The short answer
OnPay costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker, with multi-state payroll, tax filings, W-2s and 1099s and unlimited pay runs included. SurePayroll’s Full Service costs $29 a month plus $7 per employee and No Tax Filing $20 plus $4; extra states cost $9.99 a month and year-end W-2 and 1099 forms $50 plus $5 per form.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
OnPay wins 2SurePayroll wins 03 ties
| Dimension | OnPay | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| PricingSurePayroll’s Full Service starts lower, at $29 a month plus $7 per employee against OnPay’s $49 plus $6. SurePayroll then bills $9.99 a month for multi-state payroll and $50 plus $5 per form at year end; OnPay includes both. | $49/mo + $6/employee/mo (Payroll Essentials plan) | $20/mo + $4/employee/mo |
| CapabilitiesBoth run unlimited payrolls with tax filings and pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. OnPay adds HR, time tracking and benefits administration; SurePayroll adds household payroll, employment law support and payment processing. Payroll, HR, Time tracking, Benefits, Compliance resources, Live HR support | 10 of 12 core capabilities | 11 of 12 core capabilities |
| IntegrationsOnPay lists 9 integrations, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, JazzHR and Vestwell. SurePayroll’s accounting software integration costs $4.99 a month. 9 | 9 native | 1 documented |
| Fit and supportOnPay answers by phone from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, and by email and chat. SurePayroll supports customers by phone and chat, Monday to Friday. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday (phone) | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| SecurityOnPay states SOC 2 Type II. SurePayroll names no security certification on the pages we reviewed. Yes | SOC 2 | None verified |
| Attribute | OnPay | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | ||
| Best for | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| Support channels | Phone, email, chat | Phone, chat |
| Founded | 2011 | 2000 |
| Ownership | Private | Subsidiary |
| Attribute | OnPay | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base fee + per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Price transparency | Published | Published |
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Contractor payments |
| Employees | OnPay Payroll Essentials | SurePayroll No Tax Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $109/mo | $60/mo (lowest) |
| 50 | $349/mo | $220/mo (lowest) |
| 200 | $1,249/mo | $820/mo (lowest) |
Monthly list price of each product’s entry plan with published per-employee pricing.
Pricing. SurePayroll’s Full Service starts lower, at $29 a month plus $7 per employee against OnPay’s $49 plus $6. SurePayroll then bills $9.99 a month for multi-state payroll and $50 plus $5 per form at year end; OnPay includes both.
Capabilities. Both run unlimited payrolls with tax filings and pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. OnPay adds HR, time tracking and benefits administration; SurePayroll adds household payroll, employment law support and payment processing.
Integrations. OnPay lists 9 integrations, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, JazzHR and Vestwell. SurePayroll’s accounting software integration costs $4.99 a month.
Fit and support. OnPay answers by phone from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, and by email and chat. SurePayroll supports customers by phone and chat, Monday to Friday.
Security. OnPay states SOC 2 Type II. SurePayroll names no security certification on the pages we reviewed.
Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (9.3/10).
From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo
Not on the base price: SurePayroll’s Full Service costs $29 a month plus $7 per employee, $99 for 10 people, against $109 with OnPay at $49 plus $6. SurePayroll’s extras change that for many teams: with 10 employees in two states and 10 W-2s at year end, SurePayroll comes to about $1,408 a year and OnPay to $1,308.
Yes, SurePayroll is a Paychex subsidiary. OnPay is privately held and based in Atlanta, Georgia.
SurePayroll covers what many small employers ask for: unlimited payroll runs, free 2-day direct deposit, W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in one system, and household payroll. It is less suited to multi-state teams, which pay $9.99 a month more, and it names no security certification on the pages we reviewed.
OnPay sells HR tools for $15 a month plus $2 per worker and live HR support for $65 a month, or both with payroll in a bundle from $120 a month plus $7 per worker. SurePayroll offers employment law support from $30 a month.
OnPay administers medical, dental and vision plans, life and disability cover, HSAs, FSAs, commuter benefits and 401(k), and charges nothing beyond the plan premiums. SurePayroll offers health insurance, workers' comp and 401(k) plans, with 401(k) quoted by plan.
OnPay pays by direct deposit, check or prepaid debit card. SurePayroll includes free 2-day direct deposit and can run payroll automatically on a schedule.
OnPay lists a free trial; SurePayroll does not.
Only OnPay states SOC 2 Type II.
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
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What the LeadChange Score means
A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
Payments, commissions and lead fees are never inputs.
