Set for Growth: The Ins and Outs of the HR Payroll Software Market
Automation is changing the way nearly every professional does their work in the modern world.
One look at the HR payroll software market, and it becomes obvious that payroll is no different as new software solutions are making the task of a payroll run easier than ever before.
In this article, I'm going to dig into the growth of the HR payroll software market, where it’s headed and take a look at some of the best solutions that are out there.
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HR Payroll Software Market
Differing analysis of any market will leave with you quite a range of valuations and projections for market growth or decline.
Current size
For example, in 2023, the HR payroll software market was valued somewhere between $7.3 billion and $27 billion depending on which report you read. That number is expected to grow to somewhere between $8.1 billion and $33 billion in 2024.
Rather than get lost in the valuation, perhaps the more important thing to note is the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for this market, which by all accounts is set for growth with the average estimate being somewhere in the ballpark of 10% annual growth.
Projected Size
At that growth rate, the HR payroll software market will grow to be worth somewhere between $19 billion and $60 billion by 2030.
In any case, the estimates are realistic given the implementation of AI into payroll processing and the increased reliability of payroll software platforms to tackle any compliance concern.
Importance of Payroll Software
Payroll software is of increasing importance for employers as practices around pay transparency and equity have become increasingly important to employees and are examined by state and national governments. For those looking for comprehensive solutions, exploring the best enterprise payroll software can be beneficial.
Other business factors making payroll software a major factor in organizational success include:
- Improving data security
- Creating efficiency that replaces manual processes
- Improved analytics and reporting
- Scalability for growing businesses
- Flexibility that suits technology capabilities
- Cost savings
Types of Payroll Software
Different types of payroll software cater to different business needs, providing solutions that range from comprehensive, all-in-one systems to specialized, industry-focused applications.
Here, we’ll focus on five of the most common types.
1. On-Premises Payroll Software
- Description: Installed directly on the company’s local servers and computers.
- Advantages: Offers full control over data security, customization, and integration with other on-premises systems.
- Ideal For: Large organizations with dedicated IT staff and specific customization needs.
2. Cloud-Based Payroll Software
- Description: Hosted on remote servers and accessed via the internet.
- Advantages: Provides flexibility, automatic updates, and remote access. Reduces the need for extensive IT infrastructure.
- Ideal For: Small to medium-sized businesses, remote teams, and companies looking for scalable solutions.
3. Integrated HR and Payroll Software
- Description: Combines payroll functions with broader human resources management tasks. Often comes in the form of an HRIS that has payroll functionality.
- Advantages: Streamlines HR processes, enhances data accuracy, and improves overall employee management.
- Ideal For: Organizations seeking a unified solution for HR and payroll management.
4. Industry-Specific Payroll Software
- Description: Tailored to meet the unique needs of specific industries, such as construction, healthcare, or retail.
- Advantages: Offers specialized features and compliance tools relevant to the industry.
- Ideal For: Businesses requiring industry-specific payroll functionalities and compliance requirements.
Related read: Reviews of the best payroll software for construction companies
5. Outsourced Payroll Services
- Description: Outsourced payroll is managed by third-party providers who handle all payroll-related tasks, such as a professional employer organization or employer of record.
- Advantages: The pros of using a payroll service include reduced administrative burden, ensured compliance, and allowing businesses to focus on core activities.
- Ideal For: Small businesses without dedicated payroll staff and companies looking to outsource non-core functions.
This is especially true for companies managing payroll across borders, where providers with built-in support for multi-country compliance, tax, and currency handling—like those offering global payroll solutions—can reduce both overhead and legal exposure.
Drivers of Payroll Software Market Growth
The payroll software market’s growth is driven by several key factors that are reshaping how businesses manage their payroll and HR functions. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones.
Cloud vs. On-Premises Solutions
One of the biggest trends is the shift from traditional on-premises payroll software to cloud-based solutions. Cloud-based payroll software offers flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
Businesses no longer need to maintain extensive IT infrastructure or worry about regular updates and security patches. With cloud solutions, everything is handled remotely, making it easier for businesses to scale their operations and access their payroll data from anywhere, at any time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is revolutionizing the payroll software market by introducing advanced features that enhance accuracy and efficiency. AI-driven tools can automate complex calculations, predict payroll trends, and identify discrepancies before they become issues.
For example, AI can flag unusual patterns in payroll data that might indicate fraud or errors, helping businesses maintain payroll compliance and avoid costly mistakes.
Additionally, AI-powered chatbots can provide instant support to employees, answering common payroll queries and reducing the burden on HR teams.
Increased Automation of HR Processes
Modern payroll software integrates seamlessly with other HR systems, automating a wide range of processes from time tracking to benefits administration.
This automation reduces manual work, minimizes errors, and ensures that payroll processing is faster and more reliable.
For instance, automated time tracking systems can directly feed into payroll calculations, ensuring employees are paid accurately for the hours they've worked without manual data entry.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting
Staying compliant with ever-changing labor laws and tax regulations is a major challenge for businesses. Payroll software simplifies compliance by automatically updating to reflect new laws and generating accurate tax reports.
This not only saves time but also helps businesses avoid penalties and legal issues. The ability to generate detailed reports and analytics also supports better decision-making and strategic planning.
Employee Self-Service
Modern payroll software often includes employee self-service portals, where employees can access their pay stubs, tax forms, and personal information. This feature improves transparency and empowers employees to manage their own payroll-related tasks, reducing the workload for HR departments.
Cost Efficiency
For many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, the cost is a significant factor when looking at payroll services or software.
Payroll technology can reduce the need for a large in-house HR team by automating many routine tasks. The shift to subscription-based models also means businesses can spread the cost over time, rather than making a large upfront investment.
Future Trends and Predictions
Employee expectations around pay are changing and with it, payroll systems will have to evolve to meet those expectations. Here are some areas where your payroll service or software providers will be looking to up their game in the coming years.
Flexible pay
Payroll is now predominantly a digital function, with only about 3% of U.S. employees still receiving paper checks. Offering diverse payment options will become essential as employees increase their financial literacy and begin to manage their money in new ways.
According to research from ADP, 76% of all employees say that it’s important to them that their employer offer flexible pay, sometimes called Earned Wage Access (EWA), or the ability to pull from accrued wages whenever they want rather than only receiving funds on a specific day within the pay period.
This also sometimes referred to as "on demand pay".
There are now systems that let employees manage their own payment schedules, with vendors and apps allowing them to choose when they get paid without disrupting their employer’s payroll processes.
Growth of cryptocurrency
And how those payments are received will likely change as well.
Cryptocurrency payments are becoming more popular, for example. A report from Statista shows that over 39% of American adults would consider using Bitcoin for transactions and purchases they make. It’s not unlikely then that more people will warm to the idea of receiving their paycheck via crypto in the future.
However, many employers are still unfamiliar with cryptocurrency and the associated risks and regulations. Issues like taxes, international laws, and the definition of “legal tender” need careful consideration.
For instance, Bitcoin isn't recognized as legal tender in countries like Belgium, Finland, and Sweden, but it isn't banned either. Payroll software can help manage these complexities with automated compliance, enabling employers to adopt Bitcoin payments smoothly.
More AI
There are some remarkable capabilities around AI for payroll. Whether that’s detecting anomalies, predicting employee requests or streamlining compliance, and avoiding errors through the automation of time-consuming tasks that are prone to error. But it also will drive improvement in some other key areas.
Real time analysis
AI-powered payroll systems can instantly analyze vast amounts of data, providing real-time insights and identifying patterns that human analysts might miss.
For example, AI can monitor payroll data for discrepancies, such as overtime inconsistencies or unusual payment patterns, and flag these issues immediately.
This level of instant analysis could help businesses address problems before they escalate, ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance with labor laws.
Predictive Analytics
AI can also use historical payroll data to predict future trends. By analyzing past payroll records, AI algorithms can forecast labor costs, budget needs, and potential financial risks.
This predictive capability allows businesses to plan more effectively and make informed decisions about hiring, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Conversational experience
The days of manual payroll reporting are coming to an end. Earlier this year, UKG announced it was deploying generative AI in its "Pro" platform to create a question-and-answer experience to streamline the payroll reporting process.
In other words, no more combing through datasets or manually reviewing employee profiles. A user of the platform can simply ask a text-based question such as “Show me all employees who have a wage garnishment” or “Create a list of all employees paying into multiple retirement accounts.”
“Payroll reporting often feels like seeking a needle in a haystack, and by the time the frantic search for information is over, it’s often too late to take action on,” said Hugo Sarrazin, chief product and technology officer at UKG in a press release. “With generative AI, we’re making critical payroll data easily searchable and accessible through conversational experiences, while also putting that information into actionable context for payroll teams.”
Enhanced security protocols
Advanced algorithms can identify unusual patterns and potential breaches instantly, allowing for swift action to protect sensitive data. AI also ensures continuous monitoring and updates, keeping payroll systems secure against evolving cyber threats.
This proactive approach minimizes risks and maintains the integrity of payroll information.
The Gig Economy Impact
More than one-third of the U.S. workforce is made of gig workers and that number is expected to grow to more than half of the workforce by 2027.
This trend presents an interesting question for our society about how these workers receive benefits with more insurance companies now offering policies and services specifically tailored to independent contractors.
In the future, it’s likely that payroll software will have to account for this and streamline payment of premiums to the contractors desired healthcare provider.
Best Solutions on the Market
At this point, you might be wondering about the best solutions on the market. We’re here to help.
Deel Payroll
Best for compliant payroll in 150+ countries
Deel Payroll serves businesses and HR teams managing international workforces, offering a platform that simplifies global payroll, compliance, and payments for employees and contractors across multiple countries.
Who Is Deel Payroll Best For?
Deel Payroll is a strong fit for mid-size to enterprise companies hiring across borders who need localized payroll compliance without building in-house expertise in every country.
Why I Picked Deel Payroll
I picked Deel Payroll as one of the best because it handles something most payroll tools can't: running compliant payroll across 150+ countries without requiring your team to become local tax experts in every market. The built-in compliance engine automatically applies local tax rules, statutory requirements, and filings before each payroll run. AI flags anomalies and missing data before approval, catching issues early. I also like the Payroll Connect feature, which lets you view Deel-managed payroll and third-party payrolls side by side in one dashboard—useful when you're mid-transition and still running payroll through multiple vendors.
Deel Payroll Key Features
- Employer of record (EOR) services: Deel acts as the legal employer in countries where you don't have an entity, so you can hire and pay workers without setting up a local subsidiary.
- Contractor payments: Pay independent contractors in their local currency across 150+ countries, with built-in contract generation and localized payment methods.
- Payroll reporting and analytics: Access detailed payroll reports broken down by country, department, or employee to support audits, budgeting, and workforce planning.
- HRIS integration: Sync employee data between Deel and your existing HR systems to keep headcount, compensation, and role changes consistent across platforms.
Deel Payroll Integrations
Integrations include FaceUp, Snowflake, DefensX, Microsoft Finance, Kintsugi, ReFresh OS, Revo.ai, Keeper, Human Interest, and Everyminute.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Allows off-cycle payments and flexibility for global payroll scenarios
- Built-in compliance monitoring
- Supports payroll in 130 + countries
Cons
- Limited invoice customization
- Contract templates could be simplified
TopSource
Best for 24/5 dedicated support
TopSource is a payroll platform designed for businesses managing employees in India or globally, offering automated payroll processing, compliance support, and local expertise to simplify complex payroll and statutory requirements.
Who Is TopSource Best For?
TopSource is a strong fit for multinational companies and growing businesses that need reliable payroll and compliance support for teams based in India.
Why I Picked TopSource
I picked TopSource as one of the best because the 24/5 phone support model differs from what most payroll providers offer. When I have a payroll query at 3pm on a Thursday—say, a TDS discrepancy flagged by a disgruntled employee—I can call a named India-based specialist who already knows my account, not a shared inbox or a ticket queue. That direct access matters when India's statutory deadlines are unforgiving. TopSource pairs this support with proactive Labour Code monitoring, briefing clients quarterly on state-by-state enforcement updates so payroll configurations are adjusted before changes take effect. The 24-hour query response SLA, combined with 99.98% payroll accuracy, keeps issues rare; when they do occur, they're resolved within the 24-hour SLA.
TopSource Key Features
- Statutory compliance management: TopSource handles all six mandatory India statutory obligations—PF, ESI, TDS, Professional Tax, Gratuity, and Statutory Bonus—including filings, calculations, and annual returns.
- Employee self-service portal: Employees access payslips, Form 16, and reimbursement claims directly through the Portico platform without routing requests through HR.
- Expat and shadow payroll processing: TopSource manages payroll for internationally mobile employees and expats in India, a scope that most India-focused providers exclude from standard service.
- Data localisation on India-based infrastructure: All India payroll data is processed and stored within India, keeping companies aligned with DPDP Act obligations.
TopSource Integrations
Integrations include Portico HR and leading HRIS and ATS platforms; specific native integrations are not currently listed.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Legal employer of record in each location
- Includes global payroll and tax management
- Salary estimator tool helps plan ahead
Cons
- No public list of software integrations
- Pricing not publicly listed
Workforce.com
Best for automated complex pay calculations
Workforce.com is a payroll and workforce management platform designed for businesses that need to handle complex pay rules, automate compliance, and streamline scheduling for hourly teams in industries like call centers, healthcare, and retail.
Who Is Workforce.com Best For?
Workforce.com is a strong fit for operations and HR teams in shift-based industries like call centers, retail, and healthcare that need to manage large hourly workforces.
Why I Picked Workforce.com
I chose Workforce.com because it handles pay complexity that trips up most payroll tools. Its wage-and-hour automation engine automatically calculates daily and weekly overtime, weighted average overtime, and location- or role-based pay-rate changes directly on the timesheet—before payroll runs. I also like that tip splitting is built in, so teams in hospitality or food service can automatically divide tip pools based on hours worked without running extra payruns. Because this occurs upstream of payroll, my team isn't scrambling to make manual adjustments at the end of a pay period.
Workforce.com Key Features
- Multi-payrun support: Run multiple, separate payruns in the same pay period to handle different employee groups, pay schedules, or off-cycle corrections.
- Employee self-service onboarding: New hires complete W-4s, add bank details, and fill in personal information directly through a mobile app, keeping employee data current in the payroll system.
- GPS-based time clock: Employees clock in and out via a mobile app that captures their GPS location at each punch, helping verify that hours are tied to the correct worksite.
- Attendance points system: Automatically assigns attendance points based on scheduled vs. clocked hours, giving managers a trackable record of tardiness, no-shows, and call-outs.
Workforce.com Integrations
Integrations include ADP, Gusto, Paychex, QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle, Workday, UKG, Square, and Shopify.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Daily manager approvals improve payroll accuracy throughout each pay cycle
- Automated weighted overtime eliminates manual rate calculations and adjustments
- Accurate payroll driven by synced schedules, attendance, and employee records
Cons
- Not ideal for companies without hourly or shift-based payroll needs
- Some industries may require integrations not listed
Paycor
Best for automating payroll tasks
Paycor is a payroll software platform built for HR teams and business leaders who want to simplify payroll processing, manage compliance, and give employees easy access to pay and tax information.
Who Is Paycor Best For?
Paycor is a good fit for small to mid-sized businesses that need a unified platform to handle payroll, HR, and compliance without relying on multiple disconnected tools.
Why I Picked Paycor
Paycor earns its spot on my shortlist because of how far it takes payroll automation. The AutoRun feature is what I keep coming back to—it lets you schedule payroll to process on a specific day and time without anyone needing to log in, which is a real difference-maker for teams running lean. I also like the real-time calculations, which means any last-minute changes to hours or deductions update instantly instead of waiting on batch processing. The compliance dashboard also surfaces proactive alerts for things like missing tax IDs and invalid direct deposit info right on the homepage, so issues get caught before they become problems.
Paycor Key Features
- Paystub preview: Employees can view their paystub up to three days before payday to catch errors before they become issues.
- OnDemand Pay (EWA): Gives employees access to wages they've already earned before their scheduled payday.
- Wage garnishment management: Paycor automatically deducts employee garnishments from paychecks on your behalf.
- Payroll reporting: Run reports covering tax liability, cash requirements, labor distribution, deduction registers, and more.
Paycor Integrations
Integrations include QuickBooks, NetSuite, JazzHR, DailyPay, 15Five, Timeero, Spark Hire, Procurify, HR Geckos, and OrgChart.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Direct deposit setup for multiple employee accounts
- Payroll analytics with customizable reporting options
- Automated new hire reporting for compliance
Cons
- Time cards are a bit simplistic
- UX can be a little clunky at times
Paylocity
Best for HR, payroll, and integrations in one
Paylocity gives HR teams and business leaders a unified platform to manage payroll, HR, and compliance, helping organizations handle complex workforce needs and streamline people operations.
Who Is Paylocity Best For?
Paylocity is a strong fit for mid-sized businesses that need HR, payroll, and benefits managed in one connected platform.
Why I Picked Paylocity
Paylocity earns its spot on my shortlist because it brings payroll, HR, and benefits into a single connected system without forcing you to stitch together separate tools. I like how the payroll engine handles multi-state tax compliance automatically, which is a real time-saver when my team is managing employees across different jurisdictions. The built-in HR features—like onboarding workflows and performance tracking—mean payroll data and people data stay in sync. I also rely on the benefits administration module to manage open enrollment directly alongside payroll, so there's no manual data transfer between systems.
Paylocity Key Features
- Payroll readiness dashboard: Highlights outstanding tasks and flags potential errors—like unexpected pay spikes—before you run payroll.
- On demand pay: Lets employees access earned wages before payday, giving you a recruiting and retention tool without disrupting your payroll cycle.
- Tax geolocation: Audits each employee's location to ensure the correct taxes are applied, with Paylocity filing in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
- General ledger mapping: Lets you configure and update GL settings and journal entries without needing to contact Paylocity support.
Paylocity Integrations
Integrations include Microsoft Entra, Google Workspace, Okta, ERP systems, applicant tracking systems, job boards, benefits providers, 401(k) providers, point of sale systems, and background check services. An API is also available for custom integrations.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Talent-management tools included
- Time and labor module ties directly into payroll to reduce errors
- Automates payroll and tax filings for multi-state businesses
Cons
- Setup can be time consuming
- Lacks support for independent contractor payments
Gusto
Best for hands-off tax filing
Gusto is a cloud-based payroll platform built for small and midsize businesses that want to automate payroll, manage benefits, and stay compliant with tax regulations.
Who Is Gusto Best For?
Gusto is a great fit for small business owners and HR teams who need a straightforward way to run payroll, handle taxes, and manage employee benefits without dedicated payroll expertise.
Why I Picked Gusto
Gusto earns its spot on my shortlist because of how thoroughly it handles tax filing with minimal effort on your part. Every time payroll runs, Gusto automatically calculates, files, and pays federal, state, and local taxes directly with the right government agencies—something other providers charge extra for. I also like that it tracks changing tax laws and handles auto-calculations to reduce errors, so my team isn't scrambling to stay current. W-2s, 1099s, and I-9s are stored and organized online, making year-end filing far less painful.
Gusto Key Features
- AutoPilot™ payroll: Set payroll to run on a schedule so your team is paid without manual intervention.
- Employee self-onboarding: New hires enter their own personal and banking details directly in Gusto, reducing manual data entry for HR.
- Multi-state pay schedules: Run payroll across multiple states and pay schedules simultaneously, with state tax registration support in all 50 states.
- Contractor payments: Pay contractors in more than 120 countries directly through the platform, with 1099s handled automatically at year-end.
Gusto Integrations
Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, 7shifts, Asana, Bench, Aplos, Accelo, ApplicantPro, and Box.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Automatic federal, state, and local tax filing
- Direct deposit with multiple pay schedule options
- Built-in benefits administration for multiple states
Cons
- Health benefits limited to certain states
- No native support for tip reporting
New Product Updates from Gusto
Gusto Enhances Benefits Renewals with Personalized Insights
Gusto introduces a smarter benefits renewal process with personalized insights and benchmarking. This update helps businesses make more informed decisions when renewing coverage. For more information, visit Gusto’s official site.
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RUN Powered by ADP®
Best for small businesses
RUN Powered by ADP® is a payroll platform built for small businesses that want to automate payroll, manage tax filings, and stay compliant without needing in-house payroll expertise.
Who Is RUN Powered by ADP® Best For?
RUN Powered by ADP® is a strong fit for small business owners who need a reliable, low-maintenance way to run payroll and handle tax compliance.
Why I Picked RUN Powered by ADP®
RUN Powered by ADP® earns its spot on my shortlist because it's purpose-built for small businesses that don't have a dedicated payroll team. I like that it handles automatic tax calculations, filings, and payments at the federal, state, and local level—so there's no scrambling at year-end. The guided payroll run feature walks you through each step, which I find especially useful when onboarding a new hire mid-cycle. It also flags potential errors before you submit, which catches the kind of small mistakes that can turn into compliance headaches.
RUN Powered by ADP® Key Features
- RUN & DONE® automated payroll: Schedule recurring payroll runs to process automatically on a set cadence without manual input each cycle.
- Employee self-service mobile app: Employees can access pay history, personal information, and HR documents directly from a mobile app.
- W-2 and 1099 preparation and e-filing: RUN Powered by ADP® generates and delivers W-2 and 1099 forms, then e-files them with the IRS on your behalf.
- Salary benchmarking: Access data-driven salary insights to compare compensation against market rates when hiring or reviewing pay.
RUN Powered by ADP® Integrations
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, ClockShark, JazzHR, 7Shifts, Absorb LMS, and SmartRecruiters.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Employee self-service portal reduces manual HR work
- Mobile app gives access to payroll on the go
- Automatically handles tax calculations and filings
Cons
- Contractor/1099 payment features may require add-ons
- Basic HR functionality only
Justworks
Best for mixed workforce payroll
Justworks is a payroll and HR platform built for small and midsize businesses that need to manage payroll, benefits, and compliance for both employees and contractors in one place.
Who Is Justworks Best For?
Justworks is a good fit for small and midsize businesses that employ a mix of full-time staff and contractors and want a single platform to handle payroll and compliance.
Why I Picked Justworks
I picked Justworks as one of the best because it handles payroll for both W-2 employees and contractors without requiring two separate systems. When your team includes a mix of full-time hires and 1099 contractors, Justworks lets you run both through the same platform, including international contractor payments. W-2 and 1099 filings are handled automatically, so when tax season hits, there's no scramble to reconcile records across different tools. The multi-state payroll support is especially helpful for teams with contractors and employees spread across multiple states with varying compliance requirements.
Justworks Key Features
- Benefits administration: Access and manage health insurance, 401(k), HSA/FSA, and other benefits directly within the platform for W-2 employees.
- Automated expense reimbursements: Set up automated approval workflows and pay out employee expenses directly through payroll in the same platform.
- PTO tracking and policy management: Set up vacation and sick leave policies, track accruals, and approve PTO requests from a single dashboard.
- Justworks Analytics: View headcount trends, payroll changes, and workforce data through pre-built and custom reports with interactive visualizations.
Justworks Integrations
Integrations include Greenhouse, Lever, and JazzHR.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Centralizes payroll, HR, and health insurance administration
- Straightforward onboarding workflow for new hires
- Clear employee dashboard for benefits and pay information
Cons
- Reporting tools offer limited in-depth business insights
- Fewer advanced HR features than larger enterprise platforms
Remote People
Best for global payroll management
Remote People is a payroll platform built for businesses with distributed teams, helping HR professionals and finance leads manage payroll, compliance, and payments across multiple countries and currencies.
Who Is Remote People Best For?
Remote People is a strong fit for companies hiring internationally who need a single platform to handle payroll across multiple countries without setting up local entities.
Why I Picked Remote People
Remote People earns its spot on my shortlist because of how well it handles the complexity of paying employees and contractors across different countries. I like that it manages local tax compliance, in-country payroll calculations, and multi-currency payments without requiring your business to set up legal entities abroad. In practice, that means my team can onboard international hires and run payroll in countries like Brazil, India, or Germany without needing a local HR or legal team on the ground. Built-in compliance coverage provides a clear advantage for global payroll management.
Remote People Key Features
- Contractor of record: Remote People takes on the legal and compliance risk for contractor engagements, covering misclassification liability across 150+ countries.
- Expense approval workflow: Team members submit expenses directly in the platform, you approve them in one click, and Remote People processes the payment.
- Leave management tracking: Annual leave, sick days, and local public holidays are tracked and approved in a single dashboard, with rules applied per country.
- Locally drafted employment contracts: Each contract is written by in-country legal experts rather than generated from templates, reflecting local labor law requirements.
Remote People Integrations
Integrations include Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, HiBob, NetSuite, QuickBooks, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dedicated client support contact
- Provides global payroll, contractor, and relocation support
- Includes Employer of Record and PEO services
Cons
- Some services available only in certain regions
- No publicly listed integrations
HiBob
Best for real-time payroll data access
HiBob is a modern HR and payroll platform designed for mid-sized businesses that want to connect payroll, HR, and benefits in one place to simplify pay runs, compliance, and employee management.
Who Is HiBob Best For?
HiBob is a strong fit for mid-sized, fast-growing companies that need HR and payroll tools that scale alongside their workforce.
Why I Picked HiBob
I picked HiBob as one of the best payroll tools because of how its Payroll Hub centralizes live payroll data in a single dashboard with real-time updates. When something changes—a new hire, a salary adjustment, a benefits update—Payroll Hub flags it immediately with visual notifications, so my team doesn't have to chase down discrepancies. I also like that it supports multiple payroll cycles simultaneously, which is useful when managing a workforce across different regions or pay schedules. The People Lifecycle dashboard ties it all together, giving a clear view of payroll readiness at any point in the cycle.
HiBob Key Features
- Compensation management: Run salary reviews, bonuses, and equity allocation within a single compensation cycle tool.
- Time and attendance tracking: Employees clock in and out via the Bob app, with timesheet nudges tied directly to payroll cycles.
- US payroll compliance: Bob handles federal and state tax filing across all 50 states, with audit-ready reports and SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 certification.
- AI-powered payslip companion: Employees can ask questions about their payslips directly in the platform, reducing back-and-forth with HR and payroll admins.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built-in compensation tools
- Flexible payroll cycle options
- Real-time payroll data hub
Cons
- Implementation fee required
- Limited to US and UK payroll
Competitive Landscape
The competition for payroll software is fierce, including some of the biggest names in HR related software solutions. You’ll recognize some of these names and will have likely interacted with several of them if you’ve been in HR for a long period of time. They include the likes of:
- ADP
- Papaya Global
- Paychex
- Paycor
- BambooHR
- Deel
- Quickbooks
All of these payroll companies have cloud-based solutions and most are in some stage of implementing AI into their payroll solutions. Additionally, they all typically integrate with the most popular HRIS systems.
Some, like Deel, have fully embraced the flexible pay trend and are offering cryptocurrency pay-ins. Others, like ADP, have set themselves apart on the self-service front. Finding the right payroll solution for your business just depends on your needs, size and goals.
Familiarize yourself with the key features of payroll software that your business needs in a solution and establish a step-by-step process for selection.
FAQs
How do I select the right payroll software?
Essentially, the answer to this question will be much clearer once you follow a four step process.
- Define what requirements you have of the software
- Set a budget
- Evaluate features and functionality
- Make a pros and cons list to help you decide.
How much does payroll software cost?
Base plans for payroll software can start as low as $17 per month, while more established payroll service providers provide enterprise plans starting at $140 per month. You’ll want to check out our guide to payroll software costs to learn more.
Are some payroll software or service providers better for small businesses?
Yes. Different sized businesses have different needs and capabilities. Those with customizable features that can evolve as your company scales, a high level of affordability and a user friendly interface that someone in either HR or accounting can use with similar ease are best. Check out our favorites for best payroll services for small businesses.
How can I learn more about changes and trends in payroll software?
To stay up to date on changes and trends in payroll software, it’s important to regularly follow industry publications, payroll blogs, and product update announcements from leading payroll software providers. Subscribing to newsletters from trusted sources like the IRS or national payroll associations can also help you keep pace with evolving regulations, compliance updates, and best practices.
Another effective way to stay informed is by taking a payroll software training course. These courses often include modules on the latest technology trends, automation features, and regulatory changes, helping you build both practical skills and strategic insights. Many are updated regularly to reflect current industry standards, making them a reliable resource for continuous learning.
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