Payroll/Best of
I use GustoFor most small businesses, Gusto is the best payroll software. Square Payroll is the cheapest, OnPay is best if you pay people in more than one state, and QuickBooks Payroll fits businesses already on QuickBooks.
Shanin Drucquer, owner of Iconic LandscapingPrices checked September 2026
$100 after your first payroll, through my link
Best overall
From $49 + $6/person
It’s what I pay my crew with. Setup took about an hour, it files every payroll tax form, and both times a tax notice showed up, Gusto sorted it out.
Best for multiple states
From $49 + $6/worker
One plan that already includes multi-state payroll, local tax filing, and phone, chat, and email support, with no implementation fees.
Cheapest
From $35 + $6/person
The lowest base fee here, with federal and state tax filing, multi-state payroll, and overtime included. Hours import straight from Square’s point of sale.
Best if you use QuickBooks
From $50 + $7/employee + QuickBooks Online Simple Start
Payroll inside the accounting software you already use: one login, one bill, and payroll posts to your books without a sync.
Drag to your team size. Entry plans, list prices checked September 2026.
Required products are included in the total. Add-ons aren’t.
Starting price
Needs other software
Multi-state payroll
Next-day direct deposit
Time tracking
Hiring and onboarding
Support
Seasonal teams
Contract
Deal
A check marks the best option in that row. “Not listed” means the company’s pricing page doesn’t say, not that the feature is missing. Prices checked September 2026.
I’ve run payroll for my landscaping crew on Gusto since 2024, so I know what matters when it’s your name on the paychecks: what it really costs as you hire, what’s included versus extra, how fast your team gets paid, and whether anyone helps when a tax notice shows up. I compared each option on those points using its current pricing and help documentation, checked September 2026.
Shanin Drucquer · How we research
Gusto, for most. It’s $49 + $6/person, month-to-month, handles tax filing, and includes hiring tools. Pick Square Payroll if cost matters most, OnPay if you pay people in several states, or QuickBooks Payroll if you already use QuickBooks Online.
Square Payroll, at $35 + $6/person for full-service payroll. It has the lowest base fee here, so it stays cheapest at most team sizes; use the cost chart to check yours.
OnPay and Square Payroll include it in their base price. Gusto includes it from the Plus plan ($80 + $12/person).
Yes. QuickBooks Payroll runs inside QuickBooks Online, so you pay for both. Gusto, OnPay, and Square Payroll work on their own.
Most charge a monthly base fee plus a fee per person paid. Among these picks, entry plans run from $35 + $6/person to $50 + $7/employee, plus QuickBooks Online for QuickBooks Payroll. Use the cost chart to see the total at your team size.
You can, but you’re then responsible for calculating withholding, depositing payroll taxes on schedule, and filing quarterly and year-end forms like the 941 and W-2s. Payroll software does all of that for you, which is the main thing you’re paying for.
None of the four picks here is free. The cheapest is Square Payroll at $35 + $6/person. Free tools usually leave tax deposits and filings to you.
Not legally, but even one employee means withholding, tax deposits, and quarterly filings. For one person, Gusto Simple comes to $55 a month, OnPay to $55 a month, and Square Payroll to $41 a month.
Yes, with QuickBooks Payroll, which runs inside QuickBooks Online. If you already use QuickBooks for your books, you can also run payroll in Gusto and let the payroll entries flow into QuickBooks.
Yes. Switching at the start of a quarter is cleanest, and your new provider will ask for year-to-date payroll so W-2s come out right.
Sources: Gusto pricing, OnPay pricing, Square Payroll pricing, QuickBooks Payroll pricing.
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My pick: Gusto · from $49 + $6/person
$100 after your first payroll