9 Best Payroll Software for Small Business of 2026

Gusto's pricing page lists three plans, and even the cheapest one covers what a small employer needs from full-service payroll: unlimited payroll runs, federal and state tax filings and payments, direct deposit or printed checks, payroll approvals and Payroll on AutoPilot. Simple costs $49 a month plus $6 per person, which puts a five-person team at $79. The main limit is geography. Simple runs payroll in one state, so a company that hires remote staff elsewhere moves to Plus at $80 plus $12 per person, which also adds time tracking, unlimited next-day pay and contractor invoice tools. Gusto sells next-day pay to Simple users for $15 a month plus $3 per person, and same-day or instant pay costs $90 or $100 per payroll unless you are on Premium. Health insurance, 401(k) plans and business insurance are offered from the same account, which keeps deductions inside payroll. There is no contract and account setup is free.

OnPay keeps payroll to one plan. Payroll Essentials costs $49 a month plus $6 per employee and, according to OnPay's payroll page, includes federal, state and local tax filings, Form 941 and 940, automated W-2 and 1099 processing, unlimited pay runs and multiple pay rates. The detail that sets it apart for a small team is state coverage: OnPay says all 50 states are included without extra cost, so a five-person company with one remote hire still pays $79. Workers can be paid by direct deposit, check or debit card, and workers' comp policies and benefits sync with payroll so premiums follow headcount. Support is listed as unlimited by phone, email and chat, and OnPay offers free setup and migration of employee data for businesses switching providers. HR tools, compliance resources and time tracking are sold as add-ons with their own base and per-worker fees, which adds up if you want an HR suite rather than payroll alone.

Square Payroll's full-service plan costs $35 a month plus $6 per person paid, one of the lowest list prices here, and Square states there is no long-term contract. That plan includes unlimited pay runs, automated federal and state tax filings and payments, new-hire reporting, multistate payroll, multiple pay rates, auto payroll and off-cycle payments. For hourly businesses the main draw is the link to Square POS: timecards and direct tips import into payroll, overtime is calculated, and labor-cost reports cover wages and tips. Deposit options include next-day, two-day and four-day direct deposit, and employees can be paid by check, direct deposit or Cash App. Free seasonal inactivity helps businesses that close for part of the year. Digital W-2s and 1099s are included, and mailing paper copies costs $3 per form. Benefits, 401(k) plans and workers' comp are offered, but HR tools are thinner than Gusto's, and the product makes most sense for businesses already on Square.

QuickBooks Workforce Payroll lists at $50 a month plus $7 per employee, and on the check date Intuit was showing 50 percent off the base fee for three months. Every plan is full service: Intuit calculates, files and pays payroll taxes, handles garnishments and deductions, and e-files unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms. The entry plan already includes auto payroll for salaried staff and next-day direct deposit when payroll is run by 5:00 PM, plus phone and chat support. Workforce Premium at $88 plus $13 per employee adds time tracking and an expert review of your setup, and Elite at $134 plus $17 adds same-day deposit, expert setup and tax penalty protection of up to $25,000 a year. Health insurance through Allstate, 401(k) plans through Vestwell and workers' comp through NEXT can be connected. The value score reflects the $7 per employee fee, which makes it pricier than Gusto or OnPay as headcount rises, but the tie to QuickBooks accounting saves reconciliation work.

Justworks sells its Payroll plan at $50 a month plus $8 per employee. The feature list on its payroll page covers multi-state payroll, multiple pay rates, custom payroll periods, off-cycle payments and holiday pay, tip processing, employer payroll tax filings, W-2 and 1099 filings, 401(k) plans, basic timecards, PTO management, accounting integrations and human support by phone, email and chat. Contractors in the US can be paid alongside employees, and an add-on covers international contractors in 60 or more countries. What makes Justworks different is the path upward. PEO Basic at $79 per employee per month adds compliance help, HR consulting and 24/7 support, and PEO Plus at $124 adds medical, dental and vision administration and HSA or FSA accounts. For a team that simply needs people paid, the $8 per employee fee makes the Payroll plan pricier than Gusto or OnPay as headcount grows.

SurePayroll, owned by Paychex, lists its Full Service plan at $29 a month plus $7 per employee, the lowest base fee on this list. The plan files and deposits federal and state payroll taxes, supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and includes unlimited payroll runs, free 2-day direct deposit, scheduled automatic payroll, new-hire reporting, online pay stubs and mobile apps. Onboarding help is free, and on the check date SurePayroll was offering every alternate month free during the first 12 months. The low headline hides a few extras. Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms are billed once a year at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form, multi-state payroll adds $9.99 a month, an accounting software sync costs $4.99 a month and timeclock integration starts at $5 a month plus $3 per employee. For a five-person single-state team, the monthly bill is $64 before those extras, still the cheapest here. Features beyond payroll are thin compared with Gusto or OnPay.

RUN Powered by ADP is aimed squarely at this list's audience: ADP markets it for businesses with 1 to 49 employees and says over 900,000 small businesses use it. There are four packages. Essential Payroll covers payroll processing and tax filing, automated recurring payroll, desktop and mobile payroll, and 24/7 live payroll support. Enhanced adds hiring tools with ZipRecruiter, state unemployment insurance services, background checks and wage garnishment processing. Complete adds live HR support, an employee handbook wizard and salary benchmarks, and HR Pro adds legal assistance, workplace training and an applicant tracking system. ADP also lists AI-powered error flagging, a mobile app for employers and employees, retirement plans, workers' comp and a Clover point of sale connection. The catch for a cost-conscious owner is price transparency: ADP publishes no rates, so every plan needs a quote, though it advertises up to six months of free payroll for new customers. Its value score is conservative for that reason.

Wave Payroll is an add-on to Wave's accounting software, priced in the US at a $40 monthly base fee plus $6 per active employee and $6 per independent contractor paid. Wave says it automatically transfers tax payments and files the paperwork with state tax agencies and the IRS, though 1099 filings are excluded. Until April 2, 2025 that tax service was limited to some states; Wave now offers it in all 50, at one price. Direct deposits are unlimited and free, there are no setup fees, and employees and contractors can be paid in the same run, with 1099 forms generated. The main reason to choose it is the link with Wave's bookkeeping, which keeps payroll entries in the same ledger as invoices and receipts. A 30-day free trial starts with your first payroll. Benefits administration, HR tools and time tracking are not part of the offering, so it fits owner-run businesses with a few staff better than teams nearing 50.

Paychex Flex is the small business payroll platform from Paychex, which says it serves approximately 840,000 customers. Its small business page lists four plans: Basic for essential payroll and HR, Foundations for payroll, reporting and HR, Advanced with hands-on support, and Complete with HR, workforce and talent tools. Every plan automatically calculates, withholds and files federal, state and local taxes, and W-2s and 1099s are prepared for year end. Paychex highlights AI automations that flag missing time punches and verify employee data, a configurable payroll dashboard, and a 24/7 employee portal for pay stubs and W-2s. Paychex Promise gives up to seven days of flexibility when cash flow is tight on payday. Onboarding can be done alone or with an implementation specialist, and support comes by phone, chat or email. Like ADP, Paychex publishes no prices, so a small owner has to request a quote, which lowers its value score against flat-rate rivals.