Payroll software that publishes its rates costs a monthly base fee of roughly $17 to $50 plus $4 to $8 per employee, so the effective cost per head lands near $12 to $16 at five employees and $5.50 to $8 at one hundred.[1][2][3][4][5] Patriot lists $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid for full service payroll, SurePayroll $29 plus $7, Square $35 plus $6, Wave $40 plus $6, and OnPay $49 plus $6.[1][2][3][4][5] Gusto's plans are independently reported at $49 plus $6, $80 plus $12, and $180 plus $22, and QuickBooks, renamed Workforce, at $50 plus $7, $88 plus $13, and $134 plus $17 following a per employee increase effective July 1, 2026.[10][12][13] ADP, Paychex, and Rippling publish no payroll rates at all, and third party analysis puts a RUN Essential starting point near $79 a month plus $4 per employee.[7][8][9][14] Charges outside the headline rate include $12 a month per additional state at Patriot, $9.99 a month for multi-state at SurePayroll, year-end forms at $50 plus $5 each, and promotional pricing such as ADP's three months free.[1][3][9]
\n","summary":"Payroll vendors that publish rates charge a monthly base fee of about $17 to $50 plus $4 to $8 per employee, which works out to roughly $12 to $16 per head at five employees and $5.50 to $8 at one hundred. OnPay, Patriot, SurePayroll, Square, and Wave post prices; ADP, Paychex, and Rippling do not. Multi-state filing, year-end forms, time tracking, and promotional rates that expire after three to six months all sit outside the advertised number.","publishedAt":"2026-07-20T21:30:08.94","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","editorialStatus":"APPROVED","lastReviewedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","nextReviewDueAt":"2026-10-20T00:00:00","templateVersion":"v2","aliases":["How much does payroll software cost per employee per month?","Payroll software cost per employee","What does payroll processing cost per employee?","Average cost of payroll software in 2026","How much does Gusto cost per employee?","How much does ADP RUN cost for 10 employees?","Payroll service cost for 25 employees","Base fee plus per employee payroll pricing explained","Cheapest full service payroll software per employee","Contractor only payroll cost per contractor","Hidden fees in payroll software pricing","How much does payroll software cost for a small business?"],"confidenceScore":83,"confidenceLabel":"High","canonicalUrl":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"contributorOrganizationProfile":{"entityId":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","legalName":null,"description":null,"websiteUrl":null,"imageUrl":null,"slogan":null,"subtitle":null,"facts":[],"coiNote":null,"foundingDate":null,"numberOfEmployeesText":null,"contactPoint":null,"address":null,"headquartersText":null,"organizationType":null},"contributorPerson":{"slug":"answerstack-editorial-team","displayName":"AnswerStack Editorial Team"},"sections":[{"id":"b4da0369-08e1-4e92-8083-2f2a3785097f","sectionKey":"cost_overview","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"How much does payroll software cost per employee?","introMarkdown":"Payroll software is priced as a monthly base fee plus a per employee fee, and among the vendors that publish rates the base runs $17 to $50 a month while the per person charge runs $4 to $8. Patriot lists $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid for Full Service Payroll, SurePayroll $29 plus $7, Square Payroll $35 plus $6 per person paid, Wave $40 plus $6 per active employee, and OnPay $49 plus $6 per worker.[1][2][3][4][5] Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll follow the same shape at a higher level, with Gusto reported at $49 plus $6, $80 plus $12, and $180 plus $22.[10] QuickBooks was renamed Workforce on July 1, 2026, when base fees held at $50, $88, and $134 while per employee rates rose from $6.50 to $7 on Payroll, $10 to $13 on Premium, and $12 to $17 on Elite.[12][13] Intuit's own pricing page was unreachable throughout verification and trackers that last checked before July still publish the older rates, so confirm current QuickBooks figures with Intuit directly.[11]\n\n### What the effective cost per head works out to\n\nThe advertised per person fee is only part of what you pay, because the base fee gets spread across whoever is on the payroll. A five person company on OnPay pays $79 a month, or $15.80 per employee, while a hundred person company on the same published rate pays $649, or $6.49.[2] Across the vendors that publish, entry level full service payroll lands near $12 to $16 per employee at five people, $6.50 to $8 at twenty five, and $5.50 to $6.50 at a hundred.[1][2][3][4]\n\n### Which vendors publish rates and which do not\n\nThree of the largest providers publish nothing. Rippling's pricing page is a form asking which services you need, and Paychex's payroll page carries no dollar figures at all.[7][8] ADP names four RUN packages for businesses of one to forty nine employees and attaches no price to any of them.[9] Any per employee number attached to those three comes from third party datasets.[14]","introHtml":"Payroll software is priced as a monthly base fee plus a per employee fee, and among the vendors that publish rates the base runs $17 to $50 a month while the per person charge runs $4 to $8. Patriot lists $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid for Full Service Payroll, SurePayroll $29 plus $7, Square Payroll $35 plus $6 per person paid, Wave $40 plus $6 per active employee, and OnPay $49 plus $6 per worker.[1][2][3][4][5] Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll follow the same shape at a higher level, with Gusto reported at $49 plus $6, $80 plus $12, and $180 plus $22.[10] QuickBooks was renamed Workforce on July 1, 2026, when base fees held at $50, $88, and $134 while per employee rates rose from $6.50 to $7 on Payroll, $10 to $13 on Premium, and $12 to $17 on Elite.[12][13] Intuit's own pricing page was unreachable throughout verification and trackers that last checked before July still publish the older rates, so confirm current QuickBooks figures with Intuit directly.[11]
\nThe advertised per person fee is only part of what you pay, because the base fee gets spread across whoever is on the payroll. A five person company on OnPay pays $79 a month, or $15.80 per employee, while a hundred person company on the same published rate pays $649, or $6.49.[2] Across the vendors that publish, entry level full service payroll lands near $12 to $16 per employee at five people, $6.50 to $8 at twenty five, and $5.50 to $6.50 at a hundred.[1][2][3][4]
\nThree of the largest providers publish nothing. Rippling's pricing page is a form asking which services you need, and Paychex's payroll page carries no dollar figures at all.[7][8] ADP names four RUN packages for businesses of one to forty nine employees and attaches no price to any of them.[9] Any per employee number attached to those three comes from third party datasets.[14]
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":10},{"id":"01b1f34d-a136-4b68-91a8-11d3a56010e5","sectionKey":"vendor_table","sectionType":"table_section","heading":"What do named payroll vendors charge per employee?","introMarkdown":"Every rate below was read off the source shown on July 20, 2026. Where a vendor publishes nothing that is stated rather than estimated, and third party reported figures are marked.","introHtml":"Every rate below was read off the source shown on July 20, 2026. Where a vendor publishes nothing that is stated rather than estimated, and third party reported figures are marked.
\n","outroMarkdown":"Vendors selling below roughly fifty employees publish rates because the buyer expects to price the product without talking to anyone. Above that line they quote instead, because the number moves with payroll frequency, state count, and module mix.[7][8][9]","outroHtml":"Vendors selling below roughly fifty employees publish rates because the buyer expects to price the product without talking to anyone. Above that line they quote instead, because the number moves with payroll frequency, state count, and module mix.[7][8][9]
\n","contentJson":{"rows":[{"cells":["Patriot Software","$17 plus $4 per worker paid (Basic); $37 plus $5 (Full Service) [1]","Billed on workers paid; extra states $12 a month [1]"]},{"cells":["SurePayroll","$29 plus $7 per worker [3]","Multi-state $9.99; year-end forms $50 plus $5 each [3]"]},{"cells":["Square Payroll","$35 plus $6 per person paid; contractor only $6, no base [4]","Flat monthly billing; $3 per mailed form [4]"]},{"cells":["Wave Payroll","$40 plus $6 per active employee plus $6 per contractor paid [5]","One plan, tax service in all 50 states [5]"]},{"cells":["OnPay","$49 plus $6 per worker [2]","Multi-state, year-end forms, setup included [2]"]},{"cells":["Gusto","Third party report: $49 plus $6, $80 plus $12, $180 plus $22; contractor only $35 plus $6 [10]","Vendor page blocks fetching; one dated independent review [10]"]},{"cells":["QuickBooks Workforce","Third party report: $50 plus $7, $88 plus $13, $134 plus $17 from July 1, 2026 [12]","Intuit page unreachable; per employee rates rose July 1, 2026 [13]"]},{"cells":["Deel","$49 per contractor; $125 per US PEO employee; $599 per EOR employee [6]","Flat fee per worker per service, not a seat rate [6]"]},{"cells":["ADP RUN","None published across four packages [9]","Quoted, billed per payroll run; Essential near $79 plus $4 [9][14]"]},{"cells":["Paychex","None published [8]","Custom quote only [8]"]},{"cells":["Rippling","None published [7]","Quote request form [7]"]}],"columns":["Vendor","Published rate as of July 2026","How the price works"]},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":20},{"id":"54ed70f1-9ea1-441c-8589-f08ee9cdd2bb","sectionKey":"pricing_structure","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"How does base fee plus per employee pricing work?","introMarkdown":"A payroll quote has two parts that behave differently: a fixed monthly charge that stays the same whether you pay three people or ninety, and a variable charge that moves with headcount. OnPay's $49 plus $6 and SurePayroll's $29 plus $7 are the same structure at different levels.[2][3]\n\n### The base fee sets your floor\n\nThe base fee is what makes very small payrolls expensive per head, since it is charged in full no matter how few people it covers. A two person company on SurePayroll pays $43 a month, or $21.50 each, on a plan whose advertised per worker rate is $7.[3] Past roughly twenty people the per person rate takes over.\n\n### Who counts as an employee\n\nVendors count heads differently, and the wording next to the number matters as much as the number. Patriot charges per worker paid, so an employee who receives no check in a given month is not billed that month, and Square uses per person paid on the same logic.[1][4] Wave charges $6 per active employee whether or not that person was paid, then adds $6 for every contractor paid.[5]\n\n### Where two quotes cross over\n\nTwo plans built on different structures are only comparable at a specific headcount. OnPay at $49 plus $6 and SurePayroll at $29 plus $7 both come to $169 a month at twenty employees; below that line SurePayroll's smaller base fee wins, and above it OnPay's lower per person rate does.[2][3] Price both against where you expect to be in a year.","introHtml":"A payroll quote has two parts that behave differently: a fixed monthly charge that stays the same whether you pay three people or ninety, and a variable charge that moves with headcount. OnPay's $49 plus $6 and SurePayroll's $29 plus $7 are the same structure at different levels.[2][3]
\nThe base fee is what makes very small payrolls expensive per head, since it is charged in full no matter how few people it covers. A two person company on SurePayroll pays $43 a month, or $21.50 each, on a plan whose advertised per worker rate is $7.[3] Past roughly twenty people the per person rate takes over.
\nVendors count heads differently, and the wording next to the number matters as much as the number. Patriot charges per worker paid, so an employee who receives no check in a given month is not billed that month, and Square uses per person paid on the same logic.[1][4] Wave charges $6 per active employee whether or not that person was paid, then adds $6 for every contractor paid.[5]
\nTwo plans built on different structures are only comparable at a specific headcount. OnPay at $49 plus $6 and SurePayroll at $29 plus $7 both come to $169 a month at twenty employees; below that line SurePayroll's smaller base fee wins, and above it OnPay's lower per person rate does.[2][3] Price both against where you expect to be in a year.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":30},{"id":"110eb60e-a729-4c29-8b27-7523794161af","sectionKey":"worked_examples","sectionType":"table_section","heading":"What does payroll software cost at 5, 25, and 100 employees?","introMarkdown":"Each figure applies a published list rate to a single state payroll with no add-ons and no promotional discount. Contractor payments, extra states, and year-end forms are excluded.","introHtml":"Each figure applies a published list rate to a single state payroll with no add-ons and no promotional discount. Contractor payments, extra states, and year-end forms are excluded.
\n","outroMarkdown":"The cost per employee falls by roughly half between five and twenty five people and then flattens, so headcount changes the economics far more for a ten person company than a hundred person one.[1][2] The spread between the cheapest and dearest option at the same headcount runs better than two to one, driven mostly by how much HR tooling sits inside the plan.[10][12]","outroHtml":"The cost per employee falls by roughly half between five and twenty five people and then flattens, so headcount changes the economics far more for a ten person company than a hundred person one.[1][2] The spread between the cheapest and dearest option at the same headcount runs better than two to one, driven mostly by how much HR tooling sits inside the plan.[10][12]
\n","contentJson":{"rows":[{"cells":["5 employees, Patriot Full Service [1]","$62","$12.40","$744"]},{"cells":["5 employees, OnPay [2]","$79","$15.80","$948"]},{"cells":["25 employees, Patriot Full Service [1]","$162","$6.48","$1,944"]},{"cells":["25 employees, Gusto Simple [10]","$199","$7.96","$2,388"]},{"cells":["25 employees, Gusto Plus [10]","$380","$15.20","$4,560"]},{"cells":["100 employees, Patriot Full Service [1]","$537","$5.37","$6,444"]},{"cells":["100 employees, OnPay [2]","$649","$6.49","$7,788"]},{"cells":["100 employees, QuickBooks Workforce Premium [12]","$1,388","$13.88","$16,656"]}],"columns":["Scenario","Monthly cost","Cost per employee","Annual cost"]},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":40},{"id":"27021f1f-c959-4e01-8389-b17d580217b0","sectionKey":"billing_frequency","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Why does per payroll run billing cost more than monthly billing?","introMarkdown":"Per run billing charges you every time payroll is processed rather than once a month, so the same headcount costs about twice as much on a weekly schedule as on a biweekly one. ADP prices RUN this way, and independent analysis treats payroll frequency as a direct multiplier on the bill, putting the Essential starting point near $79 a month plus $4 per employee and a five person example at about $99 a month before add-ons.[14]\n\n### Off-cycle runs are billed as events\n\nBonus payrolls, corrections, and final checks for departing employees count as additional runs on a per run contract, so a company that runs three corrections in a quarter pays for three extra payrolls.[14] Garnishments work the same way, with a per payment fee each time one is processed, which for a single child support order on a biweekly cycle means twenty six charges a year.[14] Ask in writing whether both are included before comparing quotes.\n\n### Most published plans use flat monthly billing\n\nThe vendors that post prices have largely removed the frequency penalty, with SurePayroll, OnPay, and Patriot all advertising unlimited payroll runs inside the monthly price.[3][2][1] Weekly payroll is standard in construction, restaurants, and staffing, so employers there should price quotes on annual runs rather than monthly cost.","introHtml":"Per run billing charges you every time payroll is processed rather than once a month, so the same headcount costs about twice as much on a weekly schedule as on a biweekly one. ADP prices RUN this way, and independent analysis treats payroll frequency as a direct multiplier on the bill, putting the Essential starting point near $79 a month plus $4 per employee and a five person example at about $99 a month before add-ons.[14]
\nBonus payrolls, corrections, and final checks for departing employees count as additional runs on a per run contract, so a company that runs three corrections in a quarter pays for three extra payrolls.[14] Garnishments work the same way, with a per payment fee each time one is processed, which for a single child support order on a biweekly cycle means twenty six charges a year.[14] Ask in writing whether both are included before comparing quotes.
\nThe vendors that post prices have largely removed the frequency penalty, with SurePayroll, OnPay, and Patriot all advertising unlimited payroll runs inside the monthly price.[3][2][1] Weekly payroll is standard in construction, restaurants, and staffing, so employers there should price quotes on annual runs rather than monthly cost.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":50},{"id":"e7504a30-5aa4-4781-ba0f-c97481f2f39d","sectionKey":"contractor_pricing","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"What does contractor only payroll cost per contractor?","introMarkdown":"Contractor only payroll is priced per contractor paid, usually with a smaller base fee or none at all. Square Payroll charges $6 per person paid with no monthly base, Gusto's contractor only plan is verified at $35 plus $6 per contractor, Wave charges $6 per contractor paid on top of its $40 base, and Deel charges $49 per contractor, or $325 as contractor of record.[4][10][5][6]\n\n### Why the range runs from $6 to $325\n\nThe gap reflects what the vendor takes on rather than the mechanics of sending money. Paying a domestic 1099 contractor and issuing the form in January is light work, which is why Square and Wave price it at or below their employee rate.[4][5] Deel's higher figures cover international contractor compliance, and its contractor of record rate reflects Deel becoming the contracting party.[6]\n\n### Mixed workforces get billed for both\n\nIf you pay employees and contractors from one account, most vendors bill you for both. Patriot folds contractor payments into its per worker paid charge and includes 1099 and 1096 creation at no extra cost.[1] Count contractors in your headcount math: a fifteen employee company that also pays twenty contractors is a thirty five worker account.","introHtml":"Contractor only payroll is priced per contractor paid, usually with a smaller base fee or none at all. Square Payroll charges $6 per person paid with no monthly base, Gusto's contractor only plan is verified at $35 plus $6 per contractor, Wave charges $6 per contractor paid on top of its $40 base, and Deel charges $49 per contractor, or $325 as contractor of record.[4][10][5][6]
\nThe gap reflects what the vendor takes on rather than the mechanics of sending money. Paying a domestic 1099 contractor and issuing the form in January is light work, which is why Square and Wave price it at or below their employee rate.[4][5] Deel's higher figures cover international contractor compliance, and its contractor of record rate reflects Deel becoming the contracting party.[6]
\nIf you pay employees and contractors from one account, most vendors bill you for both. Patriot folds contractor payments into its per worker paid charge and includes 1099 and 1096 creation at no extra cost.[1] Count contractors in your headcount math: a fifteen employee company that also pays twenty contractors is a thirty five worker account.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":60},{"id":"1345badd-ec10-4bad-8ada-25b04674344c","sectionKey":"missed_costs","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"Which payroll costs do buyers routinely miss?","introMarkdown":"Six line items sit outside the headline per employee rate often enough to break a budget built on that rate alone, and most get harder to move after you sign.\n\n### Multi-state filing\n\nOperating in more than one state adds a recurring fee at most vendors and nothing at a few. Patriot charges $12 a month for each additional state it files in, and SurePayroll charges $9.99 a month for multi-state payroll with a separate fee where local taxes apply.[1][3] OnPay includes as many states as you need.[2] One remote hire in a new state triggers the fee, so price the states you expect.\n\n### Year-end W-2 and 1099 filing\n\nYear-end forms are billed separately at some vendors and included at others. SurePayroll bills W-2 and 1099-NEC forms annually at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form, so a twenty five person company pays $175 each January on top of its subscription, and Square charges $3 per mailed form.[3][4] Patriot includes year-end filings at no additional fee on Full Service, and OnPay includes them too.[1][2]\n\n### Time tracking, HR, and compliance add-ons\n\nTime and attendance and HR modules are almost always priced on top of payroll. Patriot sells each at $6 a month plus $2 per employee, SurePayroll's timeclock integrations start at $5 plus $3 per employee, and OnPay's HR add-on is $15 plus $2 per worker with live HR support at $75.[1][3][2] QuickBooks Workforce prices benefits administration at $5 per active employee for employers with twenty or more people.[12] On a twenty five person SurePayroll account, a timeclock integration alone adds about 40 percent to the bill.[3]\n\n### Setup and implementation\n\nImplementation is free at the small business end and quoted at the mid-market end. OnPay charges no implementation or integration fees, while independent analysis puts ADP RUN implementation at $500 to $2,000 and notes that a waived fee sometimes reappears on the first invoice as a data migration line.[2][14] Confirm whether migrating this year's payroll history sits inside that number.\n\n### Promotional pricing that expires\n\nMost advertised small business prices are promotional, and the renewal rate is frequently double. Patriot's page shows Basic at $8.50 plus $2 and Full Service at $18.50 plus $2.50 under a thirty days free plus 50 percent off for six months offer, against list rates of $17 plus $4 and $37 plus $5.[1] SurePayroll runs alternating free months across the first year, ADP advertises three months free, and QuickBooks runs a frequent 50 percent off first three months offer that independent analysis calls a doubling of cost in month four.[3][9][11] Budget the list rate.\n\n### Annual increases\n\nRenewal increases of 3 to 8 percent a year are standard here, and analysis of ADP contracts finds many businesses paying 15 to 25 percent more by year three without adding an employee or feature.[14]","introHtml":"Six line items sit outside the headline per employee rate often enough to break a budget built on that rate alone, and most get harder to move after you sign.
\nOperating in more than one state adds a recurring fee at most vendors and nothing at a few. Patriot charges $12 a month for each additional state it files in, and SurePayroll charges $9.99 a month for multi-state payroll with a separate fee where local taxes apply.[1][3] OnPay includes as many states as you need.[2] One remote hire in a new state triggers the fee, so price the states you expect.
\nYear-end forms are billed separately at some vendors and included at others. SurePayroll bills W-2 and 1099-NEC forms annually at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form, so a twenty five person company pays $175 each January on top of its subscription, and Square charges $3 per mailed form.[3][4] Patriot includes year-end filings at no additional fee on Full Service, and OnPay includes them too.[1][2]
\nTime and attendance and HR modules are almost always priced on top of payroll. Patriot sells each at $6 a month plus $2 per employee, SurePayroll's timeclock integrations start at $5 plus $3 per employee, and OnPay's HR add-on is $15 plus $2 per worker with live HR support at $75.[1][3][2] QuickBooks Workforce prices benefits administration at $5 per active employee for employers with twenty or more people.[12] On a twenty five person SurePayroll account, a timeclock integration alone adds about 40 percent to the bill.[3]
\nImplementation is free at the small business end and quoted at the mid-market end. OnPay charges no implementation or integration fees, while independent analysis puts ADP RUN implementation at $500 to $2,000 and notes that a waived fee sometimes reappears on the first invoice as a data migration line.[2][14] Confirm whether migrating this year's payroll history sits inside that number.
\nMost advertised small business prices are promotional, and the renewal rate is frequently double. Patriot's page shows Basic at $8.50 plus $2 and Full Service at $18.50 plus $2.50 under a thirty days free plus 50 percent off for six months offer, against list rates of $17 plus $4 and $37 plus $5.[1] SurePayroll runs alternating free months across the first year, ADP advertises three months free, and QuickBooks runs a frequent 50 percent off first three months offer that independent analysis calls a doubling of cost in month four.[3][9][11] Budget the list rate.
\nRenewal increases of 3 to 8 percent a year are standard here, and analysis of ADP contracts finds many businesses paying 15 to 25 percent more by year three without adding an employee or feature.[14]
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":70},{"id":"ef5a9b11-48fb-4ea7-b137-b08816d5de43","sectionKey":"contributor_perspective","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"How this answer was researched","introMarkdown":"Nine of the fourteen sources here are vendor pricing pages opened and read on July 20, 2026, and every figure attributed to those vendors was taken off the page rather than reconstructed from memory or a review site. Gusto, Justworks, and Paylocity all block automated fetching and Intuit's pricing page was unreachable entirely, so those rates either come from dated independent sources named as such, or are left out. Where a vendor publishes nothing, this answer says so instead of substituting an estimate. Payroll pricing moves several times a year, and add-on and promotional rates move faster than list rates. If you work in payroll operations, at a firm that resells payroll, or at one of the vendors named here, and you hold a current invoice or published rate that contradicts anything above, send the correction with a source.","introHtml":"Nine of the fourteen sources here are vendor pricing pages opened and read on July 20, 2026, and every figure attributed to those vendors was taken off the page rather than reconstructed from memory or a review site. Gusto, Justworks, and Paylocity all block automated fetching and Intuit's pricing page was unreachable entirely, so those rates either come from dated independent sources named as such, or are left out. Where a vendor publishes nothing, this answer says so instead of substituting an estimate. Payroll pricing moves several times a year, and add-on and promotional rates move faster than list rates. If you work in payroll operations, at a firm that resells payroll, or at one of the vendors named here, and you hold a current invoice or published rate that contradicts anything above, send the correction with a source.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":"This answer was written and reviewed by the AnswerStack Editorial Team, which has no commercial stake in the products, companies, or methods discussed. Every claim is cited inline and verified on the dates shown.","noteHtml":"This answer was written and reviewed by the AnswerStack Editorial Team, which has no commercial stake in the products, companies, or methods discussed. Every claim is cited inline and verified on the dates shown.
\n","sortOrder":80},{"id":"28360cdc-549e-4a26-a9d4-323fa322c73e","sectionKey":"what_the_price_is_not","sectionType":"markdown_section","heading":"What a per employee payroll price does not tell you","introMarkdown":"### It is not comparable across plan tiers\n\nTwo per employee figures only mean something side by side once you fix what each one buys. Gusto's $6 per person on Simple and $22 on Premium run the same payroll engine with different HR tooling around it, and QuickBooks Workforce Payroll at $7 omits the same day deposit, time tracking, and HR support that push many buyers to Premium at $13.[10][11][12]\n\n### It is not what a mid-market buyer pays\n\nPublished small business rates do not extend upward. Past roughly fifty employees most shortlisted vendors stop publishing anything, and third party analysis puts ADP Workforce Now at $15 to $30 per employee per month with base fees of $150 to $300.[14] That increase reflects the platform absorbing benefits, time, and compliance work rather than a higher payroll price.\n\n### It is not the full cost of paying people\n\nThe subscription covers software and filing, not the money that leaves your account. Employer payroll taxes, workers compensation premiums, and benefits contributions all sit outside it, which is why employment services price differently: Deel publishes $125 per US PEO employee and $599 per EOR employee against $49 per contractor.[6]\n\n### It is not fixed once you sign\n\nA locked per person rate still produces a moving invoice, because headcount changes month to month, off-cycle runs and garnishment payments are billed as events at some vendors, and annual increases of 3 to 8 percent are normal.[14] The subscription line is the predictable part of a payroll bill.","introHtml":"Two per employee figures only mean something side by side once you fix what each one buys. Gusto's $6 per person on Simple and $22 on Premium run the same payroll engine with different HR tooling around it, and QuickBooks Workforce Payroll at $7 omits the same day deposit, time tracking, and HR support that push many buyers to Premium at $13.[10][11][12]
\nPublished small business rates do not extend upward. Past roughly fifty employees most shortlisted vendors stop publishing anything, and third party analysis puts ADP Workforce Now at $15 to $30 per employee per month with base fees of $150 to $300.[14] That increase reflects the platform absorbing benefits, time, and compliance work rather than a higher payroll price.
\nThe subscription covers software and filing, not the money that leaves your account. Employer payroll taxes, workers compensation premiums, and benefits contributions all sit outside it, which is why employment services price differently: Deel publishes $125 per US PEO employee and $599 per EOR employee against $49 per contractor.[6]
\nA locked per person rate still produces a moving invoice, because headcount changes month to month, off-cycle runs and garnishment payments are billed as events at some vendors, and annual increases of 3 to 8 percent are normal.[14] The subscription line is the predictable part of a payroll bill.
\n","outroMarkdown":null,"outroHtml":null,"contentJson":{},"configJson":{},"noteMarkdown":null,"noteHtml":null,"sortOrder":90}],"citations":[{"title":"Payroll Software Pricing","url":"https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/pricing/","excerpt":"Basic Payroll $17 $8.50/mo plus $4 $2 per worker paid ... Full Service Payroll $37 $18.50/mo plus $5 $2.50 per worker paid ... (Each additional state filing is $12 per month, per state.)","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Basic Payroll $17/mo plus $4 per worker paid; Full Service Payroll $37/mo plus $5 per worker paid; promotional rates of $8.50 plus $2 and $18.50 plus $2.50 under 30 days free plus 50% off for 6 months; $12 per month per additional state filing; year-end payroll tax filings at no additional fee; Time","domain":"patriotsoftware.com","publisherName":"Patriot Software"},{"title":"OnPay Pricing: Payroll Costs and Plans","url":"https://onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing/","excerpt":"$49 base + $6/worker per month ... W-2s, 1099s, and year-end filings included ... No implementation or integration fees","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"$49 base plus $6 per worker per month; W-2s, 1099s and year-end filings included; unlimited pay runs and schedules; payroll in multiple states included; no implementation or integration fees; HR add-on $15 base plus $2 per worker; compliance resources $10 base; live HR support $75 base","domain":"onpay.com","publisherName":"OnPay"},{"title":"SurePayroll Pricing","url":"https://www.surepayroll.com/pricing","excerpt":"Starting at $29/month ... Number of Workers ($7/worker) ... First state included. Multi-state payroll for $9.99/month ... Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms are billed annually, not monthly, at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Small business payroll starting at $29/month plus $7 per worker; first state included and multi-state payroll $9.99/month with a separate fee for areas requiring local taxes; year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC billed annually at a $50 base fee plus $5 per form; unlimited payroll runs; free onboarding; accoun","domain":"surepayroll.com","publisherName":"SurePayroll"},{"title":"Square Payroll Pricing","url":"https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll/pricing","excerpt":"$35/mo + $6 monthly fee per person paid ... Contractor only: $6/mo per person paid ... Annual fee of $3/mailed form","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Full service payroll $35/mo plus $6 per person paid; contractor only payroll $6/mo per person paid with no base fee; $3 per mailed paper W-2 or 1099; workers comp, benefits, and 401(k) offered as add-ons","domain":"squareup.com","publisherName":"Square"},{"title":"Wave Payroll","url":"https://www.waveapps.com/payroll","excerpt":"$40 USD base fee + $6 per active employee + $6 per independent contractor paid","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"US pricing of $40 base fee plus $6 per active employee plus $6 per independent contractor paid; tax service in all 50 states; prices apply to payroll customers who signed up after April 2, 2025","domain":"waveapps.com","publisherName":"Wave"},{"title":"Deel Pricing","url":"https://www.deel.com/pricing/","excerpt":"Hire contractors: Starting at $49 per contractor per month ... $325 per contractor of record per month ... Starting at $125 per US PEO employee per month ... $599 per EOR employee per month","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"$49 per contractor per month; $325 per contractor of record per month; $125 per US PEO employee per month; $599 per EOR employee per month; $14 per worker per month for the hiring product; month to month with no long term commitment","domain":"deel.com","publisherName":"Deel"},{"title":"Rippling Pricing","url":"https://www.rippling.com/pricing","excerpt":"Tell us what services you need, and we'll send you a custom quote.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Rippling publishes no payroll rates; the pricing page is a custom quote request form","domain":"rippling.com","publisherName":"Rippling"},{"title":"Payroll Services and Software","url":"https://www.paychex.com/payroll","excerpt":"Get Your Free Quote","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Paychex publishes no dollar figures for payroll on its payroll page; every call to action routes to a free quote","domain":"paychex.com","publisherName":"Paychex"},{"title":"RUN Powered by ADP payroll packages comparison","url":"https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx","excerpt":"Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, HR Pro Payroll & HR, each with a Get pricing call to action. Get 3 Months Free.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"PRIMARY","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"ADP names four RUN packages for businesses of 1 to 49 employees, publishes no dollar figures, and advertises a three months free promotion","domain":"adp.com","publisherName":"ADP"},{"title":"Gusto Pricing 2026","url":"https://costbench.com/software/hr/gusto/","excerpt":"Simple $49/month; Plus $80/month; Premium $180/month; Contractor Only $35/month. Last verified May 27, 2026.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Gusto Simple $49/mo plus $6 per person, Plus $80 plus $12, Premium $180 plus $22, Contractor Only $35 plus $6; page last verified May 27, 2026; median Gusto customer pays $1,368 a year across 62 verified purchases","domain":"costbench.com","publisherName":"CostBench"},{"title":"QuickBooks Payroll Pricing: Core, Premium, Elite Plans","url":"https://peopleopsclub.com/software/quickbooks-payroll/pricing","excerpt":"Core: $50/mo + $6/employee/mo ... Premium: $85/mo + $9/employee/mo ... Elite: $130/mo + $11/employee/mo ... Intuit frequently offers 50 percent off the first three months.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Pre-change QuickBooks Payroll figures of Core $50/mo plus $6 per employee, Premium $85 plus $9, Elite $130 plus $11, verified at quickbooks.intuit.com in March 2026 and therefore before the July 1, 2026 per employee increase; Core omits same day deposit, time tracking, and meaningful HR support; pag","domain":"peopleopsclub.com","publisherName":"PeopleOps Club"},{"title":"QB-LA Update: QuickBooks Workforce Payroll Changes Coming July 2026","url":"https://losangelesquickbookshelp.com/qb-la-update-quickbooks-workforce-payroll-changes-coming-july-2026/","excerpt":"Workforce Payroll $50/month, per-employee $6.50 to $7.00; Workforce Premium $88/month, $10.00 to $13.00; Workforce Elite $134/month, $12.00 to $17.00. Beginning July 1, 2026.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Effective July 1, 2026 Workforce Payroll holds a $50 base with per employee rising from $6.50 to $7.00, Workforce Premium holds an $88 base with per employee rising from $10.00 to $13.00, and Workforce Elite holds a $134 base with per employee rising from $12.00 to $17.00; benefits administration ad","domain":"losangelesquickbookshelp.com","publisherName":"QB-LA QuickBooks Los Angeles"},{"title":"2026 QuickBooks price increases: QBO, Payroll, and Bill Pay","url":"https://www.schoolofbookkeeping.com/blog/2026QBOPriceIncrease","excerpt":"The base subscription price is not changing. Intuit is updating per-employee pricing for QuickBooks Workforce plans ... The new pricing takes effect July 1, 2026.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"Intuit updated per employee pricing for QuickBooks Workforce Payroll, Premium, and Elite subscriptions effective July 1, 2026 while base subscription prices stayed the same; the page names no dollar amounts for payroll base or per employee fees; published July 8, 2026","domain":"schoolofbookkeeping.com","publisherName":"School of Bookkeeping"},{"title":"ADP Pricing 2026: What RUN and Workforce Now Actually Cost","url":"https://www.payrolldetective.com/payroll-providers/adp-pricing","excerpt":"The published starting point for RUN Powered by ADP is approximately $79 per month plus $4 per employee on the Essential plan ... ADP charges per payroll run, not per pay period ... Expect $15 to $30 per employee per month as a starting range, with base fees of $150 to $300 per month.","quoteText":null,"sourceRole":"INDEPENDENT","verifiedAt":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","supportsText":"RUN Essential starting point near $79 a month plus $4 per employee; ADP charges per payroll run rather than per pay period, so weekly payroll costs roughly double biweekly; five employee worked example at $99/month or $1,188/year, $124/month with time tracking, and $2,000 to $2,500 first year with i","domain":"payrolldetective.com","publisherName":"PayrollDetective"}],"revisions":[],"relatedAnswers":[{"id":"479cfc63-1ffd-436f-ac4a-a8b190d3d1e7","slug":"payroll-software-integrate-with-quickbooks-accounting-and-my-hris","question":"Does payroll software integrate with QuickBooks / accounting and my HRIS?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T22:08:26.368","confidenceScore":85,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"e1a1da3c-52a8-4e99-88ad-d08ef17d7c3f","slug":"hr-technology","label":"HR Technology","description":"ATS, HRIS, payroll, and workforce management"},"topic":{"slug":"payroll-compensation","label":"Payroll & Compensation","description":"Payroll, Global Payroll, Earned Wage Access, Compensation Management, Pay Equity, Salary Benchmarking, Total Rewards","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Payroll reaches your books one of four ways: built into the same product, a prebuilt two-way connector, a mappable general ledger export, or a manual journal entry. The setup effort is in the account mapping, because every wage type, tax, and deduction has to point at an account that already exists in QuickBooks, Xero, or Sage and match it exactly. On the HR side, payroll is either an HRIS module or a synced separate system, where deduction-code and new-hire mismatches cause most failures.","url":"/q/payroll-software-integrate-with-quickbooks-accounting-and-my-hris"},{"id":"74a84fb8-a1c3-4023-ba17-f547cb248a4d","slug":"whats-the-best-global-payroll-software","question":"What's the best global payroll software, and how do I pay international employees without a legal entity?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T22:08:23.903","confidenceScore":82,"confidenceLabel":"Medium","industry":{"id":"e1a1da3c-52a8-4e99-88ad-d08ef17d7c3f","slug":"hr-technology","label":"HR Technology","description":"ATS, HRIS, payroll, and workforce management"},"topic":{"slug":"payroll-compensation","label":"Payroll & Compensation","description":"Payroll, Global Payroll, Earned Wage Access, Compensation Management, Pay Equity, Salary Benchmarking, Total Rewards","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"The right tool depends on two facts: whether you hold a legal entity in the worker's country, and whether the person is an employee or a genuine contractor. Global payroll platforms consolidate pay runs and filings across entities you already own, split between native single-platform tools and aggregator managed services. Where you have no entity, no payroll software can legally employ someone; an employer of record does that. Genuine contractors are paid through contractor platforms, within worker-classification limits.","url":"/q/whats-the-best-global-payroll-software"},{"id":"f79d3bcd-4e0c-4fcf-a685-38c36f11e489","slug":"what-is-earned-wage-access-how-does-it-work","question":"What is earned wage access, how does it work, and should my company offer it?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T22:08:21.803","confidenceScore":84,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"e1a1da3c-52a8-4e99-88ad-d08ef17d7c3f","slug":"hr-technology","label":"HR Technology","description":"ATS, HRIS, payroll, and workforce management"},"topic":{"slug":"payroll-compensation","label":"Payroll & Compensation","description":"Payroll, Global Payroll, Earned Wage Access, Compensation Management, Pay Equity, Salary Benchmarking, Total Rewards","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"On-demand pay covers two products under one name. Employer-integrated services verify earned wages through payroll and recover advances in the pay run; direct-to-consumer apps estimate earnings from a bank account and debit it on payday, with overdraft risk. Each transfer looks cheap, yet small advances can annualize above 100 percent. Federal law is in flux after the CFPB reversed itself in December 2025, and state rules on fees, disclosure, and no-recourse repayment keep changing.","url":"/q/what-is-earned-wage-access-how-does-it-work"},{"id":"1d3b4dc9-e68b-4914-8f30-a1da81b552b4","slug":"how-do-i-benchmark-salaries-and-build-defensible-pay","question":"How do I benchmark salaries and build defensible pay ranges (pay equity, pay transparency laws)?","publishedAt":"2026-07-21T22:08:19.288","confidenceScore":85,"confidenceLabel":"High","industry":{"id":"e1a1da3c-52a8-4e99-88ad-d08ef17d7c3f","slug":"hr-technology","label":"HR Technology","description":"ATS, HRIS, payroll, and workforce management"},"topic":{"slug":"payroll-compensation","label":"Payroll & Compensation","description":"Payroll, Global Payroll, Earned Wage Access, Compensation Management, Pay Equity, Salary Benchmarking, Total Rewards","schemaKind":null},"contributor":{"id":"ec39deab-44fe-48d8-9029-fefe993ab85a","slug":"answer-stack","displayName":"AnswerStack","websiteUrl":null},"snippet":"Defensible pay rests on three separate pieces of work. First, a benchmarking method: level your jobs, match them to participated salary surveys by content, age the data to one date, pick a market position, and set midpoints and spreads you track with compa-ratio. Second, a pay-equity test: a regression that controls for legitimate factors and isolates the unexplained gap, usually run under counsel. Third, compliance with pay transparency laws, which now require posted ranges in about 19 US states and reporting in three, with the EU directive due by June 2026.","url":"/q/how-do-i-benchmark-salaries-and-build-defensible-pay"}],"contributorStats":{"verifiedAnswers":224,"openDisputes":0},"schemaJson":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Question","name":"How much does payroll software cost per employee?","text":"How much does payroll software cost per employee?","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-much-does-payroll-software-cost-per-employee","answerCount":1,"datePublished":"2026-07-20T21:30:08.94","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"AnswerStack Editorial Team","worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AnswerStack"},"url":"https://www.answerstack.io/contributors/answer-stack"},"about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"Payroll & Compensation"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"HR Technology"}],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Payroll software that publishes its rates costs a monthly base fee of roughly $17 to $50 plus $4 to $8 per employee, so the effective cost per head lands near $12 to $16 at five employees and $5.50 to $8 at one hundred.[1][2][3][4][5] Patriot lists $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid for full service payroll, SurePayroll $29 plus $7, Square $35 plus $6, Wave $40 plus $6, and OnPay $49 plus $6.[1][2][3][4][5] Gusto's plans are independently reported at $49 plus $6, $80 plus $12, and $180 plus $22, and QuickBooks, renamed Workforce, at $50 plus $7, $88 plus $13, and $134 plus $17 following a per employee increase effective July 1, 2026.[10][12][13] ADP, Paychex, and Rippling publish no payroll rates at all, and third party analysis puts a RUN Essential starting point near $79 a month plus $4 per employee.[7][8][9][14] Charges outside the headline rate include $12 a month per additional state at Patriot, $9.99 a month for multi-state at SurePayroll, year-end forms at $50 plus $5 each, and promotional pricing such as ADP's three months free.[1][3][9]","url":"https://www.answerstack.io/q/how-much-does-payroll-software-cost-per-employee","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2026-07-20T21:30:08.94","dateModified":"2026-07-20T00:00:00","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"AnswerStack Editorial Team","worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AnswerStack"},"url":"https://www.answerstack.io/contributors/answer-stack"},"citation":[{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Payroll Software Pricing","url":"https://www.patriotsoftware.com/payroll/pricing/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"OnPay Pricing: Payroll Costs and Plans","url":"https://onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"SurePayroll Pricing","url":"https://www.surepayroll.com/pricing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Square Payroll Pricing","url":"https://squareup.com/us/en/payroll/pricing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Wave Payroll","url":"https://www.waveapps.com/payroll"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Deel Pricing","url":"https://www.deel.com/pricing/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Rippling Pricing","url":"https://www.rippling.com/pricing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Payroll Services and Software","url":"https://www.paychex.com/payroll"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"RUN Powered by ADP payroll packages comparison","url":"https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Gusto Pricing 2026","url":"https://costbench.com/software/hr/gusto/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"QuickBooks Payroll Pricing: Core, Premium, Elite Plans","url":"https://peopleopsclub.com/software/quickbooks-payroll/pricing"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"QB-LA Update: QuickBooks Workforce Payroll Changes Coming July 2026","url":"https://losangelesquickbookshelp.com/qb-la-update-quickbooks-workforce-payroll-changes-coming-july-2026/"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"2026 QuickBooks price increases: QBO, Payroll, and Bill Pay","url":"https://www.schoolofbookkeeping.com/blog/2026QBOPriceIncrease"},{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"ADP Pricing 2026: What RUN and Workforce Now Actually Cost","url":"https://www.payrolldetective.com/payroll-providers/adp-pricing"}]}}}