Best Stand Alone Payroll Software

RUN Powered by ADP is a payroll and HR platform built for small businesses with 1 to 49 employees. It handles payroll processing, automatic federal, state, and local tax calculation and filing, direct deposit, and W-2/1099 form creation, while adding HR tools such as onboarding, employee handbook support, time tracking, and access to recruiting resources like ZipRecruiter job postings. A RUN & DONE autopilot feature lets recurring payroll run automatically, and a mobile app gives employees access to pay history and personal information.

ADP offers RUN in four packages, Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro, each adding more HR support and compliance tools on top of core payroll. ADP does not publish fixed prices; cost depends on company size, payroll frequency, states of operation, and chosen features, and is provided through a custom quote. Businesses typically also pay a one-time setup fee. ADP reports over 900,000 small business clients use the platform.

Wave Payroll is a payroll add-on for Wave's free accounting and invoicing platform, built for small business owners in the United States and Canada who need to pay employees and independent contractors without complex HR software. It handles direct deposit, automatic payroll tax calculations, and generates year-end tax forms (W-2/1099 in the US, T4/T4A in Canada). Payroll runs are recorded automatically as journal entries in Wave's accounting books, so bookkeeping stays reconciled without manual entry.

In the US, Wave offers full-service payroll with automatic tax payments and filings in all 50 states. In Canada, tax filings must be completed manually by the business owner, as Wave does not yet offer full-service tax remittance there. Employees get a self-service portal for pay stubs, tax forms, and banking details. Pricing is a flat monthly base fee plus a per-worker fee, with no long-term contracts.

Square Payroll is an online payroll service built by Square (Block, Inc.) for small businesses, particularly those already using Square Point of Sale. It handles gross-to-net pay calculations, direct deposit, and automated federal and state tax filings for employees, and imports timecards and tips directly from Square's POS and Team App. It also supports health insurance and 401(k) retirement benefit administration, and syncs with QuickBooks Online for bookkeeping.

For businesses that only need to pay independent contractors, Square offers a lower-cost Contractor-Only plan that generates and files Form 1099-NEC but does not include automated tax filing, multistate support, or automatic payroll. Both plans offer unlimited pay runs per month, no long-term contracts, and digital delivery of W-2 and 1099 forms, with paper copies available for an added per-form fee.

Patriot Payroll is a cloud-based payroll processing platform built for small businesses in the United States. It handles federal, state, and local payroll tax calculations, offers free direct deposit, unlimited payroll runs, and an employee self-service portal for pay stubs and W-2s. The product is offered in two tiers: Basic Payroll, where the business handles its own tax filings, and Full Service Payroll, where Patriot files and deposits payroll taxes on the business's behalf across all 50 states.

The platform integrates with QuickBooks, time and attendance tools like Buddy Punch and TSheets, and add-ons for HR and time tracking sold separately. It targets small to mid-sized US-based businesses looking for straightforward, affordable payroll software with US-based phone, email, and chat support, rather than large enterprises or international payroll needs.

Wagepoint is a cloud-based payroll platform built specifically for small businesses and accounting professionals in Canada. It automates the core work of running payroll: calculating wages and deductions, issuing direct deposits, remitting federal, provincial, and territorial taxes (including CPP and EI), and generating year-end forms such as T4s, T4As, and Records of Employment. A self-serve employee portal lets staff view paystubs, check pay dates, and update personal details, while a companion mobile app allows employees to check pay information and submit time entries.

The platform is aimed at small business owners, bookkeepers, and accountants, with specific support for industries like healthcare, restaurants, hospitality, construction, retail, and law firms. Wagepoint integrates with accounting tools including QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks, and Xero, and offers add-on HR products (Studio and Growth plans) alongside its core payroll subscription. Security measures include two-factor authentication and SOC 2 certification.

SurePayroll, a Paychex company, is an online payroll service designed for small businesses, including specialized plans for household employers and nannies. It handles payroll runs, calculates and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes, and manages year-end forms such as W-2 and 1099-NEC. The platform supports paying both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, offers free two-day direct deposit, and provides mobile apps for employers and employees to run payroll and view pay stubs from anywhere.

Beyond core payroll, SurePayroll offers add-on services such as accounting software integration, time clock integration, employment law support, and 401(k) plan options. It provides new-hire reporting in all states, live phone and chat support, and free onboarding assistance. The service is priced per month plus a per-employee fee, with a separate flat-rate multi-state payroll add-on, making it a straightforward option for businesses with a small number of employees.

OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses. It handles full-service payroll for both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, including automatic calculation and filing of federal, state, and local payroll taxes. The platform supports unlimited pay runs, multiple pay schedules and rates, direct deposit, debit card payment, and printed checks at no extra fee, along with year-end tax form generation.

Beyond payroll, OnPay offers HR tools such as employee self-onboarding with e-signatures, document storage, PTO tracking with customizable accrual policies, and organizational charts. It also provides benefits administration, including health insurance brokered in-house, 401(k) integrations, and workers' compensation plans. OnPay integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero and with time-tracking tools such as Deputy and When I Work. Pricing is a single transparent plan rather than tiered packages.

Paychex Flex is a cloud-based payroll and human resources platform built by Paychex, a company with decades of experience serving small and midsize businesses in the United States. The platform automates payroll processing, tax calculation and filing, and offers tools for hiring, onboarding, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, and HR compliance guidance. Paychex Flex is organized into several packages, including Select, Pro, and Enterprise for payroll-focused needs, plus HR Pro and HR PEO options that bundle in dedicated HR support, risk management, and benefits.

Businesses can run payroll on any schedule for hourly, salaried, and contract workers, and pay employees via direct deposit, paycards, or paper checks. The platform includes a mobile app for employee self-service and on-the-go payroll submission, plus integrations with accounting, POS, and other business software. Paychex does not publish flat pricing online; costs depend on employee count, selected package, and add-on services, and are provided through a custom quote from Paychex sales.

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll, benefits, and HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses in the United States. It handles full-service payroll including automatic federal, state, and local tax filing and payment, unlimited monthly payroll runs, direct deposit, W-2 and 1099 filing, and support for both employees and contractors. Beyond payroll, Gusto offers employee benefits administration such as health insurance through licensed brokers, 401(k) retirement plans, HSA/FSA and commuter benefits, and workers compensation.

The platform also includes HR tools like hiring and onboarding workflows, time tracking and PTO management, performance reviews, and an employee self-service app. Plans scale from a single-state payroll tier up to a premium tier with dedicated support and certified HR experts, plus a contractor-only option for businesses without W-2 employees. Gusto integrates with over 650 accounting and business apps and serves more than 500,000 businesses.

QuickBooks Payroll (recently rebranded by Intuit as QuickBooks Workforce in some markets) is a payroll processing service built for small and mid-sized businesses, available standalone or bundled with QuickBooks Online accounting. It automates gross-to-net payroll calculations, direct deposit, payroll tax calculation, and filing, with a guarantee on tax calculation accuracy. Employees can access pay stubs, W-2s, and time tracking through the QuickBooks Workforce mobile app.

The product is offered in tiered plans (commonly named Core, Premium, and Elite), which is why sources report both a base monthly subscription price and a separate per-employee monthly fee rather than a single flat price. Higher tiers add same-day direct deposit, QuickBooks Time tracking, HR support resources, workers' compensation administration, and tax penalty protection. It integrates natively with QuickBooks Online accounting and supports add-ons for benefits administration such as health insurance and 401(k) plans. Read QuickBooks Payroll Reviews