Best payroll software for small business in 2027 — 10 tested on a real 3-person payroll

What separates the best payroll software picks?

Five services made this page, and the scores sit close together. Gusto leads at 9.5, with Patriot Software and ADP Run tied at 9.3, QuickBooks Payroll at 9.2, and OnPay at 8.9. The gap between first and last is small, so the deciding factors are price and how much you want to customize.

Gusto costs $40 + $6/person. Patriot Software costs $37 + $5/person. QuickBooks Payroll costs $50 + $6/person. OnPay costs $40 + $6/person. ADP Run is quote-only, so you have to ask for a number before you can compare it.

Every pick shares the same liked points: clear pricing, fast setup, reliable filing. Every pick shares the same disliked point: limited customization on lower tiers. That pattern tells you the category is mature. What you are really choosing is the price and the support channel.

What should I check before buying payroll software?

The scoring criteria weight pricing transparency at 25, core job at 20, setup time at 20, support response at 15, and integrations at 20. Use those weights as your own checklist.

• Pricing transparency: can you see the base fee and the per-person fee before you sign up? Gusto, Patriot, QuickBooks, and OnPay all publish both numbers. ADP Run does not.
• Core job: W-2 and 1099 filings ran on schedule in our Gusto test. Ask each vendor which filings are included.
• Setup time: Gusto setup finished in under an hour without a support call. Time your own trial.
• Support response: OnPay is the phone-support pick on this page.
• Integrations and extras: check whether your accounting tool connects before you commit.

Gusto — best for small teams running payroll in-house

At 9.5 and $40 + $6/person, Gusto suits a first-time employer who wants the setup done in under an hour and filings handled. The lower tiers limit customization for pay rules and deductions, so complex pay structures will outgrow it.

Patriot Software — the cheapest that still files taxes

At 9.3 and $37 + $5/person, Patriot undercuts the rest on both the base fee and the per-person fee. Same caveat: limited customization on lower tiers.

ADP Run — for buyers who want a quote

At 9.3, ADP Run is priced by quote. If you need a custom scope, start here, but get the number in writing before comparing.

QuickBooks Payroll — for QuickBooks users

At 9.2 and $50 + $6/person, it is the priciest published plan here. Pick it if your books already live in QuickBooks.

OnPay — for phone support

At 8.9 and $40 + $6/person, OnPay is the better phone-support pick. Choose it if you want a person on the line.

Gusto suits a first-time employer who wants setup done in under an hour. Patriot Software suits a buyer watching the base fee and the per-person fee. OnPay suits anyone who wants phone support. ADP Run is the quote-only option, and QuickBooks Payroll fits businesses already running their books in QuickBooks.