20 Top Payroll Software Solutions for Mac in 2024

It’s payroll time, but other responsibilities are getting in your way. Still, you know for a fact that you can’t make any error in the payroll because, as Kronos reported, 49% of employees start looking for a new job after two pay errors. You can’t take that risk. Time to explore the top payroll software solutions for Mac if you want easy and error-free handling of payroll. 

In this article, we outline the latest payroll software in the market today. The list is specific to payroll software for Mac, but since they’re cloud-based, they are sure to work on any device. Hopefully, this guide will help you fast-track your app research, so you can shortlist the best-fitting ones for your business.

According to the American Payroll Association (APA), around 65% of workers rely solely on their paychecks to survive. Unfortunately, Intuit reported that a quarter of all employees experienced pay errors. Such errors come as no surprise since a quarter of small businesses still use pen and paper to track finances, and 45% do not even have an accountant or bookkeeper, according to Clutch. Meanwhile, 29% of those that do have payroll systems use those that are over a decade old, reported APA. Errors, therefore, still exist. 

Often, small businesses do not adopt technology because they find it too expensive, they don’t have enough time to adopt it, or it’s too complicated a process, according to a Business.com survey. To resolve payroll issues, 45% of small businesses choose to outsource payroll, reported the National Small Business Association. This rides on the broader outsourcing accounting trend that we’ve seen in the past few years. However, payroll software solutions will save employers time and money better. 

Payroll software manages, organizes, and automates employee payments. They track time and attendance, taxes, and even pay structures. Most software is easy to use and integrate as well and are available to both small and large businesses.

Your employees toil for you and your clients. They keep your company going, so they deserve accurate paychecks. Since managing payroll can be downright difficult at times, we have here a list of the top payroll software solutions that could make your life easy, not to mention helping you give your employees accurate paychecks.

1. QuickBooks Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll is a platform designed to help you organize your payroll, letting you sync payroll and accounting data for real-time updates and streamline payroll management and tax filing. You can calculate paychecks, prepare tax forms, and pay employees all in one place.

Since QuickBooks aims to improve payroll accuracy while saving accounting teams and business owners time, it provides powerful yet simple-to-use features for both novice and professional users. You simply enter the pay rate, employee hours, and commissions. The software even keeps track of tax rates for you. 

You can also share files with business partners, consultants, or accountants, and to make your business more efficient, QuickBooks also integrates with Paypal, Amazon Business, and Shopify, among many others.

Quickbooks Pro offers a 30-day trial, but price packages range from $142.76 per year for microbusinesses and the self-employed to $304.61 annually for bigger organizations with five users plus, an account.

Benefits of QuickBooks Payroll

1. Payroll Processing Speed. If manually done, payroll processing can be tedious and prone to errors. Quickbooks cuts the processing time in half by doing most of the work for you. Simply enter work hours and wage rates, and the platform will calculate the gross and net pay. QuickBooks prints paychecks and deposits funds directly into employee bank accounts, too.
2. Better Tax Preparation. QuickBooks lets you file taxes correctly by keeping track of the newest federal and state tax rates. It even classifies your spending into deductible categories for you and includes a receipt capture function that automatically matches receipts to expenses for simpler recording.
3. Easy Payroll Distribution. QuickBooks lets you choose between printing checks for distribution to employees and transferring funds directly into their accounts. It enables free same-day direct deposit, preventing paycheck delays. It can also generate and print checks, so you don’t have to enter their names and amounts manually.
4. Mobile-Friendly UX. QuickBooks features a mobile-friendly interface that lets you check payroll and make payments even when you’re on the go. You can access the platform’s features via any browser or mobile application. You pay taxes electronically and even receive automatic reminders for tax deadlines and paydays.
5. Easy Integration. QuickBooks can be integrated with other Intuit products to provide industry-specific solutions. Also, it has an API that allows integration with other corporate systems and apps. Thus, you may adapt it to your company’s changing needs.

2. Gusto

Gusto is an online HR service tool designed to streamline payroll, benefits, and HR processes. It is used by over 10,000 companies nationwide, proving it’s one of the top payroll software solutions for Mac. It provides payroll, 401(k), and workers’ compensation insurance.

Designed for small businesses, Gusto can calculate, pay, and submit payroll taxes at any level of government. Also, it automates calculations, year-end forms, and taxation to avoid critical errors and save time on bookkeeping. It also allows paperless transactions by emailing digital paystubs to avoid paper waste.

Gusto can be integrated with popular accounting systems and even other apps like Asana, Google Workspace, and Hubstaff. A more interesting feature is Gusto helps employees who are feeling generous to set up accounts so they can donate to charitable institutions straight from their paychecks.

Gusto also provides a one-month free trial after your first payroll. Price packages, however, start at $39 per month plus, $6 per person for full-service payroll. Bigger organizations with more sophisticated needs could talk directly with the sales department, while contractors with no W-2 employees can avail of services for $6 a month.

There’s no need for you to sign a long-term contract, and you can cancel at any time. You can also add health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR tools.

Benefits of Gusto

1. Improves information access. You can easily pull vital information like employee contact data, I-9s, W-2s, time off balances, and more from Gusto.
2. Automates all payrolls. Gusto only requires a single entry of your team’s data, allowing you to control how your employees are paid, their pay stubs, tax filings, and W-2s. Even after leaving the organization, your employees will be able to update their personal data and download vital information. Gusto also automates all municipal, state, and federal taxes in universally valid forms.
3. Complies with HIPPA, ACA, and ERISA. The system automatically examines data, generates compliance inspections of benefits, sends automated notices, and guarantees employee privacy.
4. Integrates 401(k). You can set up and manage 401(k) plans, allowing employees to save for retirement.
5. Integrates to all major third-party systems. Gusto was designed to interact with accounting, time and attendance, and expense systems like Xero, QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Nimble, and Bamboo HR, among others.

3. OnPay

OnPay is a comprehensive payroll software for small- and medium-sized businesses. This cloud-based service automates payroll, tax filing, and payment workflows. You can enter payroll data like hours and reimbursements seamlessly. It also includes benefits and workers’ compensation insurance for pay-as-you-go employees.

In addition, it handles unlimited payroll runs for W-2 employees and 1099 contract workers monthly. Payroll is by check or direct deposit. However, direct deposits are only available to employers who apply and pass OnPay’s risk assessment.

The software optimizes handling payroll taxes by calculating state and federal payroll taxes. They withhold, pay, and file taxes. OnPay adheres to its accuracy guarantees, which means they are responsible for any tax filing errors.

Simplicity is one of OnPay’s strengths, allowing it to deliver its core services quickly and effectively. Its simple UI with only the essential tools reflects this. It also allows you to save money by bundling services based on employee count. It can also be integrated with other accounting software and applications like ABk, Deputy, and Mineral.

OnPay pricing starts at a base price of $36 per month plus, $4 per person.

OnPay

Try out OnPay with their free trial

Benefits of OnPay

1. Makes employee management efficient. Employee Self-On-boarding and Online Access lets employees enter, edit, and retrieve their personal data. You receive a checklist of new hires and alerts on government reporting and documentation requirements. You, therefore, get to focus on higher-level tasks.
2. Streamlines payroll. OnPay’s goal is to let firms run payrolls as planned without incurring additional fees. Corrections and pay runs can be canceled. Your employees’ data is saved in a vault, eliminating the need for time-consuming data entry, and the user-friendly interface lets you complete payrolls quickly and easily.
3. Boosts payroll compliance. OnPay handles payroll, calculate taxes, pay them, and file all tax forms with the IRS and your state. They pledge to be held accountable and pay for penalties should they make mistakes.
4. Simplifies benefits. You can easily manage health insurance benefits with OnPay. Licensed insurance brokers will assist you better in grasping the benefits, notably the medical, dental, and vision coverage. You can calculate benefits easily since they are included in payroll. You can also pick plans that fit your budget and your employees’ needs.
5. Maximize 401(k) Rewards. OnPay automates withholdings using secure harbor plans and contribution matching. Your employees receive 401(k) onboarding and education to better grasp this unique account type and its perks

4. Rippling

Rippling is an all-in-one HR and IT platform that manages payroll, benefits, apps, and devices. It automates tasks like updating payroll, managing documents, and provisioning apps by connecting everything in one platform. You can set up payroll, health insurance, 401k, work computer, and apps like Slack, Zoom, and Office 365 fast.

Since Rippling integrates with all employee management systems, manual tasks like prorating salaries, deducting 401k and taxes, and allocating benefits are automated.

Rippling also has robust reporting tools, including key workforce metrics like employee turnover and compensation trends, as well as productivity metrics like app usage. Rippling also automatically creates tasks for each step of the onboarding process. As such, you get to streamline workflows.

Rippling integrates with over 500 third-party apps to ensure that it seamlessly works with the ecosystems that businesses already use, preventing productivity disruptions.

Rippling pricing starts at $8 per user per month.

Benefits of Rippling

1. Efficient onboarding and offboarding. You can use Rippling to ensure that new hires are onboarded quickly and efficiently. You can do this in 90 seconds by inputting basic hiring information and selecting “Hire.” The process of removing employee accounts from third-party apps is equally quick and uncomplicated.
2. Electronic document security. Rippling helps deliver offer letters, employee handbooks, and government forms to employees for online signature. Employees who have unsigned papers receive notifications, ensuring that operations are not hampered. The platform also secures employee documents.
3. Custom report of employee data. Rippling includes pre-built reports for measuring critical company indicators like employee attrition. Payroll teams can also track salary patterns over time. Rippling’s IT services allow teams to track app usage and identify productivity issues, and users can generate bespoke reports and graphs.
4. Convenient mobile app access. Employees can view pay stubs, find coworkers’ contact information, and request PTO via Rippling’s mobile app. These features allow employees to work even while they are not in the office.
5. Integration with 500+ apps. Rippling is designed to integrate seamlessly with third-party apps for collaboration, finance, IT, and security.

5. Payment Rails

Payment Rails is a high-volume account payable software. Invoice confirmations, payments, and bank account validation are all supported end-to-end. The software’s simple user interface allows you to send payments to anyone in over 200 countries.

You can easily handle international transactions with this solution’s cross-border payment infrastructure with no need to set up complicated banking relationships or subsidiaries. It also automates payment collection, mass payment disbursement, and banking information validation.

In the same vein, Payment Rails lets you manage multiple currencies and payment methods while keeping your accounts liquid. You can also pay independent contractors and freelancers while adhering to IRS regulations. Payment Rails collects tax forms and validates and calculates withholdings. It also automates year-end tax reporting, payouts, withholding calculations, and digital tax form collection and validation.

You can integrate Payment Rails with other accounting software and with applications like Slack, Trello, Google Sheets, MailChimp, and Paypal, allowing for more efficient workflows. Payment Rails’ pricing starts at $49 per month.

Benefits of Payment Rails

1. Recipient Onboarding. Payment Rails offers various self-service recipient onboarding. You can install an onboarding widget in your online or mobile app or set up a portal and direct recipients to it to collect payment and tax information.
2. Email Confirmation Service. You can automatically email recipients when you send them a payment. The solution’s white-label email setup lets you brand your emails with your company’s colors and logos.
3. Minimize Refunds. Payment Rails automatically sends alerts to your recipients to remedy payment issues. They will then be invited to log in and update their account details. Payment Rails defers future payments until this is completed.
4. Managing Global Payments. Payment Rails offers an unsurpassed global payment experience with access to over 135 currencies and global and local banking networks.
5. Total Bank Security. Payment Rails protects your data and banking information using AWS and 256-bit bank-level security. It includes built-in tokenization to protect sensitive data like SSNs, government IDs, bank accounts, and debit card numbers.

6. ThePayStubs

ThePayStubs lets you create professional-looking electronic paycheck stubs that you can generate quickly and accurately with PayStub Generator. These can be used for proof of income, tax disputes, and more. These paystubs are sent to your email in a print-ready PDF format that you can download immediately after ordering.

The platform makes it simple to generate a paystub. Input all required data (state of residence, employee information, deductions, and check numbers) into the online form. During the fill-up process, you can preview the stub. Then select a template that meets your needs, place your order, and pay.

ThePayStubs

Try out ThePayStubs with their free trial

Benefits of ThePayStubs

1. Download paystubs for printing. After submitting the order and payment confirmation, users will receive the e-stub via email. You will receive a professional-looking and print-ready PDF file of your pay stub. You can get them at any time.
2. Easy process. This platform allows you to generate a paystub in under two minutes from anywhere. Fill out the form with all the required information. Hover over the fields for more information. You can preview the paystubs.
3. Paystubs templates. The system provides a variety of realistic and professional-looking paystub templates. A variety of themes are available, including vertical and horizontal layouts. There are simple pay stub templates and more detailed ones like ADP-like templates that include employees’ full addresses. Regardless of design, all documents are print-ready.
4. 24/7 Customer support. PayStub Generator provides 24/7 customer support, which is especially useful to those who are unfamiliar with filling out pay stub forms or with tax season in general. The customer service team walks you through the process and explains all the confusing terms and figures.

7. Xero

Xero is a global financial technology brand that has helped countless SMBs grow. Its powerful dashboard gives you a commanding view of your bookkeeping practice clients, jobs, queries, and alerts. You can access client information and activities in one click and ask clients for any document you need. Conduct a client discovery review to learn about their banks, industries, and apps so that you can plan ahead for a smooth transaction.

Xero is simple to use and manage, allowing users to start working right away. It turns some of the most standardized and complex financial concepts into a fun journey for non-expert users and lets you do things like double bookkeeping without breaking a sweat.

Xero has over two million global subscribers. Because it’s built for the cloud, you can access it from anywhere at any time. It has developed an extensive app ecosystem around which clients can build their own custom business toolkits. As such, Xero helps businesses compete with larger industry players.

Globally, the financial industry is subject to varying laws and regulations. Xero is designed to address these broad compliance requirements, allowing clients to focus on their core businesses. Besides, workflow is smooth as you can integrate Xero with apps like Shopify, Salesforce, Paypal, Slack, MailChimp, Asana, and Hubstaff.

Xero offers a 30-day free trial, inclusive of all Xero features to see which Xero plan is best for you. Your free trial includes the same 24/7 support as paid subscribers. Plan prices start at $12 per month.

Benefits of Xero

1. Safe transactions. Xero’s multiple-approval process and two-factor authentication help reduce financial fraud. Each transaction includes a comprehensive action list with dates, users, and manual remarks. As for sales, this strategy allows you to track purchase orders and invoices as generated, approved, paid, or delayed.
2. Track money in the bank. Xero connects to your bank to receive bank feeds. It allows you to view bank transactions and track funds.
3. Total payroll management. Use Xero’s preferred payroll partner, Gusto, to manage federal, state, and local taxes, filings, and payments. W-2s, 1099s, and next-day direct deposit are available.
4. Multi-currency support. Xero can process and accept payments in 160 currencies, to ensure there are no unpaid services. Xero employs live exchange rates and quick currency conversion, making dealing with customers from different countries a breeze.
5. Pay via numerous gateways. You can use Paypal, Stripe, or GoCardless, for example, and Xero will manage the payments for you.

8. ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is an HR application that is web-based and ideal for midsize businesses. This app streamlines and automates your company’s HR processes. You can give employees more user permissions to help them coordinate and manage multiple HR functions. It also manages employee benefits and holidays and generates insightful reports plus, demos, video tutorials, and online help.

This solution includes time and attendance, talent management, payroll, and benefits administration. It also has a benefits plan creation wizard that can be tailored to your company’s onboarding processes. The app’s COBRA events can notify employees and other beneficiaries to meet COBRA requirements.

The benefits administration features all comply with IRS Forms 1094 and 1095 reporting requirements. This feature comes with a reporting dashboard. Also available are status and confirmation reports with detailed premium, deductibility, and enrollment information.

It can be integrated with other accounting software and applications like When I Work, Health Equity, Slack, Upserve, and more. Meanwhile, you’ll need to contact ADP for complete pricing as per your needs.

Benefits of ADP Workforce Now

1. HR payroll management. ADP centralizes workforce management. You can use the app to track time and attendance as well as track employee health information.
2. UX and optimization. The solution has Android and iOS apps that are fully integrated with the web dashboard. Stats and reports are fully visible, and you can manage your HR from anywhere.
3. Cloud analytics and storage. You can build custom spreadsheets, graphs, charts, and reports. The app is totally web-based and includes server audits and frequent security backups.
4. Data-driven Insights. You get improved decision-making analytics and understand how your organization compares to benchmark data.
5. Manage your HR. You may focus on attracting, engaging, keeping, and promoting employees instead of just compliance.

9. Paycor

Paycor, a Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, covers recruitment, HR, and payroll. The user-friendly HRIS system includes features for recruiting, onboarding, reporting, timekeeping, payroll, and tax compliance.

The modern, intuitive Paycor HCM technology helps businesses improve workforce management by integrating HCM solutions tailored to their business processes. Easily integrated into existing HR solutions, these systems help streamline daily operations. Personalized support and user-friendly technology are used in key HCM processes like recruitment and onboarding, payroll, and timekeeping.

You can also integrate Paycor with apps like Asana, MailChimp, LinkedIn, Paypal, and many others for smoother workflows. Meanwhile, Paycor pricing starts at $99 per month.

Benefits of Paycor

1. Comprehensive HCM Software Suite. Paycor includes an applicant tracking system that provides users with real-time dashboards to manage the entire recruitment process. It helps new hires to connect with the organization before officially joining. The onboarding forms come with electronic acknowledgment, making it easy for users to see if new hires have read and acknowledged any required information.
2. Usability. Paycor provides a simple interface for management. It also integrates with HR applications for easy management of the workforce. The flexible email and response templates with real-time analytics allow users to track a candidate’s progress and send messages accordingly
3. Integrated HCM. You get modernized aspects of people management, from recruiting, onboarding, and training up to payroll, retention, and company culture. The system is unified, creating a single source for all employee data, thus eliminating the need to switch platforms and re-key data, among others.
4. Enhanced people analytics. The employee data hub allows management to gain deep insights and even predictive analytics into key HR metrics, such as employee retention, labor costs, and diversity. As such, management can make more accurate forecasts.
5. Payroll and taxes. Paycor’s payroll tax compliance solution, automated workers’ compensation, and Time Clock’s feature-rich timekeeping software assure accurate compensation.

10. Justworks

HR-based platform Justworks helps you keep your team together and manage needs effectively. It offers business payroll services and automation and can help with employee benefits, salaries, leaves, and other related issues.

Justworks partners with leading benefits providers for its employee benefits manager feature. The solution also helps you ensure timely and accurate payment of all employees, full-time or part-time. You can manage payments from clients, vendors, and suppliers outside your regular workforce as well.

You can also set employee or work policies that align with your company’s rules and regulations, such as leaves, time off, vacations, and holidays. Similarly, each employee can have a dashboard with their profile, performance, and other relevant data. They can use this interactive interface to view pay details, request time off, enroll in-company programs, and more. Everything is automated to give employees immediate feedback.

You can integrate it with other accounting software like QuickBooks. Pricing starts at $49 per month.

Justworks was launched in 2012 and has grown steadily in market recognition over the last four years. Thus, it is one payroll management software to consider.

Benefits of Justworks

1. Easy hiring and onboarding of remote teams. You get access to tools and resources that help you build your team and stay compliant.
2. Automate workflow. There’s no need for you to spend so much time doing your payroll or organizing documents. All these are done by Justworks for you, even the administration of benefits.
3. Accelerate business. Justworks gives you access to services and support that will help you shore up your business fast.
4. High-quality insurance. Justworks lets you access large-group health insurance that you need for your organization.
5. Prioritize employees’ wellbeing. You can access quality benefits and perks that help you take better care of your employees.

11. EPAY Systems

EPAY Systems is a web-based HR, payroll, labor, and time management system. Its HCM solution helps employers manage their workforce. It is ideal for mid-sized and large businesses that want to delegate the technical management of their HR systems, including applicant tracking, onboarding, HR administration, time and attendance, payroll & tax, benefits administration, ACA, and COBRA.

You can even post jobs on social media and job boards, pre-screen applicants, and collect CVs and files in one place with EPAY. A tagging tool helps you shortlist, rate, and collect feedback. Once you find qualified applicants, you can onboard them easily, with an e-signature feature speeding up the paperwork. There’s even an employee self-service option in English and Spanish.

Managing employees is simple and paperless with features for auto-generated benefit plans, managing tax forms, and generating reports. You can also generate budget, schedule, and compliance reports and stay up to date on labor regulations and reports.

Since EPAY has cloud-based time tracking and timesheet generation, you can monitor overtime, union contracts, multiple pay groups, and shift differentials in real-time. You can also integrate with other HR systems or ERPs.

Pricing is quote-based to help the vendor select the best features for your business. Avail of premium support 24×7.

Benefits of EPAY Systems

1. Easily manage HR tasks. EPAY centralizes all HR files and activities. Payroll is error-free, benefits are tailored to the right employees, and new hires fill talent gaps, all thanks to the system’s data correlation.
2. Ensure compliance. EPAY helps you with time and attendance affect pay, policy, and benefits, making sure all work hours and benefits are paid. EPAY also helps you meet COBRA, ACA, FMLA, and FSA/HSA requirements. You can create a compliant employee package without HR training.
3. Easy-to-use. The solution adapts to complex labor requirements, compensation plans, and HR policies. It uses proprietary time clocks like biometric, mobile GPS, and IVR. It can also collect time data from POS systems. Using a quote-based pricing model, the vendor can tailor features to your workflows and needs.
4. Payroll, benefits, and appraisals are linked. You can adjust payroll based on performance or provide benefits based on metrics. Data sharing within the system allows you to transparently assess employee outcomes.
5. Real-time workforce visibility. The system uses facial and fingerprint recognition. It allows the right employee to clock in. As a cloud-based system, employees can access work from their phones, eliminating long Bundy clock lines.

12. SurePayroll

SurePayroll is a payroll management system with a one-click payroll feature that automates and speeds up the process, saving you hours of manual work. It is designed for companies with up to a hundred employees.

The software includes tax management, support for multiple payroll types, and an interactive dashboard. Aside from payroll processing, it offers extensive record-keeping and integration with leading productivity and business apps.

Employees can also easily review payroll information, such as leaves, benefits, and paychecks. Any connected device can access information. It automates tax deductions and regulatory compliance. You also get great customer service

SurePayroll has third-party integrations and a range of useful tools for managing payroll, including tax calculations. You can integrate it with systems like ZOHO and QuickBooks. Meanwhile, pricing is quote-based to ensure that you get the best features for your business.

Benefits of SurePayroll

1. Efficient running of payroll. The system is intuitive and user-friendly, and it automates most tasks, liberating you from tedious keying in of information and doing computations. You can even run household payroll, like when you hire a nanny.
2. Reliable support. While the system is easy to set up and learn, SurePayroll acknowledges that you may still need help from time to time, so they have live, US-based support that you can reach via chat or phone.
3. Benefits within reach. You can take care of your employees with additional benefits like healthcare and 401(k) retirement plans that you can easily access via SurePayroll.

13. Push

Push is an easy-to-use and easy-to-integrate HR system for retail, food and beverage, manufacturing, and construction businesses. A good fit for the top accounting software for retail solutions, it combines time tracking, employee scheduling, recruitment and onboarding, payroll, and reporting software solutions into a single platform.

The system allows users to track and manage employees’ work hours. It uses facial recognition and geofencing technology to track employee clock-in behavior, and users receive alerts via mobile app. A centralized schedule, time-off request, and swapping system will streamline schedule management.

You’ll also get centralized access to employee data and documents. Forms and data related to hiring and onboarding, employee performance, health insurance, certifications, and license renewals can also be generated. Push automates payroll, sales, labor costs, and tax compliance across multiple locations and departments.

You can integrate Push with other software like Square, QuickBooks, and MFE, among many others. Meanwhile, pricing starts at $5 per employee per month.

Benefits of Push

1. Timekeeping. You can set up automated time tracking rules and allow employees to clock in and out using a tablet or smartphone. You can check employees’ clocking habits on their phones and be notified of early or late punch-ins and punch-outs. Also, facial recognition and geofencing prevent buddy punching.
2. Flexible scheduling. You can access key metrics and data while creating and managing employee schedules. You can compare POS sales data to labor forecast data, for instance. Meanwhile, employees can access their schedules from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. They can also request time off from managers and make their scheduled shifts available to others.
3. Compliance with payroll laws and regulations. Push unifies all HR software needed to enforce employment and labor laws accordingly. You can securely store all employee information and documents in one location, and you won’t need to use paper or spreadsheets to keep track of employees’ pay, sick leaves, benefits, licenses, and certifications. The software calculates hourly, holiday, and overtime pay as well as federal, state, and local taxes. It also simplifies the gathering and preparation of tax-related data and documents.

14. Sage Business Cloud Payroll

Sage Business Cloud Payroll is ideal for small and micro businesses with up to 25 employees, as well as managers who prefer in-house payroll control. It is so simple that even people with no prior payroll experience can use it.

The system ensures HMRC rules are followed as well as legislation such as RTI and Auto-Enrollment. In addition, its four-step payroll process simplifies things without sacrificing accuracy. It also includes features like auto-adjustment for payslip errors and generating and printing accounting reports. Several add-ons and accounting software integrations can enhance its functionality.

With mobile and tablet support, payroll can be accessed anytime, anywhere. You can integrate it with Accounting and Accounting Start software to automatically link accounts to payroll. Meanwhile, Sage Business Cloud Payroll is available via a monthly subscription based on employee count: one to five employees start at around £15 per month. You can get a 75% discount for the first three months and slice the price down to £1.75.

Benefits of Sage Business Cloud Payroll

1. Payroll management. Pay runs, whether monthly, quarterly, or biweekly, can be completed in four steps. The instructions are simple to follow and will guide you through all the necessary steps.
2. Simple Fix. Sage Business Cloud Payroll helps you avoid errors and correct them when they occur. You can modify the faulty part of the pay run, allowing the software to make the necessary adjustments for the next payroll.
3. Compliance. The payroll solution complies with all HMRC rules. It also keeps track of new legislation like Real Time Information (RTI) and Auto Enrollment to keep you informed.
4. Accounting Integration. You can seamlessly integrate this system with Sage accounting solutions, allowing you to eliminate the hassles and risks of double-entry by automatically updating your accounts.
5. Payslips Printer. You can print payslips and P60s without doing any extra setup or uploading stationery.

15. Patriot Software

Patriot Software allows businesses to run payrolls in three easy steps. The software generates detailed payroll and tax reports. It includes a web-based app, as well as payroll services, such as managing collections, deposits, and taxes. The full-service payroll includes all payroll tax filings for the year.

You get Unlimited 24/7 payrolls with direct deposit and checks. You can process the wages of one or more employees using its scalable pricing model. This gives you a lot of cost flexibility and predictability. The software also accommodates various pay schedules and provides W-2 templates. It offers a free employee portal where employees can view their pay details and automatic tax updates for accurate wage calculations.

You may integrate Patriot Software’s time and attendance and HR apps for a full HR and payroll. Externally, it works with QuickBooks Desktop and Online Accounting. Patriot Software price starts at $30/month (base price) + $4 per employee.

Benefits of Patriot Software

1. Scalability. You can start small and grow with the same software, with no need to upgrade and migrate to a bigger system eventually. If you need help processing payroll, you can use the vendor’s full services so that you can grow your business without worrying about wages.
2. Easy setup. The software is non-technical and easy to use. If you can’t install software or don’t have time to learn it, the vendor will assist you. With the software set up, running payroll is as simple as clicking Run, entering hours and amounts, then approving.
3. Freebies. You’ll get freebies like payroll setup, expert support, a trial, and an employee portal. Employees can see their pay stubs, pay history, and wage data.
4. Process accuracy. The software lets you set up wages, fees, taxes, and other important salary data, eliminating errors and missing entries common in manual payroll computation. With the full-service package, the system even calculates local, state, and federal taxes for you, helping you avoid regulatory fines.
5. Full system integration. The software works with Patriot accounting and timekeeping software. You can greatly expand your payroll processing with Patriot payroll software.

16. Dayforce HCM

Dayforce HCM is a cloud-based workforce management tool for payroll, tax, analytics, benefits, document, and talent management. All aspects of human capital management are covered in this single app.

Dayforce HCM has only one user interface. It uses a single record per employee to reduce errors and redundancy. Also, you can find and hire qualified employees, manage compliance, schedule work-life balance, keep HR records, pay employees, and manage benefits enrollment. You can access real-time reports with analytics.

You also get multi-currency, multi-language, and international personnel tracking assistance. You can easily integrate Dayforce HCM with other platforms to use HR applications like video interviewing, which this app does not provide. Dayforce HCM also works with all major browsers.

You’ll need to reach out to Dayforce for the pricing details of their packages.

Benefits of Dayforce HCM

1.   Continuous pay calculation. You can access data without waiting until after the pay period ends, so you have enough time for audits. The time and pay rules are flexible, allowing you to produce high-quality pay throughout the pay period.
2.   Single application. Get data-driven insights across all HR functions to make better decisions for the entire employee lifecycle. You can simplify workflows, improve accuracy, and improve compliance.
3.  Make informed decisions. You can get the right data to the right person right at the time one needs it. You get data-driven insights that help you make informed decisions quickly. Predictive analytics helps align business strategy with daily activities.
4. 24/7 access. Use Dayforce’s HCM software on any device, be it web or mobile. Dayforce is simple to learn and use and allows employees to access their data at any time while also helping you keep employee data accurate.

17. Wave

Wave Apps is a business platform that combines accounting, invoicing, and receipt scanning, and it’s free. It is ideal for new businesses (under 10 employees) and self-employed professionals (entrepreneurs, freelancers, and consultants). It’s easy to set up and use with its dashboard making visible and accessible everything you need.

Wave simplifies accounting and invoicing processes, allowing you to focus on your business instead of tracking expenses, payments, employees, and taxes. The system allows you to quickly create and send professional invoices, estimates, and receipts. Tracking ensures you stay on top of your processes.

Wave also integrates with other software like Paypal, Amazon, and Blue Camaroo. For more details on this app, you can head on to this Wave pricing guide.

Benefits of Wave

1. It’s free. There are no hidden fees or charges.
2. Efficient workflow. Wave makes it easy to create professional invoices, estimates, and receipts and allows you to track all of these. The system also accepts credit card payments, giving you and your customers unprecedented convenience.
3. Simplified tracking. Wave simplifies incoming and outgoing tracking. It also scans receipts and connects to banks, thus eliminating manual data entry and speeding up the process without compromising accuracy. You also get to prepare for tax season.
4. Automatic billing and invoicing. You save a lot of time since Wave automates billing and invoicing for you, especially recurring ones. You can set reminders for paid and unpaid items.
5. Pay your teams from anywhere. You can pay your team via online pay stubs or direct deposit wherever you are (or they are) in the world.

18. Toast Payroll

Toast Payroll and Team Management is a payroll and labor management platform for restaurants. By automating tasks and synchronizing POS and payroll systems, this platform helps restaurant owners, managers, and HR staff manage payroll and HR processes.

With Toast, you can be sure your restaurant is up to date on all regulations. The software helps you with payroll and automates tax calculations. It also makes the hiring of new employees and onboarding easy as it can be done electronically. More importantly, it integrates with the brand’s POS system.

You can request a quote from their page to get a customized plan for your business. Likewise, you can check out our pros and cons of Toast for more insights on this app.

Benefits of Toast Payroll

1. Better Timekeeping. You can avoid errors in pay calculations with Toast Payroll. The platform tracks time and synchronizes data from Payroll to POS, including work hours and tip amounts. Employees no longer need to enter and edit their times manually. As such, you avoid inaccuracies in time tracking, and employees increase accountability.
2. Easy Payroll Processing. If your restaurant has multiple locations and your employees move between them, keeping track of their hours is easy with Toast Payroll, with its efficient calculation tools and seamless integration with timesheet data from the POS. It also simplifies the calculation of pay rates and minimum wage, ensuring that employees get paid what they earned.
3. Regulatory Compliance. Toast Payroll provides tools to help you run a successful restaurant business while their consultants can help you navigate the complexities of state compliance.
4. Automated Tax Filing. Toast Payroll automates tax calculations and streamlines the payroll process, and state and federal taxes are calculated automatically and filed on your behalf.
5. Employee Self-Service Benefits Platform. Toast Payroll can reduce HR staff workload by letting employees self-enroll for benefits. They can enroll at their desks or on their own devices even after work hours.

19. Zenefits

Zenefits is an online HR platform designed to help SMBs with payroll, benefits, and other employee-related tasks. Its features include employee directory management, employee benefits and insurance, recruitment and onboarding, ACA compliance, mobile support, and more. It also has business intelligence capabilities.

Zenefits consolidates all features and tools into one dashboard for greater control, regulatory compliance, and employee information access. Best of all, the platform’s feature-rich and low-cost packages make it ideal for startups and small businesses looking for a robust, affordable, and user-friendly platform.

Benefits of Zenefits

1. Simple employee insurance management. You can keep your current plans or choose from a wide range of new benefits options. Rest assured that your company can comply easily with the Affordable Care Act, report on employee benefit eligibility and coverage, and electronically file taxes with the IRS.
2. Simplified onboarding, hiring, and record-keeping. Changes are automatically applied across the platform, keeping your HR data current. Besides, payroll automatically updates itself whenever changes are made to everything else you manage in Zenefits.
3. Automated time entry and approval processes. You can reduce errors and ensure the timely payment of hourly employees as Zenefits automates your processes. A simple database also allows you to track and manage employee paid time off. Plus, you gain greater visibility into PTO usage across your entire company for better efficiency and management.

20. Zoho Payroll

Rounding up our top payroll software solutions for Mac, Zoho Payroll serves India and some parts of the US. In the US, the app is part of Zoho Books, while in India, it is a standalone app.

The online solution is meant to automate and improve payroll processing. It allows you to centralize employee records and information while giving you flexibility in scheduling and paying employees. Zoho Payroll simplifies payroll preparation.

Zoho provides tax-ready reports, accurate tax deductions, and automatic employee income tax returns to ensure tax reporting and compliance. You can process payslips and see your tax liabilities and year-to-date payroll costs. Zoho Payroll provides you with tools for employee onboarding, letting you add new hires to your payroll and centrally manage their information.

Your employees get to have a secure employee self-service portal where they can access announcements, files, and payroll information. It provides a central location for payroll personnel and employees to collaborate.

Like all Zoho products, Zoho Payroll seamlessly integrates with Zoho People (HR app) and Zoho Books (accounting app). Despite its extensive features, Zoho Payroll has only one monthly subscription fee per employee. The pricing model scales as your company grows and hires more employees.

Benefits of Zoho Payroll

1. E-payroll. Zoho Payroll automatically generates payslips online with a complete breakdown of deductions, taxes, and allowances. You can apply custom deductions, pay employees online or by check, and track employee loans.
2. Diverse pay structures. You can create pay slabs for managers and employees and assign them to the appropriate template, thus simplifying pay structures and speeding up payroll processing.
3. Simple compliance. You receive reminders for tax payment dates and get help in preparing accurate tax reports, returns, and filing.
4. Employee-dedicated payroll portal. You can relieve your payroll staff of answering employee questions about salaries, allowances, deductions, and other related issues. Employees can even submit reimbursement requests online.
5. Access and user management. With role-based access, you can control who can administer or process payroll. Admin, auditing, and finance teams can easily collaborate while maintaining data integrity.

Improve Payroll Management with Software Solutions

Computing payroll is tough. Top that with your other small business or HR duties, and you’ll be experiencing management nightmares, especially when the payday is nearing. With the many payroll software solutions available now to automate parts of your work, you can easily liberate yourself from the tedious tasks of keying in information and computing pay. As such, you can focus on other HR tasks that require your personal touch. 

If you need more options beyond Mac-based apps, you’ll find this list of top payroll software solutions helpful. It is best to reach out to your shortlisted vendors to inquire and find out what’s best for you.

By Nestor Gilbert

Nestor Gilbert is a senior B2B and SaaS analyst and a core contributor at FinancesOnline for over 5 years. With his experience in software development and extensive knowledge of SaaS management, he writes mostly about emerging B2B technologies and their impact on the current business landscape. However, he also provides in-depth reviews on a wide range of software solutions to help businesses find suitable options for them. Through his work, he aims to help companies develop a more tech-forward approach to their operations and overcome their SaaS-related challenges.