses that want payroll plus HR infrastructure, ADP is a top option.

All-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR with transparent pricing and a modern interface. Strong for small businesses and contractors.

Gusto is our top pick for most small businesses and growing teams. It combines payroll, benefits, and HR in one platform with published pricing—no sales call required. Setup is straightforward, tax filing is automatic, and contractor support is built in. If you want a single place to run payroll, offer benefits, and manage onboarding, Gusto is the default choice.

Straightforward payroll with flat pricing and no tier maze. Good for small teams that want simplicity and predictable costs.

OnPay stands out for value and clarity. One main plan, base-plus-per-person pricing you can see upfront, and solid payroll plus benefits without the complexity of tiered plans. It's a strong alternative to Gusto if you want similar ease of use with a simpler pricing structure. Support is included, and it works with any accounting software.

Payroll combined with HR, benefits, and IT device management in one modern platform. Strong for growing companies that want one system for people operations.

Rippling is the pick when you want payroll plus HR and IT in a single, automation-heavy platform. It suits growing companies that need onboarding, app provisioning, and device management alongside pay runs—not just a payroll-only tool. Pricing is typically custom; compare with Gusto or OnPay if you want simpler published rates and a narrower feature set.