Top 10 Best Popular Payroll Software of 2026

Gusto is an all-in-one payroll, HR, and benefits platform tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, automating payroll processing, tax calculations, and filings across all 50 states. It streamlines employee onboarding, time tracking, performance reviews, and benefits administration like health insurance and 401(k)s. With robust integrations for accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero, Gusto simplifies compliance and reduces administrative burdens for growing teams.

ADP is a leading provider of comprehensive payroll, HR, and compliance software serving businesses of all sizes worldwide. It automates payroll processing, tax calculations and filings, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, and employee self-service portals. With scalable plans like RUN for SMBs and Workforce Now for enterprises, ADP ensures seamless integration with other business tools and robust data security.

Paychex is a leading payroll and human capital management (HCM) software provider with over 45 years of experience, offering end-to-end solutions for payroll processing, tax compliance, HR administration, benefits management, and time tracking. It serves businesses from small startups to large enterprises, automating payroll runs, direct deposits, and W-2/1099 filings while integrating with popular accounting tools. Paychex emphasizes compliance accuracy, backed by guarantees on tax filings, making it a trusted choice for regulated industries.

QuickBooks Payroll is a robust payroll solution from Intuit designed for small to medium-sized businesses, automating employee payments, tax calculations, filings, and direct deposits. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online accounting software for unified financial management. Key features include time tracking, benefits administration, employee self-service portals, and guaranteed tax compliance with next-day direct deposit.

Rippling is an all-in-one workforce management platform that unifies HR, payroll, IT, and finance operations for streamlined employee management. It automates payroll processing across 50+ US states and 100+ countries, handles tax compliance, benefits administration, and device/app provisioning. Designed for growing businesses, it eliminates data silos by syncing all employee data in real-time.

OnPay is a full-service payroll software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, offering automated payroll processing, tax calculations, and federal/state filings. It includes HR tools, benefits administration, time tracking integrations, and compliance support to streamline operations. With a focus on simplicity and accuracy, it handles unlimited payroll runs without per-run fees.

Patriot Payroll is a cloud-based payroll software from Patriot Software, tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, handling payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and direct deposits. It offers flexible plans including DIY in-house payroll and full-service options where experts manage compliance. Additional modules for time & attendance and basic HR enhance its core functionality.

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR management platform with integrated payroll processing tailored for small to mid-sized businesses in the US and Canada. It automates payroll runs, tax calculations, filings, and direct deposits, seamlessly syncing with employee data, onboarding, and time tracking features. While not a standalone payroll giant, it excels in unifying HR and payroll workflows to reduce administrative burdens.

Wave Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution from Wave Apps, primarily targeting small businesses and freelancers in the US and Canada, seamlessly integrated with its free accounting and invoicing tools. It automates payroll calculations, tax withholdings, direct deposits, and generates forms like W-2s and 1099s, with employee self-service portals for payslips and tax documents. While straightforward for basic needs, it offers self-service tax filing in select US states and full-service options via Pro plans.

Square Payroll is a streamlined payroll solution offered by Square, primarily designed for small businesses using Square's point-of-sale and payment systems. It automates payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and direct deposits with minimal setup. Ideal for hourly workers in retail and hospitality, it integrates directly with Square's ecosystem for time tracking and sales data.