These apps allow workers to get paid between paychecks Experts say there are steep costs

This solution is cost-effective and offers the essentials for managing payroll. However, the software is designed to be used by businesses in Canada only. Discover the best free payroll software with features and reviews. Includes comparisons between top picks Gusto, TriNet Zenefits, and QuickBooks Payroll. Gusto also offers much more robust reporting and analytics when compared to SurePayroll by Paychex, which is more limited in this department.

Rippling earns its place in this list because it easily integrates almost any app you already use. Being able to automatically sync all the data needed to run payroll makes it much easier and faster. Sure, most payroll software lets you run payroll as often as you need, but it’s important to make it a quick process, too. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to compare the cost of ADP’s plans to other services because ADP doesn’t publish its plans’ pricing. You’ll have to fill out forms to get a custom quote for your business, which will be based on your needs and the number of employees your business has. Consider ADP’s main competitors, and you’ll see why larger businesses typically use it.

Fingercheck: Best for Startups Needing Payroll Financing Services

When running payroll manually, Gusto takes you through three steps. The next step prompts you to enter any paid time off that employees took during the pay period. This is also where you can approve or deny pending time-off requests.

That’s an additional cost most small businesses will want to avoid. QuickBooks Payroll offers a wide variety of features for small business owners. It offers services like direct deposit and online tax filing, so it’s fairly robust.

Featured payroll software offers

Even the cheapest plan, Core Payroll, includes HR perks like employee onboarding, health care compliance forms, and a regular HR checkup. And if you want more than the HR basics to support your growing team, ADP’s more expensive plans include employee background checks, ZipRecruiter assistance, and dedicated HR assistance. We explored 15 different payroll services before choosing the top eight listed here. One of the most important things to consider for any business is cost, which is why that was heavily considered for each option.

All three options give you a solid organizational system, accurate tax calculations, and accounting software integration to make bank reconciliation super easy. All Paychex payroll programs include new-hire state reporting, payroll tax filing, and an employee financial wellness program. And with three customizable packages, Paychex is one of the most scalable payroll options on our list. Growing businesses won’t have to look elsewhere for plans that support additional employees—growth is built into Paychex’s model. Gusto is similar to other payroll software solutions in that it offers direct deposit or checks to pay your employees.

Square Payroll Mobile App Features

Paychex is our best reporting option because it checks almost all the boxes for what you want in payroll software regarding reports and data. It also automatically files your payroll taxes, ensures compliance, and includes integrations with important programs you also use, such as accounting and benefits apps. Users say the software’s best payroll app customer support representatives are friendly but sometimes slow to respond. They also say the software is pricey compared to other payroll software options. However, they like that the platform is easy to use, offers guided setup and training and all the basic features most businesses need to manage their payroll and HR needs.

Zoho Projects is especially useful if you already use Zoho products, but even as a stand-alone app, it’s good for automating task functions. ExcelPayroll is the only platform we found that offers an offline payroll program that is free to download. While reasonably priced with a good feature profile, this software is intended for the Canadian payroll market only. Offers a decent range of features but lacks advanced functionalities such as easy payroll cancellations, FICA Tip Credit for restaurants, and lifetime accounts. Offers competitive pricing but lacks several key features, such as automatic payments, net-to-gross calculations, and workers’ compensation.

It is best for businesses that expect to eventually expand across state lines or even globally using a workforce with a mix of contractors and employees. OnPay caters to small businesses that need a full-featured payroll and HR solution with a straightforward and affordable pricing structure. Paychex Flex scores 3.9 out of 5 on Google Play and 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, as of this writing. Mobile app reviewers said that while it is generally easy to use, the app crashes at times and has a lot of glitches, like slow loading pages and buttons that have 30-second delays. Some even said that logging into their accounts through mobile web browsers is easier than signing in via the app. SurePayroll sends mobile alerts that let you know when your payroll has been submitted and approved.

• It lets you calculate employee wages and taxes online, but doesn’t run full payroll.
• Wave doesn’t offer benefits administration, a major drawback, but its recent purchases of companies across the financial sector and its 2019 acquisition by H&R Block promise more capabilities and features to come.
• Which payroll app will work best for your business depends on a number of factors, particularly the size of your business and the top benefits you hope to get from automating parts of the payroll process.
• This includes Nanny Share setup, whereby multiple families hire a nanny and split the cost of the nanny’s services.
• Many online payroll services include features that help you administer benefits in the same platform, as well as integrations for accounting software.
• Nearly everything available on the desktop version of Paychex is also offered on the mobile app.
• While it doesn’t offer an employer-based payroll app, its extremely comprehensive employee-facing apps are intuitive, user-friendly and fully featured.