Buyer’s Handbook · 2026 Edition · Last verified 2026-09-10

Payroll & HR Software

181 independent, verified guides for US small businesses, startups, and contractor teams. Find your situation in the preface, or go straight to a chapter in the contents below.

Browse the full index Best payroll tools →

Preface Which describes you?

I’m hiring my first employee Start with payroll basics: what it costs, what’s required by law, and the simplest tools for a first hire. I’m outgrowing spreadsheets for payroll Compare Gusto, OnPay, and Patriot on price, support quality, and multi-state filing. I hire contractors, including overseas Deel and Remote handle international contracts and compliance; see which fits your headcount. I need HR beyond payroll (onboarding, reviews) BambooHR, Rippling, and Lattice compared for teams that need a full HRIS, not just payroll. I’m a fast-growing startup, multi-state already Tools built for speed of setup and multi-state complexity from day one. I’m adding benefits/401k for the first time What benefits administration actually costs, and which payroll tools integrate cleanly.

Contents Chapters

§1 Payroll Software 80 guides

Full §1 index — all 80 guides →

§2 HR Software 68 guides

Full §2 index — all 68 guides →

§3 Benefits 9 guides

Full §3 index — all 9 guides →

§4 Payroll 10 guides

Full §4 index — all 10 guides →

§5 Compliance & Payroll Basics 11 guides

Full §5 index — all 11 guides →

§6 HR & Payroll 3 guides

Method How every guide is verified

01.

We check pricing directly with vendors

Payroll pricing changes often. Every guide lists the date we last verified it, and we re-check before traffic-heavy updates.

02.

We contact support and time the response

A payroll error needs a fast fix. We test how long real support tickets take to get a real answer, not just a canned reply.

03.

We flag what a vendor won’t tell you

Every recommendation includes the real limitations: hidden fees, feature walls, or contract terms that only show up after signup.

04.

Affiliate commissions never set the order

We earn a commission on some signups. It has no influence on ranking or recommendations. See our Disclosure page.

About our process →

Appendix A Tools on file

Gusto Rippling BambooHR ADP Paychex Patriot OnPay Deel Remote Lattice 15Five Justworks

Appendix B Common questions

What is the cheapest payroll software for small businesses?

Patriot Payroll Full Service is the cheapest full-service option at $37 per month plus $4 per employee for automatic tax filing. Wave Payroll is free in 14 states if you handle your own tax deposits. OnPay at $40 plus $6 per employee is slightly more but offers better support and covers all 50 states.

How much does payroll software cost for 10 employees?

For 10 employees, payroll software typically costs $70 to $160 per month. Gusto Simple: $100 per month ($40 base plus $6 per employee). OnPay: $100 per month ($40 plus $6). Patriot Full Service: $77 per month ($37 plus $4). ADP and Paychex do not publish prices but typically quote $100 to $200 for 10 employees.

Is Gusto or ADP better for small businesses?

For most small businesses under 50 employees, Gusto is better: transparent pricing, a modern interface, and consistent customer service. ADP has deeper compliance infrastructure for complex multi-state payroll but its pricing is opaque and customer service reviews are more mixed. ADP is worth considering when you have employees in 10 or more states with complex local tax rules.

Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?

Yes, but it requires care. Your new provider needs your year-to-date payroll records to file accurate W-2s at year-end. The easiest time to switch is at the start of a quarter or the beginning of the calendar year. Most payroll providers have migration teams that handle the data transfer. Plan for 2 to 4 weeks for the switch.

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