Top 20 Cheap Payroll Software for 2024

Companies, especially large enterprises, have numerous choices when it comes to payroll software. After all, it is often a core part of accounting systems, human resource management suites, and similar platforms. However, these enterprise-level solutions are often too complicated for small teams, mid-sized operations, and growing companies. Furthermore, they come with features that are not applicable to these types of organizations. On the other end, free platforms often lack the key capabilities for fully automated payroll processing. This is where cheap payroll software, where you only pay for the core features, comes in handy.

Fortunately, affordable payroll systems are now available on the market. These come with core functionalities that allow business owners to automate many parts of their payroll. Other offerings include tax computations, custom pay runs for different employees, and secure direct deposits. To help you learn more about what they have to offer, this article showcases the cheap payroll software built to cater to solopreneurs, small teams, and more. In this way, you can optimize your payroll processes without breaking the bank.

The last few years have been challenging for both employers and employees, with many industries still recovering from the pandemic. With the economy still in a precarious situation, wages and benefits have never been more important to workers. Even the IRS agrees that payroll plays an important role in the country’s tax system, with $1.27 trillion collected from individual income taxes.

Fortunately, around 95% of employees in the United States report that they get their paychecks on time. And, less than 0.50% say that their payments are always late. This is good news for many workers, as a majority of Americans will find it difficult to meet their financial obligations if their next paycheck is delayed for a week. More than 28% say that they will find it very difficult to pay bills if they are paid late. As such, affordable payroll software is advantageous and necessary for companies to focus on recovery while ensuring their employees are paid correctly and on time. The list below explores solid options for growing businesses that need affordable payroll software.

Top Cheap Payroll Software

1. QuickBooks Payroll

Many types of businesses use QuickBooks Payroll because it has an easy-to-use interface that enables unlimited payment schedules and 24-hour direct deposit options for employees. Payroll service providers and accountants can easily handle a wide range of client requests, thanks to its advanced tools. As an Intuit QuickBooks product, this software solution provides a set of robust yet user-friendly features that both newbie and expert users will appreciate. This software has all you need to pay your employees correctly and on time, from payroll calculations and tax computations to check distribution and direct deposits.

With QuickBooks Payroll, you get access to inventory tracking solutions, manage over a thousand contractors, customize user permission, track income, and expenses, maximize tax deductions, create invoices, accept payments, and track your company’s cash flow. Because they are all one-click solutions, you do not need to have a high level of technical expertise. Meanwhile, it can also integrate with other apps developed by QuickBooks as well as third-party systems.

Lowest Pricing Plan: The core payroll features start at only $22.50 a month, which is perfect for small teams.

What is unique about QuickBooks Payroll?

1. Easy-to-Understand Interface. Users who don’t have a lot of technical knowledge can easily use QuickBooks Payroll because of its user-friendly interface. There is no need for advanced accounting or bookkeeping skills to take advantage of the Core Payroll Plan’s cost-effective features.
2. Full-Service Payroll Features. All core plans come with unlimited payroll runs as well as automatic tax calculations for every paycheck. It also computes federal and state payroll taxes for you.
3. Workforce Portal. Employees can access key payroll documents for full transparency. They can visit the portal for their pay stubs, W2s, and more.
4. Auto Payroll System. Set up your payroll once, and you are good to go. You can run Auto Payroll, which will deposit payroll directly to employees’ accounts.
5. Health Benefits Through SimplyInsured. You can get instant quotes that will fit your company’s budget and your employees’ needs. The quick three-step application will save time, so you can focus on your business.

2. Gusto

Payroll, compensations, benefits, and compliance are all handled by Gusto in a user-friendly interface. It’s made for small firms who want to keep on top of their employees’ most basic aspects of human resources management. More than 40,000 businesses in the United States rely on the app’s robust payroll functionality, user-friendly layout, and automation features.

Payroll tax calculations, payments, and submissions are simplified and automated with the software, which ensures that firms may pay by direct deposit or check. This prevents significant errors by complying with year-end forms and taxation. As part of its partner program, Gusto provides its customers with the opportunity to promote Gusto’s payroll and benefits services to their clients. You’ll have access to exclusive offers, including a free payroll subscription, HR specialists on call, and assistance with regulatory requirements.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Gusto’s Core Plan has a base price of $39/month and charges an additional $6/month/person for payroll services.

What is unique about Gusto?

1. Auto Tax Filing. Gusto calculates taxes and files them directly through the right government agencies every time payroll is run. The service is available as a core Gusto feature, without any extra charges.
2. Seamlessly Sync With Other Software. All core plans come with unlimited payroll runs as well as automatic tax calculations for every paycheck. It also syncs well with other software environments.
3. Compliance Made Easy. Manage documents and information in one place, such as I-9s, W-2s, and contractor 1099s. Gusto keeps track of ever-changing tax laws and computes them accordingly.
4. International Payments. Pay contractors even if they are in a different time zone. The software allows payment to over 80 countries, making it easy to grow your talent pool.
5. Empower Employees With Gusto Wallet. A dedicated app for employees where they can access their pay stubs and W-2s. It also comes with financial tools to help employees manage their finances.

3. OnPay

Small- and medium-sized companies can benefit from OnPay‘s highly scalable features, which make it an easy-to-use but comprehensive payroll solution. The cloud-based software can streamline payroll procedures and automate tax filing and payment. Hours, tips, and bonuses are all effortlessly entered into the system. Benefits and compensation insurance for employees who work on a pay-as-you-go basis can also be administered using the system, in addition to payroll.

The system also makes processing state and federal payroll taxes more efficient. They are in charge of tax withholding, tax payments, and tax form submissions, among other things. OnPay adheres to its accuracy assurances, which means it will bear responsibility if the tax return contains inaccuracies.

Lowest Pricing Plan: OnPay’s pricing starts at $36 per month for core features and only an additional $4 per user.

OnPay

Try out OnPay with their free trial

What is unique about OnPay?

1. Full-Service Payroll System. It only takes a few taps and clients to enter hours, review details, and approve each payment. This can even be done on your phone.
2. Automatic Tax Calculations. OnPay handles local, state, and federal taxes with guaranteed accurate calculations.
3. Integration With Other Accounting Tools. It works well with other accounting platforms like Xero and Quickbooks to avoid double data entry.
4. See Everything in Report Designer. OnPay provides custom payroll reports so you can see all critical numbers and information that matters the most to your organization. It provides summaries of all key data such as earnings, PPP loans, payroll, and much more.
5. Core HR Software. The platform also offers key features for the HR department, from onboarding to PTO management. This integrates easily with the payroll features.

4. Rippling

Rippling is an end-to-end solution for small- and medium-sized organizations’ human resources activities as well as payroll. Automating data entry and ensuring that each employee receives proper pay as quickly as possible are both available in this platform. Users may sync data from other personnel management systems. It even has reporting features that allow HR departments to keep tabs on wage patterns.

The platform may also be used to efficiently set up payroll, health insurance, and other services that new workers will require for their jobs, as it isn’t restricted to only payroll. Task management features, personalized notifications, and a single employee database are all included. If you still need more, the platform’s open API and native connections with over 500 third-party apps allow you to customize it to your specific requirements.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Rippling’s plans are quote-based but their rates start at $8/month/user

What is unique about Rippling?

1. Instant Payment to Employees. Payment processing in Rippling can be done in as fast as 90 minutes. With all information in one place, all you need to do is click “Run Payroll.”
2. Better Compliance Management. The platform automatically handles compliance work, ensuring that you will not have to work about regulations, laws, and forms.
3. Automatic Tax Filing. It automatically computes all payroll taxes and files them with the IRS and relevant local, state, and federal agencies.
4. International Payroll Features. Teams are no longer limited by geography, and so is payroll. Rippling makes it easy for you to pay employees and contractors wherever they are.
5. Pre-Built Reports. The library of pre-built reports makes it easy to get started to ensure that you are on top of things. You can also create custom ones for your unique needs.

5. Trolley

Trolley, formerly known as Payment Rails, aims to upgrade your payouts workflow with intuitive features and powerful functionalities. Its white-label site, API, or integrated widget all make it simple to gather safe bank and tax information from payees. In addition, the platform aids in the collection and verification of data required to fulfill “Know Your Customer” duties and payout compliance specifications. To make bulk payments as simple as possible, it integrates with your existing technologies and automates repetitive operations whenever feasible.

If you’re looking for a way to streamline the process of paying out large sums of money locally or internationally, Trolley is here to help. The payroll solutions provider takes the security of your data extremely seriously. They use bank-level encryption and provide fully adjustable security control options, so you can work with complete confidence. The Grow Plan provides all core functionalities for unlimited users for only $49 a month.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Trolley’s Grow Plan, created for growing businesses, costs $49/month.

What is unique about Trolley?

1. Easy Onboarding Process. Trolley is localized in over 215 countries and 36 languages. It automatically updates as local payment requirements change to ensure full compliance.
2. Quick Mass Payout. The platform connects with most of your accounting software, so you can automatically pay your entire team without dealing with time-consuming data entry tasks.
3. International Payments Made Easy. It works with a network of banking services in more than 200 countries and regions. The software also handles tax compliance and tax form collections.
4. Secure Payroll All The Time. Trolley implements bank-level protection such as end-to-end 256-bit security. It also comes with two-factor authentication as well as customization of user roles and permissions.
5. Unique Workflows Through Integration. You can create your custom workflow by connecting Trolley with your business apps from Slack to Xero. This allows you to automate your entire payroll process to focus on growing your business.

6. Xero

Xero doesn’t just handle payroll and benefits; it also provides a complete accounting and online bookkeeping solution to help you manage your cash flow from start to finish. More than 500 third-party integrations make this a powerful system with a wide range of features. These include advanced invoicing and quotes, banking, credit card, and PayPal reconciliation, expedited inventory management, payroll calculation, tax management, purchase orders and expense control, and more.

When it comes to keeping track of employee hours and granting vacation, the system’s Payroll module excels because of its clear layout and straightforward functionality. This ensures that workers can check their pay stubs, input their timesheets, and request leaves of absence using the XeroMe app, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Managers can keep track of their employees’ activities by simply looking at their portfolios.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Xero’s plans are priced according to the size of your business and your operational requirements. To date, their Early plan only costs $5.50/month.

What is unique about Xero?

1. Complete Accounting Solution. Xero is an accounting software made for businesses. It comes with complete accounting features, from bills payment to project tracking.
2. Easy Payroll With Gusto. Xero’s preferred payroll partner, Gusto, provides flexible payments to all 50 states along with automated payroll systems.
3. Employee Self-Service. Team members can set up their accounts using payroll online, where they can view pay stubs and W-2s. They even receive payday notifications through their email.
4. Payroll on Autopilot®. Set up multiple pay rates and schedules once, and Xero will take care of the rest. It automatically notifies employees once payroll is made without you doing all the dirty work.
5. Seamless Bank Connections. Connect multiple banks and receive automatic bank feeds. This means no more manual uploads and data entry.

7. Patriot Software

Patriot Software offers two payroll solutions: Basic Payroll and Full Service, both of which are affordable. Payroll services, such as managing collections, deposits, and taxes on your behalf, are included in the whole package in addition to using the web-based software. With the Basic payroll, small firms may utilize the software to administer payroll with a simple three-step procedure, but they must handle their payroll tax deposits and filings. Payroll reports and tax obligations are also provided in great detail by the program.

Direct deposit and checks are included with the Basic Payroll plan, which allows for an infinite number of payrolls to be processed around the clock. Because of its cost-per-employee pricing model, you can manage payroll processing for any number of employees. This provides small firms with a great deal of flexibility and certainty when it comes to payroll expenditures. In addition, the program can handle a wide variety of payment schedules and provides W-2 forms that may be printed. Automated tax updates ensure that your salary estimates remain accurate and provide free access to an employee portal. The Payroll solution comes at $10 per month with an additional $4 per user.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Patriot Software offers a Basic Payroll plan that only costs $10/month and an additional $4/month/employee

What is unique about Patriot Software?

1. Quick Onboarding. Patriot Software comes with an easy onboarding process through its setup wizard. This makes it easy for you to get started without complicated processes.
2. Unlimited Payrolls. The Basic Payroll plan provides unlimited pay without extra change. You can also pay different groups of employees in different frequencies (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.)
3. Integration with Patriot’s Accounting Software. If you already have the Accounting Software, then using the Payroll solution is a no-brainer. It makes payments and accounting much more efficient by reducing manual processes and errors.
4. Tax Calculations Based on Location. The platform can accommodate employees from different physical locations, including work from home. It can adjust to proper payroll taxes based on local and state laws.
5. Better Workflow With More Integration. Automate your entire workflow by integrating Payroll Software with Time and Attendance Software, QuickBooks, or Patriot HR.

8. Zenefits

Online HR platform Zenefits was created to assist small businesses in payroll and benefits administration as well as workforce management. Managing employee directories, employee benefits and insurance, recruiting and onboarding, ACA compliance, mobile assistance, and other features are just a few of its numerous capabilities. A business intelligence component is also available.

It comes with a fully integrated payroll software that’s easy to use even for non-accountants. Because it is connected to the rest of the Zenefits ecosystem, it is easy to automate and simplify your entire payroll process. You can sync new hire onboarding, track time and hours, salary changes, and more. Zenefits also provides payroll administration features like reminders and tasks, dynamic pay stubs, direct deposits, multiple deductions, and other advanced features.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Zenefits’ Standard plan has a base fee of $40/month. It also charges $5/employee/month for payroll services.

What is unique about Zenefits?

1. Centralized Payroll Administration. Process dynamic stubs to provide employees with all information about their salaries, from breakdowns to deductions.
2. Scalable Payrun Features. Deposit directly to your employees’ accounts all in one place. Also, you can process different types of workers such as full-time, contractors, consultants, and freelancers.
3. Integrate With Other Business Tools. Zenefits aims to make payroll and other HR processes easier by integrating with popular software such as QuickBooks, Copilot, Xero, and more.
4. Detailed Reporting. The software provides payroll timeline reporting to ensure that you make the right decisions moving forward. It also includes general ledger reporting, labor distribution, job costing, and other similar functionalities.
5. Easy Tax Filing And Registration. Zenefits automatically notifies the appropriate state when an employee is hired. It also processes most forms needed for local, state, and federal tax filings.

9. Zoho Payroll

Payroll preparation can be a difficult and time-consuming task without the help of Zoho Payroll. It can calculate payroll, set up payment schedules, and accept or reject pay runs with a few mouse clicks. Automating and improving the accuracy of payroll processing is one of the goals of the online solution. Using this software, you can keep track of all of your employees’ information in one place and use a variety of methods to pay them.

With tax-ready reports, correct tax deductions, and automatic generation of employee income tax forms, tax reporting and compliance with laws and regulations are taken care of. Tax-compliant paycheck stubs, government payments, and year-to-date payroll costs may all be calculated using this software.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Zoho Payroll charges a flat rate to  its users. As of writing, it charges ₹50/employee/month for businesses based in India. It also has quote-based rates for US companies.

What is unique about Zoho Payroll?

1. End-to-End Payroll Solution. Zoho Payroll takes care of all the essential payroll duties, so you can focus on running your business instead of spending time on payroll runs.
2. Auto Payroll Processing. Simply enter a clear breakdown of salary, allowances, taxes, and withholdings, along with worker hours. Everything else is done by Zoho Payroll.
3. Compliance And Taxes. Income tax reporting is easy within the platform. Calculate federal tax withholdings, get automatic notifications when tax filing is due, and more.
4. Custom Payroll Workflow. Personalize each employees’ pre-tax and post-tax benefits to ensure error-free processing. You can access a single snapshot of your entire payroll operations to ensure that everything is accurate.
5. On-Demand Reporting. In just a click, you can see your year-to-date payroll costs, a summary of employees’ benefits, and even your state and federal tax liabilities.

10. Paybooks

Paybooks is the obvious choice for companies with a presence in the Indian subcontinent when it comes to automating and streamlining payroll procedures. It has a user-friendly interface accompanied by a wizard that makes it easy for users to complete their payroll responsibilities. The platform was designed with legal and policy compliance in mind. Compliance reports, such as Provident Fund, Professional Tax, ESI, Income Tax, and Form 16, can be generated directly by system users. Paybooks has partnered with ICICI Bank so that its customers may easily and securely pay their employees using the system.

Using the built-in tax planner, employees can see all of the deductions that are available to them and submit their tax declarations. Employees can better manage their taxes if they have access to information on how taxes are calculated after various deductions have been taken into account.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Paybooks start at just ₹2,999 a month for up to 30 employees.

What is unique about Paybooks?

1. Easy Payroll Management. Paybooks comes with a payroll wizard to ensure that each pay run is quick and easy without sacrificing accuracy.
2. Compliant With Payroll Laws. The payroll solutions provider ensures that the platform is updated with all Indian payroll laws, from professional tax to provident funds.
3. Online Self-Service App For Employees. An intuitive mobile app allows workers to easily access payslips, reports, expenses, and available leaves. Paybooks also provides an inbuilt tax planner to help employees stay on top of their finances.
4. Auto-Sync With Biometric Devices. The system works with biometric devices to capture attendance, overtime, and leaves accurately and in real-time. No more manual data entry.
5. Manage Existing Employees. Automatically generate final and full settlement reports of employees’ final payments when they leave the company.

11. Paylocity

Paylocity is a web-based Payroll and HR solution designed primarily for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Some of the key aspects of this application are self-service features, extensive reporting capabilities, seamless connectivity with major retirement plans, a general ledger, and time and attendance programs.

Payroll processing may be made more efficient and streamlined with the help of this software. Your time and attendance, accounting, and human resources software may all interface with an all-in-one payroll software to enhance record-keeping and minimize the possibility of mistakes. This payroll software calculates salaries, subtracts deductions, and creates a direct deposit file. The procedure is automated for simplicity of use when you utilize payroll processing software without removing your flexibility to change salaries or deductions to fit specific circumstances.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Paylocity charges according to the number of employees you need to process salaries for. Currently, pricing starts at $2/employee/month.

What is unique about Paylocity?

1. Convenient Online Payroll Processing. Paylocity comes with a comprehensive WebPay system. With this, businesses can access multiple payroll information in one interface, manage accruals and benefits, store detailed personnel files, and more.
2. Built-In Communication System. Paylocity allows employees and managers to send notes to each other so that all employee concerns are in one unified hub.
3. Mobile-Ready Interface. Paylocity can be easily accessed via Android and iOS devices so users can process payrolls while on the go.
4. In-Depth Insights. The system performs interactive reporting and financial analysis. With this, users can take a closer look at payroll data and perform more data-driven audits.
5. Extensive Integration Options. Paylocity has over 300 integration partners, allowing it to connect with your existing software ecosystem. It also comes equipped with an API function for a more customized data integration.

12. Salarium

A suite of software for Philippine-based businesses, Salarium, aims to make the process of being paid a cinch. Salarium Time and Attendance tracks worker time and attendance; Salarium Payroll handles your payroll; and SALPay, our salary distribution module and a personal payments app for your employees are all included in this package.

SALPay, a safe payment option for employees that are tied directly to their paycheck, is one of the service provider’s standout features. Employees may use it to pay bills, do e-banking, and withdraw cash at any ATM. With SALPay, Salarium only costs Php25 (about $0.50) every payroll run, which works out to roughly $1 per employee for a twice-monthly distribution. Salarium’s goal is to make payroll as simple as possible by including time and attendance capabilities that integrate closely with biometric devices and web-based timekeeping apps.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Payroll services are available for $3 per user each month for firms with up to 150 workers. Payroll and time and attendance subscriptions are available for as little as $5 a month.

What is unique about Salarium?

1. Custom Payroll Workflows. Create payroll groups, add additional income, and include allowances when needed.
2. Ready-Made Payroll Data. Salarium produces reports for finance and operations in just a few clicks. Generate your general ledger, government reports, disbursement instructions for the bank, and payslips without the tedious data entry.
3. SALPay App. Integrates an e-wallet and cash app where employees can securely receive their payments.
4. Employee Self Service (ESS) Portal. A mobile-first portal where employees can access their payslips, leave balances, and schedules. They can also file under-time and overtime requests right on the portal.
5. Time and Attendance Features. An integrated attendance system that connects with biometric devices, timesheets, web portal, and mobile app for easy tracking and management.

13. SumoPayroll

Cloud-based platform for payroll and human resources administration, SumoPayroll streamlines and simplifies a variety of HR and payroll-related operations. To assist you in calculating your employees’ wages based on current agreements, corporate regulations, taxation, and existing legislation, the software comes with basic payroll models. You can use these pre-built models to expedite payroll computations rather than building a new model from scratch.

Employees may view their pay stubs at any time and from any location thanks to the platform, which notifies them of their payroll operations online. Among other things, it assists with leave requests, tax calculations, and other administrative tasks. The app’s time management function ensures minimal waste of resources by increasing productivity by uploading data quickly and accurately. Additionally, SumoPayroll is free for organizations with less than ten employees.

Lowest Pricing Plan: SumoPayroll offers a free plan for startups with up to 10 employees. In case you need to upgrade, their Makushita plan only costs ₹1,299/month.

What is unique about SumoPayroll?

1. Flexible Payroll Processes. You can run payroll online for free. You can run payroll in multiple batches for different groups of employees.
2. Track Loans and Deductions. SumoPayroll comes with an automated Loan Management feature which makes it easy and simple to track loans and deductions along with employee data.
3. Integrated Bank Deposits. Schedule deposits to your chosen banks for more secure and fast transactions. Review payroll per batch and confirm in just a few clicks.
4. Employee Self-Service Functionality. Team members have access to all information they need, from insurance to personal information. They can modify and update this information all in one place.
5. Expense Tracking. Monitor and track employee expenses in different categories such as car, rental, airfare, hotel, travel, and more.

14. Microkeeper

Microkeeper is integrated workforce management and payroll software that allows you to onboard staff, create rosters, track timesheets and pay employees, all in one place. Made for Australian companies, it comes with key functionalities such as Timesheets, Rosters, Core HR, and Full-Service Payroll. You only need to input data once through these features, and most processes are taken care of for you.

The online payroll system ensures that your payroll is fast, straightforward, and accurate since it analyzes real-time data from the timesheet and translates it immediately to payroll data. Auto-payroll calculations are made possible thanks to the exact timesheet data gathered by our program using enterprise-level time and attendance tools (ETA). Everything from salary and benefits to penalties and loadings is computed in a couple of minutes.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Microkeeper offers a free plan for teams with only one staff. For those with larger teams, they charge AU$24.50 + GST.

What is unique about Microkeeper?

1. Auto Payroll Calculations. You can set up personalized preset shift rules, and all calculations are made automatically. It computes all pay-related information such as time off, overtime, loading, penalty rates, allowances, and wages.
2. Create Your Own Payroll Rules. Work with Microkeeper payroll professionals during the setup to ensure that your Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBA) or your industry’s awards. Once set, every payroll is automated and processed within a few moments.
3. Payroll Compliance. Microkeeper is an ATO-certified provider for Single Touch Payroll (STO) reporting. Process payroll general STP report and send it off to the ATO wall in one place.
4. Integrated Timesheets. The solutions provider fully integrates time and attendance with payroll ensuring accuracy and preventing time theft.
5. Location and Time Tracking. Traveling workers, such as sales representatives, can have access to their timesheets which keeps track of their location. It also comes with geofencing and Google Maps integration to ensure accurate time and attendance records.

15. HRAPP

HRAPP is the top HRMS and Payroll management solution in India. It aids in the effective management of human resources and payroll. The software has a dynamic and easy-to-use user interface and mailbox, voice, and video chat capabilities. It makes payroll services easier to manage. Payroll operations may be easily scaled as your business grows. Allows you to fine-tune each component to ensure that you are accurately calculating your employee benefit and tax payments.

It’s jam-packed with features and tools that put HR and payroll management in the hands of enterprises. An employee self-service feature allows workers and managers to do the most typical HR activities. As a result, firms can better control their personnel costs thanks to improved time and attendance tracking. With HRAPP’s payroll services, you’ll never have any issues with your payroll, even as your company grows.

Lowest Pricing Plan: HRAPP’s Basic plan is available for ₹20/month and it is inclusive of basic payroll management functionalities.

What is unique about HRAPP?

1. Salary Rules and Definition. Create and define your salary structure based on the designation of the employees. After that, everything runs automatically.
2. Allowance Management. HRAPP makes it easy to add, edit, and remove allowances in just a few clicks.
3. Loan Management. It comes with loan processing functionality where you can manage relevant information such as score ratings.
4. Calculate Commissions. Ensure accuracy of commissions by tracking productivity and computing relevant rates right in HRAPP.
5. Process Advance Payments. The platform allows for flexibility to process pay runs in advance and keep track of the entire payroll process.

16.Wagepoint

Wagepoint offers a straightforward online payroll solution for small enterprises in North America. The system makes payroll management simple and efficient for small and medium-sized businesses. Wagepoint can handle all year-end reporting for both hourly and salaried employees, including government remittances and direct transfers.

It is a user-friendly, web-based payroll solution that is suitable for small businesses looking to improve the efficiency and tax compliance of their payroll and contractor payment processes. Retail, healthcare, distribution, and financial firms may all benefit from this software in one form or another. Many small businesses rely on Wagepoint because it is simple to use and can be set up in only a few hours. The application can unify your payroll deliverables whether you’re managing an in-house staff or a remote workforce.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Pricing is determined by the number of employees you have and the frequency with which you pay them. For example, a workforce of 10 people paid every two weeks would cost $40 per month.

What is unique about Wagepoint?

1. Made for Small and Medium-Sized Companies. Wagepoint provides all the payroll needs of a growing company, such as paying employees and contractors, direct deposit, access to paystubs, and other advanced features.
2. Accurate Tax Computation. Includes calculations for social security, medical, and other federal, local, and state taxes and benefits. You can also schedule semi-weekly and monthly deposits.
3. Truly Automated Payroll. Paying hourly and salaried workers are done automatically through present income and deduction codes.
4. Easy-to-Use Interface. It comes with built-in guides and tips as well as email processing reminders so you can focus on your business, not figuring out your payroll system.
5. World-Class Security. The system uses 2048-bit encryption using TLS 1.3 or 1.2. And other bank-grade security measures. It also comes with two-factor authentication for payroll admin users.

17. factoHR Payroll

factoHR Payroll is a comprehensive payroll software that includes a wide range of tools and features aimed at payroll procedures and other associated tasks. Every step of the procedure has been automated, and logging in and out is a cinch. Using the software, manual payroll is a thing of the past. It is possible to link the program with existing time and attendance, leave, and performance tracking platforms. In only a few clicks, all of the data from these many modules can be gathered, and the payroll processing can be automated completely.

Forget about labor-intensive timecards and punching machines, thanks to factoHR Payroll. Allows customers to design their attendance rules, create leave management policies, and employ attendance devices to gather all attendance data and sync them with payroll for proper payroll processing.

Lowest Pricing Plan: factoHR Payroll is only available by quote. For more information, feel free to contact the vendor.

What is unique about factoHR Payroll?

1. Single Click Payroll. You can automate the salary calculating process with just a single click, saving you time and effort.
2. Integration With Banks. To ensure fast, safe, and direct payment to employees, link their bank accounts to the company’s.
3. Integrated Performance Management. Record and evaluate staff performance using built-in OKRs to maintain the greatest productivity levels.
4. Loan Monitoring and Management. Manage the loans and advances issued to workers and merge the installments with their regular salary.
5. Easily Reconcile Reports. Consolidate your bank statements with your cash book and get reports that help you with your final accounting.

18. Namely

Namely, a cloud-based tool allows firms to conform and manage compliance and then expedite fundamental and complicated HR procedures, such as payroll, benefits, and talent management. The solution is designed for mid-market enterprises and helps them keep track of intricate operations like employee information or generating paychecks that appropriately display deductions for taxes and perks like health insurance payments.

Thanks to Namely, managing all of your human resources data has never been easier. Many modification possibilities are available since Namely is programmable. As a result, users may quickly adapt the system to meet their requirements and those of their businesses. Also included is a robust permissions engine that allows businesses to establish tiered access levels to safeguard detailed information, reports, views, and activities from unauthorized users.

Lowest Pricing Plan: Namely offers pricing plans specifically for small and midsized enterprises. For more information, be sure to get in touch with their representatives.

What is unique about Namely?

1. Personalized Payroll Information. Everything an employee requires is in one convenient location, from changing direct deposit information to accessing their last pay stub. Ensure that your employees have the ability to do their jobs.
2. Easy-to-Use Payroll Wizard. Namely developed a simple three-step approach that will guarantee your work’s accuracy and timely completion.
3. Payroll Dashboard. Provides a central hub for all things pay-related for payroll administrators. See all you need to know at a single glance.
4. Workforce Time Management. Control all of your hourly workers from a single, powerful dashboard. Identify and take action on looming overtime, tardiness, and other issues.
5. Time Tracking Feature. Employees may clock in and out using a computer, kiosk, smartphone apps, biometric clock, and more. Organize your schedule according to your company’s requirements.

19. Rise

Rise provides a platform for managing a variety of human resources functions, including payroll, schedule, time off, and other compensation. To help you create a world-class culture linked to a single hub, the platform enables interfaces with a variety of systems and apps. Its modern, user-friendly payroll application may be modified to fit your needs, whether you are seeking a sophisticated configuration or a basic and fast function.

Custom leave rules are possible, and the software makes it easy to manage vacation requests and analyze business time-off patterns. Personalized solutions for life insurance, disability, dentistry, out-of-country benefits, and other specialty products are also available through the platform.

Lowest Pricing Plan: When it comes to small businesses, Rise’s People Management and Payroll features start at just $6/month for each member of the staff.

What is unique about Rise?

1. Pay Runs in a Few Clicks. Payroll submission is as easy as 1-2-3. Once that’s done, taxes are submitted, and you’ll receive your paycheck.
2. Quick Review of Payroll. Before you submit your paycheck, Rise shows you a summary of the data and any mistakes it detects.
3. Payroll on Auto-Pilot. Make sure your taxes are paid on time by automatically deducting local and federal taxes based on your company’s specific needs.
4. Integration With Accounting Solutions. Rise ensures that your entire payroll is seamless by integrating with popular software such as Xero, QuickBooks, and FreshBooks.
5. Solution For Small Businesses. Rise developed a comprehensive People Engagement Platform that combines people directory, payroll reports, on-demand paystubs, and other functionalities that small businesses need.

20. SurePayroll

SurePayroll is a powerful payroll administration solution that is meant to expedite the process of processing payroll payments. It has a one-click payroll tool that speeds up and automates the creation of dependable and accurate payments to save time in a workflow that would otherwise take hours. The company has been assisting small businesses with taxes and payroll for over 20 years as one of the first to implement online employee payment services.

In addition, SurePayroll gives employees easy access to payroll-related information such as leaves, benefits, and payments. Any linked device can access information. Automated tax deductions and other rules are taken care of by it. SurePayroll also offers benefits and HR services such as 401(k) plans, health insurance for small businesses, pre-employment screening, and much more.

Lowest Pricing Plan: SurePayroll offers quote-based plans to ensure you are only paying for services that you actually use.

What is unique about SurePayroll?

1. Flexible Payroll Workflows. SurePayroll includes payroll-specific processes to accommodate various types of operations such as auto payroll, next-day payroll, and same-day payroll.
2. Payroll On-The-Go. The software is also available as a mobile application which means payroll can be processed using your smartphone or tablet.
3. Accommodates Different Types of Employees. No need to manually process payroll for different types of workers. SurePayroll can process payments for full-time, part-time, hourly, salaried, and other types of employees.
4. Integrates With Other Solutions. The platform works well with QuickBooks, Xero, Less Accounting, and even time clock apps.
5. Other Services For Small Business. SurePayroll offers benefits and HR services so small businesses can focus on their growth, such as worker’s compensation, health insurance, 401(k), and much more.

Grow Your Business with Affordable Software

While there are free options out there, it is recommended that businesses purchase a full suite of payroll software to enjoy solid functionalities. This does not mean subscribing to expensive enterprise-level accounting systems or HR applications. Service providers offer cheap payroll software that comes with powerful features such as automatic pay runs, tax calculations, and direct deposits. A great example is Quickbooks Payroll; with its intuitive interface and advanced capabilities, paying employees is just a few clicks away.

Just like any SaaS solution, these applications offer different plans. To maximize your subscription, consider the number of your employees and the features you really need. Some subscriptions offer a flat monthly fee for small teams, which is a good value for money. Growing companies can opt for per-employee monthly payments, which are often well within budget.

Key Insights

• Affordable Solutions: QuickBooks Payroll is highlighted as the best cheap payroll software due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features at an affordable rate of $22.50 per month.
• Small Business Focus: Many payroll software solutions cater specifically to small and mid-sized businesses, providing essential features without the complexity and high costs of enterprise-level systems.
• Core Functionalities: Key functionalities of these payroll solutions include automated payroll processing, tax calculations, direct deposits, custom reporting, and employee portals.
• User-Friendly Interfaces: Most of the reviewed software options emphasize ease of use, with intuitive interfaces that require minimal technical expertise, making them accessible to small business owners.
• Integration Capabilities: Several payroll software options integrate seamlessly with other accounting and HR systems, enhancing workflow efficiency and reducing manual data entry.
• Compliance and Security: These software solutions ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and often include robust security measures to protect sensitive payroll data.
• Additional Benefits: Some payroll software providers offer additional features like international payments, automated tax filings, employee self-service portals, and health benefits management.

FAQ

1. What is the most affordable payroll software for small businesses? QuickBooks Payroll is one of the most affordable options, offering a base price of $22.50 per month. It includes essential features like automated payroll processing, tax deductions, and direct deposits, making it ideal for small and growing organizations.
2. Can payroll software handle tax calculations automatically? Yes, many payroll software solutions, including QuickBooks Payroll, Gusto, and OnPay, provide automatic tax calculations and filings, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal tax regulations.
3. Do these payroll software options integrate with other business tools? Yes, most of the reviewed payroll software options integrate seamlessly with other accounting and HR tools. For instance, OnPay integrates with Xero and QuickBooks, while Rippling connects with over 500 third-party apps.
4. Is there payroll software that supports international payments? Gusto and Rippling offer international payment capabilities, allowing businesses to pay contractors and employees in different countries, supporting growth and global operations.
5. How user-friendly are these payroll software options for non-experts? These payroll software solutions are designed with user-friendly interfaces that require minimal technical expertise. QuickBooks Payroll, for example, is known for its easy-to-understand interface, making it accessible even for users with limited accounting knowledge.
6. What security measures do these payroll software solutions offer? Security is a key feature of these payroll software options. Trolley, for example, implements bank-level encryption and customizable security controls, while Wagepoint uses 2048-bit encryption and two-factor authentication to protect payroll data.
7. Are there any free payroll software options available? While free payroll software options are available, they often lack the comprehensive features needed for fully automated payroll processing. However, SumoPayroll offers a free plan for startups with up to 10 employees.
8. What additional benefits do these payroll software options provide? Beyond payroll processing, some software solutions offer additional benefits such as health benefits management through SimplyInsured (QuickBooks Payroll), financial tools for employees (Gusto Wallet), and automated compliance management (Rippling).

By Jenny Chang

Jenny Chang is a senior writer specializing in SaaS and B2B software solutions. Her decision to focus on these two industries was spurred by their explosive growth in the last decade, much of it she attributes to the emergence of disruptive technologies and the quick adoption by businesses that were quick to recognize their values to their organizations. She has covered all the major developments in SaaS and B2B software solutions, from the introduction of massive ERPs to small business platforms to help startups on their way to success.