SFStatfield Research
Finance · Updated September 2026

Best Payroll Software for Small Business

Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, ADP RUN, OnPay and Rippling compared on tax filing, pay-run speed, benefits, compliance support and what a ten-person company really pays each month.

Daniel Okafor, Analyst, Climate & AgritechDaniel OkaforAnalyst, Climate & AgritechReviewed September 2026
Top pick

Gusto

Friendly, automated payroll with strong benefits options.

9.0

From $49 / mo + $6 / person · Best for First payroll system for a growing small business

What the numbers say

  • 01Gusto takes the top spot with a score of 9.0, best suited to first payroll system for a growing small business.
  • 02Entry pricing runs from From $8 / user / mo (Rippling) to $50 / mo + $6.50 / person (QuickBooks Payroll) — a 6.3x spread.
  • 03Rippling offers the most score per unit of price, at From $8 / user / mo.
  • 04Average score across the 5 products reviewed is 8.5, with a 0.9 point gap between first and last.
  • 05Most common drawback raised in testing: multi-state payroll costs more.
5

Products ranked

9.0

Top score

8.5

Average score

from 8

Lowest entry price

How we scored

01Automatic federal, state and local tax filing
02Ease of running payroll each pay period
03Benefits, time tracking and HR add-ons
04Compliance support and tax-penalty guarantees
05Total monthly cost: base fee plus per-person fee
The ranking
01

Gusto

Friendly, automated payroll with strong benefits options.

Gusto combines easy pay runs with automatic tax filing and a friendly employee portal. It is the safest default for businesses setting up payroll for the first time.

Pros

  • + Automatic tax filing on all plans
  • + Clean employee self-service
  • + Health benefits and 401(k) integrations

Cons

  • — Multi-state payroll costs more
  • — Phone support better on higher tiers
9.0

Statfield score

Best for
First payroll system for a growing small business
Price from
$49 / mo + $6 / person
Source: Gusto Simple plan, published monthly price
02

QuickBooks Payroll

Payroll that lives inside your accounting.

If QuickBooks Online is your accounting system, its payroll saves reconciliation time because wages, taxes and liabilities post automatically.

Pros

  • + Payroll posts straight into the books
  • + Same-day direct deposit on higher tiers
  • + Tax penalty protection on Premium

Cons

  • — Best value only inside QuickBooks
  • — Frequent upsell prompts
8.7

Statfield score

Best for
Businesses already using QuickBooks Online
Price from
$50 / mo + $6.50 / person
Source: QuickBooks Payroll Core, published list price
03

ADP RUN

Small-business payroll backed by a large HR provider.

ADP RUN is designed for businesses with up to about 49 employees and offers a clear path into HR outsourcing. Pricing is quote-based, so collect a written quote including all add-ons.

Pros

  • + Deep compliance expertise
  • + Scales into full HR and PEO services
  • + Wide range of add-ons

Cons

  • — No published pricing
  • — Add-ons raise the total quickly
8.4

Statfield score

Best for
Businesses wanting human support and room to grow
Price from
Quote
Source: ADP RUN product page (quote-based)
04

OnPay

One simple plan with everything included.

OnPay keeps pricing simple: one plan with multi-state payroll, tax filing and HR tools. It suits businesses that dislike tier comparisons.

Pros

  • + Single all-inclusive plan
  • + Multi-state payroll included
  • + Good for restaurants and farms

Cons

  • — Fewer integrations than Gusto
  • — Interface is plainer
8.3

Statfield score

Best for
Budget-conscious teams wanting predictable pricing
Price from
$49 / mo + $6 / person
Source: OnPay pricing page
05

Rippling

Payroll as part of a full employee management platform.

Rippling shines when payroll is one piece of a bigger system for onboarding, laptops, app access and global teams. For a simple US-only payroll, it can be more than you need.

Pros

  • + Payroll, HR, IT and devices in one system
  • + Global payroll available
  • + Powerful automation

Cons

  • — Modular pricing gets complex
  • — More than a small team needs
8.1

Statfield score

Best for
Tech-forward teams managing devices, apps and HR together
Price from
From $8 / user / mo
Source: Rippling pricing page, starting platform price
Side by side
#ProductScoreBest forPrice fromValue
01Gusto9.0First payroll system for a growing small business$49 / mo + $6 / person0.18 pts per unit
02QuickBooks Payroll8.7Businesses already using QuickBooks Online$50 / mo + $6.50 / person0.17 pts per unit
03ADP RUN8.4Businesses wanting human support and room to growQuote—
04OnPay8.3Budget-conscious teams wanting predictable pricing$49 / mo + $6 / person0.17 pts per unit
05Rippling8.1Tech-forward teams managing devices, apps and HR togetherFrom $8 / user / mo1.01 pts per unit
The full guide
01

How to choose payroll software

Payroll is a compliance task first and a software task second. The best provider for you is the one that files every required tax in every state where you have employees, on time, with a clear record you can show an accountant. Confirm local and multi-state support before comparing interfaces.

Then calculate the total monthly cost with your real headcount, including contractors, benefits administration and time tracking. Per-person fees and add-ons often matter more than the base price shown on the pricing page.

02

Payroll, accounting and HR should talk to each other

Every pay run creates accounting entries. If payroll does not sync with your accounting software, someone will re-type wages, taxes and liabilities each period. Check the integration with your books and, if you use one, your time-tracking tool before signing up.

Before you buy

  1. 01List every state and locality where you have employees.
  2. 02Count employees and contractors you pay each month.
  3. 03Calculate total cost: base fee plus per-person fees plus add-ons.
  4. 04Confirm automatic tax filing and year-end forms are included.
  5. 05Check the integration with your accounting software.
  6. 06Ask what happens and who pays if a tax filing is late.
Terms used above
Pay run
A single processing of wages for a pay period, including taxes and deductions.
Payroll tax filing
Calculating, paying and reporting employment taxes to federal, state and local agencies.
W-2 / 1099
US year-end tax forms for employees (W-2) and independent contractors (1099).
PEO
Professional employer organisation: a provider that co-employs staff to handle payroll, benefits and HR.
FAQ

What is the easiest payroll software for small business?

Gusto and OnPay are the easiest to set up and run. Both file payroll taxes automatically and give employees online access to pay stubs and tax forms.

How much does payroll software cost?

Most providers charge a monthly base fee of around $40–$80 plus about $5–$12 per employee paid. A ten-person company typically pays $100–$150 per month on an entry plan.

Can payroll software file taxes automatically?

Yes. All five providers calculate, pay and file federal and state payroll taxes, and prepare W-2 and 1099 forms at year end.

Do I need payroll software with only one or two employees?

It is strongly recommended. Tax filing mistakes lead to penalties, and automated payroll usually costs less than an hour of an accountant's time per month.

Sources

Prices are the vendors' published entry-level list prices, captured September 2026 and shown in USD. Annual billing is usually cheaper than monthly; taxes and add-ons are extra. Always confirm on the vendor's pricing page before buying.

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Scores are relative to the products in this ranking and to the tests described above. Prices are list prices captured from vendor pages on the dates noted and are not quotes.