Paychex Flex review

Paychex Flex is the online payroll platform from Paychex, a long-standing large US provider. You enter hours, salaries, bonuses or time off, and Flex calculates pay, flags issues before payroll is due, then handles direct deposits, tax filings and pay stubs or checks. Employees get a 24/7 portal for pay stubs, W-2s and chat support, plus discounts and financial wellness tools at no added cost to the employer. Paychex Promise gives up to 7 days of flexibility when cash flow threatens payday, which few rivals offer. Flex connects to dozens of business applications, and Paychex sells time and attendance, benefits, 401(k), workers' comp, HR services and a PEO that plug into the same system, so a business can grow into it from a single hire to 100 or more employees. Support comes by phone, chat or email. Paychex does not publish Flex prices, so you need a sales quote, and the range of products makes like-for-like comparison slow.

Who it is for

Businesses that expect to add HR, time and benefits services from one large provider.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Automatic calculation, payment and filing of payroll taxes
• Direct deposits, pay stubs and checks handled on each run
• 24/7 employee portal for pay stubs, W-2s and chat support
• Paychex Promise for up to 7 days of payday funding flexibility
• Integrations with dozens of business applications

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Support by phone, chat or email
• Strength: Scales into time, benefits, HR services and PEO
• Strength: Employee perks and financial wellness tools at no added cost
• Weakness: No published prices
• Weakness: Wide product range makes packages harder to compare
• Weakness: More platform than a very small team may need

Key facts

• Pricing: By quote
• Employee self-service: 24/7 portal for pay stubs and W-2s
• Cash flow help: Paychex Promise, up to 7 days of flexibility
• Support: Phone, chat or email
• Business sizes: Self-employed to 100+ employees

Where it ranks

Paychex Flex is No. 9 in our Best Payroll Software verdict.