20 Best Payroll Companies of 2025: Reviewed & Compared
10 Best Payroll Companies Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 20 tools reviewed.
Get free help from our HR software advisors to find your match.
Managing payroll is one of the most complex and time-consuming aspects of running a business. From calculating wages and taxes to ensuring compliance with ever-changing regulations, the process can easily overwhelm even the most organized HR teams.
Choosing the right payroll company can simplify all of this—but with so many options available, it’s tough to know where to start. That’s where I come in.
With years of experience as an HR specialist and hands-on expertise with workforce management solutions, I’ve seen how the right payroll service can transform not just processes, but entire teams.
Whether you’re struggling with manual errors, compliance concerns, or time-consuming tasks, this guide will help you find a solution that eliminates hassle, ensures accuracy, and saves you valuable time.
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Best Payroll Companies: Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for the best payroll companies that made my shortlist to help you find the best payroll company for you.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for global employees and contractors | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Website | |
| 2 | Best for HR, payroll, and integrations in one | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for AI-backed compliance verification | Free demo available | From $15/employee/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for automated payroll and tax filing | 90-day free trial | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for managing international teams | Free demo available | From $25 - $199/user/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for industry-specific payroll services | 30-day free trial | From $40/month + $6/user/month | Website | |
| 7 | Best for enhanced US customer support | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 8 | Best for Indian payroll compliance | Free demo available | From $99/employee/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best for payroll in India | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 10 | Best for small businesses | 30-day free trial | From $10.50/month (for 3 months, then $35/month) | Website |
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HiThrive
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Guru
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Absorb LMS
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Payroll Company Reviews
Here’s a brief description of the top 10 payroll companies that made it into my shortlist, including their main service offerings and other noteworthy features. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their software’s user interface.
Plus, I’ve included 10 more worthwhile companies below, if you’d like some extra options to consider.
Deel offers global payroll and compliance services, focusing on international hiring and payments. They serve businesses of all sizes seeking to manage a distributed workforce.
Why I picked Deel: Managing international payroll can be complex, but Deel simplifies it by handling compliance, taxes, and payments across over 150 countries. Their platform lets you hire contractors and full-time employees without setting up local entities, saving you time and resources. With transparent pricing and 24/7 support, Deel makes global expansion more accessible.
Deel Standout Services:
Deel's employer of record (EOR) services let you hire full-time employees in other countries without establishing a local entity, ensuring compliance with local labor laws. Their contractor management system streamlines onboarding, invoicing, and payments for international contractors, reducing administrative burdens.
Software integrations are available with NetSuite, HiBob, Xero, Ashby, and Greenhouse.
Deel Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: technology, finance, marketing, education, and healthcare.
Specialties: global payroll, compliance, contractor management, employer of record services, and international hiring.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive compliance management
- No need to set up local entities
- 24/7 customer support
Cons:
- Not all features available in every country
- Pricing may be high for small businesses
Paylocity offers payroll services that help midsized businesses manage and scale pay processing, tax filings, and employee payment options.
Why I picked Paylocity: I chose Paylocity because it combines powerful HR and payroll features into a single platform, making it easy to manage everything from benefits and compliance to employee pay and time tracking. Its extensive integration options, with over 400 third-party tools ranging from applicant tracking to collaboration tools, ensure it fits into your broader tech stack.
Paylocity Standout Services:
Their on-demand payment feature lets employees access wages early, solving cash flow challenges for your team. The automated tax filing system handles payroll taxes, reducing the risk of errors and keeping your business compliant with changing regulations.
Software integrations include ClearStar, Microsoft Dynamics 365, 7shifts, AirMason, APA Benefits, Azure, Atlassian, Asana, Box, ClearCompany, Dropbox, Freshdesk, Google Workspace, Greenhouse, HubSpot, Slack, Salesforce, Trakstar, and Zoho People.
Paylocity Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and technology
Specialties: tax compliance, payroll flexibility, time tracking, benefits integration, and employee self-service
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy integration with other HR solutions
- Customizable reporting features
- Flexible pay options for employees
Cons:
- Limited international payroll options
- Occasional issues with mobile app functionality
Papaya Global is an online payroll software that helps companies remove barriers to global hiring. Papaya’s automated, SaaS platform provides an end-to-end global workforce management solution—everything from onboarding to cross-border payments in 160+ countries.
Why I picked Papaya Global: Their platform supports all employee options (payroll, EoR, contractors), integrates with all management tools, and uses smart technology to ensure compliance and eliminate errors. It creates a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending and real-time business intelligence (BI). Papaya Global can help any company simplify global people management. Enterprises can access Papaya’s state-of-the-art automation, security, and BI without replacing their existing payroll system.
Integrations are available with BambooHR, Expensify, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Namely, NetSuite, Priority Software, SAP Business One, SAP Concur, and SAP SuccessFactors. They can also create additional custom integrations for your existing HR software upon request.
RUN by ADP offers payroll and HR services designed to support businesses of all sizes with their payroll processing and tax filing needs. Their solutions cater to small, medium, and large businesses, helping streamline payroll operations while ensuring compliance.
Why I picked RUN by ADP: ADP's RUN integrates automated payroll processing with tax filing to simplify payroll management for your business. You’ll also find tools that help with compliance, like real-time alerts and updates for tax regulations. Their intuitive platform ensures your team can handle payroll tasks quickly and accurately.
RUN Powered by ADP Standout Services:
RUN Powered by ADP includes automated payroll processing to ensure your employees are paid accurately and on time while reducing manual tasks. You also get automatic tax filing services that calculate, file, and pay payroll taxes for you, saving time and ensuring compliance with government regulations.
Software integrations include QuickBooks, Wave, Xero, ClockShark, Points North, Compy, Wex, Synerion, JazzHR, 7Shifts, Snappy Gifts, Absorb LMS, SmartRecruiters, and hundreds more.
RUN Powered by ADP Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and construction
Specialties: payroll tax filing, compliance, benefits administration, employee self-service, and reporting tools
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integration with accounting software
- Mobile app for on-the-go access
- Easy to use for small businesses
Cons:
- Add-on costs for certain services
- Limited customization for larger enterprises
RemoFirst offers payroll services designed to support businesses in managing international teams. Their solutions focus on simplifying global payroll processes while ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Why I picked RemoFirst: Their platform makes it easy to manage payroll for employees across multiple countries. You can rely on their automated tools to handle compliance, payments, and reporting in one place. It’s especially useful for organizations that need to ensure accurate, timely payments to a diverse international workforce.
RemoFirst Standout Services:
Their automated compliance management helps you navigate the complexities of international payroll by keeping your team compliant with local tax and labor laws. They also provide multi-currency payment processing, so you can pay employees in their local currency without dealing with conversion headaches.
RemoFirst Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: technology, healthcare, retail, education, and consulting
Specialties: international payroll, compliance, tax management, reporting, and payment processing
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to use for non-technical teams
- Responsive customer support team
- Offers multi-currency payment options
Cons:
- Lacks in-depth customization for niche use cases
- May not suit small businesses with limited budgets
OnPay offers full-service payroll solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. Their platform also supports benefits administration, HR functions, and compliance management for various industries.
Why I picked OnPay: Their industry-specific payroll services let you manage unique payroll needs, like compliance for restaurants or agricultural businesses, all through an easy-to-use platform. OnPay’s in-house insurance brokers can help your team find the right employee benefits without needing an external partner. This combination of payroll and insurance expertise can simplify HR tasks for your business.
OnPay Standout Services:
Their automated tax filing ensures that federal, state, and local payroll taxes are calculated, filed, and paid correctly. You can also use their benefits management tools to handle health insurance, retirement plans, and workers' comp directly through the platform, saving time for you and your team.
Software integrations are available with QuickBooks, Xero, When I Work, Deputy, Magnify, Mineral, PosterElite, and with the 401k retirement platforms Guideline, America’s Best 401k, and Vestwell.
OnPay Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: healthcare, retail, restaurants, agriculture, and nonprofits
Specialties: compliance support, benefits integration, multiple pay rates, employee self-onboarding, and reporting customization
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Access to HR support and compliance tools
- Industry-specific payroll compliance features
- Offers in-house insurance brokers for benefits
Cons:
- Limited integrations with accounting software
- Setup process may require manual adjustments
Paychex Flex offers payroll processing, HR, and benefits services tailored to the needs of businesses of any size, from self-employed solo entrepreneurs to small businesses, all the way up to organizations with 1,000+ employees.
Why I picked Paychex Flex: Paychex Flex emphasizes enhanced customer support with 24/7 access, which is particularly helpful for businesses with time-sensitive payroll needs. Their platform includes customizable payroll features that adapt to your business’s structure, reducing administrative hassle. Paychex Flex also offers tax filing services, ensuring compliance without requiring extra time or effort from your team.
Paychex Flex Standout Services:
Paychex Flex provides payroll tax filing services, which handle tax calculations and submissions, saving your team time and reducing the risk of errors. They also offer time and attendance tracking, allowing you to integrate employee hours directly into payroll for greater accuracy.
Software Integrations are available with 300+ commonly used applications, including BambooHR, Epicor, Infor, JazzHR, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, SAP, and many others. Plus, Paychex Flex has an API to support any custom software integrations you may need.
Paychex Flex Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: healthcare, retail, construction, education, and manufacturing
Specialties: payroll processing, tax compliance, employee benefits, time tracking, and HR administration
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy-to-use mobile app for payroll tasks
- Strong reputation for reliability
- 24/7 customer support availability
Cons:
- Limited flexibility in report customization
- Extra fees for some advanced features
Wisemonk is a platform that helps companies hire, pay, and equip talent in India without needing local entities or bank accounts. It offers services like employer of record (EOR), payroll management, equipment procurement, and more, all supported by expert assistance and technology.
Why I picked Wisemonk: They offer comprehensive payroll and compliance services. They handle tax optimization and planning, local compliance, and tax filing and provide salary slips, ensuring your business meets all legal requirements in India. Another benefit is Wisemonk's employee onboarding process. They manage document collection, background verification, and policy orientation, making it easier to bring new team members on board.
Wisemonk Standout Services:
Wisemonk also provides employer of record (EOR) services, allowing businesses to legally employ workers in India without setting up a local entity. Their equipment management services cover leasing, procurement, asset registration, and recovery, ensuring employees have the necessary tools to work effectively. Additionally, they offer an employee and manager app that simplifies onboarding, payroll tracking, and access to company policies.
Wisemonk Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: Technology, startups, software development, IT services, consulting, financial services, remote work, engineering, global companies expanding to India, and professional services.
Specialties: Payroll management, tax optimization, compliance handling, employee onboarding, equipment leasing, background verification, policy orientation, reimbursement processing, and benefits administration.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive compliance management ensures adherence to local laws
- Efficient equipment lifecycle management for remote teams
- Flexible benefits administration caters to diverse employee needs
Cons:
- Limited to the Indian market
- Could offer built-in time tracking
Remunance is an India-based Professional Employer Organization (PEO) that assists global businesses in expanding their operations into India. They offer services such as talent acquisition, HR management, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure support, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.
Why I picked Remunance: One key reason to consider Remunance is its comprehensive payroll and local compliance services. They manage payroll processing and ensure adherence to India's complex labor laws and tax regulations, reducing the administrative burden on your team. This ensures your operations remain compliant, minimizing potential legal risks.
Remunance Standout Services:
Another advantage is their expertise in onboarding and offboarding employees. Remunance handles the entire process, from recruitment to exit formalities, ensuring a smooth experience for your staff. They also offer talent acquisition services that help you find the right candidates for your team, ensuring they align with your company's culture and requirements.
Software integrations are not listed on their website.
Remunance Target Industries and Specializations:
Target industries: Healthcare, construction, sales, customer service, consultancies, and agencies
Specialties: Talent acquisition, payroll, compliance, onboarding, contractor management, and subsidiary formation
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Access to a wide talent base
- Focus on compliance
- Good localized expertise
Cons:
- Less ideal for businesses wanting more control over processes
- Only for businesses building teams in India
QuickBooks Online is a payroll management and accounting software designed to cater to the needs of small businesses. You can use it to manage your company's invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, and taxes. It's available in the US, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Why I picked QuickBooks Online: The software can modernize your payroll processes by automating how pay is calculated and sent out to employees. It can also automatically calculate and deduct income taxes, and run your tax filings in all 50 US states. You can essentially set it and forget it when it comes to paying your staff. Of course, you can still review and approve payments before they're sent out.
Beyond its basic payroll features, it also facilitates garnishments, deductions, health benefits, and workers comp management. And, you can manage your expenses and receipts as well as invoices and payments through the same platform.
Integrations are available with over 450 business apps like Square, Stripe, Paychex, Insightly CRM, Mailchimp, Shopify, eBay, BigCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, Etsy, Katana, and ProjectWorks.
Other Payroll Companies
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best payroll companies list:
- Patriot Payroll
For US companies
- Buddy Punch
For combined payroll and time-tracking
- Zenefits
For entrepreneurs and SMBs
- PayUSA
For employee self-service
- Rippling
With integrated HR and IT management
- Remote
For offering international stock options
- Multiplier
For support via PEO and EOR services
- QuickBooks Payroll
For automatic tax calculations
- Paycor
For mobile-friendliness
- ADP Workforce Now
For compliance support
Related HR Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:
- HR Software
- Recruiting Software
- Employer of Record Services
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Management Software
- Learning Management Systems
Selection Criteria for Payroll Companies
I'm happy to explain how I developed this list of the best payroll companies if you're curious about my methodology.
I started by reviewing recent payroll market data to compile a long list of payroll companies that are well-known in the payroll space. I then drilled into the finer details of each company's payroll offerings, to see how they compared to each other and what made each one standout.
To compile my final top 10 choices, I compared each payroll company even more stringently using the following selection criteria:
- Core payroll features: All the payroll companies in this list cover the basics:
- Payroll processing for hourly or salaried workers
- Direct deposit into employee bank accounts
- Digital pay statements (pay stubs) and annual earning statements
- Automatic withholding and filing of payroll taxes for government bodies (e.g., the IRS or CRA)
- Payroll reports for each individual payroll run plus year-end reports.
- Advanced payroll features: These are the payroll features I consider as "bells and whistles" that are not always available with all cloud-based payroll providers:
- Global payroll processing in multiple currencies
- Same-day pay access for employees (also known as pay-on-demand or earned wage access)
- The ability to include contractor payments in your standard payroll run
- Additional HR features or services: These functionalities go beyond the realms of payroll, but they're definitely a bonus if you can access them too:
- Assistance with benefits management
- Assistance with corporate bookkeeping
- Additional global HR or EOR services.
- Level of customer support: You will be trusting your most important business function — paying your employees — to an outside organization, so you want to ensure they'll be there to support you when needed. This includes support via:
- Phone
- Online chat
- A dedicated Account Manager
- Or an online knowledge base (for self-service solutions).
- Software integrations: To improve productivity and reduce manual data entry, you want to make sure the payroll company you choose offers software that will work with your existing tools. Key integrations to look for include:
- HR data management systems (HRIS, HRMS, HCM systems)
- Time and attendance tracking software (a.k.a., timesheets)
- Benefits administration software
- Compensation management software.
What is a Payroll Company?
A payroll company is an organization that manages employee payment processes for other businesses, handling wage calculations, tax deductions, and compliance with legal requirements.
A payroll company is helpful for ensuring accurate and timely employee payments, handling complex tax regulations, and freeing up business resources for other tasks.
New & Noteworthy Product Updates
Below, I've summarized the most recent release notes and product updates for my top payroll company recommendations. Discover what’s now possible through new feature releases, improvements, and updates for web, desktop, and mobile apps. Learn what’s new, and why it matters for payroll.
2025 Q2: Payroll Software Updates
Deel Update Notes
Deel recently introduced over 70 enhancements focused on improving their payroll and compliance functionalities. These updates collectively streamline HR operations, improve device management, and ensure adherence to compliance standards, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
Key improvements include a new dashboard that tracks time off and automatically eliminates duplicate employee data, leading to more reliable workforce information and reducing the need for manual corrections. Furthermore, the rollout of pre-built workflow templates and a Quick Mode in the Workflow Builder automates routine tasks, enhancing operational efficiency.
These updates improve data accuracy and increase automated workflows, which collectively contribute to improved decision-making and operational efficiency. By focusing on these areas, Deel empowers organizations to manage their payroll and compliance tasks more effectively, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
Verdict: These changes reduce manual work, cut errors, and help teams stay compliant.
RemoFirst Update Notes
RemoFirst rolled out a series of updates to its platform to improve how HR and People teams manage global employees. These changes are centered on enhancing usability, increasing transparency, and offering more control throughout the hiring and onboarding process.
The redesigned Client App introduces a cleaner interface and streamlined workflows. Onboarding is now more flexible, with options to customize employment details like type, contract, pay, and frequency. Users can also assign job titles, choose when to invite Client Managers, and designate direct managers. Additionally, employee profiles now display sick leave balances for easier tracking.
These updates simplify global workforce management by saving time, reducing complexity, and supporting compliance. With greater customization and visibility, HR teams can more easily scale and manage remote teams across different regions.
Verdict: These simple yet powerful changes to the platform will positively impact the user experience and save teams time.
Paychex Update Notes
Paychex rolled out several new payroll-focused enhancements to its Paychex Flex platform. These updates are designed to streamline tax season for both employers and employees, while encouraging more accurate and up-to-date payroll information.
A key update is the W-2 Integration & Tax Prep Software Service, which allows employees to access H&R Block or TurboTax directly through the My Perks hub at no cost to employers.
Another new feature, the Annual Employee Checkup, prompts employees to review and update their personal and tax information annually and opt into electronic W-2 delivery.
These improvements help reduce errors, save time, and ease administrative burden during tax season. By keeping employee data current and simplifying tax prep, Paychex supports a smoother, more efficient payroll experience.
Verdict: These updates will improve the user experience for Paychex Flex administrators and employees, simplifying tax season.
Frequently Asked Questions about Payroll Companies
Still curious about payroll companies and what they have to offer? Take a look through these answers to popular FAQs to get you grounded.
How do payroll companies work?
Payroll companies offer both payroll software and payroll services that assist organizations in managing their payroll process.
If you’re self-sufficient enough to run your own basic payroll yourself, you can likely get away with managing your business needs through a SaaS (software-as-a-service) pricing plan where you pay a monthly fee for using your payroll software of choice, and that’s it.
However, if your resources are limited and you need extra support, payroll companies can help you with extra services for an additional fee.
What key features do payroll companies offer?
Here’s a summary of the core features you can expect to receive when working with the best payroll service providers in this list:
- Automations: These are the tools that allow payroll functions to run on their own without time-consuming human oversight—the bread and butter of payroll systems.
- Compliance tools: Built-in features that ensure your payroll configuration is set up to calculate, collect, report, and file all your tax payments as required. Many systems also include oversight by teams of compliance and payroll specialists too.
- Advanced payment features: Many modern payroll systems now include pay-on-demand features where employees can access earned wages in advance of their next payday, or receive payment in their own local currency if they’re based internationally.
- Employee self-service & mobile access: All the payroll providers in this list offer employee portals where staff can access their pay stubs digitally, plus additional functions like time-off requests, time-tracking features, and more.
Interested in more nitty-gritty payroll details? Take a look at our comprehensive list of payroll features as well.
How much do payroll companies charge?
The cost of working with a payroll company will depend on the type of features you need their support with. While most of the payroll companies in this list do offer pricing details for their basic payroll software, you’ll need to contact each provider directly to receive a personalized service offer for any add-ons.
In general, payroll companies charge a basic monthly fee plus an additional charge based on the number of employees you have listed as active on your payroll register.
What are the best payroll options for small business owners?
There are many solid options for small business payroll providers out there. And luckily for you, I’ve already done all the leg work for you. To save you time, take a look at my list of the best small business payroll options instead.
If you’re running a startup or operating on a very tight budget, you’ll also want to browse my list of the best free payroll software too.
Other Payroll Resources
With so many different payroll providers out there (including 665 HR & payroll software companies in the US alone as of 2024), we couldn’t possibly fit them all into one article! If you’re still interested in considering other options, I recommend reviewing these other payroll solutions too:
- Automated Payroll Software
- Online Payroll Software
- HR Software for Payroll
- Payroll Services for Small Businesses
If you’re looking for payroll software specifically for internationally-based staff, you’ll want to check out these other types of payroll and HR services as well:
- Best Global Payroll Service Providers
- Best PEO Companies (Professional Employer Organizations)
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