Best Payroll Services for 2026
Payroll software handles the entire employee payment process, tracking hours, calculating wages and deductions, processing pay runs, and filing taxes. By automating these tasks, great payroll software can help you reduce manual errors and free up time for your business to focus less on paperwork and more on growth.
Last updated: September 2026
1
Editor's Choice
Paychex
- Award-Winning SMB Solution
- Over 45 years of excellence
- Easy to pay and manage employees
- Employee Mobile App
- 24/7 Support
- Integration with multiple accounting software
- Easy to Use
- Pricier than other platforms
- Free 6-month trial
1
Editor's ChoiceFREE for 3 months
FREE for 3 months
- Award-Winning SMB Solution
- Over 45 years of excellence
- Easy to pay and manage employees
- Employee Mobile App
- 24/7 Support
- Integration with multiple accounting software
- Easy to Use
- Pricier than other platforms
- Free 6-month trial
2
Best for Small Businesses
Gusto
Starting from: $49/mo
- Used by over 400,000 SMBs globally
- Automated payroll with tax filing included
- Direct deposit and contractor payments fast
- Exceptional value: payroll + HR + benefits from $49/mo
- Unlimited payroll runs at no extra cost
- Automated tax calculations, filings, and payments
- Employee self-service portal reduces HR admin significantly
- No dedicated admin mobile app, payroll requires desktop
- No annual plan or money-back guarantee
- E-sign for custom documents not available on Simple plan
- Global EOR covers ~13 countries
2
Best for Small BusinessesGet 1 month free
Get 1 month free
- Used by over 400,000 SMBs globally
- Automated payroll with tax filing included
- Direct deposit and contractor payments fast
- Exceptional value: payroll + HR + benefits from $49/mo
- Unlimited payroll runs at no extra cost
- Automated tax calculations, filings, and payments
- Employee self-service portal reduces HR admin significantly
- No dedicated admin mobile app, payroll requires desktop
- No annual plan or money-back guarantee
- E-sign for custom documents not available on Simple plan
- Global EOR covers ~13 countries
Starting price $49/mo
3
Best Budget Option
Onpay
Starting from: $40/mo
- Advanced features included
- Flexible and customized packages
- Tax filing & payroll automation
- Free Migration & Setup
- Straightforward Pricing
- Exceptional customer support
- Deep integrations with multiple software
- Limited international support
3
Best Budget OptionFirst three months free*
First three months free*
- Advanced features included
- Flexible and customized packages
- Tax filing & payroll automation
- Free Migration & Setup
- Straightforward Pricing
- Exceptional customer support
- Deep integrations with multiple software
- Limited international support
Starting price $40/mo
4
Best for Mid-Sized Companies
Paycor
14-Days Free Trial
Starting from: $99/mo
- All-in-one HR solution for success
- Used by 2.5M users & 40K+ businesses
- Vast partner network
- Mobile App
- Customizable Features
- Easy to Use
- Limited Customer Service Options
- Busy Interface
- Limited Reporting
4
Best for Mid-Sized CompaniesLimited Offer: 6 Months at 50% OFF*
14-Days Free Trial
Limited Offer: 6 Months at 50% OFF*
- All-in-one HR solution for success
- Used by 2.5M users & 40K+ businesses
- Vast partner network
- Mobile App
- Customizable Features
- Easy to Use
- Limited Customer Service Options
- Busy Interface
- Limited Reporting
Starting price $99/mo
5
Best for HR-Driven Payroll
Bamboohr
Starting from: $19//mo /employee
- 7-day free trial
- Designed for SMBs
- 24/7 customer support for all your needs
- User-friendly interface
- Extensive reporting and analytics
- Wide-range of learning and support resources
- Payroll is an Add-on
5
Best for HR-Driven PayrollStreamlined payroll & data in one place Award-winning service with 130+ integrations
Streamlined payroll & data in one place
- 7-day free trial
- Designed for SMBs
- 24/7 customer support for all your needs
- User-friendly interface
- Extensive reporting and analytics
- Wide-range of learning and support resources
- Payroll is an Add-on
Starting price $19//mo /employee
6
Best for Small Businesses
SurePayroll
Starting from: $20//mo + $4/user
- Payroll made easy for as little as $1 per day
- Automated payroll for business efficiency
- US-based customer support
- Simplified employee payroll process
- Convenient mobile app designed for small businesses
- Reasonably priced plans
- Requirement to provide information to receive pricing details
- Lack of 24/7 customer support
6
Best for Small BusinessesGet 6 months free*
Get 6 months free*
- Payroll made easy for as little as $1 per day
- Automated payroll for business efficiency
- US-based customer support
- Simplified employee payroll process
- Convenient mobile app designed for small businesses
- Reasonably priced plans
- Requirement to provide information to receive pricing details
- Lack of 24/7 customer support
Starting price $20//mo + $4/user
7
Best for Large Teams
Paylocity
- Award-winning customer service
- Seamless international support
- Dedicated tax support
- Easy to Navigate and Use
- Customizable
- Recruiting & Applicant Tracking
- Pricing Requires Consult
- Demo Requires Consult
- Limited Customer Service Hours
7
Best for Large TeamsPayroll software built for you
Payroll software built for you
- Award-winning customer service
- Seamless international support
- Dedicated tax support
- Easy to Navigate and Use
- Customizable
- Recruiting & Applicant Tracking
- Pricing Requires Consult
- Demo Requires Consult
- Limited Customer Service Hours
8
Best for HR-Driven Payroll
Rippling
- Automatic compliance and tax-filing
- Built for all sizes, from small businesses to large
- Sync all your systems with payroll
- All-in-one HR solution
- Very customizable
- ACA & COBRA administration
- Requires you to get a custom quote
- Pricier than other options
8
Best for HR-Driven PayrollPayroll you can manage all in one place
Payroll you can manage all in one place
- Automatic compliance and tax-filing
- Built for all sizes, from small businesses to large
- Sync all your systems with payroll
4.1
Read review- All-in-one HR solution
- Very customizable
- ACA & COBRA administration
- Requires you to get a custom quote
- Pricier than other options
9
Best for Enterprises
Adp
90-Days Free Trial
- Award-winning payroll & HR software
- Variety of packages for your business needs
- Around the clock customer support
- AI Chat-Based Payroll
- User-Friendly Software
- Scalability
- Limited Customer Support
9
Best for Enterprises4 months free payroll* Chosen by nearly 800,000 SMBs
90-Days Free Trial
4 months free payroll*
- Award-winning payroll & HR software
- Variety of packages for your business needs
- Around the clock customer support
4.5
Read review- AI Chat-Based Payroll
- User-Friendly Software
- Scalability
- Limited Customer Support
* Featured prices and terms can be updated. Free offers may include additional terms.








