Payroll & Benefits
The Best Payroll Services of 2026
Payroll services run payroll for you: they pay your people, deposit and file payroll taxes, and send year-end forms. We rank the providers that do that work, from online full-service payroll to PEOs that run payroll as co-employer. Every score and price comes from facts checked on each provider's own pages, and the table shows where a plan stops, such as garnishments not paid to the agency.
- products compared
- 14
- with a published score
- 10
- per employee per month
- $5–$7
- last updated
- facts checked
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LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
Top 3 by LeadChange Score
QuickBooks Payroll7.5
Gusto6.8
OnPay6.6
Our top picks
- Best overall
QuickBooks Payroll
by Intuit
Highest LeadChange Score here (7.5/10), with 8 of 10 core payroll capabilities verified.
- Best for small businesses
OnPay
by OnPay, LLC
Highest score among products that list small businesses as a target segment, with pricing and fit weighted more.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
Payroll Services ranked by LeadChange Score
Ranked by LeadChange Score from verified facts; products with too few verified facts are not scored yet and come last. Prices are list prices as published by each vendor.
Filter by verified facts
QuickBooks Payroll
Best for QuickBooks Online users who want payroll in the same Intuit account
QuickBooks Payroll suits small and midsize businesses that keep their books in QuickBooks Online and want payroll and tax filing in the same place.
Gusto
Best for US small businesses that want payroll tax filing on every plan
Gusto fits US small businesses that want payroll, benefits and basic HR in one account, with public prices and month-to-month terms. Every plan files payroll taxes and runs unlimited payrolls. Plus adds multi-state payroll and next-day pay, and Premium adds same-day pay and a dedicated account partner.
- Pricing model
- Base fee + per employee5
OnPay
Best for Small businesses that want payroll with taxes and year-end forms included
OnPay suits US small businesses that want full-service payroll at one published price: $49 a month plus $6 per worker, with federal, state and local tax filings, W-2s, 1099s, multi-state payroll and unlimited pay runs included. Setup and data migration are free, and support is by phone, chat and email.
Square Payroll
Best for Square POS sellers that import time cards, tips and commissions into payroll
Square Payroll fits small US employers, above all Square POS sellers, that want full-service payroll at a low published price with no contract. It costs $35 a month plus $6 per person paid, and a contractor-only plan costs $6 per contractor paid.
Paychex Flex
Best for Businesses with fewer than 20 employees that want a listed price
Paychex Flex suits US small and mid-sized employers that want unlimited payroll runs, automated multi-state tax filing and room to add HR, time tracking and benefits from one vendor. Paychex was founded in 1971 and is a public company.
- Pricing model
- Base fee + per employee10
Show all 14 products
- Paycor5.6/10 · Medium confidencePaycor pricing
- TriNet5.0/10 · Medium confidenceWhat TriNet costs
- Netchex4.2/10 · Medium confidenceNetchex plans and prices
- SurePayroll4.1/10 · Medium confidence · From $29/mo + $7/employee/mo (Full Service plan)1SurePayroll pricing
- ADP RUN Powered by ADP3.2/10 · Medium confidenceADP RUN Powered by ADP plans and prices
- Patriot PayrollNot scored yet (14 of 24 facts verified) · From $37/mo + $5/employee/mo (Full Service Payroll plan)2Patriot Payroll pricing
- Vensure Employer SolutionsNot scored yet (12 of 24 facts verified)Vensure Employer Solutions pricing
- ADP TotalSourceNot scored yet (10 of 24 facts verified)ADP TotalSource pricing
- Insperity (PEO)Not scored yet (9 of 24 facts verified)Insperity pricing
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
Find your fit
By industry
Compare the top 8 side by side
| Product | Score | Pricing model | Open API | SOC 2 Type II | Mobile apps | Automatic tax filing | Contractor payments | Webhooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Payroll3,4,11–14 | 7.5 | Base fee + per employee | iOS (QuickBooks Workforce), Android (QuickBooks Workforce) | |||||
| Gusto5,15–17 | 6.8 | Base fee + per employee | Not disclosed | iOS (Gusto Mobile), Android (Gusto Mobile) | ||||
| OnPay6,7 | 6.6 | Base fee + per employee | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | |||
| Square Payroll8,9,18 | 6.6 | Base fee + per employee | Not disclosed | Square Team App | Not disclosed | |||
| Paychex Flex10,19–22 | 6.1 | Base fee + per employee | Not disclosed | Paychex Flex app (iOS), Paychex Flex app (Android), Paychex Flex Time Kiosk app | ||||
 Paycor23–27 | 5.6 | Quote only | Not disclosed | |||||
 TriNet28–31 | 5.0 | Per employee | TriNet mobile app (pay stubs, time off) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | |||
 Netchex32–34 | 4.2 | Quote only | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Not disclosed = the vendor doesn’t publish it.
Pricing at a glance
Monthly list cost from each vendor’s published base and per-employee prices, before discounts.
10 employees
$87–$99/mo
Median $93/mo
Published list prices of 2 products at 10 employees
50 employees
$287–$379/mo
Median $333/mo
Published list prices of 2 products at 50 employees
200 employees
$1,037–$1,429/mo
Median $1,233/mo
Published list prices of 2 products at 200 employees
How the 4 pricing models work
- Base fee + per employee7 of 14 products
- A monthly base fee plus a monthly fee for each person paid. Most online payroll services publish their prices this way.
- Per run
- A fee charged per payroll run, sometimes with a per-employee component.
- Flat fee
- A fixed monthly price for small employers with a defined number of employees.
- Quote based
- Used by many providers that assign a specialist, by PEOs and for multi-entity payroll, where scope drives price.
How to choose payroll services
6 criteria · Requirements by company size · 6 red flags
The choice is less about features than about who does the work and who pays when something goes wrong. Separate software that only figures pay from a service that files and deposits, and get the provider's duties in writing.
Then check the details that differ most between providers: whether garnishments are only deducted or also paid to the agency, whether new-hire reports are filed for you, and what each extra state costs. Our capability table answers these from each provider's own pages.
What full service includes
Providers use the same words for different scopes. Several deduct garnishments from pay but leave the payment to the agency with you, and some include new-hire reporting or garnishment payments only on higher plans.
Who does the work
Providers range from software you operate to specialists who process each run, and prices reflect that difference.
Filing authority and liability
The IRS separates payroll service providers and reporting agents, which file under your employer ID while you stay liable, from certified PEOs, which are generally liable for the wages they pay to worksite employees.
Independent check of deposits
The IRS suggests that employers enroll in EFTPS with their own PIN, check the payments made on their behalf, and treat a first missed or late payment as a red flag.
State and local coverage
Each state where staff live or work can require its own withholding, unemployment and new-hire setup, and some providers charge a fee for each extra state or local jurisdiction.
Cutoff times and pay-day reliability
Late submission deadlines shift work to you and delay pay.
Requirements by company size
Small businesses
- Tax deposits and filings included in the base price
- New-hire reporting and year-end forms included
- A clear answer on who pays garnishments to the agency
Watch out for
- Per-form, per-state and per-correction fees
- Long contracts with auto-renewal
- Support limited to chat or tickets when a tax notice arrives
Mid-sized companies
- Multi-state tax coverage and registration help
- Integration with time and accounting systems
- Dedicated implementation and service team
Watch out for
- Cutoff times that conflict with your approval process
- Add-on charges for off-cycle runs
- Limited reporting without upgrades
Enterprises
- Multi-entity and multi-country capability or partners
- Service-level agreements with response targets
- Audit support and segregation of duties
Watch out for
- Quoted pricing without a defined scope
- Implementation resourcing that slips
- Custom integrations priced separately
Red flags
- The contract disclaims liability for the provider's own filing errors
- You cannot see deposit confirmations independently
- The provider asks to make its own address your IRS address of record
- Garnishments are deducted from pay but no one is named to send them to the agency
- No named contact for tax notices
- Fees for corrections and amended returns are not listed
Popular comparisons
Popular alternatives
Integrations for payroll services
Apps with documented integrations across the products ranked on this page.
Most integrated apps
- QuickBooks Online
- Vestwell
- Xero
- Clover
- Connecteam
- Deputy
- Employee Navigator
- QuickBooks Time
Related subcategories
- Payroll Software
Software that calculates pay, withholds and files payroll taxes and pays employees.
22 products ranked
- PEO Services
Co-employment partners that take on payroll, benefits and HR compliance.
29 products ranked
- ASO Services
HR outsourcing for payroll, benefits administration and compliance while you stay the only employer.
13 products ranked
- HRIS Software
Systems of record for employee data, self-service, time off and HR workflows.
25 products ranked
- Benefits Administration
Enrollment, eligibility and carrier connections for employee benefits.
16 products ranked
- Time & Attendance Software
Time clocks, timesheets and attendance rules that feed payroll.
18 products ranked
- HCM Software
All-in-one suites that run HR, payroll, talent and workforce data on one platform.
14 products ranked
- Talent Acquisition Software
Suites that cover hiring end to end, from sourcing to signed offer and day one.
9 products ranked
Learn
Frequently asked questions
What is a payroll service?
A payroll service is a company that runs payroll for an employer: it figures pay and withholding, pays employees, deposits payroll taxes and files the returns and year-end forms. Online services let you enter hours and approve each run, while some plans and PEOs add a specialist who handles the work with you.
Who has the best payroll service?
No single provider is best for every employer. The ranking above scores each provider from facts verified on its own pages: what full service includes, pricing, integrations, security and support. Start with the top pick for your size, then confirm the plan covers your states, garnishments and year-end forms.
Who is better than ADP?
It depends on what you need. RUN Powered by ADP lists tax filing, new-hire reporting and multi-jurisdiction payroll in every package and its garnishment payment service from the Enhanced package up. Paychex Flex lists a similar scope plus the option of a dedicated payroll specialist. Gusto, OnPay, QuickBooks and Square publish their prices online, which makes them easier to compare before a sales call.
What is the difference between a payroll service, payroll software, a PEO and an accountant?
Payroll software figures pay and leaves filing to you. A payroll service also deposits and files the taxes, using your employer ID, and you stay the only employer. A PEO co-employs your staff, files under its own tax accounts and bundles benefits and HR. An accountant or bookkeeper can do the work by hand or through a service, so ask which tool they use.
Who is liable if my payroll provider makes a mistake?
You are, in most cases. The IRS says the employer is ultimately responsible for federal employment tax deposits, and it may assess penalties and interest on the employer's account if a provider fails to pay. A certified PEO is the main exception, for wages it pays to worksite employees. A contract clause that covers penalties caused by the provider's error is your practical protection.
Can I verify that my payroll provider paid my taxes?
Yes. The IRS suggests enrolling in EFTPS with your own PIN and checking the payments made on your behalf, and it advises against changing your address of record to the provider's address. Compare the provider's deposit reports with your EFTPS history every quarter.
Do payroll services handle garnishments?
Not always in full. A garnishment order requires the employer to withhold part of an employee's pay and send it to an agency or creditor, and federal law limits how much can be withheld. Some providers deduct and pay the agency for you, sometimes only on higher plans. Others deduct the amount and leave the payment to you, which our capability table marks as not included.
Is there a payroll service near me?
The online providers in our ranking are not tied to a local office: you run payroll from a browser or app and get support by phone, chat or email. Check that a provider files in your state and locality and that its support hours fit your pay schedule. If you want face-to-face help, a local accountant or bookkeeper can run payroll for you, often through one of these services.
Can a payroll service handle nanny or household payroll?
Yes, if it has a household plan. A household employer may owe Social Security, Medicare and federal unemployment tax on a worker's wages and reports them on Schedule H with Form 1040, not on business returns. Ask whether the plan prepares the Schedule H figures, the state household filings and the worker's W-2.
Does an S corporation owner need a payroll service?
An S corporation owner who works in the business must be paid wages through payroll. The IRS treats payments to a corporate officer as wages to the extent they are reasonable pay for services, and it can reclassify distributions as wages. A payroll service handles the withholding, deposits and W-2 for that salary.
How long should I keep payroll records?
Longer than many owners expect. The IRS sets a minimum period for employment tax records, counted from the last quarterly return of the year, and the Department of Labor sets its own periods for payroll records and for the time cards and rate tables behind them. Keep complete history and confirm you can export it before you leave a provider.
What is the best payroll service?
QuickBooks Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score of the 14 products in our ranking, 7.5 out of 10, ahead of Gusto (6.8) and OnPay (6.6). QuickBooks Payroll's score rests on 18 of 24 checks verified from public sources. 4 more products are listed without a score until enough of their data is public.
How we research
Ranked by the LeadChange Score, computed only from verified facts: capability coverage (30%), pricing and value (20%), integrations and API (15%), security (15%), fit and support (10%) and data confidence (10%), times a category fit. Products with too few verified facts are not scored yet and come last. Payment never changes a score or a position.
Facts, not impressions · Missing data is never assumed · Independent of revenue
Facts, not impressions
Every input is a fact verified against vendors’ official documentation, with the date we last checked it.
Missing data is never assumed
Unverified items are left out of the score and lower its coverage; below 60% coverage a product is not scored yet.
Independent of revenue
Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
How this page was made
What it is built from
54 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Oct 22, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.3. Read the methodology
Independent review
Not reviewed yet by our independent reviewer. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested these products hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction
Get your payroll services shortlist
Tell us about your team and get a shortlist ranked without regard to who pays us.
Sources
The 51 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- SurePayroll (Paychex) · checked Oct 12, 2026 surepayroll.com/payroll“Pay employees in minutes, easily access reports, and get payroll taxes filed and deposited automatically.”
- Patriot Software · checked Oct 12, 2026 patriotsoftware.com/pricing“Full Service Payroll $37 $18.50/mo plus $5 $2.50 per worker paid”
- Intuit · checked Oct 10, 2026 quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing/bundle“WORKFORCE PAYROLL Pay your team and get payroll taxes done for you. $50 + $7/employee”
- Intuit · checked Oct 9, 2026 assurance.intuit.com“Our most recent SOC 2 report is for the period of September 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. Our Next SOC 2 will be released end of October and will cover the period of May 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026.”
- Gusto · checked Oct 9, 2026 gusto.com/product/pricing“$49/mo + $6/mo per person” “We file federal, state, and local payroll tax forms on your company's behalf (things like Form W-2, Form 1099, Form 940, Form 941, Form 8974, and others).”
- OnPay · checked Oct 12, 2026 onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing“Get started at just $49 base + $6/worker per month. No hidden fees, ever.” “Federal, state, and local tax filings included”
- OnPay · checked Oct 12, 2026 onpay.com/security“Third-party Certification: OnPay holds third-party auditor certification with the AICPA’s SOC program and is SOC 2 Type II compliant.”
- Square · checked Oct 12, 2026 squareup.com/us/en/payroll/pricing“For full-service payroll, the cost is $35 per month, plus $6 per person paid per month. For contractor-only payroll, the cost is $6 per person paid per month.” “Manage your team and run payroll anytime, from anywhere, with the Square Team App.”
- Square · checked Oct 12, 2026 trust.squareup.com/overview“SOC 2 Type II”
- Paychex · checked Oct 9, 2026 paychex.com/payroll/paychex-flex-essentials“Our most affordable option: Only $39/mo. + $5 per employee”
- Intuit · checked Oct 9, 2026 developer.intuit.com/app/developer/payroll-time/docs/faq“For the rest of the Workforce APIs, access to this data is currently restricted to approved partners only. To request access, open a support ticket.”
- Intuit · checked Oct 9, 2026 quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/mobile“QuickBooks Workforce is also available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.”
- Intuit · checked Oct 9, 2026 quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll“We’ll calculate, file, and pay your federal and state payroll taxes for you—100% accurate tax calculations guaranteed.” “Create and e-file 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms. Electronic copies will be automatically sent to contractors.”
- Intuit · checked Oct 9, 2026 developer.intuit.com/app/developer/payroll-time/docs/develop/webhooks“Webhooks are available for two Workforce entities: Payslips and PayrollEmployee.”
- Gusto · checked Oct 9, 2026 docs.gusto.com“Leverage Gusto's API to build your own in-app payroll solution, customized for your users' needs, with Gusto Embedded.”
- Gusto · checked Oct 9, 2026 Payroll (Gusto)“Yes, you can run payroll, check payroll status, add and view team members and manage your team all from the Gusto mobile app. Download the iOS app here and the Google Play app here.”
- Gusto · checked Oct 9, 2026 docs.gusto.com/embedded-payroll/docs/webhooks“A webhook is an HTTP request that delivers information about an event as it happens.”
- Square · checked Oct 12, 2026 squareup.com/us/en/payroll“Square Payroll for Contractors will generate, prepare, and file Form 1099-NEC online for you.”
- Paychex · checked Oct 9, 2026 paychex.com/integrations“Plus, Paychex APIs and developer resources make building applications, connections, and solution integrations easier than ever.”
- Paychex · checked Oct 9, 2026 paychex.com/apps/mobile-app“Employees can download the Paychex Flex® app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and log in using their Paychex account credentials.”
- Paychex · checked Oct 9, 2026 paychex.com/payroll“We automatically calculate, file, and pay your payroll taxes for you.” “1099 Contractors Simplify 1099 reporting and receive fast, accurate payments for your independent contractors.”
- Paychex · checked Oct 9, 2026 developer.paychex.com/getting-started/paychex-webhooks“Webhooks allow your application to receive real-time notifications whenever specific events occur in Paychex systems (such as record creation, updates, or deletions).”
- Paycor · checked Oct 12, 2026 paycor.com/plans-pricing“Answer a few questions to get a custom price quote if you're a small business or view our mid-market product plans.”
- Paycor · checked Oct 12, 2026 paycor.com/compliance-solutions/security“Multi-tenant architecture, Cloud-native features, Microservices, and Open APIs” “Paycor is accredited by and compliant with GDPR, FinCEN, US Privacy Shield, SOC 1 Type 2, and SOC 2 Type 2 security standards.”
- Paycor · checked Oct 12, 2026 paycor.com“EMPLOYEE MOBILE APP”
- Paycor · checked Oct 12, 2026 paycor.com/plans-pricing/small-business“Payroll and Tax Service Federal & state tax filing Direct deposit Check stuffing Employee self-service New hire filing Wage Garnishments”
- Paycor Developers Portal · checked Oct 12, 2026 developers.paycor.com/guides“To receive event notifications, you must provide the Event Notification URL to where you want us to send events on the Event Subscription tab.”
- TriNet · checked Oct 12, 2026 trinet.com/peo/pricing“PEPM stands for "Per Employee Per Month" and is the pricing method TriNet uses to determine your administrative cost.” “TriNet administers payroll taxes for wages processed through the TriNet platform, including calculation, withholding, remittance, and filing.”
- TriNet · checked Oct 12, 2026 trinet.com/customer-resource-center/technology/integration-center“For more complex needs, TriNet APIs give developers the freedom to build upon integration from the TriNet platform and other applications for easy data flow.”
- TriNet · checked Oct 12, 2026 assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9ccc5b591c9e2640/blt2147f424591a508f/657239817631d147b77ffb80/TriNet_Security_and_Privacy_White_Paper_2023.pdf“TriNet has both a SOC 1 Type 2 report and a SOC 2 Type 2 report for the TriNet platform.”
- TriNet · checked Oct 12, 2026 trinet.com/peo“Our platform also lets your employees view pay stubs and request time off conveniently from our mobile app.”
- Netchex · checked Oct 22, 2026 netchex.com/netchex-faqs“Netchex charges per-employee, per-month (PEPM), not per payroll. Netchex utilizes quote-based pricing, which can vary depending on the size of your company and the services you are interested in.” “Our mobile app is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play (Android).”
- Netchex · checked Oct 22, 2026 netchex.com/developers-legacy“Access to APIs, web-hooks, and online help resources is included with your Netchex purchase.” “Netchex uses Azure Event Grid to send web-hook events.”
- Netchex · checked Oct 22, 2026 netchex.com/resources/payroll-tax-filing-services“For full-service clients, Netchex runs payroll tax filing services as part of payroll. We deposit and file federal, state, local, and unemployment taxes, reconcile them every quarter, and prepare W-2s and 1099s at year-end.”
- irs.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 IRS: Outsourcing payroll duties
- irs.gov · checked Oct 27, 2026 IRS: Third party arrangement chart
- irs.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 IRS: About Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization
- Internal Revenue Service · checked Oct 26, 2026 IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide
- acf.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 HHS Administration for Children and Families: New hire reporting
- dol.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 DOL Fact Sheet #30: Wage Garnishment Protections of the Consumer Credit Protection Act
- irs.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 IRS Topic no. 756, Employment taxes for household employees
- irs.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 IRS: S corporation compensation and medical insurance issues
- irs.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 IRS: Employment Tax Recordkeeping
- dol.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 DOL Fact Sheet #21: Recordkeeping Requirements under the FLSA
- ecfr.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 29 CFR 778.207: Other types of contract premium pay distinguished
- ecfr.gov · checked Oct 21, 2026 29 CFR 778.111: Pieceworker
- dol.gov · checked Oct 27, 2026 DOL Fact Sheet 54: The Health Care Industry and Calculating Overtime Pay
- ecfr.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 29 CFR 778.115: Employees working at two or more rates
- ecfr.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 2 CFR 200.430: Compensation — personal services (Uniform Guidance)
- irs.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 IRS: Employment taxes for exempt organizations
- dol.gov · checked Oct 26, 2026 DOL Fact Sheet 14A: Non-Profit Organizations and the FLSA