Gusto
4.8
Best overall
Best Payroll Software (2026)
If you run payroll for mixed teams, the best payroll software should handle employees and contractors accurately while reducing filing risk and manual correction work.
We compared payroll usability, compliance support, contractor handling, pricing, and integrations so the Key Takeaways shortlist is ready for final evaluation.
Compare shortlists in our payroll software comparisons, explore role-specific picks in best payroll software pages, and use payroll software guides before final vendor demos.
Updated for 2026
Our top picks
Best Payroll Software Picks
Why we picked each platform and who it fits.
Best overallGusto
4.8
Rating methodology
Scores reflect hands-on testing and research across pricing, features, ease of use, support, and fit for the category. Our recommendations are editorial—vendors don’t pay for higher ratings or placement.
How we review software →Free Trial
Free Plan
Integrations
Highlights
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.
Best for QuickBooks users
QuickBooks Payroll
4.6
Rating methodology
Scores reflect hands-on testing and research across pricing, features, ease of use, support, and fit for the category. Our recommendations are editorial—vendors don’t pay for higher ratings or placement.
How we review software →Free Trial
Free Plan
Integrations
Highlights
Payroll that runs inside QuickBooks so your books and pay runs stay in one place. Ideal if you already use QuickBooks for accounting.
QuickBooks Payroll is the obvious fit when you already run your books in QuickBooks. Payroll posts to the right accounts and jobs with no sync or export, and labor cost flows straight into job costing. Pricing is competitive at entry, and the workflow is seamless for anyone who lives in QuickBooks. If you're not on QuickBooks, other options often offer better standalone value.
Best value
OnPay
4.5
Rating methodology
Scores reflect hands-on testing and research across pricing, features, ease of use, support, and fit for the category. Our recommendations are editorial—vendors don’t pay for higher ratings or placement.
How we review software →Free Trial
Free Plan
Integrations
Highlights
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.
Other software we recommend
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.
Paychex is the full-service alternative: custom pricing, optional dedicated reps, and a reputation for hands-on support. If you want someone to guide you through compliance, benefits, and setup—rather than running everything yourself—Paychex is a strong choice. Compare with ADP if you're weighing two traditional providers.
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.
Wave pairs free accounting with a payroll add-on, which appeals to micro businesses and solopreneurs who want to keep monthly software cost low. It’s not as deep on HR and benefits as Gusto or Rippling—but for very small teams that already use Wave for books, it’s a practical path to run payroll without switching platforms.
Compare payroll software
Side-by-side at a glance.
| Software | Best for | Starting price | Payroll types | Standout feature | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Best overall | $49/mo | W-2, 1099 | All-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR; transparent pricing | Read review |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Best for QuickBooks users | $30/mo | W-2, 1099 | Native QuickBooks integration; job costing and books in one place | Read review |
| OnPay | Best value | $40/mo | W-2, 1099 | Flat pricing; one plan with no add-on maze | Read review |
| ADP | Best for larger teams | Custom pricing | W-2, 1099, multi-state | Scale and enterprise features; multi-country option | Read review |
| Paychex | Best for payroll + HR support | Custom pricing | W-2, 1099 | Dedicated support; compliance and benefits advisory | Read review |
| Rippling | Best for payroll + HR + IT | Custom pricing | W-2, 1099 | Payroll, HR, benefits, and IT in one platform | Read review |
| Wave Payroll | Best for micro businesses on Wave | Payroll add-on | W-2, 1099 | Free accounting plus payroll add-on | Read review |
More payroll software options
Additional payroll tools worth considering.
Simple payroll for businesses already using Square. Easy setup and straightforward pricing.
Affordable payroll for budget-conscious small businesses. Solid basics and low cost.
PEO-style payroll and benefits in one platform. Good for teams that want large-group benefits and compliance support.
Global contractor and employee payments, EOR, and compliant payroll in 150+ countries. Strong for distributed teams.
Simple small-business payroll with published Full Service pricing ($29/mo + $7 per employee). Part of the Paychex family.
How to choose payroll software
What to look for when you compare options.
Payroll types (W-2 / 1099 / mixed)
Most small businesses need both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Choose a platform that handles both with clear tax treatment and forms. If you're contractor-only or mixed, ensure 1099 support and contractor self-service are included.
Contractor support
Look for 1099 payment runs, automatic tax forms (e.g. 1099-NEC), and a contractor portal so subs can view pay stubs and documents. Some tools charge extra for 1099 e-file—check before you commit.
Tax automation
Full-service payroll should calculate, file, and deposit federal and state payroll taxes. Confirm that tax filing and deposits are included and that the provider takes responsibility for accuracy and deadlines.
HR and benefits features
If you offer health insurance or 401(k), choose a payroll provider that can run benefits and deductions in sync with payroll. Onboarding, compliance docs, and PTO tracking may be included or add-ons.
Integrations
Payroll should connect to your accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero) and optionally time tracking. Native integration is better than manual export. If you're deep in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Payroll keeps everything in one place.
Ease of use
Setup, running pay runs, and adding employees or contractors should be straightforward. Read reviews and try demos if possible. Modern tools like Gusto and OnPay are built for self-serve; ADP and Paychex offer more hand-holding with custom pricing.
Pricing transparency
Prefer published base + per-person pricing when you can budget upfront. Providers like ADP and Paychex use custom quotes—get a quote and compare total cost to Gusto or OnPay at your headcount.
Best payroll software by use case
Find payroll software that fits your situation.
Best for contractors
Contractors often run mixed W-2 and 1099 workforces, so payroll software has to handle contractor self-service, year-end forms, and clear per-job cost visibility without turning into a full enterprise suite. Tools that only target salaried employees can feel awkward for crews and subs, while oversized platforms add cost you will not use. Prioritize contractor payments, tax handling, and integrations with accounting or time tracking you already rely on. The picks in our contractor guide focus on providers that keep compliance straightforward while staying practical for small trade and service businesses.
See our full guide to the best payroll software for Contractors →
Best for small business
Most small businesses want payroll that runs reliably, files taxes on time, and does not require a dedicated HR department to operate. You are balancing headcount growth, occasional contractors, and benefits decisions—software that hides pricing or buries support behind sales calls slows you down. Look for published plans where possible, clear employee onboarding, and solid help resources. Our small-business guide compares tools that stay approachable at low headcount but still scale when you add people or states.
See our full guide to the best payroll software for Small Business →
Best for 1099 contractors
Paying 1099 contractors is not the same workflow as classic W-2 payroll: you need clean contractor profiles, self-service where it helps, and confidence that filings match how you classify workers. Generic payroll marketing often blurs contractor support, so it is worth validating forms, timelines, and fees before you commit. Integration with your accounting stack matters so contractor costs land in the right jobs and reports. The recommendations in our 1099-focused guide favor platforms that treat contractors as a first-class workflow, not an afterthought.
See our full guide to the best payroll software for 1099 Contractors →
Best for hourly teams
Hourly teams introduce overtime rules, breaks, and sometimes multiple rates or locations—your payroll tool should either connect tightly to time tracking or include time features that match how you operate. A system built only for salaried staff will force workarounds that create errors and audit risk. Before you buy, map how approvals, corrections, and pay period cutoffs work in real life. Our hourly guide highlights software that keeps hours, pay rules, and pay runs aligned without forcing you into spreadsheets every cycle.
See our full guide to the best payroll software for Hourly Employees →
Best for growing businesses
Growth changes payroll: more states, more benefits, maybe new entities or roles—what felt simple at ten people can strain at thirty. You want a platform that adds HR depth, permissions, and reporting without forcing a rip-and-replace every year. Watch for per-person fees, add-ons, and whether you will need dedicated support as complexity rises. The growing-business guide points to options that scale beyond bare-minimum payroll while staying realistic for SMB budgets and timelines.
See our full guide to the best payroll software for Growing Businesses →
Best payroll software by trade
Payroll guides by industry and trade.
How we chose these tools
Editorial methodology focused on small service businesses, trade operators, and practical day-to-day workflows.
- We evaluated usability, setup effort, and team adoption speed for non-enterprise operators.
- We compared pricing transparency, scaling behavior, and real upgrade pressure as teams grow.
- We prioritized workflow depth in core payroll software use cases, plus reporting and integration fit.
- We weighted operational relevance for service businesses, including trade-specific handoff and follow-up needs.
Use our comparison pages for head-to-head analysis and category guides for deeper implementation context.
Best payroll software FAQs
Quick answers to common questions.