How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Wagepoint is the simplest path for Canadian small businesses: base pricing from $20 CAD a month, CRA remittances handled, and a 14-day free trial.
- Humi (now part of Employment Hero), Rise People, and Collage HR bundle payroll with HR and benefits for companies that want one system.
- Knit People is payroll-forward with clear per-employee pricing from $46 a month and unlimited pay runs.
- Push Operations is built for restaurants and hospitality, while Dayforce and Powerpay by Dayforce serve larger Canadian employers.
- Canadian payroll software must handle CPP, EI, income tax, provincial rules, T4s, and ROEs: every tool here does, but they differ in depth and audience.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Wagepoint | Simple Canadian payroll for small businesses | $20 CAD/month (base) | Free trial |
 Humi | All-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits | See website | No |
 Rise People | HR plus benefits plus payroll in one platform | See website | Free plan |
 PaymentEvolution | Fast online payroll for Canadian SMBs | See website | No |
 Knit People | Payroll-forward platform with unlimited pay runs | $46/month | Free trial |
 Collage HR | Benefits-connected HR with embedded payroll | See website | No |
 Push Operations | Restaurants and hospitality payroll | See website | No |
 Dayforce | Enterprise payroll, SMBs via Powerpay | See website | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best payroll software canada
It is payroll Friday in Toronto, and your accountant just emailed that the T4 deadline caught up with her again. You are paying an hourly bookkeeper to run numbers through a spreadsheet while CPP rates changed without you noticing. The tools below end that pattern: they calculate deductions, remit taxes to the CRA, and file year-end forms for you.
Canadian payroll has its own rules: federal and provincial income tax, CPP, EI, provincial health taxes, stat holidays that differ by province, T4s, and Records of Employment. The tools below are built for them, ranging from pure payroll to full HR platforms.
Starting price$20 CAD/month (base)
Free planFree trial
Wagepoint has been Canada's small-business payroll specialist since 2012, trusted by more than 30,000 businesses. Its software handles auto-calculated pay runs, direct deposit, automatic federal and provincial tax remittances, CPP, EI, income tax, T4s and T4As, and ROEs, all with CRA compliance built in. Pricing is transparent and calculator-based: the base starts at $20 CAD a month, with per-employee fees and two plans, Solo for one monthly payroll and Unlimited for frequent pay runs. A 14-day free trial includes everything, even running payroll once verified.
The catch is the geography: Wagepoint serves only Canada, so a company that adds US staff will need a second system. It fits Canadian small businesses that want payroll to take 15 minutes a month with no compliance anxiety.
What we like- Purpose-built for Canadian payroll with auto-calculated runs and CRA remittances
- Transparent calculator-based pricing with no hidden fees
- 14-day free trial with full features
Watch out for- Canada-only, so it does not fit companies with US employees
- Pricing depends on a calculator rather than a single published tier
#2
Humi
Best for: All-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits
Visit humi.ca
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Humi was the Toronto-built all-in-one HR platform for Canadian SMBs, covering payroll, HR, and benefits in one login. In 2025 Employment Hero acquired Humi and fully transitioned the brand across Canada; the site now presents Employment Hero's AI employment operating system for payroll, HR, recruitment, and benefits, with CRA remittances and provincial compliance automated. Humi by Employment Hero remains the dedicated solution for Quebec, with full French language support and Quebec payroll compliance.
The catch is pricing opacity and the rebrand churn: new customers are routed into Employment Hero's platform, not the old Humi product. Humi fits Canadian SMBs that want payroll plus HR and benefits in one system, especially Quebec businesses that need French-language compliance.
What we like- One platform for HR, payroll, and benefits built for Canadian compliance
- Strong Quebec support as Humi by Employment Hero
- Now backed by Employment Hero's global platform
Watch out for- Pricing is not published, so you book a demo to get numbers
- The post-acquisition rebrand is still settling
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree plan
Rise People, headquartered in Burnaby, calls itself Canada's all-in-one people management platform: HR, recruiting, onboarding, time management, group benefits with digital enrolment, and payroll with unlimited pay runs and 100% CRA compliance. The company offers Rise Lite, a free payroll tier for businesses with 20 employees or fewer, which makes it one of the cheapest on-ramps in Canadian payroll. Paid plans bundle deeper HR, scheduling, and benefits features.
The catch is the pricing model: paid payroll is priced per pay run rather than as a flat monthly fee, so bi-weekly payroll costs more than monthly. Rise fits Canadian SMBs that want payroll bundled with benefits administration and HR, especially benefits-led buyers.
What we like- Integrated HR, benefits, time tracking, and payroll built in Burnaby for Canada
- Rise Lite offers free payroll for very small businesses
- Deep benefits administration with carrier integrations
Watch out for- Paid plans are priced per pay run rather than per month, which can cost frequent payers more
- Full pricing is not published online
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
PaymentEvolution, known as PayEvo, is a Toronto-area payroll provider founded in 2008 that sells speed: set up in three steps, import employees by CSV, approve the run, and it sends direct deposits and files taxes on your behalf. The platform bundles payroll with business payments, Paychequer, Timetracker, Benefits, and Human Experience modules, all aimed at Canadian businesses. Founded well before the newer wave of payroll apps, it has deep Canadian compliance experience.
The catch is discovery: no public pricing and a quieter brand means you evaluate it through a demo. PaymentEvolution fits small businesses that want a quick, no-fuss payroll run from a long-standing Canadian provider.
What we like- Promises a full payroll run in under five minutes, entirely online
- Built specifically for Canadian compliance with provincial tax automation
- Modular add-ons like Paychequer, Timetracker, and Benefits
Watch out for- Pricing is not published, so you cannot compare without a sales conversation
- A smaller brand than Wagepoint or Humi in Canada
Starting price$46/month
Free planFree trial
Knit People, founded in Canada in 2015, is a payroll-forward platform that wears its pricing on its sleeve: from $46 a month, with per-employee fees on top, you get direct deposit, automatic payroll calculations, unlimited pay runs, source-deduction remittances, WCB and EHT remittances, year-end T4s, ROEs, online paystubs, and Canadian compliance. The lite HR platform and the full HR suite are available at published rates, and the homepage advertises a free trial with no credit card required and cancellation at any time.
The catch is the ceiling: it is payroll-first, so companies that later want deep HR or benefits may outgrow the platform's native tools. Knit fits Canadian small businesses that want straightforward, honestly priced payroll software with unlimited runs and no surprises.
What we like- Published pricing from $46 a month with unlimited pay runs
- Direct deposit, auto calculations, T4s, and ROEs all included
- Free trial with no credit card required
Watch out for- Full HR suite costs more per employee
- Younger brand than the payroll incumbents
#6
Collage HR
Best for: Benefits-connected HR with embedded payroll
Visit collage.co
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Collage, founded in 2016, built its name as Canada's HR platform and in 2026 became the first benefits-connected HR platform in Canada to embed payroll, powered by Nmbr's payroll infrastructure. The result is a unified login: onboard employees once, manage time off and timesheets, sync data across HR, payroll, and benefits, with Canadian compliance and data residency. The company serves clients from one to hundreds of employees, and its benefits administration syncs employee data directly with insurance carriers.
The catch is opacity and youth: no public pricing, and the payroll module only launched recently, so it has a shorter payroll track record than Wagepoint or Knit. Collage fits benefits-led Canadian employers who want HR, benefits, and payroll under one roof.
What we like- One login for HR, benefits, and payroll after the 2026 embedded-payroll launch
- Deep benefits administration with carrier data sync
- Canadian compliance with data stored in Canada
Watch out for- Pricing is not published publicly
- The payroll module is newer than rivals' dedicated payroll products
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Push Operations is the workforce platform built for restaurants: scheduling, time tracking with facial-recognition clock-in, hiring, HR, and payroll in one system. Its edge is integration with POS systems, which pulls sales forecasts and actuals into labor reports so managers see labor cost against revenue. Payroll automation starts at $6 per the vendor's payroll page, with no base fees, unlimited pay runs, and tax forms. Hours flow directly from the time clock into payroll for one-click processing.
The catch is the niche: it is designed for hospitality workflows, from tips to shift premiums, and may feel alien to a standard office team. Push fits Canadian and US restaurant groups, franchises, and hospitality businesses that want scheduling and payroll truly connected.
What we like- Purpose-built for restaurants with scheduling, time tracking, and payroll in one
- POS integrations tie sales data to labor reports
- One-click payroll with hours flowing straight from the clock
Watch out for- Hospitality-centric, so office-based teams may find the feature set off-target
- Pricing is not published online
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Dayforce is the global HCM leader born in Toronto, offering a single AI-powered platform for HR, payroll, time, talent, and analytics used by millions of employees worldwide. For Canadian small and mid-sized businesses, the relevant product is Powerpay by Dayforce: the dedicated Canadian payroll and HR solution, rebranded and enhanced in 2025, serving more than 46,000 Canadian customers with CRA compliance, a new hire wizard, and time tracking. Enterprises get the full Dayforce platform with continuous payroll calculation and Dayforce Wallet on-demand pay.
The catch is cost and complexity: Dayforce is a quote-based enterprise platform, and small businesses should evaluate Powerpay rather than the flagship suite. It fits large Canadian employers on the full platform, and SMBs on Powerpay that plan to scale into enterprise territory.
What we like- A global AI-powered people platform for HR, pay, time, talent, and analytics
- Powerpay by Dayforce serves 46,000-plus Canadian SMB customers
- Toronto-rooted with deep Canadian compliance
Watch out for- Pricing is quote-based and enterprise-tiered
- Overkill for a ten-person shop, where Powerpay is the relevant product
How we chose
We started with the payroll platforms that dominate Canadian buyer searches, founder communities, and review roundups, then narrowed to eight spanning pure payroll tools and HR-plus-payroll platforms. For each we opened the vendor's official homepage, confirmed it is live and Canadian-focused, and checked the vendor's own pricing page for current plans and trials. Where pricing was not published, we wrote "See website" rather than repeating third-party estimates. We did not run live payrolls or test compliance filings; our assessments come from vendor materials and verified public sources.
What Canadian payroll software has to get right
Canadian payroll is not US payroll with different flags. These are the non-negotiables.
CRA remittances and year-end forms
Every tool here remits federal and provincial income tax, CPP, and EI, and handles T4s, T4As, and ROEs. The difference is automation depth: Wagepoint, Knit, and PaymentEvolution file remittances for you, while some HR-first platforms treat payroll as an add-on with lighter year-end tooling.
Provincial rules
Stat holidays, overtime, employer health taxes in Ontario and BC, WCB and WSIB: these vary by province and territory. Wagepoint, Knit, and Dayforce call out provincial handling explicitly. If you operate in Quebec, add French-language support to the list, which is where Humi by Employment Hero and Collage stand out.
Pay runs and payroll frequency
Some tools price by pay run (Rise), some are calculator-based (Wagepoint), and some include unlimited runs (Knit, Push). If you pay bi-weekly, run the math on your frequency before comparing sticker prices.
When CRA compliance is not the differentiator anymore
Every serious Canadian payroll tool handles CRA remittances and T4s. The real differentiators sit around payroll.
The first is scope: do you want pure payroll (Wagepoint, Knit, PaymentEvolution) or payroll inside an HR and benefits platform (Humi, Rise, Collage)? The second is industry: restaurants belong with Push, enterprises with Dayforce, everyone else with the SMB core. The third is transparency: some vendors publish pricing and free trials, others hide behind demos. None of these is better in the abstract; they are better or worse for your shape of company.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best payroll software for a small business in Canada?
Wagepoint is the best fit for most Canadian small businesses: purpose-built payroll from $20 CAD a month, automatic CRA remittances, and a 14-day free trial. Knit People is the best alternative if you want published per-employee pricing and unlimited pay runs.
Do I need Canadian-specific payroll software?
Yes. Canadian payroll requires federal and provincial income tax, CPP, EI, provincial rules like stat holidays and health taxes, plus T4s and ROEs. US tools often mishandle these. Every tool in this list is built for Canada.
How much does payroll software cost in Canada?
Expect $20 to $50 CAD a month as a base for small businesses, plus per-employee fees: Wagepoint from $20 CAD, Knit from $46 a month. Bundled HR-plus-payroll platforms like Humi, Rise, and Collage do not publish pricing and are quote-based.
Should I choose a payroll-only tool or an HR platform with payroll?
Choose payroll-only when you just need pay runs and compliance: Wagepoint, Knit, PaymentEvolution. Choose an HR platform when you also need onboarding, benefits, and performance management: Humi, Rise People, Collage HR. The bundled option costs more but removes a second system.
What is Powerpay by Dayforce?
Powerpay by Dayforce is Dayforce's dedicated payroll and HR solution for Canadian small and mid-sized businesses, serving more than 46,000 Canadian customers. It is the SMB product; the flagship Dayforce platform targets enterprises.
Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?
Yes, and it is common. Mid-year switches require year-to-date payroll totals to be imported so remittances and T4s stay correct. Most providers, including Wagepoint and Knit, offer implementation help; time the switch after a completed pay run.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://wagepoint.com/
- https://wagepoint.com/pricing/
- https://humi.ca
- https://risepeople.com/
- https://paymentevolution.com/
- https://knitpeople.com
- https://collage.co/
- https://pushoperations.com/
- https://www.pushoperations.com/solutions/payroll
- https://dayforce.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.