Payroll Service Pricing Comparison 2026: 6 Providers, Real Numbers
Neutral, data-only comparison showing total cost at every employee count. No affiliate rankings, no vendor sponsorship.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| Provider | Base Fee | Per Employee | Tax Filing | Year-End Forms | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $49/mo | $6/emp/mo | Included | Included | Yes |
| QuickBooks | $45/mo | $6/emp/mo | Included | Included | Yes |
| Paychex | $39/mo | $5/emp/mo | Included | Included | No |
| OnPay | $49/mo | $6/emp/mo | Included | Included | Yes |
| Rippling | $35/mo | $8/emp/mo | Included | Included | No |
| ADP | $79/mo | $7/emp/mo | Included | Included | No |
Total Cost by Employee Count
Drag the slider to see how costs change. Sorted cheapest to most expensive.
| Provider | Monthly | Annual | Per Emp/Mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| CheapestPaychex | $89 | $1,068 | $8.90 |
| QuickBooks | $105 | $1,260 | $10.50 |
| Gusto | $109 | $1,308 | $10.90 |
| OnPay | $109 | $1,308 | $10.90 |
| Rippling | $115 | $1,380 | $11.50 |
| ADP | $149 | $1,788 | $14.90 |
Annual Cost at Standard Team Sizes
| Employees | Gusto | QuickBooks | Paychex | OnPay | Rippling | ADP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $660 | $612 | $528 | $660 | $516 | $1,032 |
| 5 | $948 | $900 | $768 | $948 | $900 | $1,368 |
| 10 | $1,308 | $1,260 | $1,068 | $1,308 | $1,380 | $1,788 |
| 15 | $1,668 | $1,620 | $1,368 | $1,668 | $1,860 | $2,208 |
| 20 | $2,028 | $1,980 | $1,668 | $2,028 | $2,340 | $2,628 |
| 25 | $2,388 | $2,340 | $1,968 | $2,388 | $2,820 | $3,048 |
| 50 | $4,188 | $4,140 | $3,468 | $4,188 | $5,220 | $5,148 |
| 75 | $5,988 | $5,940 | $4,968 | $5,988 | $7,620 | $7,248 |
| 100 | $7,788 | $7,740 | $6,468 | $7,788 | $10,020 | $9,348 |
Provider Profiles
Gusto
Gusto is the most popular payroll provider for startups and small businesses. The Simple plan at $49 + $6/employee includes full-service payroll, tax filing, and basic HR. For businesses needing time tracking, PTO management, and benefits, the Plus plan at $80 + $12/employee is a significant step up in cost. Gusto does not offer custom pricing for large teams, making it less competitive above 50 employees.
Strengths
- + Intuitive, modern interface that non-HR staff can manage
- + Transparent pricing with no hidden fees on most plans
- + Excellent onboarding flow for new businesses
- + Built-in health benefits, 401(k), and workers' comp brokerage
Watch Out
- ! Per-employee fee climbs quickly beyond 25 employees
- ! No phone support on the Simple plan
- ! Benefits administration requires the Plus plan ($80 base + $12/emp)
QuickBooks
QuickBooks Payroll is the obvious choice for businesses already using QuickBooks for accounting. The Core plan at $45 + $6/employee covers payroll and tax filing. The Premium plan at $75 + $8/employee adds same-day direct deposit, HR support, and tax penalty protection. The Elite plan at $125 + $11/employee includes dedicated support and project tracking. Integration with QuickBooks Online is the key differentiator.
Strengths
- + Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software
- + Same-day direct deposit available
- + Health benefits, 401(k), and workers' comp add-ons
- + Automated tax penalty protection on higher tiers
Watch Out
- ! Frequent promotional pricing that jumps after the trial period
- ! HR features require the Premium or Elite plans ($75-$125 base)
- ! Customer support quality varies widely based on plan tier
Paychex
Paychex targets mid-size businesses with complex needs. The Flex Select plan (estimated $39 + $5/emp) includes payroll, tax filing, and a dedicated specialist. Paychex excels in industries with compliance complexity like construction (certified payroll), healthcare, and multi-state operations. Their per-employee rate is the lowest among major providers, making them cost-effective at 25+ employees. The trade-off is less pricing transparency and potential lock-in via contracts.
Strengths
- + Lowest per-employee cost at scale ($5/emp)
- + Strong compliance and industry-specific solutions (construction, healthcare)
- + Dedicated payroll specialist assigned to your account
- + PEO option available for businesses that outgrow standard payroll
Watch Out
- ! Pricing is not published publicly - requires a sales call for exact quotes
- ! Some plans charge per payroll run, not monthly flat fee
- ! Contract terms and cancellation fees are common
OnPay
OnPay offers the simplest pricing model: $49 + $6/employee, and every feature is included. There are no tiers to navigate, no feature gates, and no upsells. Payroll, tax filing, HR tools, benefits administration, and onboarding are all included at the base price. This makes OnPay ideal for businesses that want predictable costs without worrying about needing to upgrade later. The drawback is a smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations.
Strengths
- + Simple, all-inclusive pricing with no tier complexity
- + Every feature available on a single plan
- + Free migration from your previous provider
- + Multi-state payroll at no additional cost
Watch Out
- ! Smaller company with less brand recognition than competitors
- ! No mobile app (web-based only)
- ! Limited third-party integrations compared to Gusto or Rippling
Rippling
Rippling positions itself as a unified workforce platform rather than just a payroll service. The $35 base is the lowest, but the $8/employee fee means costs rise faster than competitors. At 20 employees, Rippling costs $195/month versus $169 for Gusto. The value proposition is consolidation: if you are paying separately for payroll, HR, IT asset management, and identity management, Rippling can replace multiple tools. Best for tech companies with 10-50 employees.
Strengths
- + Unified platform for payroll, HR, IT, and device management
- + Lowest base fee at $35/month
- + Highly customizable with modular add-ons
- + Best-in-class automation and workflow engine
Watch Out
- ! Highest per-employee fee ($8) makes it expensive for larger teams
- ! Add-on pricing for benefits, time tracking, and IT management is opaque
- ! Designed for tech-savvy teams - steeper learning curve
ADP
ADP is the enterprise standard. The Run Essentials plan (estimated $79 + $7/employee) is the entry point, but most businesses end up on Run Enhanced or Run Complete at significantly higher rates. ADP's strength is scalability and compliance, especially for multi-state, multi-entity operations. For small businesses under 25 employees with simple needs, ADP is typically the most expensive option and not the best fit. It becomes competitive at 50+ employees where the compliance infrastructure justifies the premium.
Strengths
- + Largest payroll provider with decades of compliance expertise
- + Handles any size from 1 employee to 10,000+
- + Extensive global payroll capabilities
- + Strong integration ecosystem with 300+ partners
Watch Out
- ! Highest base fee among major providers
- ! Pricing requires a custom quote - public pricing is only for the basic tier
- ! Contract terms and cancellation process can be complex
- ! Implementation can take 4-6 weeks for larger setups
Cost Crossover Points
A lower base fee does not always mean a cheaper provider. Rippling starts cheapest but its $8/employee rate means it crosses above Paychex at just 2 employees, and above Gusto at 5 employees.
Rippling ($75/mo) costs more than Paychex ($64/mo). Despite a $4 lower base fee, the $3/emp difference means Paychex wins at 5+ employees.
Rippling ($91/mo) overtakes Gusto ($91/mo) and QuickBooks ($87/mo). The $2/emp difference accumulates quickly.
ADP ($219/mo) becomes competitive with Rippling ($195/mo). The gap narrows because ADP's $7/emp rate is lower than Rippling's $8.
Paychex ($239/mo) is the clear winner at scale. At 40 employees, Paychex saves $480/year versus Gusto and $1,440/year versus Rippling.
What the Advertised Price Does Not Include
The monthly base + per-employee fee is the starting point. These additional costs are commonly excluded from headline pricing:
W-2/1099 Processing
$3 - $7 per form
Some providers include year-end forms, others charge per form
Off-Cycle Payroll Runs
$15 - $50 per run
Bonuses, corrections, and termination pay often trigger extra fees
State Tax Registration
$20 - $50 per state
Multi-state employers pay per state for initial setup
Implementation/Setup
$0 - $200
Some providers charge for data migration and account setup
Annual Price Increases
5 - 10% per year
Most providers raise prices annually, often without notice
Garnishment Processing
$5 - $15 per garnishment
Court-ordered wage garnishments incur per-occurrence fees
See all 9 hidden fees with severity ratings and avoidance tips →
See Your True Total Cost
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