Square Payroll vs ADP Comprehensive Services

Gusto

Paylocity

Paychex Flex

Paycom

QuickBooks Payroll

UKG Pro

Compare Square Payroll and ADP Comprehensive Services based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Deel

Deel is the only global-first people platform that enables companies to hire, pay, manage, and develop talent in 150+ countries without compliance headaches or third-party dependencies. Deel supports 40,000 customers and 1.5 million workers through a single, scalable global system.

Rippling

Rippling is a cloud-based workforce management system that helps businesses manage operations across HR, finance, and IT.

One unified platform for HR, Finance, and IT. Connect people, processes, and data. Automate tasks and drive business growth. 

Square Payroll is a cloud-based U.S. solution that handles federal and state payroll taxes including withholdings, payments and filings

401(k) Tracking

Accounting

Accounting Integration

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Benefits Dashboard

Benefits Management

Compliance Management

Customizable Reports

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

Direct Deposit

Employee Database

Employee Management

Employee Portal

Employee Profiles

Employee Self Service

For Accountants

For Cloud

For Small Businesses

Leave Tracking

Mobile App

Multi-State

Online Benefits Enrollment

Payroll Management

Payroll Reporting

Real-Time Reporting

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Self Service Portal

Sick Leave Tracking

Tax Calculation

Tax Compliance

Tax Filing

Tax Forms

Third-Party Integrations

Time Off Requests

Timesheet Management

Time Tracking

Vacation/Leave Tracking

W-2 Preparation

Wage Garnishment

Web-based Deployment

By industry, Square Payroll reviewers are most commonly professionals in food & beverages (16%). The most frequent use case cited is small business payroll (53% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate Square Payroll offers transparent, affordable pricing and robust features, which they find cost-effective. However, some users report higher costs for larger teams or add-ons, and a few wish for more customization or bundled options.

Value for money

Square Payroll is a payroll program offering key features such as direct deposit, tax compliance, payroll management, payroll reporting, W-2 preparation, and a self-service portal, among others.

Square Payroll

Web-based

Android

iPhone

iPad

Pay Employees and Contractors

Pay Contractors Only

Owner

However, if your business requires highly complex custom reporting or deeply integrated HR functions, you may find the platform too basic for your long-term needs.

We have 2 main issues with the software and that's making it more customizable and also getting customer service support is sometime difficult. Since square makes the software easy to use it sometimes lacks in certain areas.

Owner, President

They send reminders and make sure I'm following all the local, state and federal laws, and organize my employee taxes so easily.

I wish it Square Payroll/shifts synced up with Square Appointments so I don't have to schedule staff shifts & staff appointment windows; I am basically scheduling twice.

I can track & pay out PTO, withhold Child Support payments, distribute tips -- it's all super intuitive and clear, for both me and my employees.

Manager

Limited State Availability means that it is not available in all states, which may pose a challenge for businesses operating in areas where the software is not yet supported.

Brand management

Overall great for processing payments quickly.

The other company made it too complicated, and Square is much easier to use and navigate, once you get used to the system.

User friendly and keeps everything organized and very helpful in my business.

You can also integrate with Square POS for more efficient payment processing.

Inputting new employees and setting up payroll is simple everytime

It has a great interface, is simple to use, and includes tax filing and employee self-service, which are the features I need.

Taxes are shipped off and on time every time.

Admin

Square Payroll's transparent pricing, with no hidden fees, meant we could budget more effectively, knowing exactly what our expenses would be month-to-month.

Now that we have been using it for a year or more, its practically automated.

I love that Square Payroll is very affordable and easy to use.

Makes paying employees super easy with no complex issues.

owner

You can manage your documents with a simple click.

The integration of payroll management into our existing Square ecosystem was seamless, streamlining our operations significantly.

We LOVE Squarepace payroll for the simple fact that it's easy to use, user-friendly, and mobile app-friendly.

Publisher

It has great features and it simplifies everything making it easy for anyone to use .

Supervisor

Square has become the industry standard for small business financial transactions and pairing square payroll within your small business feels correct despite any issues within the software.

The only problem with Square is that it is difficult to correctly configure this service to integrate it with the time measurement service, it was so difficult that after a weed trying to do this integration, we were not successful.

I'm happy with the results obtained with the help of Square, I have been able to make unlimited payroll payments, I have been able to make deductions from salaries and many other things.

Director

Easy  to use was efficient and fast to use

I enjoyed being able to send automated payments to contractors and also other businesses officially versus me having to pay somebody via check only and not have it reported as 1099.

Chief Human Resources Officer.

It allows to organize all employees in a structured way and to control processes and working hours easily.

I loved this software, ease of use, money paid UNTIL I had a change in employee status and found out, after 3 months and 3 different customer service agents, that you cannot go from using payroll, to not using it without completely closing the account. And if you close the account, you won't get the tax forms.

Staff Accountant

Most tasks necessary for Payroll were centralized.

There is a seamless integration with timesheets and the employee app to clock and clock out hours worked.

Office Manager

Square Payroll's dashboard was very easy to navigate, the software itself was self explanatory & for the most part easy to use, but i ran into a few problems when it came to direct deposit, employee requested time off, & it was also a little more expensive then other payroll software programs.

It streamlines payroll and vacation pay and helps keep compliance under control.

The payroll portal is connected separate from the website and is easy to sort out money and wages and tips for small to large offline businesses.

Allows you to print checks facilitating payment to contractors.

Square seems to have big ideas, and they don't fall short in terms of ambition.

Teacher 

I am able to view all of my paycheck history in one spot and it is digital.

I absolutely love that Square Payroll manages every facet of fund transfer including submitting tax form to my contractors, essentially taking care of my responsibilities as an employer.

I do wish I could have the vacation tracking be done simply by the month, and not by hours worked.

Operator

We use square for our POS, scheduling employees, and payroll.

Ease of use, simple to input time and tips for employees.  

I love that Square Payroll tracks all of my employee time, can be used from any device and best of all, they file all required regulatory paperwork for me so I don't have to.

Owner/Hairstylist

I can make my appointments, and the fact that my team can clock in and out, make appointments, and get paid in a timely manner, leaves alot of the stress off of me as the owner.  

Producer 

The software is outdated to all the new updated apps that have innovated with the new modern technology.

Fitness Professional

Technology always has it's drawbacks and occasional glitches, but I feel that they have been limited with this app.

It takes 4 days after processing payroll to get employees paid.  

Notary Public

I have most of the features I need for my employees, i.e. commissions, PTO, Tips, etc.

general manager

It is so easy to use, either on the computer or mobile phoneVery inexpensive compared with Paychex and ADP (both of which I have used in the past)Comprehensive payroll service, I don't need to do anything other than input information

President

I have not figured out how to use the employees app to submitting time card to Square.

Users report that Square Payroll’s payroll management capabilities are intuitive and simple to use, allowing them to easily add or remove employees, manage pay rates, and schedule payroll. They indicate Square Payroll enables importing time cards, handling hourly and commission pay, and managing pre- and post-tax benefits. Reviewers feel the mobile access is convenient, and appreciate the automation and organization Square Payroll brings. Some wish for more scheduling flexibility and better support for international contractors. Of the 34 Square Payroll users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Payroll Management, 94% rated this feature as important or highly important.

User Interface

Payment Processing

Customer Support

Employee Time Tracking

Reporting

Tax Management

Employee Pay and Tips

Ease of Use

Recurring software glitches and delays

61% of reviewers feel negative about Square Payroll’s bugs and issues. Some users report experiencing glitches, especially after software or iOS updates, which disrupt payroll operations and cause inconvenience. Reviewers indicate that errors in calculations, such as incorrect withholding or overtime, require manual corrections and can be time-consuming. Some users say customer support is slow to resolve technical problems, leading to frustration when urgent issues arise. Reviewers mention that inconsistent system behavior and difficulty troubleshooting problems add to their dissatisfaction.

Helpful automated payroll reminders

Owner 

Reminders were super helpful and I never missed payroll deadlines.

97% of reviewers feel positive about Square Payroll’s payroll reminders. Some users say the automated email and text notifications help them stay on track with payroll deadlines. Reviewers appreciate that reminders reduce the risk of missing pay periods and ensure timely payments. Some users report that prompts and alerts keep their payroll process organized, relieving stress and helping them manage multiple responsibilities. Reviewers indicate that these reminders are especially valuable for busy business owners who might otherwise overlook important payroll tasks.

Simple payroll management experience

Co-Owner

It's a very simple system to use and I think it's perfect for a small company like ours.

97% of reviewers feel positive about Square Payroll’s ease of use. Some users say the platform is straightforward and intuitive, reducing the stress of managing payroll. Reviewers appreciate that the interface is user-friendly, making it easy to learn and operate even for beginners. Some users report that the software streamlines payroll tasks, saving them time and effort. Reviewers indicate that being able to quickly process payroll and navigate the system without confusion is a major benefit, especially for small businesses looking for a hassle-free solution.

Small Business

Large Enterprises

Mid-size Business

Freelancers

Most reviewers indicate that Square Payroll offers transparent, predictable pricing with no hidden fees, which helps them budget effectively and reduces financial surprises. They say the service is affordable and cost-effective, especially for small businesses, and that its pricing is competitive compared to other payroll providers. Most users consider the included features to be robust for the price, often noting that Square Payroll provides good value relative to competitors that charge significantly more. They appreciate that the service is easy to use and that the cost aligns well with the benefits, such as time savings and not needing additional office staff. Some reviewers mention the availability of a free trial as a plus, and they like that the software is accessible without requiring a strong accounting background. However, some users report that the cost increases with more team members or when using extra features, and they would prefer lower prices or bundled options when not using all Square products. A few reviewers feel that certain add-ons, like booking tools, are expensive, and some express confusion about the pricing structure or wish for more customization at a lower cost.

Square

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a cloud-based human capital management, talent management, and benefits software built for midsized and large businesses.

Optimize the people side of your business and get best practices, compliance guidance, assistance with talent management, and more.

Square Payroll vs ADP Comprehensive Services Comparison (2026)

Square Payroll

ADP Comprehensive Services

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives