Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2026
Which leading provider will make your life easier?
How the Top Payroll Providers Compare
Best payroll software chart
Chart compares best-fit use cases and pricing for Patriot Payroll®, QuickBooks, ADP Run, Gusto, SurePayroll, OnPay, and Paychex.
| Payroll Provider | Starting Price (Current as of December 2025) | Best Payroll For… |
|---|---|---|
| Patriot Payroll | $17/mo + $4/worker paid | Small to mid-sized businesses seeking the best value and highly-rated customer support. |
| QuickBooks | $50/mo + $6.50/worker | Businesses already using QuickBooks Online that want tightly integrated payroll and accounting. |
| ADP RUN | Call for quote | Businesses that need to scale quickly and need advanced HR compliance infrastructure. |
| Gusto | $49/mo + $6/worker | Small to mid sized businesses that want a modern payroll and HR experience. |
| SurePayroll | $20/mo + $4/worker | Household employers. |
| OnPay | $49/mo + $6/worker | Small businesses that are multi-state employers. |
| Paychex | Call for quote | Growing businesses wanting to bundle payroll with HR and benefits management. |
*Comparisons are based on publicly available information as of December 2025 and may change. Features and pricing vary by plan and jurisdiction.
#1 Patriot Payroll
Business owners looking for a reliable payroll system choose Patriot due to its value, free USA-based support, and easy-to-use interface.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of Patriot Software | Cons of Patriot Software |
|---|---|
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Pricing
Patriot offers two payroll packages:
Basic Payroll $17/mo + $4 per worker paid
Full Service Payroll $37/mo + $5 per worker paid
Patriot offers 30 days free, then 50% off for 3 months on all products when you sign up.
Features
- Unlimited payrolls (no extra fees)
- Auto payroll
- Direct deposit
- Multiple pay rates
- Employee and contractor portal
- Pay contractors in payroll
- Health benefit integration
- 401(k) integration
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits (with Full Service Payroll)
- Multi-state payroll
#2 QuickBooks
QuickBooks Payroll is a strong candidate for businesses that are already using the Intuit ecosystem, as it seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks Online (QBO).
Pros/Cons
| Pros of QuickBooks | Cons of QuickBooks |
|---|---|
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Pricing
QuickBooks offers three payroll-only packages.
Payroll Core $50/mo + $6.50 per worker
Payroll Premium $88/mo + $10.00 per worker
Payroll Elite $134/mo + $12 per worker
QuickBooks frequently offers temporary discounts on its payroll software. However, users must choose between a free 30-day trial and a 3-month discount.
Features
- Unlimited payrolls (no extra fees)
- Direct deposit
- Auto payroll
- Tax filing and deposits
- Health benefits
- 1099 e-File and pay
- Employee and contractor portal
- 401(k) plans
#3 ADP RUN
RUN Powered by ADP (aka ADP RUN) is a payroll option for businesses wanting payroll, HR, and the ability to scale quickly.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of ADP RUN | Cons of ADP RUN |
|---|---|
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Pricing
ADP does not advertise pricing.
Interested employers must contact ADP for a custom quote.
Features
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits
- Direct deposit
- Employee portal
- Compliance support
- Mobile app
- Benefits administration add-on
- W-2 filing for an additional fee
#4 Gusto
Gusto is rated highly for user experience, with reviewers often saying the software has a “modern” experience.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of Gusto | Cons of Gusto |
|---|---|
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Pricing
Gusto offers three payroll packages. They also have a “Solo” plan (not listed) available for solopreneurs needing payroll.
Simple $49/mo + $6 per worker
Plus $80/mo + $12 per worker
Premium $180/mo + $22 per worker
Features
- Unlimited payrolls (no extra fees)
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits
- Direct deposit
- Gusto debit card for employees
- Same-day pay
- Multiple pay rates
- Pay contractors in payroll
#5 SurePayroll
SurePayroll by Paychex, another payroll software in this list, provides payroll designed for small businesses and household employers.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of SurePayroll | Cons of SurePayroll |
|---|---|
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Pricing
SurePayroll has two pricing structures for small business payroll, plus a household payroll option.
No Tax Filing $20/mo + $4 per worker
Full Service $29/mo + $7 per worker
Household $39/mo (includes 1 employee) + $10 per worker
Features
- Easy 3-step payroll process
- Unlimited payrolls (no extra fees)
- Direct deposit
- Pay contractors in payroll
- Auto payroll
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits (with Full Service)
- Multiple pay rates
#6 OnPay
OnPay’s transparent pricing, high reviews, and ease of use make it a strong contender for small businesses and niche industries.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of OnPay | Cons of OnPay |
|---|---|
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Pricing
OnPay only has one payroll plan.
OnPay Payroll $49/mo + $6 per worker
Features
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits
- Unlimited payrolls (no extra fees)
- HR tools (new hire onboarding, self-service)
- Pay contractors in payroll
- Direct deposit
- Debit card payments
- Multiple pay rates
- Multi-state payroll
- Benefits administration
#7 Paychex
Paychex’s scalability makes it a good choice for growing businesses.
Pros/Cons
| Pros of Paychex | Cons of Paychex |
|---|---|
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Pricing
Paychex does not list their prices. Here are the different payroll tiers:
Paychex Flex Select
Paychex Flex Pro
Paychex Flex Enterprise
Features
- Federal, state, and local tax filing and deposits
- Compliance library
- New hire reporting
- Labor posters
- Employee self-service
- Job costing and labor distribution (with Enterprise)
- Direct deposit
- 1099 and W-2 administration
FAQs
Patriot Payroll is frequently identified as the leader in "Value for Money" and the lowest-cost entry point. Its Basic Payroll plan starts at $17 per month plus $4 per worker, making it ideal for small businesses focused on minimizing operational expenses. However, this low cost means handling your own tax filings (unless you upgrade to the Full Service plan).
Patriot Payroll consistently receives the highest reviews for customer support across review sites such as Trustpilot and Capterra. OnPay is also a leader in customer service, with many customers praising its reliability, personalized onboarding, and accessible, highly-trained experts. Both Patriot and OnPay are considered excellent choices if reliable help is a top priority.
The main difference is payroll runs. Providers like Patriot, Gusto, OnPay, and QuickBooks offer unlimited payroll runs. Paychex charges per payroll run. This per-run charge can significantly increase the total payroll cost for businesses that pay employees weekly or frequently issue off-cycle payrolls or bonuses.
Reviewers widely recognize Gusto for offering a “modern” interface that is easy to use. OnPay and Patriot are also highly rated for their ease of use.