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Paychex is one of the best payroll software platforms available for small and medium-sized businesses. With this platform, you can easily manage payroll for dozens of employees and integrate benefits like healthcare and retirement into your payroll process. Plus, all Paychex plans include tax documentation and accounting software integration. The biggest downside is that the software is surprisingly expensive.

In our Paychex review, we’ll help you decide whether this payroll software is right for your business.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Paychex: Plans and pricing

Paychex used to operate on a three-tier system: Go, Flex Select and Flex Enterprise. As a guide, Paychex Go started at $59 per month plus $4 per employee, with higher plans coming at an undisclosed cost via a customized quote.

Unfortunately, Paychex has decided to apply this method across the whole platform now, so exact pricing is illusive.

On the website, it describes four different sizes of business: self-employed (1), 1-19, 20-49 and 50-100+, suggesting four tiers of membership may be available.

Pricing options for Paychex (Image credit: Paychex)Paychex: Features

Because Paychex comes with a couple of different subscription levels, what you get depends on how much you pay, but as a guide you can expect full payroll processing with W-2 and 1099 support, tax calculations and filing, and new hire reporting.

To pay your employees, Paychex enables you to make direct deposits or print your own paper checks. You have some flexibility, as you can set up multiple payment accounts for each employee.

You can also request prepaid debit cards for each employee and set up Paychex so that payments are automatically transferred onto these cards.

Onboarding tools are also available to help reduce the burden on HR teams, with workers gaining access via their own portal.

Employees can track their hours through Paychex’s dashboard (Image credit: Paychex)

Employee dashboards have a built-in time tracker, which enables commenting, making it easy to see what your employees were spending time on throughout the pay period. They can also check their scheduling from here, too.

Importantly, Paychex can also integrate with most popular accounting software, including QuickBooks and Xero, to make calculating quarterly and annual tax payments much simpler.

One of our favorite things about Paychex is that the software also enables you to keep track of healthcare, retirement, along with other key benefits right alongside payroll.

You can set up a 401(k) for your business through Paychex Retirement Services or enroll employees in an HSA or FSA. When you enter payroll, Paychex will automatically calculate your employer contributions to these accounts and transfer the funds at the same time that checks go out to employees.

Beyond basic payroll and human capital management tools, Paychex also helps HR teams monitor performance and job costing/labor distribution, supporting growth strategies and summarizing figures to help predict the impact of growth.

Paychex: Ease of use

Paychex offers a simple online dashboard that’s fairly easy to navigate. You can see at a glance how much cash you need to have on hand to cover your last payroll period, as well as on what date the current period’s payroll needs to be approved.

To enter employee hours, Paychex uses a simple grid layout that saves a significant amount of time compared to the series of drop-down menus that some other payroll platforms use.

Another nice thing about Paychex is that it includes detailed analytics about your payroll. You can generate reports sorted by employee, office location, position, or any number of custom filters. In all, Paychex has more than 160 built-in standard reports for Go and Flex Select customers - and Flex Enterprise customers can set up even more.

On the whole, the interface is fairly intuitive for core tasks, but there does appear to be somewhat of a learning curve for some features and modules, which users occasionally report to be overwhelming.

We were happy to see that Paychex offers a mobile app, although we wish it were available to subscribers on the Go plan. The mobile app is particularly nice for employees, since they can use it to check their pay stubs, change their payment account details, or manage their 401(k) plan and health benefits.

Paychex uses a grid layout to make entering employee hours and pay faster (Image credit: Paychex)Paychex: Support

Paychex provides multiple support channels including phone, email and online help, with employers getting 24/7 phone support and employees also able to access 24/7 support (but chat, not phone).

Employees can still phone Paychex, but they’ll only be granted support within office hours (from one of the 100+ US-based offices).

Support broadly feels better for higher-tier plans, which is often the case, but it would be nice to see companies offer strong support across all tiers.

There’s also a large library of HR and legal documentation as well as policy templates that can be useful for compliance, but some users note varying availability for other resources like tech support for integrations or less common modules.

For these, you’re probably better off getting in touch with a human, rather than using self-service options.

Paychex offers 24/7 phone support and walk-ins at over 100 US offices (Image credit: Paychex)Paychex: Final verdict

Paychex is a feature-rich payroll software with a lot to like. If you want to integrate healthcare, retirement, or other benefits into your payroll, there are few better options for your business.

However, if you don’t need these integrations, it can be hard to justify Paychex’s price tag. The platform is very capable, but its main features are matched by Gusto at a more accessible price.

Paychex has a lot of features, but this platform can be prohibitively expensive for some small businesses. For a cheaper option, consider SurePayroll.

Regardless, we think Paychex offers a strong comprehensive solution with support spanning payroll, HR, compliance and other benefits. It has good regulatory compliance, particularly for US customers, and isn’t as hard as some other systems to use.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Try Patriot today

Patriot offers easy-to-use accounting and payroll software designed for small businesses. It provides automated payroll processing, tax calculations, expense tracking, and invoice management—all in one platform. View Deal

Patriot is an online solution for handling both accounting and payroll tasks. It’s ideally suited to small business owners thanks in particular to its highly praised support, which can help provide ongoing help and also assist your business in configuring the system to work in the first place.

The company itself has been around for over three decades, so it clearly has plenty of experience on both the accounting and payroll fronts.

Patriot now counts 65,000+ customers on its books, having facilitated over $19 billion in payroll processing. It also boasts of an average time for customers to run payroll of less than three minutes – a testament to its ease of use.

• Want to try Patriot? Check out the website here

The real bonus with Patriot, however, is that it seems to have retained its original roots feel, with a keenness on providing a great level of customer service and support.

Adding to that ongoing appeal is Patriot’s easy-to-use design and a user interface that aims to provide business owners with an affordable accounting solution that’s reasonably stress-free too.

Patriot Accounting and Payroll: Plans and pricing

Patriot continues to offer consistent pricing across its product portfolio, which allows business owners to choose from the package that suits their needs the best.

Currently, there are two routes you can take – accounting or payroll software. Each has two different tiers.

Accounting Basic ($20/month) offers unlimited customers, invoices, vendors and payments, as well as income and expense tracking and more.

Accounting Premium ($30/month) adds support for estimates, recurring invoices, invoice reminders and receipt management, so it’s a much more rounded option for not a lot more.

(Image credit: Patriot Software)

The payroll service also offers affordable plans, starting with Basic Payroll ($17/month plus $4/worker), with unlimited payrolls, a free employee portal and other features.

Full Service Payroll ($37/month plus $5/worker) adds federal, state and local tax filing and some more filing tools.

If you want to add Time & Attendance tracking to either of these, it’s $6 per month plus $2 per employee on top of your bill. HR Software costs $6/month plus $6 per worker.

Although it could be perceived as a pain to have multiple add-ons, we’d much rather have the option of picking and choosing the exact parameters we need rather than paying through the roof for unrequired features.

Better still, Patriot regularly runs deals and has 30-day free trials. At the time of writing, there’s a 50% off for three months promotion.

Patriot Accounting and Payroll: Features

Despite its value appeal Patriot still comes armed with plenty of features, with some of the key options outlined below.

In terms of payroll processing, Patriot can handle both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, with support for unlimited payroll runs per month. It’ll also help with federal, state and local tax filings.

When it comes to time and attendance, Patriot’s got you covered with an optional add-on for tracking hours, overtime etc and so on. HR teams can also add on compliance, employee files and permissions so that they can integrate a bit better with the finance department.

On the employee side, there’s a portal for accessing pay checks and updating personal information.

The online accounting aspect of Patriot is similarly user friendly (Image credit: Patriot Software)

Integrations are pretty thin on the ground, but you can sync with QuickBooks for exporting payroll entries. This is probably because Patriot prefers you to use its own tools across the board rather than piecing together different software.

The whole system is mobile-friendly too, which makes it convenient for people on the go.

Users report that Patriot runs like a dream, which is hardly surprising given that the company has been plying its wares for so long. Given that the service handles a lot of data, particularly when it comes to employee details, Patriot also goes to great pains to remind us that security is its number one priority.

Data is encrypted, audited annually and the company also adheres to all federal privacy, anti-fraud and security laws.

Users tend to rate Patriot highly for its tax calculating tools, but note that while automatic updates to tax tables help reduce the chance of an error, multistate work could add further cost and complexity.

Patriot Accounting and Payroll: Ease of use

Setting up any accounting or payroll product for the first time can be daunting, so Patriot gains praise for its ability to get you started and keep things ticking over further down the line.

The company has done a great job in making improvements to the usability of the software, especially now that it has implemented a beefy setup wizard that can help new users get up and running faster.

If you’ve got employees to think about and want to be sure that information input into the system is correct and where it should be then this wizard is a real bonus.

Of course, setting things up is always going to be the hardest part of the process due to the need for adding employee data for the first time. However, Patriot has really come up trumps with the latest incarnation of its package.

Once you’re in, the dashboard feels easy to navigate as are the employee and contractor portals, which encourage some degree of self-service to take some of the pressure off HR teams.

There's even a mobile edition of the Patriot experience for users on the move (Image credit: Patriot Software)

There’s also a mobile app for employees to handle certain features, but naturally, it’s nowhere near as feature-packed as the desktop version, so admins are best off accessing Patriot in a more conventional manner.

Because the platform focuses on the essentials rather than a whole plethora of finance and HR-related tools, it’s pretty easy to get your head around. That, of course, comes as the cost of some lost functionality, but you’ll only really notice this if your business has pretty demanding needs.

Patriot Accounting and Payroll: Support

The level of support that comes with the Patriot experience is what seems to drive many of its customers to keep using the online accounting and payroll service.

Knowing that you’ve got people who can talk you through the various processes, features and functions is a valuable asset and Patriot consistently secures positive results on this front.

It’s pretty easy to get in contact with the US-based team by phone, email or live chat, which is generally more than can be said about most of its rivals.

Many companies operate a ticket-based system, where users must file tickets and then wait for support, which is frustrating to say the least.

Free setup help is provided via the onboarding process, and there’s also plenty of documentation and tutorials on the knowledge base side of things.

It’s worth mentioning that, since Patriot is US-centered, customers operating outside of the US may struggle with support.

(Image credit: Patriot Software)Patriot Accounting and Payroll: Final verdict

Patriot is an excellent software option for business users searching for a duo of solutions on the accounting and payroll front.

The company has had a long time to perfect its formula, and while it continues to make improvements including within the user interface, the core tools inside this package come very recommended.

We found the pricing to be very competitive, especially for small businesses, and for those customers it does most of the basics very well.

In addition, having team members on hand to smooth the transition into using it makes Patriot very appealing.

Overall then, this is an accounting and payroll package that should be investigated, especially if you're looking for the extra benefit of that hands-on, real-time support.

If you need multistate support, things get pricier, and international customers are poorly catered-for, so in these cases, it could be worth considering a different HR platform.

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software

Business owners are always on the lookout for better, more efficient ways to do things. When it comes to accounting, payroll and all of those other daily admin tasks, a solution like the high-profile QuickBooks makes a lot of sense.

However, it’s now possible to supplement this with Intuit Online Payroll. The two can work in unison to make one of the best payroll software options currently on the market.

The combination allows you to do a little bit of everything, which is exactly what business owners are looking for in these challenging times.

Intuit is a big corporation and its software is all-encompassing, meaning that business owners can carry out a lot of their workflow within one integrated package.

Using QuickBooks and Intuit Online Payroll as one entity can therefore allow your company and its employees to enjoy much more simplified processes.

This review aims to drill down into just how well the software integrates and discover if it provides all of the value that Intuit’s high-profile marketing suggests.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Plans and pricing

Intuit is always running money-off deals across its entire portfolio of business-focused software, with a current 50% off for 3 months being fairly typical.

There’s a free trial too, which might help seal the deal. Meanwhile, plans are plentiful and varied, depending on your needs.

While Payroll Core and QuickBooks Simple Start used to kick off the range, Payroll Core + Simple Start is the latest iteration – a combination of the two, at $88 per month plus $6.50 per employee per month.

Payroll Core + Essentials only adds a few more features for $125 per month, while Payroll Premium + Plus is a much fuller package, but for a $203/month premium.

Thankfully, that $6.50 per person monthly fee is the same across all packages. Some companies think it’s okay to charge more when paired with higher tiers, so we appreciate Intuit’s standardized pricing here.

Three separate Payroll-only plans – Core, Premium and Elite – are available for $50, $88 and $134 per month, but they lack bookkeeping. QuickBooks Online users can also add payroll at any time from their accounts.

(Image credit: Intuit)Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Features

What you get in terms of the pairing of QuickBooks and Payroll will obviously depend on which of the packages you head for.

Before, there were Core and Simple Start plans – now, the two have merged into Payroll Core + Simple Start. This plan comes with full-service payroll, 1099 E-File and Pay, next-day direct deposit and plenty more.

All plans can also track income and expenses, organize receipts, invoice and accept payments, track business miles, send estimates and manage 1099 contractors.

Despite being primarily a payroll suite, there are also some HR functionalities, like team management, health benefits and an employee portal.

Higher-tier plans add support for more users, sales channels and even inventory tracking.

(Image credit: Intuit)

In essence then, all plans come with unlimited payroll run capability, the power to calculate paychecks and all applicable taxes, as well as offering ease and convenience thanks to automated processing for taxes and their associated forms.

Companies with employees to consider will find the workforce portal very practical, while the coverage of the software extends to all 50 US states.

Similarly, there is extensive reporting on offer while the ability to manage garnishments and any or all deductions offers the final icing on the cake.

So important is security to Intuit that it actually has an entire security center, dedicated to keeping the entire product suite and its customers safe and secure. Intuit invests lots of money in ensuring its systems have multiple layers of security.

Using the software on a daily basis, you also soon realise just how well it has been engineered, with lots of potential obstacles in place that could foil the likes of scams and phishing attacks.

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Ease of use

One of the most appealing things about QuickBooks and the Payroll packages Intuit offers is the ease of use that comes with it all.

There’s no doubt that Intuit’s UX teams and engineers have worked long and hard to create products that just work.

The interface experience is invariably a good one no matter where you happen to be inside the suite of software, with a clever use of fonts, colour (mostly green) and graphics.

If you already use Intuit software, you’ll know how easy it is to use, and you should have no learning curve adopting its Payroll software.

Using Intuit Quickbooks Payroll is made easier thanks to a great interface (Image credit: Intuit)

If you’re moving from a different provider or new to payroll altogether, Intuit’s software strikes a good balance of surfacing just the right amount of control while maintaining a pretty simple interface. Others in this space might look cleaner and slicker, but that comes at the cost of reduced one-step functionality (fewer of Intuit’s features are buried beneath multi-step processes).

Dealing with normally stressful matters such as payroll is nowhere near as complicated as it used to be, but Intuit makes the job even simpler. Expect lots of automated tasks, plenty of one-click solutions and a healthy supply of practical benefits such as the ability to carry out powerful reporting without become broken in the process.

What you also get with this software is the ability to use it anywhere, with cloud convenience and plenty of mobile or tablet-focused tools that mean you don't have to lug the office laptop everywhere.

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Support

As you’d expect from a company the size of Intuit, if you’re looking for support then there is plenty on offer.

Certain plans, like Payroll Premium and Elite, offer 24/7 expert support for an upgrade, which is better than having to wait for office hours if you run around the clock.

Customers can use the support hub as their first port of call for everyday questions. There’s a chunky selection of toolbar options to choose from, such as getting started and dedicated topic sections covering core tasks including banking, invoices, taxes and more, plus a healthy training area too.

Intuit also has a healthy community, which is great for networking with likeminded business people who can often supply answers to any kind of question.

Naturally, you can also get directly in touch with support staff, but what is also of added value is the way the Intuit site can hook you up with a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor, which is a real boon if you’re ever feeling bogged down by the weight of office administration. There’s even a live chat function to do that immediately if matters are pressing.

You'll get the usual level of support options from Intuit Quickbooks Payroll (Image credit: Intuit)Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Final verdict

It’s really easy to see why Intuit still manages to rule the roost with so many businesses opting to use its suite of products.

If you’re looking for value then pairing QuickBooks with the Payroll package can solve a lot of headaches. This is a streamlined solution with plenty of potent features and functions that enable quick and easy management of office tasks.

We see it best suited to SMEs and businesses with relatively standard payroll needs, where its relatively affordable pricing and advanced options offer a good breadth of functionality.

Support is generally good and performance is great, plus it forms part of a much wider QuickBooks ecosystem. That means if you’re already using some of the company’s software, you’ll be able to share data between apps.

If you’re not entirely smitten with QuickBooks Payroll, although there’s a trial that lets you see its potential before committing, there are also plenty of alternatives like Gusto.

Anyone needing a muscular HR and payroll solution will find it hard to miss the appeal of Sage Business Cloud Payroll, which comes with the same sort of features as those found in Intuit’s suite of products.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Business and larger corporations have flocked to Remote Payroll, simply because it has a very powerful feature set, albeit at a higher cost than many rivals. And, while there’s no shortage of best payroll software providers on the market, sometimes you need a little more potency to get the job done. If you’re running a larger organisation then Remote Payroll makes an awful lot of sense.

Remote Payroll comes with an extensive list of features, which can help business owners tackle every facet of their onboarding needs. The functionality within Remote Payroll means workflow is pretty much seamless too. It can also be tweaked to suit different country requirements, with functionality that can be similarly adapted to meet local laws.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Remote Payroll: Plans and pricing

One thing to remember with Remote Payroll is that it’s a product aimed at companies with more comprehensive requirements. While this means you get tools that allow your business to handle payroll, tax and human resources, as well as compliance, the price tag is higher as a result.

It can also be a little confusing to work out costs with the likes of Employer of Record and Contractor Management options adding in additional prices.

Remember that Remote Payroll isn’t a simple, off-the-shelf software solution compared to some payroll package rivals. Indeed, you’ll really want to converse with Remote sales staff in order to get a tailored quote, especially if you need to tap into the powerful features provided by its Global Payroll and Remote Enterprise features.

There’s the basic plan for simpler needs, but the whole point of Remote Payroll is being able to exploit its more potent features.

As a guide, the Payroll package can come in at just $29 per employee per month, with additional features relating to HR like Contractor Management ($29/contractor/month) and Contractor Management Plus ($99/contractor/month) also available.

Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, and includes the whole package – hiring, onboarding, local payroll, benefit management, HR and more.

(Image credit: Remote Software)Remote Payroll: Features

One of the most impressive and convenient aspects of Remote Payroll is its truly global appeal. If you’re running a large operation Remote Payroll can handle payroll calculations, handle local tax deductions and reporting, social security needs, benefit deductions, expenses and time-off requests.

It means if you’re running a larger organization across borders, Remote Payroll instantly becomes an option when many others struggle to go international.

Remote Payroll is able to generate payslips, calculate bonuses, produce reports and meet any localised compliance needs.

In order to do all of this safely and securely there’s also secure document storage, which effectively turns Remote Payroll into a complete software solution.

You’ll pay a premium for the more advanced features, but Remote Payroll is ideally suited to business and corporations that have more of a global focus and which are represented in different countries around the world.

It comes as no surprise to see that Remote Payroll has been purchased by many well-known business names across the globe. That alone is always a good indication that Remote Payroll meets every requirement when it comes to security. The other big appeal with Remote Payroll is that it can work in any location around the globe.

(Image credit: Remote Software)

As a result, the software is tailored to suit its region, meeting all compliance and local law requirements. In addition, considering one of its main features is handling payroll, employees can also expect dependable handling of their wages, tax and benefit considerations.

On top of its payroll functionalities, Remote has also gone into offering HR management features including worker benefit management, as well as launching its own recruitment platform with candidate sourcing and a jobs board.

These are all recent additions, so it should come as no surprise that Remote has integrated AI into workflows too.

Recruit, for example, uses AI to help with sourcing, candidate matching and screening, and integrating other data points.

In mid-2025, Remote built AI-driven payroll engines from scratch to offer instant processing and adapt to local requirements. The company said this would help eliminate common delays and errors caused by legacy systems.

Changes were also made to how the Payroll platform integrates with other Remote software for an easier overall experience.

On a more technical side, Remote localized its infrastructure in order to ensure it had compliance expertise in different markets to avoid tax blunders and so on – ensuring it can look after you while you just input the right data.

Remote Payroll: Ease of use

Despite its powerful array of features and functions you’ll find that the Remote Payroll interface is a visual treat. There’s a cool use of colour, which is minimalist but effective, especially when it comes to highlighting the menu bar on the right-hand side of the interface.

You co-ordinate tasks using a core dashboard, which then allows quick and easy access to functions, with easy to decipher icons supported by text and linking to the likes of Team, Onboarding and Time Off under the ‘People’ option or Run Payroll, Payroll History and Pay Contractors under ‘Payments’.

There is also access to wider company details, vital documents and an app marketplace too, for anyone wanting to add in extra functionality. That means it’s possible to integrate Remote Payroll with the likes of BambooHR and Greenhouse as a couple of examples.

(Image credit: Remote Software)

A Settings tab also lets you carry out tweaks and personalisation requests depending on things like location, number of employees and so on.

Employees should find the self-service platform smooth to use with plenty of guided tools – payslips, document access and time off requests can all be found here, simplifying many processes by reducing the number of channels needed – no more shooting off an email to request time off.

In some complex jurisdictions, some users noted some delays or more manual steps, but that’s not a criticism of the platform itself. It’s more that Remote Payroll has to handle so many different procedures globally, and we think it’s done a good job of simplifying most of these.

Remote Payroll: Support

With anyone using Remote Payroll likely to be running a more complex operation there’s every possibility support will be needed from time to time. In that respect, Remote Payroll does the decent thing and has a help center and support hub.

However, some users report that it would be more beneficial to have a wider range of contact options. You can email the company, but it doesn’t seem particularly easy to speak to a human agent in real-time.

Getting through to support staff via email is all well and good, but sometimes an easier direct approach can be more effective, especially if it’s in relation to a pressing payroll or HR matter.

Some users also noted how support can sometimes feel a bit scripted – or not personalized – which might seem frustrating at times.

Nevertheless, Remote Payroll is on a par with many rivals in this sector.

(Image credit: Remote Software)Remote Payroll: Final verdict

Business owners with more complex needs should bypass some of the players at the lower end of the payroll software spectrum and head further up the chart.

This means considering the likes of Remote Payroll, SurePayroll and ADP Run.

With its premium price tag, Remote Payroll isn't at all suited to small business users, with many more affordable options out there. Where it does excel though is catering for global operations, which need to have customised payroll and HR tools at their disposal while meeting the needs of local legislation.

There are countless tools within the interface, all of which look and feel like they’ve been designed with usability at their core. Considering it’s potency, Remote Payroll is easy to manage and works no matter what the level of employee requirement is.

The only thing that might put some off is the price point allowing you to do so.

Still, for businesses that have expanded internationally, and on quite a decent scale, Remote offers a compelling and rather mature solution. If initial budget remains tight, look elsewhere.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto is payroll software that covers everything a business needs to maintain a happy workforce. This includes organizing payments, insurance, support and initial onboarding.

It’s a comprehensive approach that sees Gusto rank among the best payroll software providers on the market. And, in this Gusto review, we help you decide whether it would be right for your business as we examine its pricing, features, support and overall ease of use.

Gusto is best suited to medium-sized businesses in the US, with smaller companies priced out with recent price rises and larger organizations uncatered-for in terms of some features and more advanced support.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto: Plans and pricing

Prices for Gusto have risen quite significantly in recent years. Back in 2023, we noted it had a $19/month base price, which has now climbed to $49.

That’s for the Simple package, which each person commanding a $6 monthly fee (something that hasn’t changed in those two years).

Plus ($80/month) and Premium ($180/month) unsurprisingly pack bigger punches, but unfortunately, you’ll be paying more per person as well as for the core functionalities.

Instead of $6/head, it’s $12 or $22 per person per month.

The Contractor Only packge, for companies who don’t have W-2 hires, is $35/month with a $6 monthly fee per person. At the time of writing in September 2025, this is free, so keep an eye out for discounts because Gusto clearly isn’t averse to them.

Solopreneurs can also use the platform for $49/month plus the $6 person fee, but that becomes a rather expensive way for filings returns.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Features

More than just payroll software, Gusto gives you a full set of tools for effectively managing your workforce. These include full-service payroll, employee benefits, time tracking as well as HR tools for hiring and onboarding.

Think of it as an all-in-one solution for anything to do with people – be that time or money.

Gusto’s features include full-service payroll, like calculating taxes, filing federal/state/local returns and handling W-2s/1099s.

Really crucial to Gusto’s success is the fact that you can perform unlimited payroll runs (including off-cycle runs) without extra fees. Payment methods include direct debit, paper checks, payroll cards, the ability to split pay checks or deposit into multiple accounts, so most scenarios an HR team will ever encounter are covered.

Where its real strengths are, though, is in its combination of finance and human capital management solutions.

With Gusto, you can set up your payroll to run with just a few clicks; it can even be set to run automatically on the schedule you choose. The software can handle employees and contractors, multiple rates of pay along with payments in multiple states.

(Image credit: Gusto)

Gusto has a number of benefits features, including the Gusto Wallet app, which employees can use to manage their pay checks and access emergency cash.

Then there is workers’ compensation, health reimbursement (QSEHRA) - an alternative to traditional health insurance - and commuter benefits. Health insurance administration is also built into the platform at no extra cost (apart from the actual insurance premiums).

With Gusto, employees track their time for you to review and approve. You can also customize paid time off (PTO) policies with all liabilities automatically calculated. And accounting integrations exist for mainstream platforms like Quickbooks Online and Xero.

These tools from Gusto are designed to help you save time when introducing new team members. You’ll be able to send offer letters, work through an onboarding checklist, have all your documents signed and stored online, and set up your new hires with online tools like G Suite and Microsoft 365 with a single click.

Gusto has several measures in place to protect its customers’ data. It has its own on-site security team, actively tests its software, and all data is AES-256 encrypted between your browser and AWS servers.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) options are also available.

The Gusto application is kept secure with internal and third-party penetration testing, vulnerability scanning and a bug bounty program. Better still, all Gusto employees have specific security training.

Gusto: Ease of use

When you first log in to Gusto, you’ll begin the process of setting up all your company information, including your accountant, benefits, state and federal taxes, employees, pay schedule and workers’ compensation.

When you add an employee, they’ll be sent a welcome email, which will enable them to create their own account.

The onboarding process is simple and workers can self-onboard to free up some valuable time for HR teams.

Once setup is complete, you’ll be able to view all of your company’s employees, including ones who have been dismissed, and invite new hires to join the system.

Gusto’s platform has been praised for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, so it should be relatively easy to get your head around even if all of this comes new to you.

The dashboard design is clean, and things like tasks and to-do lists are highlighted easy to see, but there’s no real deep customization if you want to configure it to show precise metrics.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Support

If you want to speak to Gusto sales, their website lists a number. But to get access to Gusto support, you need to be signed in to your account.

Once logged in, you’ll see a different phone number to call for support; or you can visit your account dashboard’s support page, where there is a multi-stage form that eventually provides a recommended resource.

If that doesn’t help, you can fill in another form to send Gusto an email.

Premium plans get more premium support, which includes a dedicated advisor, faster response time and more HR expert access – lower plans can add some of this at a cost.

While this might not be a huge problem for most companies, support is not around-the-clock – phone and email are only there during working hours.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Final verdict

If you’re a small business owner who’s new to payroll, you’ll love Gusto because it’s so easy to use; you can finish important tasks with just a few clicks.

Once praised for its attractive pricing, costs have risen in recent years so it may be out of reach for more businesses. Its lack of some advanced features also means it may not be the perfect solution for the biggest businesses, so its appeal has tightened somewhat.

An alternative for larger businesses is OnPay, which has a very similar feature set, combining payroll and HR, but a simpler pricing structure.

Gusto is primarily a payroll platform with HR add-ons. Another alternative is Zenefits, which is the opposite: a complete HR solution with features like org charts and performance reviews and a payroll add-on.

If your workforce is small enough and the pricing is not an issue, Gusto provides first-class solutions for most of the important administrative areas of running a business.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

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