Best Free Payroll Software (2024)

Payroll can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Mistakes cost valuable resources to fix, and not every business can afford to hire a legion of accountants or invest in high-end payroll software.

Fortunately, free payroll services for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs offer much-needed relief. So whether you're running a tight operation on a shoestring budget or just looking to cut costs, you'll find that these free payroll programs can help keep your finances in check.

We'll also discuss how Wise Business gives free payroll and batch payment functionality to you as part their business account.

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Table of contents
Best free payroll software providers 1. Wise Business 2. Payroll4Free.com 3. HR.my 4. eSmart Paycheck 5. ExcelPayroll 6. SumoPayroll 7. Microkeeper 8. Payment Evolution Other low-cost payroll software options Make international business easy with Wise Business Account

Best free payroll software providers

These tools offer a lifeline for small business owners. They let them focus on growth and development rather than getting bogged down in the intricacies of payroll management.

1. Wise Business

Wish you could just upload a spreadsheet, and the tech would do the rest? That’s Wise.

Run payroll for 1,000 invoices all over the world with one transfer. Wise Business offers comprehensive, free online payroll software that sends country-specific currency.

Key features

Features
* Payroll, vendors, and bills can all be paid from one account
* No hidden fees or exchange markups
* Links to your accounting software (Xero, QuickBooks, Netsuite, FreeAgent, Sage, Wave)

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Upgrade price

None. You can access all Wise Business features with no subscriptions and monthly fees. You only pay for what you use.

2. Payroll4Free.com

As the name suggests, Payroll4Free.com is a free small business payroll program—shocking, isn’t it?

There are absolutely no fees involved, but the software comes with two catches:

1. You can only pay up to 10 employees
2. The software includes targeted ads (which is how it stays free)

If neither bothers you, it’s a great option for your small team. Payroll4Free.com includes tax calculations and vacation tracking, too. It even has an employee portal to see all relevant documents on desktops or smartphones.

Key features

Features
* Integrates with many accounting platforms, banks, and benefit administration companies
* Detailed reporting functions
* On-demand support from experienced payroll and tax professionals

Upgrade price

40 USD/month for access to Payroll Tax Service (tax filing) and Direct Deposit Service (bank transfers)¹.

3. HR.my

Crowdfunding can do wonderful things. HR.my is an entirely free employee management solution funded by community donations.

The omnichannel software is compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, giving your HR or accounting team access to payroll for free no matter where they are. It also includes expense claim management, attendance, and incident reporting.

Key features

Features
* Full functionality for free, forever
* Employee discussion boards and forums
* Browser-based, no download or installation required

Upgrade price

For a 5 USD/month sponsorship, you can remove ads, add 3,500 MB of file storage, add an extra HR role, and get early access to new features².

See the Best Banks for Small Businesses >>

4. eSmart Paycheck

If you just need some help calculating tax and deductions, eSmart Paycheck offers a free payroll online calculator. Enter the basic information and get fast, accurate, printable pay stubs.

As you grow, additional services and products are available for a price, though eSmart Paycheck offers a three-month free trial for their more advanced tools.

Key features

Features
* Add pretax (401k), non-tax, or after-tax deductions
* Print pay stubs or checks
* Calculate overtime, bonuses, and commissions

Upgrade price

Starting at just 75 USD/year, eSmart Paycheck offers a comprehensive payroll package. The price increases for more employees and includes some add-ons for things like automatic tax deposits³.

Sending internationally? See how much Wise charges:

5. ExcelPayroll

Small business owners have used Microsoft Excel for decades to complete payroll and track expenses. While it isn’t native accounting software, its flexibility and robust computation capabilities have made it a go-to for simple back-office functions.

ExcelPayroll (sometimes called ExcelBook Accounting) is a completely free pre-built application for small businesses to run payroll. It includes seven modules:

• General ledger
• Accounts receivable
• Accounts payable
• Inventory
• Fixed asset
• Payroll
• Job cost

For anyone who is overwhelmed by accounting and payroll, it’s a nice entry point.

Key features

Features
* No software installation
* Very simple to use
* Prints W2, W3, 940, 941, DE9 forms

Upgrade price

While updates are routinely issued, they are completely free⁴.

6. SumoPayroll

SumoPayroll’s cloud-based platform is one of India's most trusted free payroll programs. The user-friendly software includes a mobile app for employees to download pay slips, request time off, and clock hours.

It’s completely free up to ten employees, with plenty of optional functions for growing businesses.

Key features

Features
* Batch payroll processing
* Cloud storage and access
* Intuitive dashboards

Upgrade price

For companies with over 10 employees, SumoPayroll costs INR 15/employee up to a maximum of INR 1500/month. Several add-ons, including leave management, expense management, and the mobile app, add INR 5/employee each month⁵.

7. Microkeeper

Microkeeper is an innovative Australian employee management software. Not only does it handle payroll effectively, but it also can send job offers, contracts, onboarding documents, and training materials.

It claims to be one of the first platforms to have single-touch payroll (STP). For small businesses in Australia, it can be an invaluable partner.

Key features

Features
* Combines several HR functions in one platform
* Includes mobile apps for remote access
* Great for industries with sensitive data like healthcare

Upgrade price

The free version only allows for one administrator and one user. The standard edition has a monthly subscription cost of AUD 4/user, with a minimum charge of AUD 28⁶.

8. Payment Evolution

Payment Evolution (PayEvo Payroll) is a Canadian cloud-based platform. It simplifies payroll processing by automating critical tasks and is used by over 20,000 businesses across the country.

While the software is free, each payroll run will cost CAD 3.50 per employee. That still offers an extremely low cost, especially considering the program’s capabilities.

Key features

Features
* Employee-facing portal for self-service
* Free direct deposit for small businesses
* Integrates with software like Quickbooks, Freshbooks, Oracle, and Xero

Upgrade pricing

The price per run actually goes down as you scale. It costs CAD 3.50 for 1 to 3 employees, CAD 2.50 for 4 to 25 employees, and CAD 2.00 for 26 to 300 employees⁷.

Other low-cost payroll software options

If the free payroll for small business options on our list don’t seem like a perfect fit or you’re in a region they don’t service, here are some other low-cost payroll software options. They may not be free, but they’re still affordable and effective.

1. Wave Accounting: A straightforward payroll solution with a monthly subscription cost of CAD 25 plus CAD 6/employee⁸.
2. HomeBase: An easy-to-use platform for time tracking, scheduling, and HR. The payroll add-on costs USD 39/month, plus USD 6/employee⁹.
3. WebHR: A low-cost, all-in-one HR and payroll solution that’s scalable to fit businesses of any size. It costs USD 4/employee monthly, but discounts are available for yearly plans¹⁰.
4. Rippling: A modular approach to payroll and HR, meaning you can customize it based on what you need. It starts at USD 8/month and increases based on which services you use¹¹.
5. Patriot Payroll: An affordable and simple payroll solution for small business owners. It starts at USD 17/month, with an extra USD 4/employee¹².

No matter the size of your business, there’s a payroll solution that fits your needs and budget.

Make international payroll easy with a Wise Business Account

Wise Business can help you save big time on international payroll. One of the most useful features is batch payments, which allows you to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This is perfect for small businesses that are supporting a global team's payroll, saving a ton of time and hassle.

Some important Wise Business account features:
Mid-market rate: Get the rate you deserve with not hidden fees on transfers
Global Account: Send money in 70+ currencies and hold balances in 40+
Batch payments: Send 1000 invoices in one click
Permissions: Give different permissions to your team
Auto-conversions: Don't like the current currency exchange rate? Set your rate, and Wise sends the transfer at the ideal moment

Start making payments
with Wise Business >>

US-based business accounts can get an account free
No minimum balance requirements and monthly fees

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Sources:

1. Payroll4Free FAQ
2. HR.my
3. Esmartpaycheck - Pricing
4. Excel Book
5. Sumo Payroll - Pricing
6. Microkeeper Pricing
7. Payment Evolution - Pricing
8. Wave Apps - Pricing
9. Join Home Base - Pricing
10. Web.hr - Pricing
11. Rippling - Pricing
12. Patriot Software Main Page
13. Wise Trustpilot