The 8 best payroll services, ranked
We score every payroll service on the same weighted criteria. See how we score.
#1OnOnPay
Most small businesses9.1/10ExcellentOnPay sells one payroll plan at $49/mo + $6 per worker that files federal, state and local taxes, includes every state and unlimited pay runs, and runs month to month. Direct deposit takes up to 4 days and HR features cost extra.
$49/mo + $6 per worker, one plan
Pros
- Federal, state and local tax filing on the only plan
- Multi-state payroll at no extra cost, with state tax registration
- Unlimited pay runs and no fee to cancel a pay run
- Phone, chat and email support for every customer
Cons
- Direct deposit takes up to 4 days, with no faster option listed
- Mailing W-2s or 1099s costs $10 per form
- Every worker in a pay run is billed, even if paid $0
- Terms let OnPay change fees without guaranteed notice
Gusto
Growing teams that want room to add states and benefits8.9/10Very goodGusto files federal, state and local payroll taxes on every plan, month to month. Simple ($49 + $6 per person) covers one state; Plus ($80 + $12) adds multi-state payroll, next-day deposit and time tracking. Many extras are paid add-ons.
$49/mo + $6 per person (Simple)
Pros
- Federal, state and local tax filing on every plan
- Published prices for every plan and add-on
- Unlimited pay runs; month to month, cancel anytime
- Contractors billed only in months you pay them
Cons
- Simple covers one state; multi-state needs Plus at $80 + $12 per person
- Next-day deposit is a $15/mo + $3 per person add-on on Simple
- Priority phone and chat support costs extra below Premium
- Trustpilot score is 3.3/5
Patriot Payroll
The lowest price for full-service payroll8.7/10Very goodPatriot Full Service is $37/mo + $5 per worker at its regular price and files federal, state and most local taxes, with W-2s and 1099s included. The cheaper Basic plan does not file taxes. Advertised prices are a 3-month 50% promo.
$37/mo + $5 per worker (Full Service, regular price)
Pros
- Lowest regular full-service price per worker we found
- Year-end forms (940, 941, W-2, W-3) and 1099 e-filing included on Full Service
- 30-day free trial
- 4.7/5 on Trustpilot from 3,459 reviews
Cons
- Advertised price is 50% off for 3 months; then it doubles
- Each extra state is $12/mo
- Basic Payroll calculates taxes but doesn't file or pay them
- Covers 'most' local taxes; excluded localities aren't listed
Square Payroll
Square sellers and contractor-only payroll8.4/10Very goodSquare Payroll is $35/mo + $6 per person paid, files federal and state taxes in all 50 states and DC, and has a $6-per-contractor plan with no base fee. Some local taxes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York are left for you to file.
$35/mo + $6 per person paid
Pros
- $35/mo base, the lowest of the payroll plans we compare
- Contractor-only plan: $6 per contractor paid, no base fee
- Federal and state filing in every state; month to month
- Timecards flow in from Square POS
Cons
- Some local taxes are calculated but left for you to file
- Can't pay one employee across several tax jurisdictions
- Mailed paper W-2s and 1099s cost $3 each
- No free trial listed
QuickBooks Payroll
Businesses already using QuickBooks Online8.0/10Very goodQuickBooks Payroll (now sold as QuickBooks Workforce) starts at $50/mo + $7 per employee at the regular price, with next-day deposit. The entry plan files federal and state taxes but not local ones, and each extra state is $12/mo.
$50/mo + $7 per employee (regular price)
Pros
- Next-day direct deposit on the entry plan; same-day on Premium and Elite
- Contractor plan: $25/mo for up to 20 contractors
- Works on its own or inside QuickBooks Online
- Month to month, no annual contract
Cons
- Entry plan doesn't file local taxes
- 50% promo covers the base fee for 3 months only
- Each extra state is $12/mo on Payroll and Premium
- $25,000 tax penalty protection is Elite only
Rippling
Companies that want payroll, HR and IT in one system7.8/10GoodRippling files federal, state and local payroll taxes and lets you run payroll as often as you need. Pricing starts at $8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee it doesn't publish, and the total depends on the modules you add.
$8/employee per month + an unpublished base fee
Pros
- Federal, state and local tax filing
- Unlimited pay runs at no extra charge
- Payroll, HR and IT modules share one employee record
- 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 2,797 reviews
Cons
- Base fee isn't published; you need a quote
- Cost rises with each module you add
- No free trial (6 months free only for eligible VC-backed startups)
- Pricing page lists no contract terms or support hours
Homebase Payroll
Hourly teams that need scheduling and a time clock7.6/10GoodHomebase Payroll is an add-on to Homebase's scheduling and time clock: $49/mo + $6 per employee paid, on any scheduling plan, including the free one for a single location of up to 10 employees. It files federal, state and supported local taxes.
$49/mo + $6 per employee, on top of a scheduling plan
Pros
- Timesheets from the time clock feed payroll directly
- Free scheduling plan for 1 location and up to 10 employees
- W-2s, 1099s and unlimited pay runs included
- First 6 months of payroll free (limited-time offer)
Cons
- Scheduling plans beyond the free one are billed per location
- Only supported local taxes are filed
- Tip Manager costs $25/mo per location
- HR advisors need the $120-per-location All-in-One plan
Justworks
Small teams that want a PEO for benefits and HR compliance7.3/10GoodJustworks is mainly a PEO: it becomes a co-employer of your staff and handles payroll taxes under its own tax ID, plus HR support and, on PEO Plus, health insurance. PEO Basic is $79 and PEO Plus $124 per employee per month. A payroll-only plan is $50/mo + $8 per employee.
$79/employee per month (PEO Basic); payroll-only $50/mo + $8
Pros
- Published per-employee PEO prices with no base fee
- On PEO, federal, state and local taxes filed under Justworks' own EIN
- 24/7 support and HR consulting on PEO plans
- W-2 and 1099 filings included on every plan
Cons
- PEO needs at least two W-2 employees and workers' comp approval
- Part-time employees cost the full $79 on PEO and can't get benefits
- Time tracking is $8 per person per month extra
- Trustpilot score is 2.2/5 from 40 reviews
How we picked
We read each company's pricing page, plan pages, tax-filing help articles and terms of service, and checked public Trustpilot scores. Every price on this site links to the page it came from, with the date we checked it (November 12, 2026). We did not run payroll on each service, and no page here says we did.
Scores weigh five things: total cost at regular prices (30%), which taxes the plan files for you (25%), published pricing and contract terms (15%), features small teams need (15%) and support plus customer ratings (15%). Commissions don't change a score. None of these companies pays us today. If we join their affiliate programs later, commissions still won't change a score.
What payroll really costs at 5, 20 and 50 employees
Most payroll services charge a monthly base fee plus a fee for each person you pay. The table uses the regular price of the cheapest plan that files payroll taxes for you, for one state, after any promo ends.
| Service and plan |
Price |
5 employees |
20 employees |
50 employees |
| Patriot Full Service |
$37 + $5 per worker |
$62 |
$137 |
$287 |
| Square Payroll |
$35 + $6 per person |
$65 |
$155 |
$335 |
| OnPay |
$49 + $6 per worker |
$79 |
$169 |
$349 |
| Gusto Simple |
$49 + $6 per person |
$79 |
$169 |
$349 |
| QuickBooks Workforce Payroll |
$50 + $7 per employee |
$85 |
$190 |
$400 |
| Justworks Payroll |
$50 + $8 per employee |
$90 |
$210 |
$450 |
| Rippling |
$8 per employee + base fee |
$40 + base |
$160 + base |
$400 + base |
Homebase charges the same $49 + $6 as OnPay for payroll, but it sits on top of a scheduling plan. The free scheduling plan covers one location with up to 10 employees; paid plans start at $30 per location per month. Justworks' PEO plans cost $79 or $124 per employee per month, which buys co-employment, HR support and, on PEO Plus, health insurance administration.
What each service files for you
"Full service" doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. Check local taxes and extra states before you sign up.
- OnPay, Gusto and Rippling say they file federal, state and local payroll taxes.
- Patriot Full Service files federal, state and "most local" taxes. Patriot Basic only calculates taxes; you file and pay them yourself.
- Square files federal and state taxes in all 50 states and DC. Some local taxes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York are calculated but left for you to file.
- QuickBooks' entry Workforce Payroll plan files federal and state taxes but no local taxes. Premium and Elite handle "certain local taxes".
- Homebase files federal, state and "supported local" taxes.
If you live somewhere with city or school-district payroll taxes (Ohio, Pennsylvania, parts of New York and others), pick a plan whose own pages say it files local taxes.
Common traps
Promo prices that double. Patriot advertises 50% off for 3 months, after a 30-day free trial. QuickBooks takes 50% off the base fee only, for 3 months, then charges the full base. Do the math at the regular price.
Extra states. Patriot and QuickBooks charge $12/mo for each additional state. Gusto Simple covers one state; you need Plus ($80 + $12 per person) for more. One remote hire in a new state can move you up a tier.
Year-end forms. OnPay charges $10 per form to mail them and Square $3 per form; printing them yourself is free.
Deposit speed. OnPay deposits take up to 4 days, with no faster option listed. Gusto's next-day deposit is included on Plus and Premium but costs $15/mo + $3 per person on Simple. If you run payroll late, this fee adds up.
Quote-only pricing. Rippling publishes only an $8 per employee starting price without its base fee. You can't compare its total without calling sales.
How to choose
- Count the people you pay each month, employees and contractors, and the states they work in.
- Check whether your city or county has its own payroll tax. If it does, rule out plans that don't file local taxes.
- Price the plan at its regular rate, with extra states and next-day deposit if you need them.
- Read the cancellation terms. Most services here are month to month; OnPay asks for 30 days' written notice.
If you pay only contractors, a contractor-only plan is cheaper: Square charges $6 per contractor paid with no base fee, and QuickBooks charges $25/mo for up to 20 contractors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest payroll service that files taxes for you?
At regular prices, Patriot Full Service ($37/mo + $5 per worker) costs the least once you pay three or more people: $62/mo for 5 workers. Square Payroll ($35/mo + $6 per person) is $1 cheaper for a single employee. Both list local taxes they don't file, and Patriot charges $12/mo for each extra state.
Do payroll services file local taxes?
Not all of them. OnPay, Gusto and Rippling say they file federal, state and local taxes. QuickBooks' entry Workforce Payroll plan does not file local taxes, and Square, Patriot and Homebase cover only supported localities.
How much does payroll cost for a small business?
At regular published prices, 5 employees cost $62/mo on Patriot Full Service, $65/mo on Square and $153/mo on QuickBooks Premium. At 20 employees it is $137/mo on Patriot, $155/mo on Square and $348/mo on QuickBooks Premium. Rippling doesn't publish its base fee.
Is a PEO the same as a payroll service?
No. A PEO such as Justworks becomes a co-employer of your staff and handles payroll, benefits and HR compliance under its own tax ID. A payroll service runs payroll under yours. Justworks' PEO plans cost $79 or $124 per employee per month; its payroll-only plan is $50/mo + $8 per employee.
Do I need a payroll service for one employee?
You can run payroll yourself, but you still owe federal and state withholding deposits, quarterly Form 941 filings and a W-2 at year end. Full-service plans that file those for you start at $41/mo for one employee (Square: $35 + $6).