Top 10 Best Low Cost Payroll Software of 2026

Gusto is an all-in-one payroll and HR platform tailored for small businesses, automating payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and payments across all 50 states. It handles direct deposits, W-2/1099 forms, benefits administration, and compliance with minimal user input. Beyond payroll, it offers integrated tools for onboarding, time tracking, and employee self-service, streamlining HR tasks.

OnPay is a full-service payroll software tailored for small businesses, providing unlimited monthly payroll runs, automated federal, state, and local tax calculations and filings, and 1099/W-2 support. It integrates HR tools like onboarding, benefits management, and time-off tracking, along with seamless connections to popular accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero. Designed for simplicity, OnPay eliminates the need for in-house expertise by including a dedicated payroll specialist for each account.

QuickBooks Payroll is an integrated payroll solution from Intuit designed for small businesses, handling payroll processing, tax calculations, direct deposits, and compliance filings seamlessly within the QuickBooks ecosystem. It offers automated tax payments, W-2/1099 forms, and employee self-service portals across Core, Premium, and Elite plans. Ideal for users already on QuickBooks, it streamlines accounting and payroll into one platform.

Patriot Software offers affordable payroll solutions for small businesses, including in-house DIY payroll and full-service options where they handle tax filings and compliance. The platform supports payroll processing, direct deposit, W-2/1099 creation, and basic HR tools like time tracking add-ons. It's positioned as a low-cost alternative with straightforward functionality for basic needs.

Wave Payroll is an affordable, cloud-based payroll solution designed for small businesses, offering automated wage calculations, tax withholdings, direct deposits, and compliance filings like W-2s and 1099s. It integrates seamlessly with Wave's free accounting software, allowing users to sync payroll data directly into their books without extra costs. Available in the US and select Canadian provinces, it's ideal for straightforward payroll needs without complex HR features.

Square Payroll is a simple, integrated payroll solution from Square, tailored for small businesses using their POS and payment tools. It automates payroll runs, direct deposits, tax calculations, and filings for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in supported states. With unlimited payroll processing and no long-term contracts, it's built for quick setup and hassle-free operations.

SurePayroll is an online payroll service tailored for small businesses, offering straightforward payroll processing, automatic tax calculations and filings, direct deposit, and year-end forms like W-2s and 1099s. It emphasizes affordability and simplicity, with seamless integrations to popular accounting tools such as QuickBooks. As part of Paychex, it provides reliable core payroll functions without overwhelming advanced features, making it suitable for users prioritizing cost over complexity.

RUN Powered by ADP is a payroll software solution tailored for small businesses, offering automated payroll processing, tax calculations, filing, and payments. It includes essential HR tools like employee self-service, time tracking, and basic benefits administration. Backed by ADP's extensive expertise, it ensures compliance across multiple states while integrating with popular accounting software like QuickBooks.

Paychex Flex is a comprehensive payroll and HCM solution from Paychex that automates payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, and compliance reporting for small to mid-sized businesses. It integrates HR tools like employee self-service, benefits administration, time tracking, and recruiting into a single platform. While feature-rich, it caters more to scaling companies than ultra-budget-conscious users with its robust support and scalability options.

Payroll4Free is a web-based payroll software that provides free processing for small businesses with up to 25 employees per company. It handles essential tasks like payroll calculations, federal and select state tax withholdings, W-2 and 1099 form generation, and direct deposit. Users can manage multiple companies at no cost, making it suitable for freelancers or owners with side businesses, though it requires manual data entry and lacks advanced HR integrations.