Online payroll software
You enter hours and approve each run; the software calculates pay and withholdings and, on most plans, files the taxes.
Read the guidePayroll Software for Small Businesses
Today's listings · 7 providers with published prices
Provider pricing pages checked . 6 of 11 confirmed, 3 could not be read.
A plain comparison of payroll software for small businesses: what each service charges, what it files for you, and which kind of business it fits. Each price below is the provider's cheapest plan that pays employees and files payroll taxes for you.
| Payroll software | Entry plan | Base / mo | Per employee | 5 employees / mo | Checked | Provider's pricing page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurePayroll | Full Service | $29 | $7 | $64 | Confirmed | Pricing page for SurePayroll |
| Square Payroll | Full-service payroll | $35 | $6 | $65 | Confirmed | Pricing page for Square Payroll |
| Patriot Payroll | Full Service Payroll | $37 | $5 | $62 | Confirmed | Pricing page for Patriot Payroll |
| Wave Payroll | Wave Payroll (US) | $40 | $6 | $70 | Confirmed | Pricing page for Wave Payroll |
| Gusto | Simple | $49 | $6 | $79 | Could not read | Pricing page for Gusto |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Workforce Payroll | $50 | $7 | $85 | Confirmed | Pricing page for QuickBooks Payroll |
| Justworks Payroll | Payroll | $50 | $8 | $90 | Could not read | Pricing page for Justworks Payroll |
List prices, excluding promotions and add-ons. Not listed: ADP RUN (quote only), Paychex Flex (quote only), Rippling (quote only), OnPay (not confirmed).
What is payroll software for small businesses?
Payroll software for small businesses calculates each employee's pay and withholdings, pays them by direct deposit, and deposits and files the payroll taxes the business owes. It replaces hand calculation, tax tables and paper filings with a run you review and approve.
The guide to what payroll software is explains what it does on each pay run, what it files, and where the line falls between software, an accountant and a PEO.
What are the main types of payroll software?
Full-service payroll
The provider deposits and files federal, state and local payroll taxes and issues W-2s and 1099s for you.
Read the guidePayroll with HR or a PEO
Payroll bundled with benefits, onboarding and compliance help, or a co-employment arrangement through a PEO.
Read the guideWhich payroll software fits which small business?
Who you pay, and where, changes what to look for. Each page starts from the payroll rules for one kind of business.
All business typesS corporation owners
One shareholder-employee, a reasonable salary and every filing a larger employer has.
Restaurants
Tipped wages, tip reporting, overtime and timecards from the point of sale.
Construction contractors
Crews across job sites and states, subcontractor 1099s and certified payroll on public work.
Nonprofits
Exempt from income tax, not from payroll tax, with a FUTA exception for 501(c)(3)s.
Contractor-only businesses
No W-2 staff: payments, W-9s and 1099-NECs without a full payroll plan.
Multi-state & remote teams
Employees in more than one state: registrations, filings and per-state fees.
Payroll software cost calculator
Every published plan, not just the entry one, priced for your headcount by month and by year.
Open the calculatorHow this comparison is made
Every price is read from the provider's own pricing page and re-checked by an automated job. Nothing here is a hands-on test score or a paid ranking.
Read the methodologyFrequently asked questions
What is Payroll Software for Small Businesses?
Payroll Software for Small Businesses is an independent website that compares payroll software for US small businesses using each provider's published prices and feature lists. It is published by Payroll Software for Small Businesses and does not sell payroll software itself.
What is the cheapest payroll software for small businesses?
Among the 7 services here with a confirmed published price, the lowest plan that files taxes for you is SurePayroll at $29 a month plus $7 per employee. Cheaper self-file plans start at $17 a month (Patriot Payroll), but leave tax deposits and filings to you.
Does payroll software file payroll taxes for you?
Most full-service payroll software calculates, deposits and files federal and state payroll taxes for you. Some lower-priced plans only calculate the amounts and leave deposits and filings to the business, so check the plan, not just the brand.
Do I need payroll software if I only have one employee?
No law requires payroll software, but an employer with one employee has the same withholding, deposit and filing duties as a larger one. Software is the usual way to meet them without doing the calculations and filings by hand.
How does this site make money?
Some links to providers may be affiliate links, which pay a commission if you sign up. They are marked where used, they do not change the published prices shown, and providers cannot pay to change a comparison.
Not sure which payroll software fits?
Compare all of them side by side, or ask for a shortlist priced for your own business.