Best Payroll Software for Small Business
For most small businesses, Gusto is the best payroll software: full-service tax filings, published pricing at $49/month plus $6 per person, and a setup an owner can complete without help. If you pay employees in more than one state, OnPay's flat $49/month plus $6 per person includes multi-state payroll at a price Gusto reserves for its Plus plan.
Those two answers cover the large majority of small businesses. The rest of this list exists because some businesses have a specific constraint — the lowest possible bill, an existing QuickBooks Online file, a preference for a dedicated rep, or a fast-growing team that needs HR and IT tooling alongside payroll.
Every pick below runs full-service payroll, meaning the provider files and deposits your federal, state, and local payroll taxes. That single feature matters more than any other on this page, because payroll tax penalties are the most common expensive mistake I see small business owners make.
PayrollSignal earns a commission from some providers we link to. See our affiliate disclosure.
Our ranked picks
We earn a commission from some providers on this page and nothing from others. The ranking is based on what each provider's review page on this site documents — pricing, filing coverage, and fit — not on which ones pay us.
- 1Best overall
Gusto
Most small businesses that want payroll, benefits, and HR basics in one place
Gusto is the default recommendation for a reason: it publishes its pricing, files your federal, state, and local payroll taxes, handles W-2s and 1099s, and lets employees onboard themselves. The Simple plan is $49/month plus $6 per person, which is a predictable number you can budget around.
It's also the pick that stays useful as you grow. Health benefits are available in supported states, 401(k) integrations are built in, and the Plus plan at $80/month plus $12 per person adds multi-state payroll, time tracking, and next-day direct deposit. For owners paying themselves through an S corp, Gusto's contractor and solo options give you a smaller starting point than a full employee plan.
Where it falls short- Simple is single-state only — multi-state employers need Plus at $80/month plus $12 per person.
- Time tracking requires the Plus plan, so hourly teams pay more than the headline price.
- Not the cheapest option: Patriot's base price is lower if you only need payroll.
- Premium is quote-based, so the top tier loses the pricing transparency of the lower plans.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 2Best for multi-state payroll
OnPay
Employers with staff in two or more states who want one flat price
OnPay charges $49/month plus $6 per person and includes multi-state payroll in that price. If you have an employee in a second state, this is the arithmetic that matters: OnPay's flat rate covers it, while Gusto's equivalent capability sits on the $80 plus $12 Plus plan.
It's a genuinely full-service product at that price — unlimited pay runs, federal, state, and local tax filings, W-2 and 1099 filings, employee self-onboarding, health benefits in supported states, 401(k) integrations, and workers' comp. There's no upsell ladder to climb.
Where it falls short- The software and employee experience are more functional than polished compared with Gusto.
- One plan means no cheaper entry tier if you only pay contractors.
- Fewer integrations and less HR tooling than the larger platforms.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 3Lowest-cost full-service payroll
Patriot Payroll
Price-sensitive owners who want filings handled at the smallest possible bill
Patriot's base price is among the lowest available for full-service payroll, and its Full Service plan does the thing that matters — federal, state, and local payroll tax filings, W-2s and 1099s, with a tax filing accuracy guarantee.
Patriot also sells a cheaper Basic Payroll plan that calculates payroll but leaves the filings and deposits to you. That's the right product for a business whose accountant or bookkeeper already handles filings, and the wrong product for almost everyone else.
Where it falls short- Basic Payroll leaves you responsible for your own tax filings and deposits — a real penalty risk.
- Benefits, HR tooling, and employee experience are thin next to Gusto or OnPay.
- Basic Payroll is $17/month plus $4 per worker paid, but you handle the tax filings and deposits yourself; Full Service Payroll is $37/month plus $5 per worker paid (pricing verified August 2026).
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 4Best for QuickBooks Online users
QuickBooks Payroll
Businesses that already keep their books in QuickBooks Online
If your books already live in QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Payroll's integration is tighter than any third-party sync, and that saves reconciliation work every month. Core, Premium, and Elite are full-service, with next-day direct deposit on Core and same-day on Premium and above.
We don't earn anything from QuickBooks, and it still earns this spot. The tighter your accounting integration requirement, the more sense it makes to run payroll inside the same ledger.
Where it falls short- The value case largely disappears if you don't use QuickBooks Online.
- Higher tiers add cost quickly for features Gusto includes earlier.
- The $88/month plus $6.50 per employee price includes QuickBooks accounting, so it is not a like-for-like comparison against payroll-only providers (pricing verified August 2026).
- 5Best for guided support
ADP RUN
Owners who want a dedicated rep and room to grow into HR services
ADP RUN is the option to pick when you'd rather call a person than read documentation. Its plans — Essential, Enhanced, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro — step up from basic full-service payroll into HR help desk and advisory services, and there's an upgrade path within ADP as you grow.
Your accountant almost certainly knows ADP, which quietly matters at year-end. That familiarity is worth something real when there's a filing question to untangle.
Where it falls short- Quote-based pricing: no published rate to compare, and add-ons accumulate.
- The interface feels dated next to Gusto or Rippling.
- Usually more expensive than the transparent-pricing options at small headcount.
PayrollSignal may earn a commission if you sign up through this link. It does not affect our ranking.
- 6Best for fast-growing teams
Rippling
Tech-forward businesses that want payroll, HR, and IT in one system
Rippling is the pick if you're hiring steadily and tired of manual onboarding. Payroll, HRIS, app provisioning, and device management sit in one platform, so a new hire can trigger the payroll record, the benefits enrollment, the app access, and the laptop in one workflow. It also supports contractor payments and international hiring.
This is a platform purchase, not a payroll purchase. Businesses that just need pay runs and filings will pay for capability they never switch on.
Where it falls short- Quote-based, modular pricing that climbs with each module you enable.
- Overbuilt for a business with a stable, small headcount.
- Requires someone internally who's willing to configure it properly.
Compare the picks side by side
| Provider | Starting price | Per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Simple: $49/mo base | $6 / person / mo | Most small businesses that want payroll, benefits, and HR basics in one place |
| OnPay | $49/mo base | $6 / person / mo | Employers with staff in two or more states who want one flat price |
| Patriot Payroll | Full Service: $37/mo base | $5 / worker paid / mo | Price-sensitive owners who want filings handled at the smallest possible bill |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Bundle: $88/mo (incl. accounting) | $6.50 / employee / mo | Businesses that already keep their books in QuickBooks Online |
| ADP RUN | Quote-based | Quote-based | Owners who want a dedicated rep and room to grow into HR services |
| Rippling | Quote-based (payroll price not published) | Quote-based | Tech-forward businesses that want payroll, HR, and IT in one system |
Prices shown come from each provider's review page on this site. Confirm current pricing with the provider before signing up — payroll pricing changes often.
Not a like-for-like price: QuickBooks Payroll is sold bundled with QuickBooks accounting, so its $88/month plus $6.50 per employee price is not a like-for-like payroll price against payroll-only providers like Gusto, OnPay, Patriot, or Square. Part of that figure buys accounting software.
Pricing verified August 2026
How we picked
For general small business payroll, we weight full-service tax filing coverage first, pricing transparency second, and total monthly cost at realistic headcounts third. A provider that doesn't file your payroll taxes is not competing in the same category as one that does, regardless of price.
After that, we look at multi-state coverage, benefits and 401(k) availability, contractor handling, and how much of the setup an owner can complete without paid help. We deliberately discount features most small businesses never use — engagement surveys, workforce analytics, talent modules — because paying for unused software is a cost, not a benefit.
Every price on this page comes from that provider's review page on this site, and quote-based providers are labeled as quote-based rather than given an invented number.
Every provider is scored against the same criteria. Read our payroll software review methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best payroll software for a small business?
For most small businesses, Gusto is the best overall choice: it files your federal, state, and local payroll taxes, publishes its pricing at $49/month plus $6 per person on the Simple plan, and can be set up without professional help. If you pay employees in more than one state, OnPay includes multi-state payroll in its flat $49/month plus $6 per person.
How much does small business payroll software cost?
Transparent providers publish a monthly base fee plus a per-person charge. Gusto's Simple plan is $49/month plus $6 per person and Plus is $80/month plus $12 per person. OnPay is $49/month plus $6 per person including multi-state payroll. ADP RUN, Paychex, and Rippling are quote-based, so you need a written quote at your headcount to compare them.
What does full-service payroll actually mean?
Full-service payroll means the provider calculates payroll and also files and deposits your federal, state, and local payroll taxes, then issues W-2s and 1099s at year end. Self-service payroll only does the calculations and leaves the filings and deposits with you, which is where most expensive payroll mistakes happen.
Do I need multi-state payroll?
You need it as soon as you have an employee working in a different state from your business, because that generally creates a registration and withholding obligation in their state. OnPay includes multi-state payroll in its flat price, while Gusto requires the Plus plan at $80/month plus $12 per person.
Is the cheapest payroll software worth it?
Sometimes, but read carefully what you're buying. Patriot's base price is among the lowest for full-service payroll, but its cheaper Basic Payroll plan leaves you responsible for filing and depositing your own payroll taxes. Saving a few dollars a month is a bad trade against a single late-filing penalty.
Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?
Yes, though it's easiest at a quarter boundary because year-to-date wage and tax data has to be migrated accurately. If you can see growth coming — a second state, benefits, more employees — it's usually better to pick a provider that can handle it now than to switch twice.
The bottom line
If you want one answer: start with Gusto if you're single-state and want the best all-round experience, or OnPay if you have employees in more than one state and want that included in a flat price.
Whatever you choose, confirm in writing that payroll tax filing is included in the specific plan you're buying. That's the line item that separates a payroll service from a payroll calculator, and it's where the real risk lives.
Read how we research and score payroll providers in our payroll software review methodology.