Discover the best cheap payroll software options for 2024, designed to streamline your payroll processes without breaking the bank.
Our comprehensive guide highlights the top budget-friendly solutions to help small businesses and startups manage employee payments, taxes, and compliance efficiently and accurately. Explore features, pricing, and benefits to find the perfect fit for your payroll needs.
The Best Cheap Payroll Software
- Paychex — Merges payroll with new hire onboarding and an LMS
- OnPay — Multi-state payroll, ideal for large companies with multiple locations
- QuickBooks — Automated payroll runs for salaried employees on direct deposits
- Patriot Software — The most cost-effective payroll software on the market
- Roll by ADP — Simple mobile payroll app with AI-powered payroll assistant
- Gusto — Fully automated payroll runs for FTEs and contractors
- Remote — Compliantly hire, onboard, and pay contractors in 200+ countries
The Best Cheap Payroll Reviewed
We’ve reviewed the best cheap payroll solutions on the market, looking at their pricing plans, the availability of features and functionalities on the most affordable ones, and the overall value for money they provide.
Here are detailed reviews of the top 7 most cost-effective payroll software solutions so you can see how they compare:
1. Paychex — Merges Payroll With Onboarding and Learning Management
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $39/month + $5/month per employee | ❌ | – Direct Deposit and Pay Card Support – Employee Portal – New Hire Onboarding |
✅ | ✅ |
Paychex is a decent, cheap option for SMBs, especially if you want a bit more functionality on top of payroll. The platform supports direct deposits, pay cards, and on-site check printing, as well as enables you to automatically calculate, file, and pay payroll taxes.
Paychex also features an employee self-service portal, which allows your team members to complete daily activities, view pay and tax information, and stay up-to-date with company announcements.
In addition to payroll, Paychex facilitates new employee onboarding, making it easier to communicate with new hires and assign them key onboarding tasks, as well as track their progress.
On more expensive plans, you’ll also get access to a wealth of advanced features and functionalities, including a garnishment payment service, a learning management system, pre-employment screening, and more.
Read the full Paychex review here.
Paychex Pricing Plans
Paychex offers three distinct pricing plans:
- Essentials — $39/month + $5/month per employee
- Select — Custom quote
- Pro — Custom quote
Unfortunately, there is no free trial so you won’t get a chance to test the platform before signing up.
Pros
- Fast, accurate payroll runs
- Multiple options for paying your employees
- Employee self-service portal
- New hire onboarding
- Advanced features and functionalities on custom-priced plans
Cons
- No free trial
- No attendance or leave tracking
2. OnPay — Multi-State Payroll, Ideal for Large Companies With Multiple Locations
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $40/month + $6/month per employee | 30 days | – Direct Deposits, Debit Cards, and Check Payments – Multi-State Payroll – Advanced PTO Management |
✅ | ✅ |
OnPay is a bit more expensive but it does offer tools that help you automate and streamline other essential HR tasks in addition to payroll.
The platform lets you execute unlimited monthly payroll runs, automates tax filing, supports direct deposits, debit cards, and checks, and even lets you run multi-state payroll. This makes it ideal for larger companies (500+ employees) with multiple locations in different states.
OnPay also helps you automate onboarding workflows, helps you create custom employee checklists, lets you delegate and track non-HR tasks (e.g., IT), and allows you to store and easily share work documents.
You can also utilize OnPay for advanced PTO management, which includes custom paid time-off policies, an integrated PTO calendar, automatic accrual tracking, and real-time notifications and reminders.
While it’s a pricier option than Paychex or Patriot, OnePay offers a 30-day trial that allows you to test out the software before fully committing and only has one price plan with everything included.
Read the full OnPay review here.
OnPay Pricing Plans
OnPay has a single pricing plan. The base monthly fee is $40, while each employee you add to the account will cost you an additional $6/month. You also get a 30-day free trial, so you can test OnPay risk-free.
Pros
- Supports direct deposit, debit card, and check payments
- Fully automates tax calculations and filling in all 50 states
- Lets you run multi-state payroll
- Automates onboarding
- Features advanced PTO management tools
Cons
- Menu navigation is a bit unintuitive
- The mobile app needs to be improved
3. QuickBooks Payroll — Automated Payroll Runs for Salaried Employees
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $37.50/month (first 3 months only) + $6/month per employee | 30 days | – Auto Payroll for Salaried Employees – Health Benefits, 401(k), and Workers’ Comp Administration – Income and Expense Tracking |
✅ | ✅ |
QuickBooks Payroll is a full-featured software that bundles payroll and bookkeeping, helping you automate payroll and tax filing, efficiently manage benefits and 401(k) plans, and track your income and expenses.
The core platform lets you run fully automated payroll for salaried employees on direct deposits (full-time employees with fixed salaries). All benefits and deductions are automatically calculated, which saves you a ton of valuable time.
Your team will also have access to a self-service employee portal, allowing them to see pay stubs, and W-2s, as well as enter their personal, deposit, and tax information.
In addition to payroll, you’ll be able to use QuickBooks Payroll to import bank transactions, categorize expenses, organize your finances, track mileage, invoice your clients and receive payments, and even connect the platform to a sales channel to automatically track your income from that source.
If you’re using QuickBooks’ other services, such as HR or accounting, we definitely recommend you choose it for payroll as well as staying within one software if often easier on integration and getting your team used to the platform. However, for small businesses that are using other software, you’re better off going with one of the other alternatives, like Patriot or Gusto.
Read the full QuickBooks review here.
QuickBooks Payroll Pricing Plans
While QuickBooks Payroll is a lot more comprehensive than the other tools on our list, the reason why it’s at the very bottom is that it’s about twice as expensive. For the first three months, it’s $37.50/month for the base platform, plus $6/month per employee, but the price doubles to $75/month thereafter.
Pros
- Robust bookkeeping and payroll functionalities
- Fully automated payroll runs for salaried employees on direct deposits
- Employee self-service portal
- Lets you invoice your clients and accept payments
- Helps you track sales and sales tax
Cons
- Expensive after the first three months
- Time tracking is a separate module (QuickBooks Time)
4. Patriot Software — The Most Cost-Effective Payroll Software on the Market
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $17/month + $4/month per employee | 30 days | – Automated PTO Tracking – Multiple Pay Rates and Payroll Frequencies – Employee Portal |
✅ | ✅ |
Patriot Software is the most cost-effective payroll solution on the market, offering all core functionalities at almost half the price of its competitors (and has a 30-day free trial).
You can use it to run unlimited payroll for FTEs (full-time employees and contractors), set up five different pay rates for hourly workers with descriptions of each rate, and pay different groups of employees at different intervals.
The platform even lets you add your own employee deductions and company-paid contributions, which are automatically included in payroll calculations.
You can also leverage Patriot Software to automate PTO tracking, customize time-off accrual rules, and automatically account for hours/days off for each employee’s payroll.
What’s more, Patriot Software offers an employee portal where your team members can see their pay stubs, pay history, accrued PTO, and electronic W-2s.
Read the full Patriot Accounting review here.
Patriot Software Pricing Plans
There are two pricing plans to choose from:
- Basic — $17/month + $4/month per employee
- Full Service — $37/month + $4/month per employee
The Full Service plan includes done-for-you tax filing.
Pros
- Affordable and easy to use
- Customizable hours, bonuses, and deductions
- Multiple pay rates for hourly employees
- Automated PTO accruals
- Customizable payroll reports
Cons
- Done-for-you service only available on the Full Service plan
5. Roll by ADP — Simple Mobile Payroll App With AI-Powered Assistance for 100% Accuracy
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $29/month + $5/month per employee | First three months free | – AI-Powered Payroll Assistance – Same-Day and Next-Day Direct Deposits – Automatic Benefit and Retirement Plan Deductions |
✅ | ✅ |
Roll by ADP is a simple mobile payroll app for SMBs that want to run accurate payroll for their full-time employees and contractors. You can utilize it to complete unlimited payroll runs in all 50 U.S. states, as well as automatically calculate, file, and deposit payroll taxes.
The app is enhanced by a powerful AI assistant that offers personalized payroll advice, helps you generate valuable business insights, and provides actionable responses to chat requests. All you need to do is ask a question in chat, and the AI assistant will provide a detailed response in seconds. The AI also automatically checks for payroll errors, helping ensure 100% accuracy.
Another reason to opt for Roll by ADP, apart from the affordable price and ease of use, is the ability to pay your employees and contractors with same-day and next-day direct deposits.
The app also features an employee portal, allowing your workforce to check their job, pay, and benefit info at any time.
Roll by ADP Pricing Plans
Roll by ADP has a single pricing plan at $29/month + $5/month per employee. There are no contract obligations, so you can cancel anytime.
What’s more, you’ll get the first three months free, so you can test the payroll software in practice and see first-hand whether it’s the right tool for your business.
Pros
- First three months free
- Automated payroll tax calculations
- AI-powered payroll assistance and error checks
- Employee portal
- Same-day and next-day deposits
Cons
- No attendance or leave tracking
6. Gusto — Fully Automated Payroll Runs for FTEs and Contractors
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $40/month + $6/month per employee | Demo | – Fully Automated Payroll – Advanced PTO Management – Hiring and Onboarding Tools |
✅ | ✅ |
Gusto takes a similar approach as OnPay, adding basic hiring and onboarding tools to the mix to make the payroll software more enticing and cost-effective.
On the most affordable plan, Gusto offers full-service single-state payroll for FTEs and contractors, tax filing, garnishments, multiple pay rates, and PTO management. It even enables you to set up fully automated payroll that runs itself before each payday. This alone makes Gusto a worthwhile investment since it’s one of the few solutions that basically completes payroll runs for you.
In addition to payroll, you get custom offer letter templates, new hire self-onboarding, background checks, secure document storage, and employee benefit management tools.
The more expensive plans add a ton of advanced functionalities into the mix as well, such as time and project tracking, performance management, employee surveys, and compliance alerts.
However, unlike with OnPay, you don’t get a free trial only a demo which means you have to pay up front.
Read the full Gusto review here.
Gusto Pricing Plans
Gusto offers three pricing plans to choose from:
- Simple — $40/month + $6/month per employee
- Plus — $80/month + $12/month per employee
- Premium — Custom pricing
The tool lacks a free trial, but there is a demo you can watch to get a feel for the software.
Pros
- Fully automated payroll for FTEs and contractors
- Basic hiring and onboarding tools bundled with payroll
- Advanced PTO management
- A ton of advanced functionalities
Cons
- No free trial
- Time tracking only available on the more expensive plans
7. Remote — Hire, Onboard, and Pay Contractors in 200+ Countries
| Starting Price | Free Trial | Top Features | Reporting | Mobile App |
| $29/month per contractor | 30 days | – Compliant Contractor Onboarding – Contractor Payroll in 200+ Countries – Pre-Filled 1099-NEC Tax Forms |
✅ | ❌ |
Remote is a great option if you’re specifically looking for a way to pay your contractors. It lets you run payroll for contractors in over 200 countries, approve their invoices in one click, and see exactly what service you’re paying for.
The platform can help you create and sign custom localized contracts, fully compliant with the contractor’s local employment laws. It even lets you offer health benefits and perks at discounted rates to your contractors, incentivizing them to stay with your company for larger, ongoing projects.
Remote additionally features a self-service onboarding checklist, helping new contractors create their accounts on the platform and provide all the essential information and bank details.
The platform also simplifies tax filing with pre-filled tax form 1099-NEC, making it easy to stay on top of your payroll taxes.
Remote can quickly become pricey if you’re working with many different contractors as you pay per person, compared to Patriot which is a great option if you’re working primarily with contractors where the per person cost is lower. In terms of functionality, the two options are quite similar.
Read the full Remote review here.
Remote Pricing Plans
Remote Contractor Management service costs $29/month per active contractor you work with, meaning you only pay for contractors who have an active user account tied to your Remote account.
The platform offers a 30-day free trial, so you can see it in action risk-free and decide whether it’s the right tool for you.
Pros
- Lets you compliantly hire and onboard contractors in 200+ countries
- Features a self-onboarding checklist for new contractors
- Helps you create and sign locally-compliant contracts
- Comes with pre-filled 1099-NEC tax forms
Cons
- No mobile app
- Only suitable for fully remote companies
The Best Cheap Payroll Software Compared
| Payroll Software | Starting Price | Best For | Standout Features | PTO and Leave Tracking | Reporting | Mobile App |
| Paychex | $39/month + $5/month per employee | Payroll, Onboarding, and Learning Management | – Direct Deposit and Pay Card Support – Employee Portal – New Hire Onboarding |
❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| OnPay | $40/month + $6/month per employee | Multi-state payroll | – Direct Deposits, Debit Cards, and Check Payments – Multi-State Payroll – Advanced PTO Management |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $37.50/month (first 3 months only) + $6/month per employee | Bookkeeping, Payroll, Invoicing, and Expense Tracking | – Auto Payroll for Salaried Employees – Health Benefits, 401(k), and Workers’ Comp Administration – Income and Expense Tracking |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Patriot Software | $17/month + $4/month per employee | SMBs with hourly workers with different pay rates | – Automated PTO Tracking – Multiple Pay Rates and Payroll Frequencies – Employee Portal |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Roll by ADP | $29/month + $5/month per employee | SMBs that want to run payroll on the go | – AI-Powered Payroll Assistance – Same-Day and Next-Day Direct Deposits – Automatic Benefit and Retirement Plan Deductions |
❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gusto | $40/month + $6/month per employee | Fully automated payroll runs | – Fully Automated Payroll – Advanced PTO Management – Hiring and Onboarding Tools |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Remote | $29/month per contractor | Compliantly Hiring, Onboarding, and Paying Contractors | – Compliant Contractor Onboarding – Contractor Payroll in 200+ Countries – Pre-Filled 1099-NEC Tax Forms |
❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
How We Review And Test Payroll Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular payroll products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features: We examine the features to determine what capabilities are offered, how useful those capabilities will be for the user, and how the variety of features compare to competitor software.
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform, and how easy it is to do so, to ensure companies can bring more employees on payroll with ease as they scale their operations.
- Error Handling: Errors in payroll can be disastrous for a company, so it’s critical payroll software safeguards against them. We evaluate how quickly each software can adjust and fix errors to ensure there are no interruptions in payroll operations.
- Price and Value for Money: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers a free trial, and if it is transparent about its pricing plans.
- Integrations: We evaluate the integrations of each piece of software to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack, and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Security: We dig into the security policies of each company, interrogating the safeguards they have in place to ensure the software protects user data properly.
- Compliance: We evaluate payroll software based on whether it offers local compliance when it comes to accounting, taxes, documentation, and more.
How to Choose the Best Payroll Software
Here’s what you should focus on when choosing the best payroll software for your business:
- Budget — How much money can you comfortably invest in payroll software and do you get all the functionalities you need on the plan you can afford?
- Key features — What features do you absolutely need for the platform to be worth it, and are those features available on the most affordable pricing plan?
- Ease of use — How much time and energy you’d need to invest to learn how to fully utilize the software? Are there any guides or how-to videos available on the platform’s website?
- Scalability — How easy would it be to scale to a more expensive pricing plan as you grow and expand your business?
- Customer support — What options are there for contacting customer support, and how fast can you expect a response?
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Aleksandar Stevanovic
Software Reviews ExpertAleksandar Stevanovic spent 10 years honing his craft as a freelance content writer. He has a degree in Economics, and extensive experience in software, crypto, and cybersecurity industries. He covers a multitude of topics, writing factual and informative articles, helping individuals better understand the intricacies of the online world. Over the last two years, his research focus shifted more towards tech and software content, as evidenced by his publications on CEX.IO, Business2Community, and Techopedia. He believes in simplifying complex topics and bringing them closer to like-minded individuals. His work is as detail-oriented as it is creative, and is designed to…
