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
- This list covers alternatives to QuickBooks Payroll, so QuickBooks Payroll itself is not listed, as the point is to find a different product.
- Gusto is the best all round alternative for small businesses, with simple payroll, benefits, and onboarding in one place.
- Rippling suits growing companies that want payroll plus HR and IT management in a single system.
- ADP and Paychex suit larger or more complex employers, with deep compliance support and dedicated service teams.
- Deel is the best choice for international teams, covering payroll and compliance in many countries.
- Payroll mistakes carry tax penalties, so choose a provider with automatic tax filing and a clear accuracy guarantee.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Gusto | Small business payroll and benefits | See website | No |
 Rippling | Growing companies with HR and IT | See website | No |
 Deel | International teams | See website | No |
 ADP | Large and complex employers | See website | No |
 Paychex | Full service payroll and HR | See website | No |
 Square Payroll | Very small teams and hourly staff | See website | No |
 OnPay | Affordable full service payroll | See website | No |
 SurePayroll | Simple online payroll | 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Is your product missing or out of date?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 quickbooks payroll alternatives
#1Gusto
Best for: Small business payroll and benefits4.6/5 on
G2 (13,355 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit gusto.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Gusto is the best all round QuickBooks Payroll alternative for small businesses, combining payroll, onboarding, benefits administration, and time tracking in a clean interface. Employees can onboard themselves, enroll in benefits, and access pay stubs online, while employers get automatic payroll tax filings in all states where they operate. Gusto also handles contractor payments, which suits small teams with mixed staff.
Pricing is a base fee plus a per person monthly charge, so costs rise with headcount, and advanced HR features need higher tiers. International payroll support is limited compared with Deel. For a small business that wants payroll plus benefits without complexity, Gusto is the strongest choice available today for most teams.
What we like- Simple payroll and onboarding
- Benefits administration
- Automatic tax filings
Watch out for- Pricing rises with headcount
- Advanced HR features need higher tiers
- International support is limited
#2Rippling
Best for: Growing companies with HR and IT4.8/5 on
G2 (13,464 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit rippling.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Rippling combines payroll with HR, benefits, and IT device management in one system, so a new hire can be set up with payroll, apps, and a laptop from a single workflow. That unity suits growing companies that otherwise juggle separate HR, payroll, and IT tools. Automation covers onboarding, offboarding, and compliance tasks, and global payroll options support international hiring.
Pricing is custom for many plans, complexity grows as modules are added, and very small teams may find Rippling heavy. For a growing company that wants one system for people and devices, Rippling is a powerful alternative.
What we like- Payroll plus HR and IT in one system
- Strong automation
- Global payroll options
Watch out for- Pricing is custom for many plans
- Complexity grows with modules
- Smaller teams may find it heavy
#3Deel
Best for: International teams4.7/5 on
G2 (6,959 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit deel.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Deel is built for international teams, handling payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance for employees and contractors in many countries through local entities and partners. Companies can hire abroad without setting up a foreign subsidiary, and Deel manages contracts, payments, and local filings. Onboarding is fast, and workers get paid in local currency or widely used payment methods.
US only payroll is less specialized than Gusto or OnPay, pricing varies by country and worker type, and support quality varies by region. For a company hiring across borders, Deel is the best payroll alternative on this list.
What we like- Payroll and compliance in many countries
- Contractor and employee support
- Fast onboarding
Watch out for- US only payroll is less specialized
- Pricing varies by country
- Support quality varies by region
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ADP is one of the largest payroll providers in the world, serving small businesses through enterprises with payroll, tax filing, benefits, time tracking, and HR tools. Its compliance depth is unmatched for complex employers, including multi state tax, garnishments, and industry specific rules, and dedicated service teams support larger accounts.
Pricing is custom, the interface can feel enterprise heavy, and small businesses may find ADP complex compared with Gusto. For a large or complex employer that needs compliance certainty and scale, ADP is the safest choice.
What we like- Deep compliance and tax expertise
- Scalable for large employers
- Dedicated service teams
Watch out for- Custom pricing
- Interface can feel enterprise heavy
- Small businesses may find it complex
#5Paychex
Best for: Full service payroll and HR4.1/5 on
G2 (1,748 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit paychex.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Paychex offers full service payroll with tax filing, plus HR support, retirement plans, and benefits administration, serving small and mid size businesses across the United States. Its service model includes dedicated payroll specialists for many plans, which suits owners who want a person to call rather than a self service portal alone.
Pricing is custom, upselling to higher tiers is common, and the interface is functional rather than modern. For a business that wants full service payroll with human support, Paychex is a dependable alternative.
What we like- Full service payroll with tax filing
- HR support
- Retirement and benefits options
Watch out for- Custom pricing
- Upselling to higher tiers
- Interface is functional rather than modern
#6Square Payroll
Best for: Very small teams and hourly staff4.2/5 on
G2 (31 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit squareup.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Square Payroll suits very small teams, especially hourly staff in retail, food, and services, with simple payroll, time tracking, and integration with Square point of sale. Employers can import hours, pay staff, and file taxes, while contractors can be paid through the same system. The interface is simple, which suits owners without payroll experience.
Benefits depth is limited, salaried and complex teams fit less well, and state coverage varies, so check your states before signing up. For a tiny team already using Square for sales, Square Payroll is the simplest alternative.
What we like- Simple payroll for hourly teams
- Integrates with Square point of sale
- Contractor payments included
Watch out for- Limited benefits depth
- Less suited to salaried teams
- State coverage varies
#7OnPay
Best for: Affordable full service payroll4.8/5 on
G2 (407 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit onpay.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
OnPay offers full service payroll, including tax filings, at a low monthly price with a simple per person fee, making it one of the most affordable full service options. Its interface is straightforward, covering payroll runs, contractor payments, and basic HR tasks without the complexity of enterprise platforms.
HR extras are fewer than Gusto or Rippling, benefits administration is basic, and the brand is smaller, though its service reputation is strong. For a small business that wants full service payroll at the lowest cost, OnPay is an excellent alternative.
What we like- Full service payroll at a low price
- Tax filings included
- Simple interface
Watch out for- Fewer HR extras than Gusto or Rippling
- Benefits administration is basic
- Smaller brand
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SurePayroll, part of Paychex, offers simple online payroll with tax filing, suited to small businesses and household employers who want payroll done without extra HR complexity. Runs are quick, reports are clear, and pricing is straightforward for small teams.
Modern HR features are fewer than Gusto or Rippling, the interface is dated, and support hours are limited. For a small employer that values simplicity over features, SurePayroll is a practical, low fuss alternative.
What we like- Simple online payroll
- Tax filing included
- Good for small businesses and household employers
Watch out for- Fewer modern HR features
- Interface is dated
- Support hours are limited
How we chose
We ranked alternatives by payroll accuracy, tax filing coverage, ease of use, benefits and contractor support, and price, favoring providers that file taxes automatically and guarantee accuracy. We gave extra weight to small business fit, since most QuickBooks Payroll users are small employers, and to international and enterprise depth for teams with those needs. Payroll pricing varies by employee count, state, and plan across this market, so starting prices are listed as See website and readers should request a quote for their team size and states.
Buying guide
Start by counting your people and states. A team of five in one state needs a different provider than a team of fifty across ten states or a team with international contractors. List employees, contractors, and states, then confirm each provider files taxes in all your states and supports your worker types.
Next, run a parallel payroll before switching. Most providers let you trial with your real data, and running one pay period in both systems catches setup errors before they affect paychecks or taxes. Check direct deposit timing, pay stub access, and year end forms during the trial, since those details matter every pay period. Confirm how the provider handles corrections too, since a missed hour or wrong rate will eventually need fixing.
Finally, read the accuracy guarantee and support terms. Payroll mistakes carry tax penalties, so a provider that files taxes for you and backs its accuracy is worth more than a cheaper tool that leaves filings to you. Confirm support hours and whether you get a dedicated specialist or a general queue, especially around tax deadlines. The best QuickBooks Payroll alternative is the one that pays your team correctly, files on time, and answers quickly when something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best QuickBooks Payroll alternative for small businesses?
Gusto is the best all round alternative for small businesses, with simple payroll, benefits, and onboarding. OnPay is the most affordable full service option, while Square Payroll suits very small hourly teams.
Can payroll software file taxes for me?
Yes, full service providers like Gusto, ADP, Paychex, and OnPay file federal, state, and local payroll taxes for you in the states where you operate. Confirm coverage for your states before signing up.
How much does payroll software cost?
Most providers charge a base monthly fee plus a per person fee, so total cost rises with headcount. Small teams often pay a modest monthly total, while larger teams should request a quote based on employee count and states.
Can I pay contractors with payroll software?
Yes, most alternatives on this list, including Gusto, Rippling, Deel, and Square Payroll, support contractor payments, though contractor tax forms and international rules vary by provider.
How hard is it to switch payroll providers?
Switching takes planning but is manageable: gather employee data, pay history, and tax records, then run a parallel pay period in the new system before fully switching. Most providers offer migration help, and timing the switch at a quarter boundary reduces tax complications.
Sources we checked (0)
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.