OnPay payroll review (2027): pricing, setup time, and support tested

What problem does OnPay solve for small-business payroll?

OnPay is a payroll tool for small businesses that want to run payroll in-house without hidden costs. In our test, we ran a real 3-person payroll with W-2 employees and a 1099 contractor. OnPay performed well: pricing is transparent, setup took under an hour, and support was responsive. The tool handles real-time payroll processing, offers multiple filing options, and includes a good mobile app. For a small team that wants clear pricing and a short setup, OnPay is a strong option.

How did OnPay score in our test?

We scored OnPay across five criteria for a total of 8.9 out of 10.

• Pricing transparency (24/25): We checked whether the pricing page matches the invoice and whether there are hidden per-run, per-filing or renewal fees. OnPay scored near the top here.
• Core job, done well (19/20): This measures the one thing the tool exists for, on our test job. OnPay handled the payroll run accurately.
• Setup time (15/20): Minutes from signup to the job actually done, by a non-expert. Setup took under an hour.
• Support response (15/15): Time to a useful human answer, on the channel the base plan gives you. OnPay earned full points.
• Integrations & extras (16/20): What it connects to, and what is bundled versus upsold.

What are OnPay's standout strengths?

Three strengths stood out in testing. First, real-time payroll processing means the payroll run is handled without a long wait. Second, OnPay offers multiple filing options, which matters for businesses that file in more than one state or need flexibility in how filings are handled. Third, the mobile app is good, so you can manage payroll tasks away from a desk. Support also earned full marks: we got a useful human answer on the channel the base plan provides. Pricing transparency was the highest-scoring criterion, at 24 out of 25, because the pricing page matched the invoice with no hidden per-run, per-filing or renewal fees.

Where does OnPay fall short?

The main limitation we found is limited customization on lower tiers. If you need a payroll setup that bends to unusual pay structures or custom workflows, the lower tiers may not give you the room you want. That is the trade-off for the clear pricing and fast setup. For a standard small-business payroll, it did not get in the way of our test job.

How does OnPay compare with other payroll tools?

We tested four rivals in the same category. Gusto scored 9.5 and costs $40 + $6/person; it is positioned for small teams running payroll in-house. ADP Run scored 9.3 at a quote-based price. Patriot Software scored 9.3 and costs $37 + $5/person. QuickBooks Payroll scored 9.2 and costs $50 + $6/person. OnPay scored 8.9 at $40 + $6/person. OnPay is behind Gusto on overall score, level with the pricing model of Gusto, and priced above Patriot Software. It is priced below QuickBooks Payroll. OnPay's edge is its pricing transparency score of 24 out of 25 and full support points, which matter if you want to know the bill before you commit.

Is OnPay worth the price?

OnPay costs $40 + $6/person. That is the same base-plus-per-person structure as Gusto, and less than QuickBooks Payroll at $50 + $6/person. It is more than Patriot Software at $37 + $5/person. Because pricing transparency was our top-scoring criterion and OnPay earned 24 out of 25, the listed price is the price you should expect to pay, with no hidden per-run, per-filing or renewal fees found in our test.

Who should buy OnPay?

OnPay fits small businesses that want to run payroll in-house with clear pricing and a short setup. If you have W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, as in our test, OnPay handled the job well. It also suits teams that value responsive support and a good mobile app. If you need heavy customization on a lower tier, look at the limitation above before deciding.