Best Payroll Companies Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the 10 best payroll companies I’ve covered in detail in this article out of the 20 options I’ve included in total:
- 1. Deel — Best end-to-end global workforce management platform for international employees or contractors
- 2. Papaya Global — Best global payroll & workforce management solution with AI-backed compliance verification features
- 3. Paycor — Best for automated payroll for salaried employees, and mobile-friendly tools for tracking expenses
- 4. Paychex Flex — Best for US companies wanting multiple payment options and enhanced customer support
- 5. ADP Workforce Now — Best payroll company + cloud-based platform that streamlines the payroll process
- 7. OnPay — Best payroll company for industry-specific payroll services and access to in-house insurance brokers
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
There are many valid reasons to search for better payroll companies. Perhaps you're filled with dread each time the next payroll due date approaches? Or maybe you're tired of shuffling employee data from one system to another? I completely feel your pain! The good news is, there are greener payroll pastures out there, and this list is here to help!
This article summarizes the best payroll companies to modernize your payroll processes. All the payroll companies in this list are well-known and trusted in the payroll industry. They all offer time-saving automations, compliance tracking tools, and integrations with other crucial human resources (HR) software. These systems will save you time and cut down on common administrative hassles.
Detailed Overviews of the 10 Best Payroll Companies
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 user interface too. Plus, I've included 10 more worthwhile companies below, if you'd like some extra options to consider.
Deel
Best end-to-end global workforce management platform for international employees or contractors
Deel is a global payroll platform that allows you to hire anyone as a contractor or employee without worrying about local laws, complicated tax systems, or international payroll. Deel’s intuitive platform gives you end-to-end workforce management, including contract adjustments, expense reimbursements, and off-cycle adjustments. Local country experts provide consultative approaches for each location you hire from, ensuring compliance with local pay standards.
Why I picked Deel: Deel offers 10+ payment options for clients, ranging from bank transfers to cryptocurrency pay-ins. You can schedule payments in advance and run off-cycle payroll whenever needed. Employees and contractors on Deel can self-manage their pay and personal data and use providers like Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, and Revolut for easy international withdrawals. The company offers 24/7 online support and dedicated account managers for specific requests.
In addition to their global payroll services run by local experts, Deel has launched several new offerings over the past year, including global mobility support, integrated Slack tools, and advanced integrations. The global mobility service helps companies with visa sponsorship, allowing them to bring in candidates from abroad.
Integrations are available with NetSuite, HiBob, Xero, Ashby, and Greenhouse.
Papaya Global
Best global payroll & workforce management solution with AI-backed compliance verification features
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.
Paycor
Best for automated payroll for salaried employees, and mobile-friendly tools for tracking expenses
Paycor’s human capital management (HCM) software brings many HR functions together, including payroll processing, workforce management, talent management, employee experience features, and benefits administration.
Why I picked Paycor: Their automated payroll feature is perfect for salaried workforces since the system can run independently once you’ve onboarded your employees. Paycor also takes care of calculating employee and corporate tax filings, processing W-2 and 1099 tax forms, and submitting workers’ compensation premiums and reports on your behalf.
In terms of Paycor’s advanced features, their employee self-service capabilities are very strong. Employees can easily access their pay information via their mobile app, and even access earned wages early using their OnDemand Pay app. This feature alone eliminates the need to worry about issuing staff advances or manual payroll runs, which is often a stressful situation for both employees and payroll administrators alike.
In addition, Paycor also has several useful expense-tracking tools within their HCM software, including mobile-friendly receipt management tools and a function to track trip mileage for reimbursement.
Integrations are available with 140+ software applications through their Paycor Marketplace, including Center Expense Management, Certify by Emburse, CloudPay, HIRETech, Instant Pay, Rapid Disbursements, Payfactors, Netspend, and many others.
Paychex Flex
Best for US companies wanting multiple payment options and enhanced customer support
Paychex Flex is an all-in-one HR, benefits and payroll management system with configuration options for 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: Their online payroll system calculates, files, and submits payroll taxes on your behalf, and integrates HR and benefits deduction costs directly with payroll to reduce the need for manual data entry. To further improve productivity, Paychex also includes a time & attendance tracking system that automatically links tracked hours to payroll too.
To help businesses stay compliant at all times, Paychex has a roster of 200+ compliance experts who are constantly monitoring any changes to US-based tax laws and regulations. Their software also supports multiple payment options, including direct deposit, paper checks, a Pay-on-Demand feature where funds can be accessed prior to your next payroll date, or payment via pay cards that are fully compliant with US federal laws.
Their customer support services are also quite deep, and include an online chat feature, articles, how-to guides, and 24/7 live coverage for US-based customers.
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.
ADP Workforce Now
Best payroll company + cloud-based platform that streamlines the payroll process
ADP Workforce Now is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that helps companies manage payroll needs in one integrated system.
Why I picked ADP Workforce Now: It lets users view information about their workforce in real time with employee self-service features that allow employees to access their personal information and make changes if needed. With its intuitive web interface, employers can easily access the data they need to accurately track employee hours, wages, benefits, taxes, and deductions. Additionally, it provides compliance support, so employers are always up-to-date on the latest laws and regulations about paying employees correctly.
ADP Workforce Now allows businesses to easily manage employee benefits such as health insurance, 401(k) plans, and vacation time tracking. Users can create custom benefit packages for different types of employees or job levels within their organization so that everyone receives the same level of care and attention when it comes to benefits administration.
It also provides an online platform for managing employee information such as contact details, job history, education, skills, and performance reviews. It enables businesses to easily track attendance data and monitor employee leave applications in real time. Additionally, this feature helps onboard new hires by providing them with the necessary paperwork quickly and efficiently so they can get up to speed faster.
Users can automate repetitive tasks like calculating paychecks and taxes, creating reports, and generating invoices. These features enable companies to streamline their payroll processes to save time and money while providing accurate information to their employees. This platform allows users to choose from various payment options such as direct deposit, cheques, or even a combination of both. This gives them the flexibility to choose the best option for their employees so that they can receive their payments quickly and securely.
Integrations include accounting solutions like Quickbooks, Wave, and Xero, ERPs like Oracle, SAP, and Workday, time and attendance solutions like Clock Shark, Deputy, and Dolce, and recruiting and onboarding solutions like GoodHire, Sapling, and Zip Recruiter.
Patriot Software
Best basic payroll software and service for US companies
Patriot Payroll is a payroll service provider that covers payroll, setup, 2-day direct deposits, and customer support.
Why I picked Patriot Payroll: It's a full-service payroll platform that acts as a concierge for US-based businesses. The customer service team will reach out to you if they need any information, but otherwise will handle your local, state, and federal taxes with no problem.
The platform comes with a large information database that gives you tons of resources for managing your payroll and taxes. The detailed guides are super helpful for people who have limited knowledge of payroll best practices and tax filings. You can also choose from their add-ons that cover time and attendance tracking, and an employee database.
Integrations are available with other HR tools like Intuit QuickBooks Online, GoCo, Plaid, Workforce.com, and WorkforceHub Time & Attendance.
OnPay
Best payroll company for industry-specific payroll services and access to in-house insurance brokers
OnPay’s comprehensive HRIS platform helps entrepreneurs manage payroll, HR functions, and benefits all in one place.
Why I picked OnPay: Their software includes a full suite of payroll services and compliance settings for all 50 states. For no additional cost, they also offer special payroll services for certain industries like restaurants, farms and agriculture, churches and clergy, and nonprofits. As well, OnPay makes it easy to access pandemic-related tax credits and forgiveness applications through their COVID-19 dashboard.
Their team of licensed in-house insurance brokers can help you set up health, dental and vision plans with top providers such as Humana, Cigna, Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Once in place, benefit costs are synced with payroll, which means you won’t have to worry about capturing any cost fluctuations yourself. Another interesting feature is their 401k integration which automatically supports employer matching and profit-sharing options.
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.
QuickBooks Online
Best payroll management and accounting platform for small businesses
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.
Gusto
Best HR software for full-service payroll outsourcing
Gusto is an all-in-one HR solution with scalable pricing and features that work for small businesses with simple salary structures or complex international teams.
Why I picked Gusto: Gusto is a great option for a full service payroll provider if you’re also in the market for HR software, since they also have modules for hiring, onboarding, time tracking and time-off management too.
Gusto’s payroll solution includes automatic tax reporting, scheduled reminders, W-2 processing, and automatic withholding for health insurance and retirement plans, depending on your configuration. They also have a large document database to assist you with all your accounting, legal and tax problems so you won’t need to outsource to a specialist.
In addition, their employee self-service feature allows staff to log in and review their pay statements, track their healthcare costs, and manage their paid time-off (PTO) with ease.
Integrations are available with over 135 software applications, including Asana, Bonusly, ChartHop, DropBox, GitHub, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Sage Accounting, Salesforce, Slack, Webex, Zoom and many others.
Zenefits
Best for sophisticated, time-saving payroll features and automations
Zenefits is an HR software solution that integrates HR, benefits and payroll services in one streamlined platform.
Why I picked Zenefits: Designed primarily for entrepreneurs and SMBs, Zenefits helps HR teams save time and energy by automatically linking data-heavy processes directly to payroll—including onboarding information, paid time-off requests, tracked work hours, and benefit costs.
Payroll administrators will appreciate Zenefits’ more sophisticated features, including automatically prorated payments for new hires who start mid-pay period, automated reminders, dynamic pay stubs that break down all deductions (even on mobile devices), and the ability to add messages to pay stubs to flag special payments like bonuses or commissions.
Zenefits also allows users to upload bulk earning files (useful for entering bonuses or annual salary changes), capture reported tips, pay contractors, or apply wage garnishments as needed.
Integrations are available with 40+ software solutions, including Asana, Betterment, Bonusly, Carta, CoPilot, Deputy, Embroker, Expensify, Google Suite, Intuit Quickbooks, Microsoft Office 365, Next Insurance, Sidecar Health, Teladoc, T-Sheets, Truework, SixFifty, Slack, Xero, Zapier, and others.
Need Expert Help Selecting The Right Payroll Management Software?
We’ve joined up with Crozdesk.com to give all our readers (yes, you!) access to Crozdesk’s software advisors. Just use the form below to share your needs, and they will contact you at no cost or commitment. You will then be matched and connected to a shortlist of vendors that best fit your company, and you can access exclusive software discounts!
The 10 Best Payroll Companies Comparison Chart
Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top payroll company selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best payroll company for you.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Deel Best end-to-end global workforce management platform for international employees or contractors | Free demo available | Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people | Visit Website |
2 | Papaya Global Best global payroll & workforce management solution with AI-backed compliance verification features | Free trial available | EOR from $650/employee/month or $2/contractor/month; Global payroll from $3 to $12/employee/month | Visit Website |
3 | Paycor Best for automated payroll for salaried employees, and mobile-friendly tools for tracking expenses | 90-day free trial + free demo available | From $5/employee/month + $99/month base fee | Visit Website |
4 | Paychex Flex Best for US companies wanting multiple payment options and enhanced customer support | Free demo available | From $39/month + $5/employee/month | Visit Website |
5 | ADP Workforce Now Best payroll company + cloud-based platform that streamlines the payroll process | 30-day free trial | From $160/month for up to 49 employees | Visit Website |
6 | Patriot Software Best basic payroll software and service for US companies | 30-day free trial | From $4/employee/month + $17/month base fee | Visit Website |
7 | OnPay Best payroll company for industry-specific payroll services and access to in-house insurance brokers | 30-day free trial | From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee | Visit Website |
8 | QuickBooks Online Best payroll management and accounting platform for small businesses | 30-day free trial | From $30/month | Visit Website |
9 | Gusto Best HR software for full-service payroll outsourcing | 30-day free trial | From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee | Visit Website |
10 | Zenefits Best for sophisticated, time-saving payroll features and automations | 14-day free trial | From $10/user/month | Visit Website |
Other Payroll Companies
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best payroll companies list:
- PayUSA
Best payroll system for integrated time & attendance tracking to reduce manual data entry
- QuickBooks Payroll
Best user-friendly payroll service provider with automatic tax calculations and tax penalty protection
- ADP GlobalView Payroll
Best flexible and scalable online payroll software well-suited for multinational organizations of any size
- Buddy Punch
Best combined payroll and time-tracking solution with an affordable pricing model
- Remote
Best payroll management platform for offering employees international stock options
- Multiplier
Best for global payroll outsourcing and additional HR support via PEO and EOR services
- Remofirst
Best user-friendly payroll software for managing international teams
- Oyster HR
Best hiring and payroll management platform for coverage across 180+ countries
- Rippling
Best full-service payroll software with time-saving features, automatic compliance checks, and automated tax filing
- Namely
Best online payroll service with a useful payroll wizard to streamline the payroll process
How I Selected the Best Payroll Companies
I'm happy to explain how I developed this list of the best payroll companies if you're curious about my methodology.
To start off, I compiled a long list of payroll companies with positive user ratings 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.
To compile my final top 10 choices, I compared each payroll company even more stringently using my selection criteria below.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a summary of the evaluation criteria I used to select the best payroll companies for this list:
- User Interface (UI): I selected systems with visually attractive, clean, and colorful user interfaces that make using each system enjoyable.
- Usability: I prioritize systems that are straightforward and easy-to-use, for both HR and payroll administrators and employees at all levels.
- Software integrations: To improve productivity and reduce manual data entry, I selected systems that integrate with HR data management systems, timesheet and/or time-tracking systems, and employee benefit offerings—or systems that already include these functions.
- Value for Price: For the most part, the systems I’ve chosen have transparent price-per-employee models, some with an additional base fee per month.
People Also Ask
Still curious about payroll companies and what they have to offer? Take a look through these answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to get you grounded.
How do payroll companies work?
What key features do payroll companies offer?
How much do payroll companies charge?
What are the best payroll options for small business owners?
Other Payroll Resources
With so many different payroll providers out there (including 575 HR & payroll software companies in the US alone as of 2022), we couldn’t possibly fit them all into one article! If you’re still interested in considering other options, I recommend you take a look at the following lists too:
- Best Payroll Software Reviewed and Compared
- Best Automated Payroll to Save Teams Time
- Best Online Payroll Software for Paying Staff
- Best HR Software for Payroll
You should also take a peek at our how-to articles, Keep Your Payroll on Time, All the Time and How to Manage Payroll for Small Business for some expert tips too.
If you’re looking for payroll software specifically for internationally-based staff, you’ll want to check out these top lists as well:
- Best Global Payroll Solutions for Distributed Teams
- Best Professional Employer Organizations (PEO)
- Best Employer of Record (EOR) Services
Not sure? You might also find value in this article: PEO or EOR: Which is Right for You?
Lastly, to stay in the loop, I recommend subscribing to our People Managing People newsletter covering trends in HR leadership as well.