5 Top-Rated Payroll Software for Small Businesses

As your small business grows, tracking employee hours, calculating wages, and complying with ever-changing tax laws can become difficult to manage together. Manual methods such as spreadsheets are not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. Investing in payroll software tailored to your small business’s needs can be the solution.

Payroll software tools calculate wages based on logged employee hours, compute deductions such as taxes or benefits, process payments, and generate pay stubs. By automating these tasks, they reduce the risk of human error and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

To help you shortlist the right software, this article highlights, in alphabetical order, five top-rated payroll software for small businesses based on user reviews. For each product, we include overall user ratings along with the highest-rated attribute, product benefits, review excerpts from industry professionals, and pricing details. (Read how we selected these products at the bottom of the page.)

We selected products for this article based on their average ratings between January 2022 and January 2024, which may differ from their current overall average ratings.

BambooHR is human resources (HR) software with payroll processing features. It allows you to process pay runs, calculate employee salaries and deductions, and generate pay stubs. It supports various pay frequencies, including weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly payouts. It automatically calculates, withholds, and deposits federal, state, and local payroll taxes for employees and employers. Additionally, it allows employees to access their pay stub details, update personal information, and manage benefits directly through the BambooHR platform or mobile app.

Commonly discussed topics by BambooHR reviewers

Our analysis of BambooHR reviews on GetApp reveals the most commonly discussed topics:

• Streamlined HR processes: 96.7% of users say the tool streamlines HR processes—from recruitment to payroll—with its comprehensive cloud-based features. They also mention that its user-friendly interface, reporting capabilities, and seamless integration with other business applications have improved their businesses’ internal efficiency, cost savings, and data security.

• Exceptional customer service: 94.1% of users commend the customer service team's timely responses, practical solutions, and support resources (knowledge base, training documents, and live chat). 

• Efficient payroll management: 81.7% of users appreciate BambooHR’s efficiency and ease of managing payroll. It provides a centralized location for all employee data and easy access to employee records, time-off requests, and performance reviews for informed payroll processing.

Review excerpts from small-business users who have used BambooHR for payroll

"BambooHR also offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing HR teams to gain valuable insights into their organization's workforce and make data-driven decisions." (Aman Kumar, researcher, 2023)

"It has professional customer support services with a very reliable customer support team who always ensure timely responses to your concerns and even offer follow ups to ensure total satisfaction." (Mitesh Chavda, group financial controller, 2023)

"We found a tool that allows us to not only manage HR and payroll but, track goals and other milestones to help build and developed our culture of learning." (Dayna Walters, business development manager, 2022)

"I have gone through implementation of payroll services with four different providers over the years and BambooHR was by far the easiest process with the fewest issues. While there was work involved, their expectations were very clear and they worked with us to determine the best way to manage unique situations specific to our company." (Shana Combes, director of finance, 2022)

"The software is very user friendly, but the customer support teams for Bamboo and payroll are unbelievable. If you're shopping around, the customer support at Bamboo doesn't even compare to the competition." (Michelle Snyder, operations manager, 2022)

Read more about BambooHR.

Deel is an HR software solution with payroll capabilities. It lets you set up employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement, and automatically calculates tax and contribution deductions. It reduces administrative burden by auto-generating and submitting tax filings and reports to local authorities. You can use its global analytics feature to get a consolidated view of payroll expenses across different countries and regions. You can also generate gross-to-net reports to understand spending on salaries, bonuses, taxes, and other payroll components in one standard currency.

Commonly discussed topics by Deel reviewers

Our analysis of Deel reviews on GetApp reveals the most commonly discussed topics:

• Simplified contract management: 82.3% of users commend Deel's intuitive platform for simplifying contract creation and e-signatures from stakeholders. Users find the platform easy to navigate and say it has a straightforward setup process.

• Efficient payment transfers: 80% of users highlight that Deel supports various payment methods, including bank transfers, PayPal, and Binance. They like the ease of transferring payments to multiple accounts in different countries and the option to receive payments in local or client-provided currency.

• Easy international payments: 77.2% of users commend the multicurrency payment and international invoice management features. They also appreciate the platform’s quick payout and advance payment options.

Review excerpts from small-business users who have used Deel for payroll

"Deel offers flexibility, allowing businesses to pay their team members via various payment methods such as bank transfers, PayPal, and Binance." (Michail Khella, frontend engineer, 2023)

"User-friendly platform that is easy to navigate and use. Offers a range of features, including contract templates and e-signatures. Payment processing is integrated into the platform, making it easy to manage payments for remote workers. Support multiple ways of withdraw." (Brian Zhang, director, 2023)

"Such fast set up for international contracts, so moving contractors and employees into Deel payments was painless for both Finance and the employee or contractor." (Jonathan Nickel, finance director, 2023)

"Deel offers an intuitive interface with features tailored to international payments, such as handling multiple currencies and automating compliance." (Guilherme Selles, operations manager, 2023)

"Overall, with normal day to day payments of contractor and employees things go smoothly and work really well with Deel. When there is a hiccup in that, sometimes it can be difficult to resolve. Though at this point the efficiencies improved in day to day operations and payments still outweigh the issues I've run into." (Christopher LeBrun, director of finance and accounting, 2023)

Read more about Deel.

Hubstaff is a time tracking and productivity monitoring tool with payroll management capabilities. It lets you set up different pay rates for team members and automate payments at various frequencies—weekly, biweekly, and monthly. You also have an option to run payroll payments manually. Hubstaff supports payouts in multiple currencies, accommodating both local and international employees and eliminating currency conversion issues. It helps maintain compliance with local labor laws and tax regulations by providing customizable payroll reports for tax filings and audits.

Commonly discussed topics by Hubstaff reviewers

Our analysis of Hubstaff reviews on GetApp reveals the most commonly discussed topics:

• Accurate compensation calculation: 88.9% of users appreciate HubStaff's compensation calculation capability, particularly for its accuracy in time tracking and computation of regular hours, overtime, bonuses, and other relevant variables impacting compensation.

• Intuitive interface: 85.7% of users like Hubstaff's user-friendly interface. They also mention that its online timesheets enhance usability and accessibility for both administrators and employees.

• Simplified payroll management: 80% of users highlight the tool’s ability to track work hours and automatically compute payroll based on the time logged, including overtime calculations and different pay rates. 

Review excerpts from small-business users who have used Hubstaff for payroll

"I like the online time sheet, am able to truck staff working hours using the application and make their pay basing on time worked, it has good user interface.” (Mwima Hamuza, HR officer, 2023)

"It's cool since you can design the partner's hourly rate, and when a colleague begins the clock, it naturally begins computing the aggregate sum they'll get over that period." (Vivek Sharma, design, 2023)

"Hubstaff provides detailed reporting and analytics on payroll, employee time, and efficiency." (Chelsea Harper, digital marketing specialist, 2023)

"The time tracking and employee monitoring feature that helps ensure accurate payroll calculations." (Marjune Lawrence Soyosa, WordPress developer, 2023)

"Hubstaff offers good features that are beneficial for a company in terms of attendance, payroll, and other HR related needs– I like how we can find all these features in one platform." (Jan Domingo, graphic designer, 2022)

Read more about Hubstaff.

Patriot Payroll is a payroll and accounting solution that automates tax calculations, invoicing, and cash flow management. It automatically calculates employee reimbursements based on company policies and facilitates payouts. Employees can submit expense receipts, and you can either approve or reject the expenses. The software auto-generates and distributes employee or contractor tax documents, ensuring accurate and timely creation of W-2s and 1099s. It also generates financial reports, such as customer estimates, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets.

Commonly discussed topics by Patriot Payroll reviewers

Our analysis of Patriot Payroll reviews on GetApp reveals the most commonly discussed topics:

• Exceptional customer service: 88.2% of users find Patriot Payroll’s customer support reliable, efficient, and courteous.

• Efficient tax management: 78.6% of users mention that the software simplifies complex taxation and compliance processes associated with payroll. They say it efficiently handles tax filings and payroll calculations, saving time.

• Streamlined payroll processes: 69.8% of users value the system's ability to integrate with other tools and platforms, streamlining payroll processes and reducing manual work. They also like the time management feature and the ability to print pay stubs and checks, simplifying payroll management.

Review excerpts from small-business users who have used Patriot Payroll for payroll

"They are the best bang for the buck in payroll processing, and while other companies are outsourcing their customer service, Patriot keeps it US-based, which makes getting help a breeze." (Beth Kayhart, business administrator, 2023)

"It customer support is reliable, and it's particularly well-suited for small businesses seeking an efficient and cost-effective solution for managing payroll tasks." (Hadasseh Adekanbi, human resources, 2023)

"Payroll is completed in a matter of minutes and still allows me to keep track of contractors that we pay once in a while without having to pay them through direct deposit." (Jennifer Woodside, bookkeeper, 2023)

"What struck me from the very beginning was how straightforward everything was in setting up my company, my employees, health insurance contributions, and direct deposit." (Kate Lister, president, 2022)

"The functions for payroll, HR, and reporting are all very user-friendly. If you need assistance, you can call or chat with customer service in around 5 minutes, and they will take you through any adjustments, provide access to tax documents, sophisticated reporting options, and answer questions about any portion of their program you don't understand." (Rakib Sarker, payroll officer, 2022)

Read more about Patriot Payroll.

Rippling is a workforce management platform that integrates payroll, time tracking, and benefits administration. It lets you view employee pay stubs, time cards, and health and benefits accounts. You can view, edit, add, and approve staff timesheets from a unified dashboard. You can also process payroll, compare a pay run with past pay runs, and check changes in gross pay, deductions, taxes, etc. Additionally, your employees can view their pay slips, request time off, and access their W-2s via the Rippling mobile app.

Commonly discussed topics by Rippling reviewers

Our analysis of Rippling reviews on GetApp reveals the most commonly discussed topics:

• Comprehensive HR management: 93.3% of users highlight that Rippling centralizes and streamlines various HR tasks, such as payroll, benefits administration, and IT management. It consolidates these tasks into a single platform, eliminating the need for multiple systems, reducing complexity, and improving efficiency.

• User-friendly interface: 91% of users commend Rippling’s intuitive interface, which makes navigation effortless. They find the layout clean and well-organized, with large icons and clear labels that contribute to its user-friendliness.

• Efficient payroll management: 87.2% of users appreciate Rippling’s ability to automate payroll processing. Users say they can easily access payroll management, benefits administration, and company structure settings without navigating through multiple sections or complex menus.

Review excerpts from small-business users who have used Rippling for payroll

"Rippling is an extremely user friendly platform that allows visibility into my paycheck and makes the ability to request vacation time and oversee your 401K investments as simple as possible." (Brandon Spear, product support specialist, 2022)

"From Primary use of Payroll and HR Management to Benefits and Elections rippling has given us the ultimate freedom of mind. The stress free (unlike other brands) software application works perfectly fast and worry free and amazes us with the compatibility of handling many tasks at a time." (Nitin John, director of respiratory therapy, 2022)

"The UX/UI is so much better than any other tool I have used in this space/. It doesn't provide too much information to end users, has great in application guidance and seamless navigation." (Hannah Brotherton, CS ops manager, 2022)

"Coming from an entire career within corporate with complex and heavily-nested HR/Payroll/PTO/etc functions, I found Rippling to be straight-forward, and the navigation simple and clear." (Brittany Dodson, senior research analyst, 2022)

"I can manage and check the hours left for PTO's and apply myself, Can see all the management in the hierarchy, able to access my insurance and other benefits in the same app and register, easy to download paychecks." (Sara Ayesha, senior QA analyst, 2022)

Read more about Rippling.

Payroll software solutions include the following core features: 

• Payroll management: Automate the process of tracking employee work hours, applying appropriate pay rates, managing overtime, and ensuring timely payment. This payroll feature also involves maintaining up-to-date records of each employee’s payroll history to simplify payroll processing and audits.

• Payroll reporting: Generate reports for detailed insights into payroll expenses and trends. These reports include summaries of employee earnings, tax withholdings, benefits deductions, and other payroll-related metrics.

• Tax compliance: Adhere to federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations. This payroll feature automatically calculates and withholds the correct tax amount from employee paychecks, including income tax, social security, Medicare, and unemployment tax. 

All products listed in this report include the key features mentioned above. Besides these core features, payroll solutions commonly tend to offer:

• Employee benefits administration

• Check printing

• Compensation management

• Compliance management

• Direct deposit

• Employee database

• Employee profiles

• Self-service portal

• Time tracking

• W-2 preparation

• Full-service payroll

• Global payroll reports

Here are a few factors to consider while evaluating small business payroll software options:

• Understand your business requirements. If your business is small, a straightforward payroll solution should suffice, but if you have a mix of full-time, part-time, and freelance workers, you might need more complex features. Consider the number of employees you have, their employment types (full time, part time, contractors, etc.), and any specific payroll processing needs, such as direct deposits, benefits administration, and payroll tax calculations. By identifying these requirements, you can narrow your options to software that caters specifically to your needs, avoiding unnecessary features that complicate the process or add to the cost.

• Check payroll automation capabilities. When done manually, payroll tasks can be time-consuming and prone to mistakes. However, an online payroll system can address these challenges by automating repetitive tasks such as calculating salaries, tax deductions, and overtime pay, and generating pay stubs. Automated features also include direct deposit capabilities, automatic tax filing, and compliance updates, saving you time, reducing the risk of human error, and ensuring your staff is paid accurately and on time.

• Assess reporting and compliance features. Your shortlisted payroll system should offer insights into payroll expenses, employee earnings, tax liabilities, etc. These reports assist with financial planning and audits. Compliance capabilities also ensure the software remains up to date with the latest tax laws and labor regulations, which vary by region and change frequently. These capabilities include automatic updates to tax tables, generation of compliance reports, and assistance with filing tax forms. Reporting and compliance features help avoid legal pitfalls, reduce the risk of penalties, and maintain accurate records for internal and external audits.

Consider asking software providers the following questions to find the best payroll software for small business:

• Is there a self-service portal for employees? 

A self-service portal allows employees to access their payroll information, including pay stubs, tax forms, and benefits, without going through HR or payroll administrators. This feature reduces the administrative burden on your HR staff and enhances employee experience by providing greater transparency and control over financial information. For your small business, a self-service portal can save time and improve efficiency, allowing your staff to focus on more strategic tasks.

• Is your software mobile-friendly? 

Mobile accessibility enables you and your employees to access payroll information and perform essential tasks from smartphones or tablets, regardless of the location. This flexibility allows you to manage payroll tasks on the go, ensuring payroll processing is not delayed due to physical absence from the office. For your employees, a mobile-friendly interface provides convenient access to payroll details, enhancing their overall satisfaction and engagement.

• What security measures are in place to protect payroll data? 

An automated payroll solution stores confidential information, including employees’ personal identification numbers, bank details, and salary information. Ask the payroll provider about the security measures they have implemented to protect this data from breaches and unauthorized access. Look for data encryption, multifactor authentication, security audits, and compliance with data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Security measures help your small business safeguard employee trust and avoid costly legal repercussions from data breaches.