Just a few decades ago before computers and advanced software, payroll accounting was a hectic job. For small businesses especially, it was quite a deterrent to have to hire a professional just to administer payroll accounting. Fortunately, technology has advanced so much that now payroll software is available to any company regardless of the company’s size. Today, there are free payroll software programs that could be used by anyone!
Here are the best free payroll software out there..
ADP Run: Best for Scaling Startups Needing Flexible Plans
Overall Score: 3.79 OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Multiple plans to choose from
- Automatic quarterly and annual tax filings
- Advanced HR support available
- Built-in compliance tools that flag potential errors
What’s Missing
- Pricing isn’t transparent
- Setup fee required
- Year-end reporting costs extra
- Benefits, time tracking, and workers’ compensation are add-on products
ADP Run Pricing
- Essential: Custom-priced
- Enhanced: Custom-priced
- Complete: Custom-priced
- HR Pro: Custom-priced
ADP has numerous plan options and products that cater to different-sized businesses. ADP Run is its payroll system for small businesses with up to 49 employees. It comes with all of the essential payroll and payroll tax management tools you need, plus new hire reporting, onboarding, background checks, and access to job postings (via ZipRecruiter). Its higher tiers even come with extra HR support and handholding that you don’t get with your typical small business payroll software like Gusto or Square Payroll. ADP also makes it easy to transition from one plan to the next if your company scales over time and you need additional HR tools.
In our evaluation, ADP Run earned an overall score of 3.79 out of 5. It was rated highly in ease of use, payroll and HR features, reporting, and popularity among users. However, its setup costs and non-transparent fees contributed to its very low rating in our pricing criteria. Users still appreciate its easy-to-use platform, adding that its payroll solution helps simplify employee pay processes. Others, on the other hand, commented that it can be expensive for small businesses.
ADP Run Features
- Fast and accurate payroll and tax filing: In addition to its solid payroll tools, ADP Run offers automated payroll tax payments and filings. While it also handles year-end reporting (W-2s and 1099s), ADP charges extra for this. Its built-in compliance tools also notify you of payroll errors.
- Multiple employee payment options: With ADP Run, you can pay your employees via direct deposit and paychecks and through the Wisely Direct Debit Card. It also offers secure paychecks with check signing and stuffing services. ADP will even deliver the sealed envelopes containing employee paychecks to your office so you can distribute these to your staff.
- Flexible plan options: In addition to ADP Run’s multiple tiers with full-service payroll and access to essential HR tools, ADP has a wide range of products that can cater to midsize and large businesses. It even offers a PEO option, ADP TotalSource, for companies that need to completely outsource their payroll and HR administration.
- Certified, experienced payroll professionals available 24/7: Similar to Paychex, ADP Run allows you to get in touch with payroll and HR experts whenever you need them. You even get legal assistance on employment matters from Upnetic Legal Services—provided you subscribe to its highest tier.
- Recruitment and HR tools: ADP’s partnership with ZipRecruiter makes it possible for you to post open jobs to leading job boards. It also offers background checks, state new hire reporting, and onboarding, in addition to training tools and an online library of HR forms and documents. You won’t get this level of HR support with any other provider on our list except Paychex and Paycor. However, if you need time tracking, pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation, and benefits, these solutions are paid add-ons to ADP Run’s payroll plan.
ADP Run’s Drawbacks
- Pricing isn’t transparent: With ADP, you have to call its sales team to discuss your requirements and request a quote. This can be troublesome for those who want to quickly compare monthly fees between different payroll software, including the features that each provider offers.
- Year-end reporting costs extra: While most of the small business payroll software in this list include W-2 and 1099 reporting, ADP Run charges a fee for this service.
Patriot Payroll: Best for Mom-and-Pop Businesses Wanting a Do-It-Yourself Option
Overall Score: 3.73 OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Affordable
- Offers multiple plans that include full-service payroll and a do-it-yourself (DIY) option
- Unlimited pay runs
- Free payroll setup and expert support
What’s Missing
- Multistate tax filings cost extra
- Lacks benefits options
- Standard lead time for direct deposits is four days
- Very limited HR tools
Patriot Payroll Pricing
- Basic Payroll with DIY tax filings: $10 per month + $4 per employee monthly
- Full Service Payroll: $30 per month + $4 per employee monthly
- Full Service Payroll + HR Software: $36 per month + $6 per employee monthly
- Full Service Payroll + HR + Time and Attendance: $42 per month + $8 per employee monthly
Add-on fees
- Multistate tax filings: $12 monthly for each additional state
- 1099 e-filings (for Basic Payroll subscribers only): $20 for up to five 1099 e-filings; an additional $2 per 1099 is required for six to 35 filings (no additional charge for 36 or more)
Read Full ReviewVisit Patriot Payroll
Patriot Payroll offers a flexible option that others on our list don’t: a choice between full-service payroll and a more affordable DIY version that costs only $10 monthly plus $4 per employee, per month, if you file your own taxes. Both plans come with unlimited payroll runs, multiple pay rates, automated PTO accrual calculations, and customizable deductions and contributions. You can pay employees through direct deposit or manual checks. If you choose its full-service plan, Patriot will pay and file all federal, state, and local taxes. It even has payroll packages that include access to time tracking tools and an HR solution for managing employee information.
Scoring 3.73 out of 5 in our evaluation, Patriot Payroll received perfect marks in reporting, pricing, and popularity among users. It posted the lowest score in HR functionalities because it doesn’t offer new hire onboarding and employee benefits that most of the payroll software in this list provides. However, users still appreciate its reasonably priced plans and helpful support team. Others said that while it has user-friendly and efficient payroll tools, they wished Patriot Payroll offered faster direct deposits and additional integration options.
Patriot Payroll Features
- Self-service plan: You can save the most money if you have a couple of employees and are willing to file payroll taxes on your own using Patriot’s Basic Payroll plan. Priced at only $10 plus $4 per employee monthly, this is the most cost-efficient option among all the payroll providers in this guide.
- Flexible payroll system: In addition to unlimited pay runs, Patriot Payroll supports multiple pay rates, plus you can either use its standard deduction and contribution types or create your own to capture payroll details for garnishments, health insurance options, and retirement plans. Employees and contractor payments are made through direct deposits, but the processing time is four days. If you want fast direct deposits, consider QuickBooks Payroll (its basic Core plan comes with next-day options) and Square Payroll (its Instant Payments feature lets you pay employees instantly).
- Multiple full-service payroll packages: Aside from its standard Full Service option, Patriot has payroll packages that include time tracking and employee information management tools. All plans include one state filing, but if you need to file taxes in multiple states, each additional filing costs $12 monthly.
- Tax penalty guarantee: If you subscribe to one of its Full Payroll plans, Patriot ensures that your taxes will be calculated and filed on time. Any disputes will be resolved and paid for by Patriot for tax filing mistakes that its representatives will commit.
Patriot Payroll’s Drawbacks
- Four-day direct deposits: Unlike Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and Square Payroll, which offer multiple direct deposit options—such as next- and same-day options and instant payouts—Patriot’s standard timeline is four days even if you get its higher Full Service Payroll tier.
- Limited HR tools: While its HR and time tracking solutions can help you manage employee information and capture actual hours worked, respectively, Patriot Payroll lacks the onboarding and benefits options that most small business payroll software like Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll offer.
Bonus
1. Intuit Payroll
If you are looking for the payroll service for barebones, then this is the right solution for you. Even if you want an automated all-in-one best payroll service for one employee, then intuit payroll might help you. No matter what you comply with, intuit payroll always has an option for you. in fact, it is voted as the best payroll service for one employee in America.
Their basic package is the best which costs around $20 per month and $2 per employee every month. It will calculate and run your salary taxes in an instant. However, it won’t file your pay taxes and that’s one disadvantage.
Their most popular payroll package for small businesses is enhanced. This package costs around $31.2 per month and does everything you can’t handle such as calculation, running and filing of taxes.
They have another option available as well known as the ‘Full Service’ package but it isn’t preferred by the companies more than the ‘Enhanced’.
2. Onpay
One top-secret of OnPay is that it does not offer the payroll tools and services offered by Intuit. However, it does provide easy and straight forward modeling for the payroll necessities at the same price. Every small business needs this kind of cheapest payroll service having 1 or 2 employees.
It does unlimited calculations, pay runs, filings, and deposits in one go. It also checks to print every now and then.
It has a mobile-friendly user interface that does not require a learning curve, unlike other cheapest payroll services for one employee.
In their basic package, you can include at least 10 employees if you have a medium-sized business.
3. Gusto
Gusto was previously known by the name Zenpayroll and continues to offer intuitive payroll services for 1 employee for any sort of small-sized business.
Not only does their service integrate with your accounting software but also files your taxes, locates your files, states and lookup federal taxes so that 1 employee can have access to all the information.
One top-secret about Gusto is that it offers a free trial for one month and then charges $39 per month. But it comes with additional benefits such as best planning, check services, direct deposits and more.
4. Namely
Namely is known as one of the best HR services in America. Along with being the best payroll service, it also offers a variety of HR tools. This helps the employee to cut down on wasted time.
It will not only carry out file deductions but also fill out your payroll taxes. It also gives you access to paycheck histories.
Moreover, it also handles the end of the year file report to ensure that your small business is in compliance with regulations and standards.
5. Sage
Sage offers you intuitive payroll services depending on how small your business actually is. But, the enhanced package of Sage comes with fewer features than the Intuit payroll services for one employee.
The price of this payroll service depends on how much you use it. Its full-service package comes with payroll agent, unlimited deductions, check delivery service, additional benefits information and personalized report building.
Sage is sure to keep up with your payroll services. After all, they have the highest consumer retention in the payroll service industry.
Conclusion
Free payroll software comes as some features as paid ones, but these programs come without asking for registration or money. You can still keep your financial records with ease and comfort of same design as some features as paid ones. As we know that payroll is vital part of any business; it’s important that you should know about free and good paycheck software for your business.