The 12 Quickbooks Payroll Alternatives and Competitors

QuickBook’s popularity stems from its accounting and payroll solutions for small business owners. But before moving forward, it might help for you to survey the current competitors and alternatives to QuickBooks for payroll.

In this article, we get into these QuickBook’s payroll alternatives, making your quest for the perfect payroll and HR management solution that much easier. We also talk about how Wise Business can help you with your international payroll needs.

Looking to save on international payroll?

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Table of Contents
QuickBooks Payroll Competitors and Alternatives 1. Wise Business Payroll 2. Square Payroll 3. Paychex 4. Onpay 5. Patriot 6. ADP 7. SurePayroll 8. TriNet 9. Rippling 10. Paylocity 11. Papaya Global 12. Personio How Wise Business Helps You Save On Overseas Payroll

QuickBooks Payroll Competitors and Alternatives

Here’s our list of 12 companies like QuickBooks, each with its own special perks and features so you can find the ideal solution for your business.

1. Wise Business Payroll

Wise Business Payroll boasts a range of unique features that make it stand out. Designed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind, Wise Business Payroll offers a streamlined user experience that simplifies the payroll process. The platform ensures compliance with tax regulations and provides seamless integration with popular accounting software.

One of its most notable features is the ability to make batch payments, enabling users to pay up to 1000 invoices in one go. This not only streamlines payroll management, but also makes it incredibly efficient for employers to support their international team members.

Business owners can also pay international employees in their local currencies, avoiding costly conversion fees.

Pricing:

Unlike some competitors, Wise Business Payroll has no minimum balance requirements and no monthly fees for US-based business accounts. The Wise Business account also provides an API and a batch payments tool (pay up to 1000 invoices in one click).

A difference-maker is that these tools are included in the account at no extra cost. The cost come in when customers make cross-currency transfers, where Wise Business takes a low-cost fee.

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Trustpilot: 4.4/5 average rating¹³

Over 300k+ businesses customers use Wise globally

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

2. Square Payroll

Next on the list of competition is Square Payroll. This full-service payroll option simplifies the process by effortlessly integrating with the Square ecosystem - like Square POS.

They’ve got plenty of features to boast, such as their support for both salaried and hourly employees, as well as contractors. This flexibility allows businesses to manage diverse team structures with ease. Additionally, Square Payroll automates quarterly and annual tax filings and has timecard and tip integration.

Pricing:

The best part about Square Payroll is that they’re “priced for small businesses.” They don’t have any hidden fees or commitments, so you can pause or cancel any time you want. There are two options: paying employees and contractors at a $35 monthly subscription fee (+$6/person per month) or paying contractors only at just a $6 monthly fee/person.¹

Learn More: Free Payroll Software Alternatives

3. Paychex

Paychex offers a blend of advanced technology and personalized support to make payroll management efficient. They offer payroll, benefits, and HR solutions based on business size - Paychex Solo for those who are self-employed, 1 - 19 employees, 20 - 49 employees, and 50 - 1000+ employees.

While the company has all the necessities, like employee benefits, time and attendance tools, and HR services, they distinguish themselves by their specialized products and services. For instance, you can get access to a professional employer organization (PEO) for a more comprehensive level of HR services.

Pricing:

Paychex (See Paychex alternatives) has flexible pricing plans designed to accommodate your unique business. With a focus on providing value for money, Paychex's pricing structure allows businesses to select a plan that aligns with their budget and requirements. Their basic plan - Paychex Flex Essentials - is priced at $39/mo (+5/person per month). The Paychex Flex Select starts at $44/month (+3/person per month) and Paychex Flex Pro at $89/month (+3/person per month) - these plans can be tailored to your requirements.²

4. Onpay

OnPay is for you if you’re all about payroll reports and organization. It’s a remarkable QuickBooks competitor that focuses most on customizability - you can set up filters, use the report designer, and also make specialized checklists and onboarding workflows.

They even have unlimited payroll runs, allowing businesses to process payroll as often as needed without incurring extra costs. And not just that, they boast six levels of system permissions for delegating tasks and controlling payroll access.

Pricing:

OnPay's straightforward pricing structure is similar to Square Payroll. It’s designed to accommodate different business budgets through one monthly fee based on how many people you pay each month. The base fee is $40/month, and each person is $6/month. They even have a fee slider where you can see exactly how much you’ll be paying.³

5. Patriot

On a budget? Patriot is a budget-friendly solution to your payroll needs, with a basic self-service option. While you’ll have to file your own taxes, it’s certainly worth it if you’re not looking for anything fancy (they’re mantra is “leave no customer behind!). All plans still come with unlimited pay runs and customizable hours and payroll frequencies, making it great for startups wanting easy-to-use software.

If you opt for the full-service option, Patriot will handle all local, state, and federal taxes. They also have a penalty-free guarantee if their representatives make any mistakes. Note that they don’t have employee benefits options, so this won’t be for you if you need those.

Pricing:

There’s nothing complex about Patriot’s pricing. Payroll software starts at $17/month + $4 per employee or contractor.⁴

6. ADP

ADP brings a wealth of experience and innovation to the payroll and HR management arena. As a well-established player in the market, ADP works for both small startups and Fortune 500 companies.

What sets ADP apart is its powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights to help optimize payroll processes. Additionally, the platform boasts a wide range of HR tools designed to streamline employee management.

Pricing:

To find out how much your business will be paying, you’ll have to request a quote. They split their pricing based on the number of employees you have. For small businesses with 1 - 49 employees, there are four plans: Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro Payroll & HR. For those with 50+ employees, there are the Essential, Enhanced, and Premium plans.⁵ ⁶

7. SurePayroll

Just like Patriot, SurePayroll has a DIY option, which is ideal for those who want to cut down on costs but still get the essentials of payroll processing. Of course, with this option, you’ll have to do tax filing yourself, but there are other fantastic features that you can take advantage of.

SurePayroll’s ability to handle nanny and household employee payroll sets it apart from many other platforms. And if you end up choosing the full-service plan, you’ll get 2-day direct deposits, ensuring your employees are paid on time, every time.

Pricing:

At the end of the day, pricing matters. That’s why SurePayroll has optional add-ons like time clock integration ($4.99 + $3 per employee/mo), tax filings in multiple states ($9.99), and more. For the no-tax filing plan, it’s $19.99/month + $4 per employee. Want the full-service package? It’ll cost you $29.99/month + $5 per employee.⁷

8. TriNet

TriNet(see TriNet Alternatives) is considered more so an HR software, but with payroll tools as an add-on. Their HR solutions are robust and many of the other providers on this list. It doesn’t just let you hire, onboard, and pay employees. It also has compensation planning tools and custom salary benchmark reports so you know how much you should pay employees.

Their full-service HR offerings also include employee benefits administration and risk mitigation. This all-in-one approach makes it a top choice for businesses looking to consolidate their HR and payroll needs under one roof.

Pricing:

TriNet’s pricing can be summed up as predictable. They charge a flat fee per employee per month (PEPM), so you know exactly what you’re paying. A big bonus is that most of their contracts offer flexible terms without having to be locked in long-term. Unfortunately, you have to request a quote with Trinet to find out what your costs are.⁸

9. Rippling

Rippling brings a fresh approach with integrated and modular HR, payroll, and IT products. This powerful platform is, at its core, a workforce management solution that has add-ons like benefits, inventory management, expense management, and more.

You get a unified hub for managing payroll, HR, IT, and more, which means fewer headaches and more time to focus on growing your business. It’s particularly useful for tech-heavy businesses that need things like live chat and managing employee company laptops.

Pricing:

Now, let's talk pricing. Rippling charges on a per-user basis, at $8 a month. But in certain situations, they might charge at or include a monthly base fee.⁹

10. Paylocity

Paylocity (compare with alternatives) calls itself “The Most Complete Platform for the Modern Workforce.” While they have features like payroll, benefits, time and attendance, and talent management, they focus on creating a fuller employee experience. Their HR software takes into consideration both the needs of HR but also the needs of employees.

The platform offers an extensive library of resources, providing valuable insights and support to help you navigate the world of payroll and HR with ease. There are also product training courses so you can get the most out of the software.

Pricing:

Paylocity is also priced PEPM, like a few other providers on the list. It’s a fantastic structure for expanding businesses, as the price per employee stays the same. To get a more exact idea of how much you’ll be paying, you’ll have to request a quote.¹⁰

11. Papaya Global

Papaya Global is the only operating system unifying global payroll and payments, making it an enterprise-grade solution perfect for businesses with an international presence.

Its AI-based engines and automated global payroll SaaS platform are powerful tools that come together to provide a seamless and efficient experience. For businesses that are international or are planning to go global, their expertise in global benefits, immigration, and equity management will make it easy to navigate the complexities of managing a diverse workforce across borders.

Pricing:

Papaya Global’s full-service payroll platform starts at $12/mo per employee.¹¹

12. Personio

Personio puts people at the heart of their payroll and HR solutions, as reflected in their name. This people-centric platform is designed to make managing your workforce a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Personio focuses on the entire employee lifecycle, from recruiting to offboarding. Their platform can do it all - simplify absence management, centralize employee files, smooth out the onboarding and time tracking process, and recruit people from ad to offer. By targeting all these areas, they ensure your team stays engaged, productive, and happy from their very first day on the job.

Pricing:

Personio provides a complimentary demo for all businesses, allowing you to explore their platform before committing. They offer three well-structured plans: Essential, Professional, and Enterprise, each catering to different needs. To find the perfect fit, simply select a plan that has all the functions you want.¹²

How Wise Business Helps You Save On Overseas Payroll

Wise Business can help you save on international payroll. One of the most useful features we offer 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 Wise Business API: Recurring payments and automatic payouts Permissions: Give 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 perfect moment No minimum balance requirements and monthly fees: Learn more about fees here

Start making payments
with Wise Business >>

Learn More:

International Payroll: The 14 Best Services You Should Know
The 10 best apps for payroll: Small business lifesavers

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Sources:

1. https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll/pricing
2. https://www.paychex.com/payroll/compare-payroll-solutions
3. https://onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing
4. https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/
5. https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx
6. https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/products/adp-workforce-now/compare-options.aspx
7. https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-gusto-competitors/
8. https://www.trinet.com/hr-services/pricing
9. https://www.rippling.com/pricing
10. https://www.paylocity.com/our-products/pricing/
11. https://www.papayaglobal.com/pricing/
12. https://www.personio.com/pricing/
13. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/wise.com