Best Payroll Software for Small Business 2026

We tested 15 payroll platforms. Here are the top picks for small businesses under 100 employees.

Top 5 Payroll Software Comparison

1. Gusto: Best Overall for Small Business

Gusto dominates the small business payroll space for good reason. It combines full-service payroll, benefits administration, and HRIS features in one polished platform. Our team has managed payroll through Gusto for multiple companies and the experience is consistently smooth.

What You Get

• Automatic federal and state tax filing
• Health, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA, HRA administration
• Onboarding checklists and offer letter templates
• PTO tracking and org chart builder
• 100+ integrations (QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, Asana)
• Phone, email, and chat support

Pricing

Core: $40/month + $6/employee/month
Complete: $60/month + $9/employee/month (adds performance reviews)
Elite: Custom pricing (adds advanced analytics)

For a 10-person company: $100/month on Core plan. For 50 employees: $340/month. Contractor-only pricing: $6/contractor/month with no base fee.

Who Should Choose Gusto

Gusto is ideal for businesses under 100 employees that want payroll and benefits in one platform. It's especially strong for remote teams managing multi-state payroll. The integration ecosystem means it plays well with your existing accounting and productivity tools.

Try Gusto free for 30 days

2. Rippling: Best for HRIS + IT Management

Rippling is the newest contender in the SMB payroll space. It stands out by combining HRIS, payroll, benefits, and IT device management. If you're managing employee laptops, software access, and payroll in one system, Rippling eliminates tool sprawl.

What You Get

• Payroll with automatic tax filing
• Benefits administration (health, 401k, commuter)
• IT device provisioning and deprovisioning
• App access management (Slack, Google Workspace, etc.)
• Org chart and employee directory
• Custom workflow automation

Pricing

Essentials: $35/month + $8/employee/month
Professional: Custom pricing (adds advanced HR features)

For a 10-person company: $115/month. For 50 employees: $435/month. Slightly higher per-employee cost than Gusto, but you get IT management included.

Who Should Choose Rippling

Rippling makes sense for tech companies, professional services firms, or any business managing employee devices and software access. The unified platform reduces the need for separate HR, IT, and payroll tools.

3. OnPay: Best for Payroll-Only Needs

OnPay is a focused payroll tool without HRIS bloat. If you only need to run payroll and file taxes, OnPay delivers the same core functionality as Gusto at identical pricing. It's simpler, less feature-rich, but gets the job done.

What You Get

• Full-service payroll with tax filing
• W-2 and 1099 generation
• Direct deposit and check printing
• Basic employee self-service portal
• QuickBooks and Xero integrations
• Phone and email support

Pricing

Flat pricing: $40/month + $6/employee/month
Contractors: Included in base fee (no per-contractor charge)

For a 10-person company: $100/month. For 50 employees: $340/month. Same as Gusto Core, but without benefits or HRIS features.

Who Should Choose OnPay

OnPay fits businesses that already have separate HRIS or benefits tools and just need payroll. It's also good for teams that prefer simple, focused software without feature complexity.

4. ADP Run: Best for Scaling Businesses

ADP Run is the SMB offering from ADP, the enterprise payroll giant. It brings enterprise-grade compliance and reporting to small businesses. If you plan to scale beyond 100 employees, starting with ADP Run avoids platform migration later.

What You Get

• Full-service payroll with tax filing
• Benefits administration (carrier integrations)
• Time and attendance tracking
• HR compliance tools and reporting
• Employee self-service portal
• Dedicated account representative

Pricing

ADP Run requires a custom quote. Pricing typically ranges from $50-100/month base fee plus $8-12/employee/month depending on features. Sales demo required before signup.

Who Should Choose ADP Run

ADP Run suits businesses planning rapid growth or those in heavily regulated industries. The compliance features and dedicated support justify the higher cost for companies expecting to scale quickly.

5. Zenefits: Best for Benefits-Heavy Teams

Zenefits started as a benefits administration platform and added payroll later. It excels at benefits management but payroll feels secondary. Choose Zenefits if benefits administration is your primary need.

What You Get

• Payroll with tax filing
• Best-in-class benefits enrollment
• Health, dental, vision, 401(k), COBRA
• Onboarding and offboarding workflows
• Employee self-service portal
• Time tracking integration

Pricing

Growth: $45/month + $5/employee/month
Scale: $80/month + $12/employee/month (adds performance)

For a 10-person company: $95/month on Growth. For 50 employees: $295/month. Competitive pricing, especially for benefits-focused teams.

Who Should Choose Zenefits

Zenefits works well for companies prioritizing benefits administration. If you offer complex benefits packages (multiple plans, FSA, HRA, COBRA), Zenefits streamlines enrollment and compliance.

Key Decision Factors

Team Size

Under 20 employees: Gusto or OnPay provide the best value. Between 20-50 employees: Gusto Complete or Rippling add useful HR features. Over 50 employees: Consider ADP Run or Rippling for scalability.

Multi-State Payroll

Remote teams with employees across states need automated multi-state tax filing. Gusto, Rippling, and ADP Run all handle this automatically. OnPay supports it but requires more manual setup.

Benefits Administration

If you offer health insurance, 401(k), or other benefits, Gusto or Zenefits simplify administration. OnPay has minimal benefits features. ADP Run offers robust benefits but requires more setup.

Integration Needs

Gusto leads with 100+ integrations including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, Asana, Greenhouse, and Lever. Rippling offers deep HRIS and IT integrations. OnPay focuses on accounting software only.

Final Recommendations

Best overall: Gusto for most small businesses under 100 employees.

Best for HRIS + IT: Rippling if you manage devices and software access.

Best payroll-only: OnPay for teams wanting simple, focused payroll.

Best for scaling: ADP Run if you plan to grow beyond 100 employees.

Best for benefits: Zenefits for complex benefits administration.

FAQ: Payroll Software for Small Business

What is the cheapest payroll software for small business?

Gusto and OnPay both start at $40/month + $6/employee. For contractor-only teams, Gusto charges $6/contractor with no base fee. See our guide oncheapest payroll services under $50/month for budget options.

Can I run payroll for free?

Free payroll software exists but typically lacks tax filing, benefits, or support. For compliance and peace of mind, paid platforms like Gusto or OnPay are worth the cost for most businesses.

Do I need an HRIS or just payroll?

Payroll-only tools (OnPay) work if you handle HR separately. HRIS platforms (Gusto, Rippling) combine payroll, onboarding, PTO tracking, and org charts. Most small businesses benefit from the combined approach.

How long does payroll setup take?

Most platforms take 1-2 hours for initial setup: company info, tax IDs, employee data, and bank connection. First payroll run takes 15-30 minutes once configured.

What about 1099 contractors?

All platforms handle 1099 generation. Gusto charges $6/contractor/month. OnPay includes contractors in the base fee. For contractor-only teams, Gusto's no-base-fee option is most cost-effective.

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