30 Best Payroll Software of 2024: Reviewed and Compared

Deel is a global payroll platform that's available in over 150 countries. It allows you to hire anyone as a contractor or employee without worrying about local laws, complicated tax systems, or international payroll.

Why I picked Deel: I chose this software because of it provides end-to-end global workforce management, including contract adjustments, expense reimbursements, and off-cycle payroll adjustments. You can schedule payments in advance and run off-cycle payroll whenever needed. It was also noteworthy that the company has local country experts working in-house to run global payroll and ensure all regional contributions are accounted for. Their team provides 24/7 online support, and dedicated account managers are available for specific requests.

Deel Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features I noticed were the software's 10+ payment options, ranging from bank transfers to cryptocurrency pay-ins. What makes this stand out from other options is that employees and contractors can self-manage their pay and personal data, and use providers like Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, and Revolut for easy international withdrawals.

Integrations include Ashby, BambooHR, Expensify, Greenhouse, Hibob, NetSuite, Okta, OneLogin, QuickBooks, Xero, Workday, and Workable. The software’s open API can support additional custom software integrations.

Papaya Global is an online payroll solution that helps companies remove barriers to global hiring. Their software provides end-to-end global workforce management with everything from onboarding to cross-border payments in over 160 countries.

Why I picked Papaya Global: This software covers all employee options (payroll, EoR, contractors) and can be used to send payments securely to remote and global personnel. I chose it because of its various payroll packages, which make it a flexible option for various business sizes and needs. The reporting and analytics tools offer detailed payroll and business intelligence, and give you a real-time view of your funds. Payment delivery is also guaranteed within 72 hours by the company.

Papaya Global Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include that its bank rails were built in partnership with JP Morgan and Citibank, which makes me confident in their reliability and compliance standards. Payroll anomalies and issues can be detected with the software’s artificial intelligence capabilities, which automatically notifies admins so they can address the problem swiftly.

Integrations include most financial tools, and HR software like BambooHR, Expensify, NetSuite, SAP SuccessFactors, and Workday. An API is also available to support additional custom integrations.

Remofirst is a payroll software that provides users with a secure, efficient, and easy-to-use platform for managing payroll processes. Users can input employee information, calculate taxes, and generate pay stubs. The software offers many features, including employee self-service, direct deposit, tax compliance, and reporting.

The software provides tools for managing employee shares and dilution, as well as for issuing specialized reports on equity and bonus activity. Its reporting feature allows users to generate detailed reports on their payroll data which can be generated for a specific period. The cost calculation feature helps businesses budget costs effectively by considering various factors, including the number of employees, the type of benefits provided, and the frequency of payments. Employees can also view their equity and bonus information in real time, and the system automatically calculates vesting schedules and payout dates.

Remofirst lets businesses manage employee benefits programs with ease. Users can track employee eligibility, enroll employees in benefits plans, and even change existing plans. It also allows businesses to generate employee enrollment and participation reports. Dashboards summarize team distribution and spending with visual graphs and charts.

Remofirst can also manage payroll and invoicing for businesses with employees abroad. The software automatically generates accurate paychecks and invoices in the local currency and tracks employee vacation days, sick leave, and expense reimbursements. Remofirst sends invoices every month, ensuring your employees are paid on time. Users can access a dedicated account manager and Remofirst's knowledge base to troubleshoot any issues.

Paycor is a human capital management solution with payroll, workforce management, and employee experience features. The payroll product can handle payroll, expense management, time and attendance, and more.

Why I picked Paycor: Once I set up payment options for employees, I was able to use the automation features to run my payroll automatically, as scheduled for a specific day and time. Multiple payment options are available through the software, including direct deposit, paycards, or on-demand pay. It also provides in-depth compliance feedback to help you respect the employment laws in your state. Because of its robust functionality, I think it's best suited to large and enterprise businesses.

Paycor Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include its pay-on-demand feature, which allows employees to access their earned wages before their next official payday. I thought this was a modern functionality. It's also convenient that expense management, scheduling and time tracking, and employee experience monitoring are all also available in the platform.

Integrations include several other tools for wage and salary verification, expense management, employee wellness, certified payroll, and FMLA. Key software systems to note include Certify, ESR, Payfactors, and WageWorks.

Paychex Flex is a cloud-based payroll and human resources management software designed to help businesses of all sizes manage their payroll processes, employee benefits, and other HR-related tasks. It's a comprehensive solution that aims to simplify and streamline the entire payroll process, making it easier for businesses to stay compliant with tax regulations and ensure their employees are paid accurately and on time.

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.

Bambee's cloud-based HR software is specifically tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. Their software covers a wide range of functions, including onboarding, compliance, and employee termination. They also offer a guided payroll service, which is available as an add-on.

Why I picked Bambee: I included Bambee's combined payroll software and expert services because of its ease of use and affordability. Their services cover a comprehensive set of payroll functions, including 2-day direct deposit, tax filings, and year-end reporting. In addition, Bambee also offers personalized support from HR experts, as well as a dedicated HR manager for every client, making it easier for businesses to navigate complex payroll regulations.

Bambee Standout Features & Integrations:

Features include 2-day direct deposit, integrated compliance monitoring, and automatic federal, state, and local taxes. They also provide businesses with guidance on payroll-related compliance issues, such as minimum wage requirements and overtime rules too. Their employee self-service portal also allows employees to view their pay stubs, manage their personal information, and request time off, all without having to contact HR, saving businesses time and resources.

Integration details are currently not available.

Trinet is a global payroll and HR software and service provider. It can help your organization manage various HR operations including payroll and employee benefits administration, performance and learning management, and risk mitigation.

Why I picked Trinet: I picked this platform because its payroll capabilities can handle complex regulations in several countries, making it suitable for global organizations or businesses operating in multiple locations. It can also manage worker's compensation claims, retirement plans, and employee benefits packages. Time tracking is included, which connects exact employee hours with their pay.

Trinet Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features are definitely the software's compensation benchmarking capabilities, which stood out to me in my testing. The data is verified by Salary.com and covers 15,000 different job titles and 225 industries, helping you craft a better, more competitive compensation structure.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, BambooHR, Lattice, Greenhouse Software, Carta, and Xero.

ADP TotalSource is an all-in-one HR platform that offers payroll capabilities as well as benefits administration, hiring, and onboarding. HR services are also provided with the software from a team of experienced professionals.

Why I picked ADP TotalSource: It's nice when both employees and managers can easily gain access to the right payroll information, which is why I picked this software. Employees can access their paystubs and change personal information such as home addresses and direct deposit details from their self-serve portal. Managers, meanwhile, can monitor employees’ time and attendance, view current leave balances, create project codes for work activities, enter payroll data, and generate reports on overtime hours. The payroll module helps you process payroll and ensures compliance with local tax laws with a dedicated team of HR specialists.

ADP TotalSource Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include its automation capabilities for the entire payroll process, which I see as a real time-saver. You can calculate employee wages and taxes, create reports, and ensure compliance with federal and state laws automatically. The system can even send you automatic reminders when new laws are enacted or taxes are due, helping you stay up-to-date and compliant with the latest legislation.

Integrations include ClearCompany, ClockShark, Deputy, JazzHR, Lever, Microsoft Teams, NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage, SAP Success Factors, Slack, Workday, and Xero, among others.

Insperity is a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution that provides both software and services for various HR functions. Payroll, admin, benefits, compliance, and talent management are among the company's offerings.

Why I picked Insperity: This software offers all of the standard payroll features like local, state, and federal tax filings, direct deposit payment processing, and online pay stubs for employees. But I picked it for the list because it also has employee time tracking that connects with payroll processing, and reporting capabilities to help you track your payroll operations. It's also a complete HCM platform, meaning it can be used for recruitment, employee onboarding, and performance management.

Insperity Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include the fact that this software comes hand-in-hand with expert HR services. I think this is a great feature for SMBs seeking guidance on their HR operations and help you ensure compliance. The software also has garnishment tracking capabilities, which covers things like student loans and child support orders.

Integrations can be configured with the software's public API and API dashboard.

Justworks is a cloud-based payroll software designed to streamline payroll and benefits administration for small and medium-sized businesses.

Why I Picked Justworks: I picked this software because of its time tracking capabilities and its flexibility for paying both hourly rate and salaried workers. Employees can log their hours by project or job code, and add notes to provide more context or detail. Managers can then review and approve timesheets in bulk or individually, and the hours are automatically synced with the payroll system to ensure accurate payment. The software also provides real-time visibility into employee hours, so managers can track employee performance and ensure compliance with labor laws.

Justworks Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include that it covers both payroll and benefits administration. I was impressed to see that it covers health insurance, 401(k) plans, and other benefits. Another feature that sets it apart is its compliance support, which helps you stay up-to-date with changing regulations and avoid costly penalties.

Integrations include 15Five, Accurate Background, Bench, Checkr, Culture Amp, Expensify, Found, JazzHR, Lattice, Pilot, Remote, Teampay, Velocity Global, and Zip Recruiter.