Best Online Payroll Software Shortlist
Here’s the shortlist of the best online payroll software systems that I’ll cover in this article, with detailed summaries below:
Online payroll software enables businesses to manage their workforce expenses, ultimately boosting profitability. These solutions simplify the process of tracking employee work hours and generating payroll spreadsheets and also cater to the evolving needs of remote and hybrid teams.
Flexibility and adaptability are crucial for business growth. Top-tier online payroll software options have been specifically designed with these factors in mind, offering mobile-friendly platforms that allow your team members to work from anywhere while still offering you the necessary oversight.
Read my review to learn more about the best online payroll software available today. My review includes descriptions and screenshots for each solution that made the list, as well as a comparison chart so you can identify the right software for your particular business needs.
If you have general questions about how online payroll software works, or how to pick the best option for your organization, take a look at my People Also Ask section below. Or, if you’re curious how I prepared this list, see How I Selected the Best Online Payroll Software below.
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Overviews of the 10 Best Online Payroll Software
Here’s a brief description of each online payroll software that showcases each system’s best use case, their noteworthy features, and some pros & cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their user interface too.
Deel
Best online payroll software for managed global payroll
Deel is a payroll software that enables companies to hire international specialists without having to outsource their work to local payroll providers.
Why I picked Deel: Deel handles your government declarations, tax calculations, tax filings, and compliance in over 90 countries so you don’t have to. As a fully managed payroll solution, Deel gets your team up and running in a month and offers support 24/7 to you and your international staff.
Deel’s payroll reporting feature breaks down your expenses by country and allows you to adjust your team’s pay with ease. Deel also helps you find and onboard international specialists from over 150 countries, allowing you to expand your recruitment pool. The company also gives you salary benchmarks for different markets, so you can pay your global employees fairly.
Deel Standout Features and Integrations
Features include fixed payments, milestone payments, pay-as-you-go, automation, tax calculations, contractor payments, and two-factor authentification.
Integrations include Ashby, BambooHR, Greenhouse, HiBob, Lever, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Slack, Workday, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Automates your payroll and taxes
- Detailed dashboards
- Knowledgeable support staff
Cons
- The contract templates could be simplified
- Limited invoice customization
Paychex Flex
Best online payroll software for startups
Paychex Flex is a payroll software solution that helps startups run payroll and manage their workforce with a single solution.
Why I picked Paychex Flex: Paychex Flex enables you to track your team’s daily hours, manage time sheets, approve PTO, and oversee benefits in one place. The solution offers a self-service portal where employees can access digital copies of their pay stubs, see their contributions, and manage their retirement accounts, making it easy for them to access their data.
With Paychex Flex, you can schedule your payrolls and approve them before payday with ease. You can schedule multiple runs in the same pay period, and you can oversee your work on the mobile app. The solution also gives you access to extra HR features as add-ons for additional fees.
Paychex Flex Standout Features and Integrations
Features include payroll processing, payroll tax filing, a garnishment payment service, paycheck preview and approval, new-hire reporting, and a mobile app.
Integrations include Ashby, BambooHR, Clover, Deputy, HIREtech, iCIMS, Indeed, Oracle Netsuite, QuickBooks Payroll, and others.
Pros
- Helps you save time with payroll filters and saved views
- Knowledgeable representatives
- 24/7 specialized service for US clients
Cons
- Automatically creates multiple subfolders, making it difficult to find the right files at times
- Adding pay categories could be easier
OnPay
Best online payroll software for small businesses
OnPay is a cloud-based payroll software that helps small business owners onboard and pay employees without difficulty.
Why I picked OnPay: OnPay has a straightforward interface that’s friendly toward novice users. The tool’s starting tutorial is comprehensive and explains how to use the payroll features in great detail, making the onboarding process smooth and short.
OnPay makes it easy for you to change pay rates and hours, adjust tax rates, and approve payroll. The software notifies you if holidays could influence the payroll processing time and prevent your workers from getting their paychecks on time, so you can adapt your timing. OnPay also alerts you when it’s time to approve your automated payrolls, sign HR paperwork, and so on.
OnPay Standout Features and Integrations
Features include unlimited pay runs, tax filings and payments, employee self-service, automated onboarding, direct messaging, PTO management, and benefits management.
Integrations include Deputy, Guideline, Mineral, PosterElite, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Time, Vestwell, When I Work, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Fast direct deposits
- Good mix of HR functions designed for small businesses
- Proactive support team
Cons
- The process of adding employees to workflows can be confusing
- Reports could be easier to customize
Paylocity
Best online payroll software for expense tracking
Paylocity is an online payroll software that enables businesses to keep track of employee expenses and reimbursements without difficulty.
Why I picked Paylocity: Paylocity’s expense tracking tool helps you identify all expenses with accuracy and automate your reimbursement process so your employees can get their money back faster. The software enables you to customize your payroll reports and accruals so you can run payroll exactly how you want to.
Paylocity offers a tax preparation service so that the company will handle all local, state, and federal taxes on your behalf. The platform also supports on-demand payment, allowing employees to get cash advances or pick their payday without interrupting your payroll.
Paylocity Standout Features and Integrations
Features include global payroll, expense management, a garnishment-managed service, time tracking, payroll automation, tax calculation, tax compliance, and on-demand payments.
Integrations include 7Shifts, Clover, Expensify, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle Netsuite, QuickBooks Online, Sage, Square, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Helpful reports
- Makes running payroll easy
- Modular build, so you can customize the solution to your needs
Cons
- UX can feel clunky at times
- There are multiple modules, so configuring your solution can feel overwhelming
Gusto
Best online payroll software for tax management
Gusto is an online payroll software that helps remote or hybrid companies set up and manage their taxes with ease.
Why I picked Gusto: Gusto has a clean interface that’s easy to navigate. The solution enables you to set up your taxes at a state and federal level, ensuring compliance and making it easy to manage your employees’ taxes as well. In addition, Gusto also files your payroll taxes with the right government agencies, saving you time in the process.
With Gusto, it’s easy to add new employees to your roster. You simply send the new hires an email to start the self-onboarding process, selecting the documents you want them to fill out. Employees can e-sign their paperwork like I-9s or W-4s, and the platform stores it so you can reference it at any time.
Gusto Standout Features and Integrations
Features include automated tax filing, benefits tracking, time tracking, unlimited payroll runs, hiring and onboarding, talent management, an employee self-service portal, and analytics and reporting.
Integrations include 15Five, 7Shifts, Accelo, ActiveCampaign, Amplitude, Asana, Ashby, Bluejeans, Breezy HR, Clover, and others.
Pros
- Excellent reporting
- Allows you to create custom reminders for payroll tasks
- Easy onboarding
Cons
- Doesn’t allow you to fully automate contractor invoice payments
- Benefits manager could be more user-friendly
Namely
Best online payroll software for compensation tracking
Namely is an online human resources and payroll solution that enables managers to track employee compensation and easily update it.
Why I picked Namely: Namely’s interface is easy to navigate for both administrators and employees. The solution’s benefits wizard makes it easy to set up health benefits for your team members, regardless of their location.
Namely is great at tracking employee compensation and updating it based on the available data, so you can rest assured that the payment is handled correctly. The payroll processing feature is straightforward, allowing you to double-check and validate each report for increased accuracy.
Namely Standout Features and Integrations
Features include payroll reports, time management, benefits management, garnishment administration, state and federal tax calculations, tax filing, and automated salaried proration.
Integrations include Breezy, Greenhouse, Google Suite, JazzHR, Jobvite, Lever, Onelogin, Oracle Netsuite, Workable, and others.
Pros
- Good at tracking historical data
- Multiple customization options are available
- Namely’s team does a great job at providing payroll and HR support
Cons
- Time management feature could offer more reporting options
- Search feature could be more specific
QuickBooks Payroll
Best online payroll software for simple time tracking
QuickBooks Payroll is an all-in-one online payroll software that makes it easy for employees to fill in their timesheets and keep track of their work hours.
Why I picked QuickBooks Payroll: QuickBooks Payroll offers a time clock mobile app that enables your team members to clock in and out of work with a single click. Each employee can keep track of their breaks, change job codes, and add timesheets, and managers can use the app to approve employee time from anywhere.
QuickBooks Payroll allows you to run payroll automatically for team members who work the same hours each period. The software automatically tracks workers’ compensation and calculates your tax rates, so you can save time when running payroll.
QuickBooks Payroll Standout Features and Integrations
Features include payroll, invoicing, invoice templates, payment processing, direct deposit, year-end tax forms, time tracking, an employee portal, and other HR tools.
Integrations include Amazon Business Purchases, BigTime, Bill, Extensify, Float, Gusto, Human Interest, PayPal, Shopify, Square, and others.
Pros
- Helps you automate recurring payments
- Enables you to receive payments, and send invoices and estimates
- Reliable mobile apps for Android and iOS
Cons
- Invoice templates could be more customizable
- Has a learning curve
Rippling
Best online payroll software for global organizations
Rippling is an online payroll platform that helps global organizations pay their remote workers in local currencies.
Why I picked Rippling: Rippling allows you to deposit wages directly into local bank accounts around the world without having to rely on third-party service providers or suffer expensive conversion fees. The software also calculates and files payroll taxes for your remote workers, and allows you to automate many of your administrative tasks.
Rippling’s Time & Attendance feature helps your team members keep track of their billable hours with ease. The software allows employees to clock in and out of work and automatically syncs their approved hours with your payroll, accounting, and HR software.
Rippling Standout Features and Integrations
Features include domestic and international payrolls, an organization chart, expense management, talent management, local tax filing, country-specific compliance, and international benefits programs.
Integrations include 1Password, 15Five, Asana, Brex, Checkr, GitHub, Google Workspace, Human Interest, Slack, Zoom, and others.
Pros
- Automatically highlights possible data errors
- Stores all your company data in one place
- Simple onboarding and offboarding process for international employees
Cons
- App can take a while to load in areas with slow internet
- Mobile app lacks some features that are available on the desktop and browser versions
ADP Workforce Now
Best online payroll software for real-time reporting
ADP Workforce Now is an online payroll software that makes it easy for business managers and operations specialists to oversee their businesses with real-time reports.
Why I picked ADP Workforce Now: ADP Workforce Now enables you to create a central database for all your workforce data, from payroll to benefits and talent acquisition. The software’s time and attendance tracking feature makes it easy to keep your company’s costs under control and optimize your workflows for maximum productivity.
ADP Workforce Now helps you discover trends and patterns with customizable team dashboards that provide real-time visibility into your organization’s labor costs. The tool’s predictive algorithms enable you to strategically plan your workforce, ensuring your business is well-equipped to handle both peak and slow periods.
ADP Workforce Now Standout Features and Integrations
Features include payroll, workforce management, HR management, tax management, talent acquisition management, benefits administration, online employee enrolment, and reporting and insights.
Integrations include 7Shifts, Dailypay, Greenhouse, Lever, QuickBooks, Sage, SAP SuccessFactors, Wave, Workday, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Proactive support staff
- Helps you keep track of all employee data, including salary, job, logistics, available vacation, etc.
- Good variety of report templates
Cons
- Organization chart could be easier to manage
- Has a learning curve
Paycor
Best online payroll software for companies with small HR teams
Paycor is an online payroll solution that helps companies with small HR teams pay and manage their workforce with automation.
Why I picked Paycor: Paycor allows you to store and update all employee information. The solution calculates pay totals and enables you to manage employee benefits using desktop computers or mobile devices. The solution’s reporting and analytics tool helps you interpret your payroll.
Paycor allows you to partially automate your payroll process, so a small number of HR specialists can use it to manage a large workforce. The software’s time and attendance tracking feature updates your team’s billable hours, simplifying the payroll process.
Paycor Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a self-service portal, time & attendance tracking, recruitment and onboarding, performance management, tax filing, PTO management, automation, and analytics.
Integrations include Aetna, Beacon, iCIMS, CloudPay, Epicor, Fidelity, Indeed, LinkedIn, MassMutual, TurboTax, and others.
Pros
- Enables you to post open positions on free job boards
- Easy to use self-service portal
- Helpful learning management
Cons
- UX feels a little clunky at times
- Limited customization options
The Best Online Payroll Software Summary
Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my online payroll software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deel Best online payroll software for managed global payroll | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Visit Website |
2 | Paychex Flex Best online payroll software for startups | Free demo available | From $39/month + $5/employee/month | Visit Website |
3 | OnPay Best online payroll software for small businesses | 30-day free trial | From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee | Visit Website |
4 | Paylocity Best online payroll software for expense tracking | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
5 | Gusto Best online payroll software for tax management | 30-day free trial | From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee | Visit Website |
6 | Namely Best online payroll software for compensation tracking | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
7 | QuickBooks Payroll Best online payroll software for simple time tracking | 30-day free trial | From $4/employee/month + $20/month base fee | Visit Website |
8 | Rippling Best online payroll software for global organizations | Free demo available | From $8/user/month (EOR pricing upon request) | Visit Website |
9 | ADP Workforce Now Best online payroll software for real-time reporting | 30-day free trial | From $160/month for up to 49 employees | Visit Website |
10 | Paycor Best online payroll software for companies with small HR teams | 90-day free trial + free demo available | From $5/employee/month + $99/month base fee | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best online payroll software list:
- Papaya Global
Best online payroll software for AI-augmented payroll
- Patriot Software
Best online payroll software for companies who collaborate with independent contractors
- PrimePay
Best online payroll software for employee self-service
- Ceridian Dayforce
Best online payroll software for on-demand pay
- Zenefits
Best online payroll software for advanced payroll features
- Workzoom
Best online payroll software for error-free payrolls
- Paycom
Best online payroll software for straightforward payroll runs
- Workful
Best online payroll software for hourly workers
- Square Payroll
Best online payroll software for field teams
- SurePayroll
Best online payroll software for household employers
How I Selected the Best Online Payroll Software
Perhaps you're wondering how I selected the best online payroll software for this list? To build this top 10 list, I evaluated and compared a wide range of online payroll systems with positive user ratings.
After determining my long list of top choices, I further honed my list by using the selection criteria below to see how each platform stacked up against the next one. I also drew on my years of HR experience assisting with updating payroll data to pinpoint the features that add a lot of value.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best online payroll software for this article:
Ease of use
Running payroll can be complicated. The process of checking over timesheets, calculating expense reimbursements, and updating employee pay can also take a lot of time each month. I selected payroll solutions that are easy to use and help you save time in the process.
Tax management and compliance
Tax management can be difficult for companies that rely on remote workers. I chose tools that are always up-to-date with the latest legislative changes and simplify tax calculation and tax filing.
Customization
No two companies are the same. As a result, I picked solutions you can customize to your unique business requirements and payroll needs, such as earning types, pay schedules, expenses and deductions, and so on.
Software Integrations
It’s crucial to integrate your payroll solution with other apps you use on a daily basis, such as accounting software, human resources information systems (HRIS), HR management tools, benefits administration platforms, and so on. I selected platforms that offer a wide variety of native integrations or OPEN APIs you can connect to.
Pricing
Each online payroll provider offers its platform at a different price, but I chose solutions that offer you a good variety of features so you’ll get a nice return on your investment.
People Also Ask
Curious to learn more about online payroll software? Here are some answers to popular questions.
What is online payroll software?
What are the main benefits of using an online payroll software?
What’s the difference between online payroll software and full-service payroll?
Manage Your Workforce Expenses Better with Online Payroll Software
Online payroll software helps you minimize human errors and makes it easier to stay compliant with the latest tax regulations. At the same time, this type of solution allows you to offer benefits to your remote or hybrid workers, reducing churn and increasing employee satisfaction.
As Lisa Shuster, the Chief People Officer for iHire, said: “[...] employers need to be creative and comprehensive with their total rewards strategy, which comprises compensation, benefits, developmental opportunities, recognition and other perks that motivate staff and enable a top-notch employee experience.
Consider offering mental health benefits, well-being and family caregiving support and financial planning services in your total rewards strategy. Invest in workers’ professional development with the idea that you can enable brighter futures through upskilling, internal career paths or debt-free college education. Though, flexibility is perhaps the most sought-after benefit of all.”
Want to find out more about payroll software? Then read our articles on Payroll Software - What It Is and 10 Key Benefits, Global Payroll Solutions for Distributed Teams, Payroll Companies to Run Your Payroll Process, and 8 Key Payroll Software Features + 3 Bonus.
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