Payroll software is an application that facilitates the payment of a business to employees through payment management and automation. Companies find payroll software essential as it minimizes the risks associated with manual processes such as human errors, lack of security and compliance issues with wage and tax regulations.

Payroll software offers 5 main benefits to business owners and HR professionals.

  1. Eliminates manual entry to facilitate automation
  2. Saves time and money for accounting department employees
  3. Securely stores sensitive payroll data of the business
  4. Offers better compliance with tax regulations
  5. Generates accurate payroll, avoiding risks of errors

Geekflare team has researched and picked the following best payroll software solutions based on features, automation, compliance, ease of use, and pricing.

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ADP Payroll

ADP Payroll

Best Overall

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Large
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
Custom pricing
4 months FREE

About ADP Payroll

ADP Payroll offers payroll services and tax support to businesses. Its functionality goes beyond being a basic payroll tool, offering HR features like application tracking, benefits management, and employee cost insights. Additionally, ADP Payroll i fully scalable and fits companies of every size, making ADP Payroll the best overall payroll software.

ADP was founded in 1949 as Automatic Payrolls, Inc., and 1,000,000+ companies use its service.

Benefits

ADP Payroll keeps itself up-to-date on changing rules and regulations so that businesses can stay compliant and avoid potential penalties. It syncs payroll data with other business solutions, like benefits management and time tracking, to help businesses efficiently manage the payroll process.

ADP Payroll allows access to data through mobile devices for on-the-go management of payroll information. Thus, employees can view pay stubs, request time off, and record attendance.

ADP Payroll Features

  • Key feature

    Faster local and global payroll processing.

  • Key feature

    Direct deposit for timely payment to the employees.

  • Key feature

    Automatic calculation of tax deductions and retirement contributions.

  • Key feature

    Compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.

  • Key feature

    Federal, state, and local compliance support.

  • Key feature

    Fully automated employee data syncing.

  • Key feature

    Create and send Forms W-2 and 1099.

  • Key feature

    Manage state unemployment insurance (SUI).

  • Key feature

    Securely store employee data.

  • Key feature

    Customizable payroll and HR reports.

ADP Payroll Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Integrates with time-tracking.

  • Advantage

    Self-service for both employees and managers.

  • Advantage

    24/7 access to certified payroll professionals.

  • Disadvantage

    Pricing information not available.

  • Disadvantage

    Steep learning curve for novice users.

Paycor

Paycor

Best for HR and Payroll Integration

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
Custom pricing

About Paycor

Paycor operates as an online payroll software company, offering HR functionalities that sync well with the payroll software to simplify the data management process. Its employee self-service portals also reduce the HR workload. Businesses looking for HR and payroll integration should opt for Paycor.

Paycor was founded in 1990 and has more than 2.3 million users.

Benefits

Paycor offers in-product compliance updates and notifies users of major changes so that users do not have to spend hours researching employment laws in their state or county.

Paycor users benefit from its 250+ integration partners for benefits, payments, POS, background screening, and scheduling.

Paycor has a Tax Compliance Dashboard where proactive compliance alerts can be set and tax filings, W-2s, and 1099s can be submitted with ease.

Paycor Features

  • Key feature

    Real-time calculation of payroll skipping batch processing.

  • Key feature

    Instantly implement changes to payroll.

  • Key feature

    Preview paystubs three days before payday to avoid errors.

  • Key feature

    Payroll scheduling on preferred date and time.

  • Key feature

    OnDemand pay allows access to money before payday.

  • Key feature

    Deposit payments to employee bank accounts or Paycor Visa card.

  • Key feature

    Employee self-service to access paystubs, benefits, and W-2.

  • Key feature

    Automatic payroll deduction for workers’ compensation.

  • Key feature

    Payroll reports to get full transparency on tax, job costing, etc.

Paycor Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Intuitive and flexible software.

  • Advantage

    Paycor mobile wallet for employees to access wages and pay card info.

  • Advantage

    Employee wage garnishments.

  • Disadvantage

    Pricing information not available.

  • Disadvantage

    Customer support needs to be improved.

Deel

Deel

Best for Small to Mid-size Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
Custom pricing

About Deel

Deel is a global payroll service that is used in in 100+ countries. It enables SMBs to hire and pay talents from all over the world without establishing separate entities in each country.

Deel also helps such businesses expand globally without worrying about complex international tax and employment regulations. For these reasons, Deel is the ideal payroll solution for small and mid-sized businesses.

Founded in 2014, Deel supports 25,000+ organizations in 150 countries.

Benefits

Deel generates customized reports analyzing gross-to-net, 401k, pensions, etc. Stakeholders easily understand these reports and gather insights. It allows organizations to compare employer costs, bonuses, taxes, and other parameters across the company entities in a standard currency. Thus, users get a unified view of their expenses in the chosen currency.

Deel supports integrating 80+ business apps, such as Google Workspace, Jira, Slack, QuickBooks, Outlook Calendar, Xero, BambooHR, and Zapier.

Deel Features

  • Key feature

    Accurate and timely payroll with tax calculation.

  • Key feature

    Compliantly sync direct deposits and payslips with accounting software.

  • Key feature

    Compliance management at the local and federal level.

  • Key feature

    Review payroll to make quick changes.

  • Key feature

    Instantly pay employees from direct deposit or paychecks.

  • Key feature

    Charge-free off-cycle payments with US payroll.

  • Key feature

    Easily set up payroll schedule and pay dates.

  • Key feature

    Workflow builder to create custom automation.

  • Key feature

    Create and deliver payslips to the employees.

  • Key feature

    Localized contracts for international employees.

  • Key feature

    Calculate employee benefits and deductions.

Deel Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Deel API to connect with HRIS, finance, and ERP systems.

  • Advantage

    Payroll support for all 50 states of the US.

  • Advantage

    Dedicated account management.

  • Advantage

    24/7 support with dedicated CSM.

  • Disadvantage

    Payroll implementation might take up to 3 months.

  • Disadvantage

    No free trial available.

Paychex

Paychex

Best for User-Friendly Experience

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    Limited (US and EU)
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Large
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
Custom pricing

About Paychex

Paychex is a cloud-based payroll software platform that users can access from anywhere. It only takes two clicks to enter and run payroll. Its intuitive and self-explanatory UI makes it the best payroll software for a user-friendly experience.

Paychex was founded in 1971 and has 740,000+ business clients in the US and Europe.

Benefits

Paychex offers the Pre-Check service for employees so that they can instantly approve their paycheck before payday and avoid costly payroll discrepancies. It lets companies pay their employees with multiple pay options. These include direct deposit, same-day ACH, paper checks, paycards, eChecks service, Pay-on-Demand (before payroll date), and 24/7 real-time payments.

Paychex’s ever-expanding API library offers seamless integrations with popular business tools like BambooHR, Clover, Deputy, JazzHR, Indeed, Jobvite, Microsoft Azure AD, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Sage Intacct. This makes hiring, managing, paying, and retaining employees easier.

Paychex Features

  • Key feature

    Payroll Center to view current and upcoming pay periods.

  • Key feature

    Run payroll on the go via web app or mobile app.

  • Key feature

    Accurately calculate, file, and pay payroll taxes.

  • Key feature

    Customized earnings and deductions.

  • Key feature

    Three pay entry view options.

  • Key feature

    Employee self-service to update personal information and tax withholding.

  • Key feature

    Automatic report generation on job costing, tax deposits, and payroll journal.

  • Key feature

    Helpful resources in the forms of articles and how-to guides.

  • Key feature

    Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) service to determine eligibility.

Paychex Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Free mobile app to access all important information.

  • Advantage

    24/7 US-based customer support.

  • Advantage

    Automated tax filing.

  • Disadvantage

    A separate tool is needed for time-tracking.

  • Disadvantage

    Costly application for smaller teams.

Rippling

Rippling

Best for Comprehensive HR and Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
Custom pricing

About Rippling

Rippling is a payroll application that also offers a tightly integrated HR service. Hence, it allows for the smooth syncing of HR data with payroll.

For the companies looking for comprehensive software that allows to perform HR and payroll tasks from one platform, Rippling is the best bet.

US-based company Rippling was founded in 2016 and has a thriving customer base among startups and SMBs.

Benefits

Rippling integrates with 500+ applications, including QuickBooks and NetSuite, so companies already using these accounting programs can easily sync data. It generates reports for visualizing payroll analytics. By sharing these reports, companies enable different departments to make informed decisions.

Rippling offers a unified, integrated system to handle all the necessary tools for payroll management. Companies can track time and attendance from the same platform, review expenses, and manage employee benefits.

Rippling Features

  • Key feature

    Global payroll and contractor support to pay the entire team.

  • Key feature

    Regulatory compliance through minimum wage alert, overtime, and leave policy.

  • Key feature

    Customized data access through role-based permission.

  • Key feature

    Workflow automation for alerts, approvals, and reminders.

  • Key feature

    Custom policies to sync payroll and expense data to the general ledger.

  • Key feature

    Pre-built workflow templates.

  • Key feature

    Job costing and multiple pay rates for the employees.

  • Key feature

    Automation of compliance work through W-2, W-4, 1099, and new hire filings.

  • Key feature

    Workers’ compensation and garnishment.

  • Key feature

    Make payments via direct deposit or cheque.

  • Key feature

    Track working hours and PTOs.

Rippling Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    100% guaranteed error-free payroll.

  • Advantage

    Run payroll in 90 seconds.

  • Advantage

    Dedicated mobile app.

  • Advantage

    Calculate and file all payroll taxes.

  • Disadvantage

    Pricing information not available.

  • Disadvantage

    No free trial available.

Multiplier

Multiplier

Best for EOR & Global Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Limited
Custom pricing

About Multiplier

Multiplier is a payroll software for on-time global payroll management. Besides supporting payroll, it enables businesses to employ EOR from 150+ countries without establishing entities in those countries. For this reason, Multiplier is the perfect software for EOR and global payroll.

Multiplier was established in 2020 and has service points in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Benefits

Multiplier uses AWS hosting services and processes personal data complying with GDPR. It also ensures compliance in every country in managing payroll and employment by following country-specific laws and regulations.

While handling payroll, Multiplier allows organizations to oversee taxes, social contributions, and local insurance policies, eliminating the need for concern or the acquisition of additional software for managing these elements.

Multiplier Features

  • Key feature

    Easy-to-use dashboard to manage workflows in one place.

  • Key feature

    Payroll preview to avoid mistakes and discrepancies.

  • Key feature

    Team of payroll experts with knowledge of local laws and languages.

  • Key feature

    Scalable software for a consistent experience across locations.

  • Key feature

    Payslips and payroll report for transparency.

  • Key feature

    Manage international employees from the same platform.

  • Key feature

    Localized insurance coverage with customization.

Multiplier Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Customized country-specific pricing.

  • Advantage

    Expense management.

  • Advantage

    Direct access to local HR and legal experts without third-party interference.

  • Disadvantage

    Support from experts not available on weekends.

  • Disadvantage

    No free plan is available.

TriNet HR Payroll (previously Zenefits)

TriNet HR Payroll (previously Zenefits)

Best for All-in-One HR and Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
Custom pricing

About TriNet HR Payroll

TriNet HR Payroll, previously known as Zenefits, is a payroll solution for small and medium businesses. In TriNet HR Payroll, payroll is integrated with the HR application so that companies can effortlessly use the HR data to process payroll on time. Businesses looking for an all-in-one HR and payroll solution should go for it.

Founded in 1988, TriNet HR Payroll has 33,000+ users globally as a part of its client organizations.

Benefits

TriNet HR Payroll offers payroll administration services and self-service tools. It allows companies to spend more time on their people and ensures compliance with regulations and payroll tax requirements in various states. TriNet HR Payroll supports hourly and salaried employees in getting paid on time.

TriNet HR Payroll Features

  • Key feature

    E-pay stubs for paperless payslip.

  • Key feature

    Electronic W-2 preparation and delivery.

  • Key feature

    Integration with QuickBooks Online to sync general ledger.

  • Key feature

    Calculate, withhold, and submit federal and state tax.

  • Key feature

    Manage unemployment tax and claims.

  • Key feature

    Directly import W-2s to TurboTax.

  • Key feature

    Convenient payment to independent contractors.

  • Key feature

    Actionable insights from payroll data through reports.

  • Key feature

    Total compensation statement to categorize contributions.

TriNet HR Payroll Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Mobile app to handle time off requests and expenses.

  • Advantage

    No monthly base fee.

  • Advantage

    24/7 live chat for PEO.

  • Disadvantage

    Does not offer extensive integration support.

  • Disadvantage

    The customer support could be improved upon.

QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for QuickBooks Integration

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
$37.50/month
FREE Trial

About QuickBooks

QuickBooks Payroll is a software for streamlined payroll. QuickBooks users get the advantage of smooth integration between the payroll software and other QuickBooks applications like QuickBooks Accounting, QuickBooks POS, and QuickBooks Time for data sync. Hence, QuickBooks Payroll is the best choice for integrating with other QuickBooks products.

QuickBooks’ parent company, Intuit, was founded in 1983 and has 100 million users.

Benefits

Sync QuickBooks Payroll with QuickBooks Time to increase the accuracy of payroll and reduce risks involved with manual entry. It also supports managing timesheets and connecting time-tracking data to reduce payroll costs.

QuickBooks Features

  • Key feature

    Same-day direct deposit for quick payment.

  • Key feature

    Calculate, fine, and submit payroll tax.

  • Key feature

    Automate payroll process by scheduling.

  • Key feature

    Manage time tracking by timesheet approval.

  • Key feature

    Federal and state tax calculations for complete compliance.

  • Key feature

    One-tap employee clock-in and clock-out.

QuickBooks Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    30-day free trial.

  • Advantage

    100% accurate tax calculation guaranteed.

  • Advantage

    Tax penalty protection.

  • Disadvantage

    Workflow automation is only available for Advanced plan users.

  • Disadvantage

    Time-tracking feature is not available for Core plan users.

Patriot

Patriot

Best for Affordable Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
$17/month
FREE Trial

About Patriot

Patriot was established in 2002 and has its headquarters in Ohio, US. Patriot payroll generates various payroll reports, such as tax filing, tax deposit, pay rate, payroll register, individual paycheck history, payroll tax liabilities, assigned contributions and deductions, and time-off management. These help businesses easily manage and interpret payroll data.

Its monthly base pay and per-employee charges are affordable for all businesses. Hence, Patriot is the best software for affordable payroll.

Benefits

Patriot software can be accessed from any device without downloading it. It offers free 2-day and 4-day direct deposit facilities for qualified customers to help businesses pay their employees without hassle.

Patriot payroll files company tax on time with 100% accuracy. In case of any mistake, it covers all the penalties and interest, which is a win-win situation for the companies.

Patriot Features

  • Key feature

    Unlimited payroll runs without extra charges.

  • Key feature

    Up to five different pay rates for every hourly employee.

  • Key feature

    Free employee portal with access to pay history, time off balance, and W-2.

  • Key feature

    Customizable employee deduction and company contribution.

  • Key feature

    Create and personalize time-off accrual rules.

  • Key feature

    Pay employees and contractors using the same method.

  • Key feature

    Payroll tax calculation based on the primary location of the employees.

  • Key feature

    Add unlimited users with permission control.

  • Key feature

    Integration with Patriot Accounting, QuickBooks Desktop, or QuickBooks Online.

Patriot Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    30-day free trial to test the software functionality.

  • Advantage

    Free payroll account setup.

  • Advantage

    Free integration with 401(k) and workers’ comp.

  • Advantage

    Year-end payroll tax filing without extra charges.

  • Disadvantage

    Only available to companies in the US.

  • Disadvantage

    No mobile app is available.

OnPay

OnPay

Best for Growing Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Limited
$46/month

About OnPay

OnPay is a full-service payroll solution for small businesses, accountants, or non-profits. Its straightforward pricing is suitable for a small team and includes basic HR tools in addition to the suite. For this reason, OnPay is the perfect choice for any growing business.

OnPay was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Georgia, US.

Benefits

OnPay integrates with several business applications, such as QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Time, Xero, Deputy, Mineral, and Poster Elite. Thus, users can seamlessly exchange data with these applications to streamline the business process.

OnPay’s report designer lets organizations create reports with custom views and filter them by employee type, location, or department. This allows them to view the reports in real-time online, download them in PDF or spreadsheet format, or move the data to the accounting software.

The software portal is mobile responsive, so companies can conveniently use it on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. So, users do not need to download a mobile app.

OnPay Features

  • Key feature

    Unlimited payroll run per month.

  • Key feature

    Tax filing and payments with W-2 and 1099.

  • Key feature

    Payment from a debit card, check, or direct deposit from a bank account.

  • Key feature

    Multiple pay rates and schedules for different employees.

  • Key feature

    OnPay access with Google, Intuit, or Xero login.

  • Key feature

    Unemployment insurance withholding and company contribution processing.

  • Key feature

    Employee self-service for self-onboarding, employment docs, and tax forms.

  • Key feature

    PTO management with email notifications and custom PTO policies.

  • Key feature

    Health and dental benefits for employees in all 50 states.

OnPay Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Garnishment deduction.

  • Advantage

    Free setup and data migration.

  • Advantage

    Includes full suite of HR tools.

  • Advantage

    Multi-state payroll with no extra fees.

  • Disadvantage

    No phone or chat support on weekends.

  • Disadvantage

    Limited third-party integrations.

PrimePay

PrimePay

Best for Payroll Tax Compliance

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
Custom pricing

About PrimePay

PrimePay offers payroll and HR solutions for SMBs. It helps managing all the federal and state tax filings of a business, including Form W-2. So, PrimePay is the best choice for businesses looking for a tax compliance feature in payroll software.

PrimePay was established in 1986. It has more than 18,000 customers.

Benefits

With automation and useful features, PrimePay enables companies to handle all payroll complexities easily. Anyone can use its simplistic interface without any difficulties, so the team does not need to go through any training. Thus, PrimePay saves valuable time as users can start using it right away.

PrimePay smoothly integrates with different third-party business applications, making it a scalable solution that grows with the business. It is cloud-based software that enables access anytime, anywhere.

PrimePay supports on-demand pay, allowing employees to access their earnings before payday. This increases employee satisfaction and provides financial flexibility, resulting in a higher employee retention rate.

PrimePay Features

  • Key feature

    Unlimited payroll each month to match industry standards.

  • Key feature

    Automated payroll processing with tax and employee deductions.

  • Key feature

    Direct deposit from the bank account or payment from debit card.

  • Key feature

    Time-off management for efficiency and accuracy.

  • Key feature

    Bank reconciliation to avoid duplicate payments.

  • Key feature

    Payroll tax filing (federal, state, and local) across 50 states of the US.

  • Key feature

    Check printing and paycards.

  • Key feature

    WOTC for US companies.

  • Key feature

    Integration with HR for automatic reflection of benefits changes into payroll.

  • Key feature

    Payroll reports and analytics to gain visibility into the workforce.

PrimePay Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Employee self-service.

  • Advantage

    Reports on payroll and new hiring.

  • Advantage

    Automatic alerts on payroll errors.

  • Advantage

    Mobile app for employees.

  • Disadvantage

    Pricing data not available.

  • Disadvantage

    Lesser integration options.

Square Payroll

Square Payroll

Best for Square Users

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
$29/month
Start for FREE

About Square Payroll

Square Payroll is one of the 36+ products of Square, a company that started its journey in 2009. It has an entire suite of business tools like POS hardware and software that integrate well with each other.

Companies that use other Square products like Square POS will find Square Payroll to be the best option.

Benefits

Square Payroll smoothly integrates with all Square products, making team payroll management easier for Square users. Square Payroll comes with helpful HR and compliance resources to give peace of mind when running payroll.

Employees can onboard themselves in a few steps that reduce company workload. The system also allows qualifying businesses to run payroll two business days before the original pay date, giving businesses more time and flexibility to do so.

Square Payroll Features

  • Key feature

    Run payroll automatically during every pay period.

  • Key feature

    Pay employees and contractors with hourly, salary, or custom amounts.

  • Key feature

    Streamlined employee onboarding with self-data-entry by the team members.

  • Key feature

    Timecard access from Square POS or Square Team app.

  • Key feature

    Track PTO, vacations, and sick leave to calculate accruals.

  • Key feature

    Manage schedules for the team.

  • Key feature

    Labor cost reporting for insight visibility.

  • Key feature

    Calculate and import tips into the payroll.

  • Key feature

    Automatic tax calculation and filing.

  • Key feature

    W-2s and Form 1099-NECs generation and filing.

  • Key feature

    Calculate, withhold, and file tax for state and national level.

  • Key feature

    Email alerts on employment law change.

  • Key feature

    Instant Deposit feature for employees to access payment 2 days before payday.

Square Payroll Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    No commitment and cancel anytime.

  • Advantage

    Square Team app for time tracking and pay stub viewing.

  • Advantage

    Unlimited pay runs per month.

  • Advantage

    Multiple tax jurisdictions support.

  • Disadvantage

    Lacks advanced features like garnishment processing.

  • Disadvantage

    Customer support resolutions take a lot of time.

Wave Payroll

Wave Payroll

Best for Freelancers and Small Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small, Freelancers
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Limited
$16/month
Get Started for FREE

About Wave Payroll

Wave Payroll is a payroll application that pays both employees and contractors. It was developed specifically for small businesses to address industry-based needs.

Wave Payroll lets users pay for what they use and reduces the workload of payroll management and annual audits for businesses that need to handle workers’ compensation. It also saves companies from manual, time-consuming calculations. For these reasons, Wave Payroll is ideal for small businesses and freelancers.

Wave was founded in 2010 and has more than 500,000 customers.

Benefits

When companies use Wave Payroll, their employees update contact and banking details by accessing pay stubs and tax forms online. The software integrates with Wave’s accounting, invoicing, and payment applications, keeping records up to date.

Wave Payroll always updates its features to incorporate various financial assistance programs. These are in the areas such as small business aid, unemployment benefits, and tax relief. Such regular updates financially and strategically benefit freelancers and small businesses.

Wave Payroll is not only a software for employee payroll. Businesses can also utilize it to pay their independent contractors and file tax documents for them.

Wave Payroll Features

  • Key feature

    Run business payroll accurately.

  • Key feature

    One-click employee payment on every payday.

  • Key feature

    Direct deposit into bank accounts.

  • Key feature

    Payroll expense breakdown by employee and expense type.

  • Key feature

    Hassle-free W2 and 1099 form generation.

  • Key feature

    Leave time and accrual tracking for payroll processing.

  • Key feature

    Automatic tax filings and payments for Tax Service States.

Wave Payroll Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    30-day free trial.

  • Advantage

    Live chat on weekdays and email support for prompt assistance.

  • Advantage

    Automatic payroll journal entry.

  • Disadvantage

    Unavailability of live phone support.

  • Disadvantage

    Only supports businesses based in the US and Canada.

TimeTrex

TimeTrex

Best for Workforce Management

Geekflare rating score 4.8 out of 5
4.8
|
  • Global Payroll
    Limited
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
$30/month

About TimeTrex

TimeTrex is an automated payroll processing software. Besides payroll, it also manages workforce scheduling and team attendance. Therefore, TimeTrex is the best payroll software for workforce management.

TimeTrex was founded in 2003 and currently has 100,000+ companies as its clients.

Benefits

TimeTrex eliminates the hassle of manual calculations and the chances of human errors with its automated payroll processing. It streamlines the workforce management by providing data consistently through software integrations.

TimeTrex’s compliance and management features minimize the risk of penalties and make the tax filing process easy. It also assists businesses in making better decisions with custom reports of payroll data.

TimeTrex Features

  • Key feature

    Direct deposit of funds from multiple bank accounts.

  • Key feature

    Advanced engine for payroll calculation.

  • Key feature

    Calculation of federal and provisional tax.

  • Key feature

    Tailored deductions like benefits, sick leave, insurance, and garnishment.

  • Key feature

    Electronic amount transfer to employees.

  • Key feature

    Support multi-week rotational scheduling.

  • Key feature

    National and international tax report support for W2, 940, 941, 1099, T4, and ROE.

TimeTrex Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Auto filing of remittance and tax forms.

  • Advantage

    Real-time employee attendance monitoring.

  • Advantage

    30-day free trial to check software functionality.

  • Advantage

    Supports both cloud and on-premise deployment.

  • Disadvantage

    Cluttered interface.

  • Disadvantage

    Does not support Mac for installation.

Papaya Global

Papaya Global

Best for Global Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Global Payroll
    Yes
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Large
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
$25/month

About Papaya Global

Papaya Global Payroll is an international payroll platform focused on integration and compliance. It offers end-to-end support for all employment types, such as payroll, EoR, and contractors. Businesses can seamlessly switch between any of these and send employees payments with embedded payment platforms, making it the best software for global payroll.

Established in 2016, Papaya Global has 2000+ companies using its solution with a 99% customer retention rate.

Benefits

Papaya Global Payroll keeps companies updated on country-specific payroll laws and immediately alerts them of compliance issues. It holds SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 audit reports that demonstrate its capability of securing the ultra-sensitive data.

Papaya Global Payroll offers total visibility and control over the workforce’s spending. Its reports reveal all the hidden insights from payroll data to help organizations make better business decisions. Its real-time reports also allow them to access all location data from one place.

As a payroll solution for the global workforce, Papaya ensures full local compliance and liability for payroll process and execution.

Papaya Global Features

  • Key feature

    AI-based data verification for on-time payroll execution.

  • Key feature

    Customizable approval chains for workflow integrity.

  • Key feature

    Payroll summary and payslip approvals.

  • Key feature

    AI-powered accuracy engine for perfect payroll.

  • Key feature

    Automated and secure payslip delivery through internal transfer.

  • Key feature

    Integration support with HRIS or HCM systems.

  • Key feature

    Smart compliance engine for global and national regulations.

  • Key feature

    On-the-go document and data management for the employees.

  • Key feature

    Bank-level security standards to prevent data sharing by emails.

  • Key feature

    Self-service employee portal for PTO, payslips, and document management.

Papaya Global Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Transparent and straightforward fee structure.

  • Advantage

    Pay global workforce in local currencies of 160+ countries.

  • Advantage

    Papaya Personal mobile app.

  • Disadvantage

    Additional onboarding fee for the businesses.

  • Disadvantage

    Its extensive features are difficult for new users to navigate.

PayFit

PayFit

Best for European Payroll

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Global Payroll
    Limited
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
£25/month

About PayFit

PayFit is a smart payroll solution offering all the necessary payroll management tools. Its innovative products support the payroll needs of SMBs across Europe.

PayFit is also an HMRC-recognised software that handles FPS and EPS submissions, sends P11Ds and P11D(b)s, and supports Automated BACS for faster payments. Hence, PayFit is the right choice for European payroll.

PayFit began its journey in 2016 and has more than 10,000 companies as its clients.

Benefits

By using PayFit, companies can eliminate manual data entry, spreadsheets, and lengthy payroll processes. It also supports the integration of HR data from HiBob, BambooHR, and Personio for payroll.

PayFit also generates payroll reports that can be easily used on accounting applications like Xero, NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Sage. It even handles all RTI submissions on behalf of businesses to ease their process.

PayFit identifies which employees are eligible for pensions and sends enrollment letters on behalf of the company so that they do not have to do it manually.

PayFit Features

  • Key feature

    100% automated payroll generation and distribution through the employee portal.

  • Key feature

    Add, edit, and import payroll data anytime before the monthly payroll submission.

  • Key feature

    Real-time payslip update and viewing.

  • Key feature

    Automatic submissions for 10+ leading pension providers like People’s Pension, Smart Pension, and Nest.

  • Key feature

    Get guidance on payroll and finalize payroll in a few clicks.

  • Key feature

    Report templates and custom report generation facility.

  • Key feature

    Apply employee benefits like life insurance, medical insurance, and childcare vouchers.

PayFit Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Only takes 5 days to onboard migrating from another tool.

  • Advantage

    Personalized support from payroll experts.

  • Advantage

    Single platform to manage benefits, expenses, and leaves.

  • Disadvantage

    Costly payroll software.

  • Disadvantage

    Capterra users said the software becomes slow at the end of the month.

BambooHR Payroll (previously TRAXPayroll)

BambooHR Payroll (previously TRAXPayroll)

Best for Customization

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Tools
    Excellent
Custom pricing

About BambooHR

BambooHR Payroll is an HRIS solution that streamlines an organization’s compensation process. It offers customizable workflows and self-service tools for admins and employee management. Customization is also available for onboarding and reports. Thus, BambooHR Payroll is an excellent choice for businesses looking for customization in payroll software.

Founded in 2008, BambooHR Payroll is headquartered in and has 3 million users.

Benefits

BambooHR Payroll automatically fetches all time-tracking, benefits, and time off data from one place. This feature eliminates the need for double data entry or manual approval.

BambooHR Payroll also implements security measures like advanced data encryption, SOC II audit, diverse data centers, and continuous monitoring. Thus, the sensitive business data remains safe and protected.

BambooHR Payroll supports 120+ payroll, ATS, LMS, benefits, performance, and time tracking software for integration, so businesses can use it with their favorite business tools.

BambooHR Features

  • Key feature

    Single platform for time tracking, managing benefits, and running payroll.

  • Key feature

    Employee benefit management for US employees.

  • Key feature

    Sync enrollment data to benefit carrier.

  • Key feature

    One-click timesheet approval and automatic reminders.

  • Key feature

    Track employee log hours based on project, client, location, or task and issue payroll accordingly.

  • Key feature

    Built-in overtime calculation for 50 states of the US.

  • Key feature

    Manage federal, state, and local taxes for US-based workers.

  • Key feature

    Automatic calculation of overtime, PTO, and holidays.

  • Key feature

    Custom payroll reports on cash requirements, deductions, payroll register with hours, etc.

  • Key feature

    Mobile app for better payroll experience in fewer taps.

BambooHR Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Easy-to-use interface.

  • Advantage

    Free trial available.

  • Advantage

    Compliant tax filing.

  • Disadvantage

    Unavailability of a transparent pricing structure.

  • Disadvantage

    The interface is difficult to use.

KashFlow

KashFlow

Best for UK-Based Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.0 out of 5
4.0
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Moderate
£8.75/month

About KashFlow

KashFlow is a business software that simplifies the process of paying employees. KashFlow Payroll supports a large number of BACS (UK standard) file formats that can be downloaded and used in  banking software to pay employees automatically. For this reason, KashFlow is a must-have payroll software for UK-based businesses.

KashFlow was founded in 2005 in the UK.

Benefits

KashFlow smoothly integrates with KashFlow Bookkeeping software so that pay details can be trasferred into accounting books. This is ideal for financial reports like profit and loss accounts. It also saves the admin time by enabling every employee to access payslips and other data from anywhere, anytime.

KashFlow is a cloud-based software that stores data with the same security as online banks. It allows organizations to update employee records from anywhere with complete security.

KashFlow Features

  • Key feature

    Automated payroll with holiday pay.

  • Key feature

    Weekly or monthly payroll cycle.

  • Key feature

    Edit payslips to update payroll run.

  • Key feature

    Automatic submission of RTI.

  • Key feature

    Information pointers like Tax Calculation Method.

  • Key feature

    Automatic employee enrollment into the qualifying scheme.

  • Key feature

    Calculate employee and employer contributions.

  • Key feature

    Payroll update with car allowance and sick day.

KashFlow Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Free employee self-service (ESS).

  • Advantage

    Tax and National Insurance calculation.

  • Advantage

    Free trial available.

  • Disadvantage

    Does not mention any customization feature.

  • Disadvantage

    The mobile app does not have all the features.

Zoho Payroll

Zoho Payroll

Best for India, USA, and UAE Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.2 out of 5
4.2
|
  • Global Payroll
    Limited
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Excellent
$19/month
FREE Trial

About Zoho Payroll

Zoho Payroll offers several useful payroll features, such as online pay stubs, automatic payroll calculation, and on-time employee payment.

Zoho offers country-specific features for the US (track Forms 941, DE-9, and W-2) and India (Form 16 submission) while ensuring compliance with UAE labor laws. These features make Zoho Payroll the best payroll software for India, the US, and the UAE.

Benefits

Zoho Payroll calculates the tax once companies add the tax exemptions and withholdings. It allows organizations to migrate from other solutions even during the middle of the fiscal year. Zoho Payroll manages statutory compliance, including PF, PT, ESI, LWF, and IT. Thus, companies can keep their businesses safe from compliance penalties and easily file tax reports.

Zoho Payroll is integrated with Zoho Books, Zoho People, and Zoho Expense. It ensures contextual data flow between these applications for an integrated payroll ecosystem. It connects with banking solutions so companies can pay salaries on time without leaving the software interface.

Zoho Payroll Features

  • Key feature

    Automatic payroll by capturing working hours plus overtime.

  • Key feature

    Preview draft payroll to avoid any error.

  • Key feature

    On-time payroll processing.

  • Key feature

    Calculate federal tax from employee W-4 forms.

  • Key feature

    Yearly update of tax tables for accurate tax deductions.

  • Key feature

    Personalized pre-tax and post-tax benefits for employees.

  • Key feature

    Generate payslip with breakdown of allowances and deductions.

  • Key feature

    Role-based access to qualified staff.

  • Key feature

    Collaboration between employees and payroll staff.

  • Key feature

    Industry-specific payroll schedule.

  • Key feature

    Timely notifications on all important payroll operation tasks.

Zoho Payroll Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Different payroll templates for each employee.

  • Advantage

    Direct salary transfer to a bank account.

  • Advantage

    Free trial before purchasing a plan.

  • Disadvantage

    No free plan for US-based companies.

  • Disadvantage

    Has lesser customization features.

Gusto

Gusto

Best for Non-profits and Small Businesses

Geekflare rating score 4.5 out of 5
4.5
|
  • Global Payroll
    No
  • Ideal for Company Size
    Small to Medium
  • Integration with other Business Software
    Good
$40/month

About Gusto

Gusto provides industry-specific HR and payroll solutions. Its proactive compliance alerts and automated tax-filing features keep non-profits and small businesses free from human errors. Thus, companies have to spend less time managing payroll. It makes Gusto an ideal payroll software for small businesses and non-profits.

Benefits

Using Gusto means getting all necessary features like health insurance, PTO, and 401(k) in one place. It integrates 190+ applications, including Xero, QuickBooks, Clover, TSheets, and Trainual, for easy access to all related functionalities.

Gusto lets businesses handle contractor payments in 120+ countries so that users can easily hire and manage top talents worldwide. It offers an R&D tax credit service to allow companies to claim federal and state R&D tax credits.

Gusto supports both monthly salary and hourly rates for paying the employees. It also helps businesses submit payroll tax forms such as Form W-2, Form 940, Form 8974, Form 1099, Form 941, etc.

Gusto Features

  • Key feature

    Run payroll as many times as required every month.

  • Key feature

    Customizable report templates for workforce cost.

  • Key feature

    Self-setup for employees to enter their details.

  • Key feature

    Gusto debit card for paperless paydays.

  • Key feature

    Generate reports on payroll history, tax, paid time off, and contractor payments.

  • Key feature

    Automatic adjustment to minimum wage.

  • Key feature

    Payroll AutoPilot and child-support garnishment.

  • Key feature

    Auto tax calculation for accuracy and fewer mistakes.

  • Key feature

    Track hourly employees with geolocation for compliance.

Gusto Pros/Cons

  • Advantage

    Built-in time tracking and employee benefits features.

  • Advantage

    Transparent pricing.

  • Advantage

    Automatic payroll tax filing.

  • Advantage

    State tax registration in 50 states of the US.

  • Disadvantage

    Not suitable for large enterprises.

  • Disadvantage

    Time-tracking functionality is limited.

Comparison of the Best Payroll Software

The table below provides a summary of pricing and ratings for the best payroll software.

Best Payroll Software
Price (monthly)
Explore
ADP Payroll

ADP Payroll

On request
4.0
/5
Paycor

Paycor

On request
4.0
/5
Deel

Deel

On request
4.8
/5
Paychex

Paychex

On request
4.0
/5
Rippling

Rippling

On request
4.8
/5
Multiplier

Multiplier

On request
4.8
/5
TriNet HR Payroll (previously Zenefits)

TriNet HR Payroll (previously Zenefits)

On request
4.0
/5
QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll

$37.50
4.2
/5
Patriot

Patriot

$17
4.8
/5
OnPay

OnPay

$46
4.8
/5
PrimePay

PrimePay

On request
4.0
/5
Square Payroll

Square Payroll

$29
4.5
/5
Wave Payroll

Wave Payroll

$16
4.2
/5
TimeTrex

TimeTrex

$30
4.8
/5
Papaya Global

Papaya Global

$25
4.5
/5
PayFit

PayFit

£25
4.5
/5
BambooHR (previously TRAXPayroll)

BambooHR (previously TRAXPayroll)

On request
4.5
/5
KashFlow

KashFlow

£8.75
4
/5
Zoho Payroll

Zoho Payroll

$19
4.2
/5
Gusto

Gusto

$40
4.5
/5

Why Do Small Businesses Need Payroll Software?

Small businesses need payroll processing software to calculate employees’ and contractors’ wages and streamline payment processing and payslips. It helps in 5 ways, as listed below.

  1. Save Time and Money: Payroll is time-consuming and complex, especially for small businesses with low manpower. Payroll software providers automate tasks, helping small businesses avoid costly penalties and utilize their limited resources.
  2. Seamless Data Access: Small businesses can access employee data, timesheets, PTOs, and other policies using payroll software.
  3. Enhanced Employee Experience: Many payroll applications have employee self-service portals to access pay stubs, tax documents, and other information. This improves the transparency of the process, leading to better employee experience and satisfaction.
  4. Improved Security: Personal and confidential data remains safe on a secured payroll server from unauthorized access. Access to personal information is granted by access control management feature by payroll software.
  5. Streamlined Administrative Work: Businesses streamline administrative tasks by integrating payroll software with benefits providers & software like health insurance, payment processing, employee well-being, and retirement planning.

How Does a Payroll Software Work

Payroll software automates the process of calculating and making employee payments. It tracks or (collects from integrated applications) employee data like the number of days or hours worked to determine gross pay. If needed, companies can apply different rates for different employees.

The payroll software also withholds taxes, garnishment, and various contributions automatically to calculate the net payable amount to an employee. Then, it pays the employees via direct deposit or cheque on a scheduled date. Some payroll software generates pay stubs for employee records and allows users to print them.

What is the Average Pricing for Payroll Software?

The average starting base pay of a payroll system ranges between $10-$30 per month. These applications additionally cost $4-$6 per employee. However, payroll providers like Papaya Global charge $15/month/employee with no base rate, while TimeTrex only charges a flat rate of $30/month for unlimited employees.

The 5 factors that contribute to the pricing of payroll software are as follows.

  1. Number of employees for whom the company will use the software
  2. Advanced features like benefits and garnishment
  3. On-premise payroll software that requires installation and maintenance
  4. Add-on services like tax filing, HR, risk management
  5. Dedicated account manager

What are the Advantages of Payroll Software?

Using payroll software has the 5 following advantages.

  1. Accuracy: Payroll software calculates and deducts taxes automatically, minimizing the risk of manual error and resulting in accurate payments to employees.
  2. Time Savings: The automated process saves time in manual payroll management and frees HR managers to focus on other important tasks.
  3. Efficiency: When payroll software is used, the entire process, from data entry to paychecks, becomes streamlined. It also stores all necessary data in a centralized location, which increases efficiency.
  4. Cost Savings: Payroll software services helps businesses avoid costly tax and legal penalties by reducing errors and maintaining compliance. Additionally, by automating the entire payroll process, software can significantly reduce the need for dedicated payroll staff, leading to potential cost savings.
  5. Compliance: Payroll software helps companies stay compliant by ensuring correct tax filing and maintaining an audit trail.

What are the Disadvantages of Payroll Software?

Using payroll software has the following disadvantages.

  1. Learning Curve: Introducing payroll software to people who don’t want to change the existing process can be challenging and require spending time learning how particular software works.
  2. Customization: A payroll software may not offer the detailed customization needed for every industry, which can be a disadvantage for many businesses.
  3. Technical Issues: Payroll software can cause technical issues and if this happens near the payroll processing date, this can delay the payments to employees.
  4. Regulatory Changes: While many payroll applications update themselves with changes in regulations, some small software provider may miss this doing on time. Thus, it becomes a challenge for companies to ensure that their payroll is compliant with the latest regulations and laws.

Is Payroll Software worth it?

Yes, payroll software is worth the benefits and automation it offers. It helps businesses to save the time & cost and streamlines the whole payroll processing.

What are the Other Enterprise Software?

Other business software solutions are:

  • Inventory management software like Zoho Inventory to manage stock levels and real-time updates of inventory.
  • Accounting software like Intuit QuickBooks to streamline financial processes and manage bookkeeping.
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software like NetSuite to integrate processes like finance, supply chain, and HR.
  • eCommerce software like Shopify to integrate with POS software for online sales.
  • CRM software like Salesforce Customer 360 to manage customer interactions.
  • Communication software like Slack to communicate with stakeholders.
  • Invoicing software like FreshBooks to bill the customers against the purchased products.

What is the Difference Between Payroll Software and Accounting Software?

Payroll and accounting software differ, though some accounting software like QuickBooks has a payroll feature. With payroll software, companies manage employee compensation, while accounting software oversees broader financial tasks. Apart from this, there are 6 differences between payroll and accounting software, which are as follows.

  1. General Ledger: The general ledger is the foundation of accounting software that tracks all financial transactions. Payroll software only focuses on employees and contractors payments.
  2. Time Tracking: Payroll software like Rippling, BambooHR, and Gusto lets companies track employee working hours for accurate payroll calculations. Accounting software usually does not offer this feature.
  3. Tax Calculations and Withholding: Payroll software calculates and files payroll taxes. Some accounting software, like Bonsai and NetSuite, calculates business taxes, but these do not emphasize payroll tax specifics.
  4. Payslip Generation: Payroll software like ADP, Zoho Payroll, Multiplier generate payslips for employees, mentioning their earnings and deductions. Accounting software isn’t involved in the employee payment functions.
  5. Benefits Administration: Both applications usually offer this feature but for different purposes. Accounting software uses it to track benefit costs, and payroll software utilizes it to identify deductibles from employee paychecks.
  6. Financial Reporting: Accounting software generates comprehensive and detailed financial reports. Payroll software only offers limited reporting based on payroll data.

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