Payroll Software
Best Payroll Software for Xero
Businesses that keep their books in Xero want each payroll run to land in the ledger without re-typing. The right payroll product posts journals to the accounts and tracking categories your accountant uses, files US payroll taxes, and shows clearly what syncs and when.
- products that fit
- 5
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Top 5 by LeadChange Scoreof 5 that fit · scored for Xero (reweighted)
Gusto8.1 out of 10, High confidence
Paychex Flex8.1 out of 10, Medium confidence
Rippling6.2 out of 10, High confidence
OnPay5.8 out of 10, Medium confidence
ADP RUN Powered by ADP4.1 out of 10, Medium confidence
See the full rankingHighMedium confidence
Payroll software for Xero, 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
Gusto
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 employee1
Paychex Flex
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 employee2
Rippling
Primarily HRIS software; payroll module is secondary
Rippling suits companies that want HR, payroll, IT and finance on one employee database and are ready to buy each product separately. Payroll for small businesses starts at $8 per user per month plus a $40 base fee.
OnPay
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.
ADP RUN Powered by ADP
RUN fits US small businesses that want a long-running provider to file payroll taxes in all 50 states, with HR help, recruiting and insurance add-ons as they grow. ADP was founded in 1949 and is a public company. It is less suited to buyers who want to compare prices before a sales call.
- Pricing model
- Quote only8
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
What matters for Xero
Direct journal posting
Manual imports add steps and errors to every pay cycle. Check that each run posts wages, taxes and deductions to Xero automatically, with a clear record of what was sent.
Tracking category mapping
Departmental and location reporting in Xero depends on payroll cost landing in matching tracking categories. Map them during the trial and post a test run.
US payroll tax filing
Confirm the product calculates and files federal, state and local payroll taxes, not only the accounting entries.
Payroll inside Xero or connected to it
In the US, Xero now sells its own payroll, powered by Gusto, built into Xero. Other payroll products connect through the Xero App Store. Compare price, features and how each one posts to the ledger.
Visible sync errors
When a sync fails, you need to see what failed and why before the books close for the month.
More tools for Xero
- Applicant Tracking SystemsApplicant tracking systems for Xero
- HRIS SoftwareHRIS software for Xero
- Time & Attendance SoftwareTime & attendance software for Xero
Find your fit
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- Payroll Software pricing guide
Published list prices, cost by headcount and fees to ask about.
- Payroll software for small business
The ranking reweighted for small business.
- Payroll software for mid-sized companies
The ranking reweighted for mid-sized companies.
- Payroll software for retail
The ranking reweighted for retail.
- Payroll software for healthcare
The ranking reweighted for healthcare.
Frequently asked questions
Does Xero do payroll in the US?
Yes. On August 12, 2026 Xero launched Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, for US small businesses. It runs inside Xero, and payroll data flows directly into the general ledger. Before that, US Xero users connected a separate payroll product. Many payroll products still connect to Xero, so compare features, price and how each one posts to your accounts before you choose.
What should payroll software that integrates with Xero sync?
At least a journal for each pay run, with wages, employer taxes and deductions posted to the right Xero accounts and tracking categories. Some products also sync employees, departments or bills for tax payments. Ask for the vendor’s setup guide, map your accounts during the trial and post a test run before your first real payroll.
What is the best payroll software for Xero?
On the LeadChange Score weighted for Xero, the highest-scoring of the 5 products with a published score are Gusto (8.1/10), Paychex Flex (8.1), and Rippling (6.2).
Which payroll platforms for Xero offer a free trial?
OnPay and Rippling list a free trial, according to their vendors: 2 of the 5 products for Xero.
Which payroll platforms for Xero have SOC 2 Type II?
OnPay and Rippling state SOC 2 Type II compliance; Rippling also holds ISO 27001. That is 2 of the 5 products for Xero.
Which payroll platforms for Xero have a mobile app?
ADP RUN Powered by ADP, Gusto, Paychex Flex, and Rippling confirm a mobile app; 1 of the 5 products for Xero does not document one.
Which payroll platforms for Xero support single sign-on?
Gusto and Rippling document single sign-on; 3 of the 5 products for Xero do not.
How we research
This ranking of payroll software for Xero reweights the LeadChange Score: capability coverage 25%, pricing transparency & value 15%, integrations & API 35%, security & compliance 10%, fit & support 5%, and data confidence 10%. Only products with a verified fact showing they serve this segment are listed.
How this page was made
What it is built from
21 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Oct 12, 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
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Sources
The 8 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
- Gusto gusto.com/product/pricing“Simple Run basic payroll in one state. $49/mo + $6/mo per person”
- Paychex paychex.com/payroll/paychex-flex-essentials“Our most affordable option: Only $39/mo. + $5 per employee”
- Rippling rippling.com/solutions/small-businesses“Rippling's small business plans start at $8 per user per month for payroll. The final cost depends on which other products you add, such as benefits administration, time and attendance, or IT device management.”
- Rippling rippling.com/pricing“While most Rippling products are billed on a simple per-employee, per-month basis, some may be charged at (or include) a monthly basis fee.”
- Rippling rippling.com/trust/security“Rippling's SOC 2 Type 2 report covers the trust services categories of Security, Confidentiality, and Availability, and is audited annually.”
- OnPay onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing“Payroll Essentials $49 base + $6/worker per month” “Get started at just $49 base + $6/worker per month. No hidden fees, ever.”
- OnPay 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.”
- ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx“Some payroll plans charge by the number of people paid each payroll cycle. As such, adding employees increases costs while removing employees decreases payroll prices.”