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10 Best Online Payroll Software in 2023

The Best Online Payroll Software List

Here’s a shortlist of the best payroll software I’ll cover in this article, with detailed summaries below:

  1. 1. Deel — Best payroll service for global teams, including local expertise and full-featured management options
  2. 2. Papaya Global — Best end-to-end payroll solution in 160+ countries
  3. 3. PrimePay — Best payroll software for early wage access through paycards
  4. 4. ADP TotalSource — Best payroll software for manager and employee self-service features
  5. 5. ADP Workforce Now — Best payroll software for small businesses needing scalability
  6. 6. Patriot Software — Best basic payroll software for US companies, including tax services
  7. 7. OnPay — Best payroll software for niche industries, including integrated benefits administration
  8. 8. Remote — Best global payroll & benefits for international workforces
  9. 9. UZIO — Best payroll with integrated HR and benefits
  10. 10. Namely — Best all-in-one solution for SMBs

Payroll software is an essential piece of every HR team's tech stack. It's designed to simplify payroll workflows for accounting and human resource departments. As such, it's commonly used by both payroll administrators and HR professionals in tandem.

Payroll software uses automation to ease the administrative burden of the payroll process. As part of that process, payroll software tracks employee work hours, pay rates, benefit deductions, PTO, taxes, and more. They're a fundamental cog in every business machine, with many different options to choose from.

For this article, I've summarized the best payroll software solutions on the market today. If you have general questions about payroll software and what it has to offer, take a look at my Frequently Asked Questions section below. Or, if you're curious how I built this list, see How I Selected the Best Payroll Software below too.

Otherwise, let's jump right in.

Overviews of the Best Payroll Software

Here’s a brief description of each of the payroll solutions that are featured within this payroll software comparison.

1

Deel

Best payroll service for global teams, including local expertise and full-featured management options

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.

Deel’s intuitive platform gives you end-to-end workforce management, including contract adjustments, expense reimbursements, and off-cycle payroll adjustments. Deel has local country experts working in-house to run global payroll, streamlining processes and ensuring all regional contributions are accounted for.

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.

Deel is one of the largest international payroll solutions reviewed here, with the company reporting over 100,000 active worker contracts. The company offers 24/7 online support and dedicated account managers for specific requests.

In addition to their global payroll service run by local experts, Deel has launched several new offerings over the past year, including global mobility support, integrated Slack tools, and advanced integrations. Their global mobility service helps companies with visa sponsorship, allowing them to bring in candidates from abroad.

Deel integrates with NetSuite, Hibob, Xero, Ashby, and Greenhouse. Their Open API is also available to support additional custom software integrations too.

Deel offers flat rate pricing upon request, as well as a free demo.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.6 628

Free demo available

Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people

2

Papaya Global

Best end-to-end payroll solution in 160+ countries

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

The 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.

Papaya Global integrates with most financial tools.

Papaya Global costs from $20/user/month and offers a free trial.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.3 5

Free trial available

EOR from $770/employee/month or $25/contractor/month; Global payroll from $3 to $12/employee/month

3

PrimePay

Best payroll software for early wage access through paycards

PrimePay is a scalable online payroll software solution designed for managing employee payroll, tax compliance, and benefits administration. It’s easy to use and provides small and midsize businesses (SMBs) with a comprehensive set of tools that make payroll processing more manageable for small teams or startups with limited resources.

In addition to their direct deposit feature, PrimePay also includes a new pay-on-demand feature using paycards, which are similar to debit cards. Paycards give employees early access to earned wages, with the option to either withdraw cash from ATMs or make purchases directly with them. It's a convenient way for employees to access their wages since the paycards can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard or Visa.

To help organizations manage their benefit programs more effectively, PrimePay allows benefit brokers to have direct access to your corporate accounts. With direct advisor access, financial advisors can view the company’s account history, run analyses and reports, and make any adjustments needed on behalf of your business. PrimePay also provides personalized support to help address any concerns users may have through its network of US-based payroll experts.

Other features include mobile-accessible pay statements and timesheets, an employee self-service portal, a time-off request system, and automatic email notifications.

Pricing for PrimePay is only available upon request. You can also request a free demo, a 60-day free trial, or a custom quote through their website too.

60-day free trial

Pricing upon request

4

ADP TotalSource

Best payroll software for manager and employee self-service features

ADP TotalSource is an online payroll solution that combines cloud computing with secure authentication algorithms. Their online payroll software automates the entire payroll process, from calculating employee wages and taxes to creating reports, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws. It takes care of calculations, tax management, reporting, and document processing in one place, and provides access to resources like tax forms and regulations. The system can even be configured to send automatic reminders when new laws are enacted or taxes are due. This ensures that businesses are always up-to-date on the latest legislation and don’t miss any important deadlines or requirements.

ADP TotalSource offers a comprehensive employee and manager self-service feature that enables employees to access their paystubs electronically and change personal information such as home addresses and direct deposit details. Managers 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.

ADP TotalSource integrates with various business software, including time-tracking applications and essential internal systems like HR databases and enterprise resource planning (ERP) programs, eliminating the need for manual data entry. They also offer additional services, such as employee benefits administration and HR support too.

Pricing details for ADP TotalSource are available upon request. You can also request a free demo through their website.


Free demo available

Pricing upon request

5

ADP Workforce Now

Best payroll software for small businesses needing scalability

ADP is a well-known and trusted HR software company with over 70 years of experience. Their cloud-based ADP Workforce Now product is a modern HCM solution that combines core HR functions with payroll processing, time and attendance tracking, talent management and benefits management. Their Workforce Now product is designed specifically for small to medium-sized businesses but can be scaled up to one of their more robust offerings as your business grows.

Key features included in their online payroll software are automatically calculated payroll taxes and year-end tax forms, the option to pay your workforce via direct deposit or physical cheques, and a tool to help you manage wage garnishments, if needed. Their add-on for time and attendance tracking also cuts down on a lot of administrative wrangling by linking employee work hours directly to payroll. Their software is also fully accessible on all web devices, and includes an employee self-service mobile app that lets staff view their pay history and compare pay periods side-by-side to examine any differences.

ADP Workforce Now is available in 140 countries, and integrates with many popular software systems, including Absorb LMS, Avionte, ClearCompany, Clockshark, Deputy, Dolce, FinancialForce, Infor, JazzHR, Oracle, PayActiv, PlanSource, QuickBooks, Replicon, Sage Intacct, SAP SuccessFactors, Sapling, TempWorks, Wave, When I Work, Workday, Xero, ZipRecruiter, 7shifts Restaurant Scheduling, and many more.

ADP costs from $160/month for up to 49 employees and offers a 30-day free trial. You can currently get 2-months free when you sign up for payroll processing.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.1 3113

30-day free trial

From $160/month for up to 49 employees

6

Patriot Software

Best basic payroll software for US companies, including tax services

Patriot Payroll is an online payroll service provider that helps small businesses grow on a budget. Their software includes free payroll setup, free 2-day direct deposits, and free USA-based customer support. They also offer an add-on for time & attendance tracking, which links employee work hours directly to your payroll processing module, plus an add-on for HR software if you don’t already have a digital employee database.

Patriot’s full-service payroll platform acts as a concierge for US-based businesses and takes care of their local, state, and federal taxes. The company’s customer service team also reaches out if they need more information to file your taxes, so you don’t have to worry about them yourself. Their system also includes a whole host of easy-to-access payroll reports covering tax credits, tax filings and deposits, payroll registers, paycheck histories, time-off reports, W-2 summaries, payroll tax liabilities, and more.

The highlight of using this payroll service provider is its effectiveness. The tool is simple to navigate and use. Their information database is comprehensive, so you can get a detailed guide on how to complete your tax files, and their customer support service is always there.

Patriot integrates with Intuit QuickBooks Online, GoCo, Plaid, Workforce.com, and WorkforceHub Time & Attendance.

Patriot costs $4/employee/month plus an additional base fee of $17/month. The company offers a 30-day free trial as well as a self-guided demo or personalized tour.

30-day free trial

From $4/employee/month + $17/month base fee

7

OnPay

Best payroll software for niche industries, including integrated benefits administration

OnPay’s payroll platform helps organizations with payroll processing, managing HR functions, and integrating employee benefits, all in one place. Their software includes a full suite of payroll services and compliance settings for all 50 states. They also offer great customer service, with platform specialists available to help you set up your payroll process and automate your taxes, even if you don’t have any previous experience with this kind of software. As well, for no additional cost, they also provide special payroll services for niche industries like restaurants, farms and agriculture, churches and clergy, and nonprofits.

OnPay offers integrated benefits administration with deduction costs synced directly to payroll, reducing the need for manual data entry before you run payroll. 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, or set up a 401k integration that automatically supports employer matching and profit sharing arrangements.

OnPay integrates with Deputy, Magnify, Mineral, PosterElite, QuickBooks, When I Work, Xero, and with the 401k retirement platforms America’s Best 401k, Guideline, and Vestwell.

OnPay costs from $6/employee/month plus an additional base fee of $40/month. A free 30-day trial is available, plus your first month of services are free.

30-day free trial

From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee

8

Remote

Best global payroll & benefits for international workforces

Remote empowers companies of all sizes to pay and manage full-time and contract workers around the world. Remote makes it possible for users to take care of international payroll, benefits, taxes, stock options, and compliance in over 50 countries.

Remote makes it easy to onboard and pay your contractors and employees in one modern, secure, cloud-based platform, freeing you and your team up to focus on more strategic work. Through Remote’s platform, you’ll have access to your most important employment documents, data, and HR processes, while Remote takes care of your localized payroll, benefits, compliance, IP protection, and taxes wherever your team works. Remote’s network of HR and legal experts stay on top of the nuances, changes, and complexities of local regulations to ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation at all times.

Remote also partners with powerful HR systems to connect people, payroll and HR data. Through Remote’s global employee API and native partner integrations, Remote empowers partners to leverage its global infrastructure in their offerings and help more customers scale their global teams faster.

Remote costs from $299/employee/month, based on country selection up to $599. Special pricing is also available for startups and social purpose organizations.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.5 507

Free plan with limited features

EOR from $599/employee/month or $29/contractor/month

9

UZIO

Best payroll with integrated HR and benefits

Uzio is a payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking solution used by over 1700 employers and counting. On top of expected payroll functionality, Uzio can also help HR managers build benefits plans and quotes, plus track employee enrollment. Uzio’s cloud-based payroll system can even track affordable care act (ACA) compliance and can adapt to changing tax laws.

Uzio prides itself on usability and user experience—and it shows. They turn complex HR systems like payroll and benefits into clean, well-organized menus with intuitive design that lends itself well to employee self-service needs. Onboarding processes and open benefits enrollment are particularly useful with the potential to be big crowd pleasers in the now-not-later info economy.

Additional integrations, say with Microsoft and other popular platforms, would be a welcomed addition in the future. This could be a good wish list or roadmap item as the software evolved. Uzio used to integrate with third-party HR and benefits software…until they built their own solutions for each! And you can’t really be too miffed about that.

Uzio doesn’t list any third-party integrations on their site.

Uzio costs from $4.50/employee/month + a licensing fee of $30/month and offers a 30-day free trial.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.4 86

30-day free trial

From $4/month/employee

10

Namely

Best all-in-one solution for SMBs

Namely offers medium-sized companies with big company problems a one-stop-shop platform for human resources needs. Features include an employee database, a payroll system, employee benefits administration, time off requests, clocking-in, payroll reports, talent management, and even a social news feed. It also has a resources section for handbooks and policies, as well as for professional development, and performance reviews.

Employees can easily request time off, plot sick leaves, and view their pay stubs in the self-service portal. The interface is user-friendly, easy to navigate, modern, and customizable. Onboarding new hires is easy and leaves a good first impression. HR departments and employees can also tap into Namely’s knowledge database filled with blogs, ebooks, and webinars.

If you require integrations with other business software, Namely will take some time to set-up. Baseline deployment and onboarding for Namely can take anywhere from 8-10 weeks (not unusual for powerful software solutions) but you’ll want to account for additional time for integrations, as it requires bouncing between multiple customer service lines.

One thing to be excited about is Namely’s 3000+ integrations through a paid plan with Zapier. You can connect Namely to applications such as Jira Software Cloud, Google Calendar, AirTable, Slack, LinkedIn, Microsoft Outlook, Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Twitter, Discord, and Dropbox among others.

Namely costs from $12/user/month and offers a free demo.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
3.9 243

Request a free demo

Pricing upon request

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 Software Comparison Chart

Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top 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.

Tool Free Option Price
1
Deel

Best payroll service for global teams, including local expertise and full-featured management options

Free demo available

Flat rate user pricing, with a free version for businesses with up to 200 people Visit Website
2
Papaya Global

Best end-to-end payroll solution in 160+ countries

Free trial available

EOR from $770/employee/month or $25/contractor/month; Global payroll from $3 to $12/employee/month Visit Website
3
PrimePay

Best payroll software for early wage access through paycards

60-day free trial

Pricing upon request Visit Website
4
ADP TotalSource

Best payroll software for manager and employee self-service features

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Visit Website
5
ADP Workforce Now

Best payroll software for small businesses needing scalability

30-day free trial

From $160/month for up to 49 employees Visit Website
6
Patriot Software

Best basic payroll software for US companies, including tax services

30-day free trial

From $4/employee/month + $17/month base fee Visit Website
7
OnPay

Best payroll software for niche industries, including integrated benefits administration

30-day free trial

From $6/employee/month + $40/month base fee Visit Website
8
Remote

Best global payroll & benefits for international workforces

Free plan with limited features

EOR from $599/employee/month or $29/contractor/month Visit Website
9
UZIO

Best payroll with integrated HR and benefits

30-day free trial

From $4/month/employee Visit Website
10
Namely

Best all-in-one solution for SMBs

Request a free demo

Pricing upon request Visit Website

Other Online Payroll Options

Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best online payroll software list. If you need additional suggestions for handy payroll software for accountants, check these out:

  1. Humi

    Best for Canadian companies

  2. FinancePal

    Best payroll management outsourcing

  3. QuickBooks Payroll

    Best for small businesses

  4. Wagepoint

    Best for time-tracking integration

  5. Knit People

    Best payroll software for startups

  6. Rippling

    Best for USA and Canada-based payroll with a huge list of third-party integrations

  7. Buddy Punch

    Best payroll software with integrated employee time-tracking capabilities

  8. BambooHR

    Best for employee self-service

  9. Eddy

    Best for hiring, onboarding, managing, and paying employees in a small business

  10. Paycor

    Best for automating manual payroll tasks

How I Selected the Best Payroll Software

In case you're wondering how I selected the payroll providers for this list, I'm happy to explain my methodology.

First, I evaluated a long list of payroll software with positive user ratings. Next, I dug deeper into the fine details of each system to see how each one stacked up to the next. Finally, I compared each remaining payroll provider in more detail using my selection criteria below.

Selection Criteria

Here’s a summary of the selection criteria I used to develop my top 10 list of payroll software:

  • User Interface (UI): Payroll is just one of many HR and accounting duties so I've selected software that respects the time of its users with a simple UI that puts business-critical information front-and-center. 
  • Usability: I favor payroll tools that can be adopted by anyone. From large businesses to nonprofits, the payroll software should come with robust onboarding, free training materials like webinars or a blog, and an easy-to-access customer support team.
  • Software Integrations: It's helpful when payroll software integrates with other software solutions for benefits administration and health insurance, timesheets, business intelligence, and other data analytics and reporting tools. 
  • Value for Price: Payroll software will range in what is covered in each pricing plan but scoring high in value for price might mean going above and beyond in offering payroll features like garnishments, industry pay rates analysis, tax compliance, and timesheets.

Payroll Software: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have general questions about how payroll software works or how to choose the right system for you? Take a look through these answers to frequently asked questions to get yourself oriented.

Other Resources

I hope this article helped you get one step closer to finding the best payroll software to satisfy your business needs. With payroll already on your mind, here are a few other top resources I also recommend reading:

I also recommend signing up for our weekly People Managing People newsletter too. By doing so, you'll receive a collection of our latest articles, podcasts, and more tool recommendations straight into your inbox.

By Kim Behnke

Kim Behnke is an HR Tool Expert & Writer for People Managing People. She draws on her 9 years of human resources experience and her keen eye for systematic processes to support her analyses of the top HR tools on the market. She is passionate about maximizing efficiencies and streamlining workflows to ensure internal systems run smoothly. Kim's HR experience includes recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training and development, policy development and enforcement, and HR analytics. She also has degrees in psychology, writing, publishing, and technical communication. When away from her desk, she can usually be found outside tending to her ever-expanding garden.