Independent research on 93 HR & workforce products. Facts checked against vendors’ official documentation.

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LeadChange Group

Payroll Software

Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses

Small employers rarely have a payroll specialist, so the platform has to carry more of the compliance work and be priced without surprises.

products that fit
14
By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Facts checked

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.We may earn a fee.

Our top picks

  1. Best overall

    Patriot Payroll

    by Patriot Software

    Highest LeadChange Score here (9.2/10), with 9 of 12 core payroll capabilities verified.

    From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo

  2. Best value

    SurePayroll

    by Paychex

    Lowest published list cost at 25 employees ($204/mo) among products scoring at or above the median, after Patriot Payroll, already picked above.

    From $29/mo + $7/employee/mo

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Payroll software for small businesses, ranked

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

  1. Patriot Payroll

    Patriot Payroll is a US small-business payroll service for companies of up to 500 employees, with published pricing that starts at $17 per month plus $4 per worker. The main trade-off is reviewer-reported slow direct deposit and limited advanced reporting.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes

    From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo

    What Patriot Payroll costs

  2. SurePayroll

    Online payroll for small businesses and household employers, from $29 per month plus $7 per additional worker, with free 2-day direct deposit and unlimited runs. Multi-state, W-2/1099 filing and accounting sync cost extra, and Capterra reviewers (4.1/5, 307 reviews) mention support wait times and an older interface.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee

    From $29/mo + $7/employee/mo

    SurePayroll plans and prices

  3. Homebase

    Primarily employee scheduling software; payroll module is secondary

    Homebase is built for small hourly businesses such as restaurants and retail that want scheduling, time tracking and payroll in one app, starting with a free plan. Pricing is per location, so cost rises with location count and add-ons.

    Pricing model
    Tiered plans
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes

    Homebase plans and prices

  4. Gusto

    Gusto is a US small-business payroll, benefits and HR platform with public pricing from $49 per month plus $6 per person and no contracts. Reviewers cite ease of use and reliable payroll, but add-on fees, per-person costs and limited reporting customization are the main trade-offs.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee
    Not scored yet15 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 5, 2026

    From $49/mo + $6/employee/mo

    Gusto pricing

  5. OnPay

    OnPay is US payroll software for small and mid-sized businesses with fully published pricing: $49 per month plus $6 per worker, with federal, state and local tax filings included. HR and time tracking are paid add-ons or bundles, so the price grows with the modules used.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes
    Not scored yet14 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 6, 2026

    From $49/mo + $6/employee/mo

    OnPay plans and prices

  6. Justworks

    Justworks is a payroll and PEO platform for small businesses, with public pricing starting at a $50 monthly base plus $8 per employee. The PEO tiers cost $79 to $124 per employee per month, and several features are add-ons.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee
    Not scored yet13 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 6, 2026

    From $50/mo + $8/employee/mo

    Justworks plans and prices

  7. Paycom

    Paycom is a cloud HCM suite that runs payroll, HR, time, talent and benefits on a single database for small, midsize and enterprise employers. Pricing is by customized quote with no published prices, so total cost depends on the tiers quoted.

    Pricing model
    Quote only
    Not scored yet13 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 5, 2026

    Paycom plans and prices

  8. Paycor

    Paycor is a Paychex-owned HCM platform covering payroll, HR, time, recruiting, talent and benefits for businesses from 1 to 1,000+ employees. Pricing is quote-only, so buyers cannot see costs before requesting a quote.

    Pricing model
    Quote only
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes
    Not scored yet12 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 5, 2026

    What Paycor costs

  9. QuickBooks Payroll

    QuickBooks Payroll, marketed as QuickBooks Workforce, is Intuit's small-business payroll product with tax filing, time tracking and optional HR and benefits access. Listed prices start at $50 per month plus $7 per employee and rise to $134 plus $17 on Elite, billed monthly.

    Pricing model
    Base fee + per employee
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes
    Not scored yet12 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 6, 2026

    From $50/mo + $7/employee/mo

    QuickBooks Payroll pricing

  10. Paychex Flex

    Paychex Flex is a cloud payroll and HR platform for businesses of any size, with automated multi-state payroll tax handling and optional HR, time and benefits modules. Pricing is quote-only, so cost cannot be assessed without contacting sales.

    Pricing model
    Quote only
    SOC 2 Type II
    Yes
    Not scored yet11 of 26 facts verifiedFacts checked Oct 6, 2026

    Paychex Flex plans and prices

Show all 14 products
  1. PaylocityNot scored yet (11 of 26 facts verified)What Paylocity costs
  2. isolved People CloudNot scored yet (8 of 26 facts verified)Isolved People Cloud pricing
  3. RipplingNot scored yet (7 of 26 facts verified)What Rippling costs
  4. ADP RUN Powered by ADPNot scored yet (4 of 26 facts verified)ADP RUN Powered by ADP pricing

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

All payroll software, ranked

How the score works

What matters for small businesses

  1. Included tax filing

    Without a payroll specialist, automatic deposits and returns reduce the chance of missed deadlines.

  2. Transparent per-employee pricing

    Add-on fees for forms and runs change the real cost more at low headcount.

  3. Simple new-hire setup

    Self-service onboarding with withholding forms saves time for the owner.

  4. Accessible support

    A person who can answer a tax notice matters more than a feature list.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best payroll software for small business?

The best option is the one that files taxes in every state where you employ people, includes direct deposit and year-end forms in the base price, and has clear support. Our small-business ranking weights those factors with verified pricing, so compare the shortlist on this page against your state and headcount.

How we research

This ranking of payroll software for small businesses reweights the LeadChange Score: capability coverage 25%, pricing transparency & value 30%, integrations & API 10%, security & compliance 10%, fit & support 15%, and data confidence 10%. Only products with a verified fact showing they serve this segment are listed.

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Changelog

  1. Ranking: added ADP RUN Powered by ADP.

  2. First published.