Top 10 Best Simple Payroll Software of 2026

Gusto is a comprehensive yet user-friendly payroll software tailored for small businesses, automating payroll processing, tax calculations, filings, and payments for W-2 and 1099 workers. It integrates HR tools, benefits administration, and time tracking into a single platform, reducing administrative burdens. Ideal for simple payroll needs, it handles multi-state payroll and compliance effortlessly without requiring extensive expertise.

OnPay is a user-friendly cloud-based payroll software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, handling unlimited payroll runs, automated tax calculations, filings, and payments for federal, state, and local taxes. It offers employee self-service portals, benefits administration, and seamless integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero. With no setup fees and dedicated support, it streamlines simple payroll needs while providing essential HR tools like onboarding and compliance reporting.

QuickBooks Payroll is an integrated payroll solution from Intuit designed for small to medium-sized businesses, seamlessly connecting with QuickBooks accounting software to handle employee payments, tax calculations, and filings. It offers automated payroll runs, direct deposit, and compliance tools like W-2 and 1099 form generation. While powerful for integrated accounting workflows, it provides straightforward payroll processing for basic needs with features like employee self-service portals.

Patriot Software offers straightforward online payroll solutions tailored for small businesses, handling payroll processing, direct deposits, federal and state tax filings, and year-end W-2/1099 forms. It provides Basic and Full Service options, with the Basic plan focusing on core payroll needs and Full Service adding guaranteed tax filing accuracy. The platform emphasizes affordability, unlimited payroll runs, and dedicated U.S.-based support without long-term contracts.

Wave Payroll is a user-friendly payroll solution tailored for small businesses in the US and Canada, offering automated calculations for wages, taxes, deductions, and compliance filings. It integrates seamlessly with Wave's free accounting and invoicing tools, enabling unlimited payroll runs, direct deposits, and generation of forms like W-2s and 1099s. Designed for simplicity, it handles basic payroll needs without advanced HR features.

Square Payroll is a streamlined payroll solution from Square, tailored for small businesses, especially those using Square's POS systems. It enables quick payroll processing in minutes, automatic tax calculations and filings, direct deposits, and 1099 contractor payments. With options for core self-service or full-service tax handling, it's ideal for simple payroll needs without complex HR features.

ADP RUN is a cloud-based payroll solution tailored for small businesses, automating payroll processing, direct deposit, and tax calculations. It handles federal, state, and local tax filings with accuracy guarantees and offers employee self-service portals for payslips and W-2s. Additional features include basic HR tools like time tracking and benefits administration, making it scalable for growing teams.

Paychex Flex is a robust cloud-based payroll and HR platform tailored for small to mid-sized businesses, offering automated payroll processing, tax filing, and compliance management. It includes employee self-service portals, benefits administration, and time tracking integrations for streamlined operations. While capable for simple payroll, its full suite makes it scalable beyond basic needs.

Xero Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution integrated into the Xero accounting platform, tailored for US small businesses handling straightforward payroll needs. It automates pay runs, tax withholdings, direct deposits, and federal/state tax filings with minimal manual input. The tool also offers employee self-service portals for payslips and PTO tracking, making it suitable for simple payroll without advanced HR complexities.

BambooHR Payroll is an add-on module to the BambooHR HRIS platform that automates payroll processing, including wage calculations, tax withholdings, direct deposits, and compliance filings for US employees. It supports multi-state payroll, benefits deductions, and integrates time tracking data directly from BambooHR. While powerful for HR-integrated payroll, it's not a standalone solution and best suits companies already in the BambooHR ecosystem.