ExcelPayroll alternatives: top competitors compared
Named alongside ExcelPayroll
Patriot SoftwareBest forUS small businesses with up to 500 employees, and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them100% of ExcelPayroll answersSquare PayrollBest forSmall businesses in the United States100% of ExcelPayroll answersPayroll4FreeBest forSmall businesses with 9 or fewer employees that pay monthly100% of ExcelPayroll answersHomebaseBest forSmall businesses with hourly, shift-based teams, such as restaurants, retail, beauty and wellness, medical, and home services.100% of ExcelPayroll answers
Data from SlateIndex weekly runs
ExcelPayroll has a visibility score of 0.9 in Payroll, #29 of 46. AI answers that name ExcelPayroll most often also name these 4.
Quick reference
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Visibility | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Software | US small businesses with up to 500 employees, and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them | $17 / mo | 19.3% | Accounting and payroll under one login, with free USA-based support included at every price tier |
| Square Payroll | Small businesses in the United States | — | 6.8% | Hours from Square POS flow into payroll |
| Payroll4Free | Small businesses with 9 or fewer employees that pay monthly | — | 3.7% | Basic payroll is free because in-software advertising pays for the service |
| Homebase | Small businesses with hourly, shift-based teams, such as restaurants, retail, beauty and wellness, medical, and home services. | Free; paid from $30 / mo | 3.1% | Scheduling, time tracking, payroll and hiring run in one app, and approved hours flow straight into payroll with no re-entry. |
Alternative 1
Patriot Software vs ExcelPayroll →Patriot Software
Patriot Software suits uS small businesses with up to 500 employees, and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them.
Quick facts
- $17 / mo · flat tiers
- 30-day free trial
- 19.3% visibility score · #6 in Payroll
Key features
- Accounting Software — Invoicing, bank imports, account reconciliation, expense tracking and financial reports.
- Bookkeeping Service — Optional add-on in which Patriot's team closes the books monthly, hosts a monthly review and reconciles accounts.
- Payroll (Basic Payroll and Full Service Payroll) — Payroll runs with direct deposit, contractor payments, and in Full Service, federal, state and local tax filings and deposits.
- Time & Attendance — Add-on in which employees enter hours or clock in and out, with custom overtime rules, feeding payroll.
Patriot Software vs ExcelPayroll
| Dimension | Patriot Software | ExcelPayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 19.3% | 0.9% |
| Pricing model | Flat tiers | — |
| Entry price | $17 / mo | — |
| Free plan | No | — |
| Trial | 30-day free trial | — |
Pros
- Low-cost, budget-friendly payroll for small businesses
- Straightforward, no-frills service
- Free trial available
- US-based customer support
- Clear published pricing
Cons
- Limited advanced HR features
- No standard annual-billing discount
Alternative 2
Square Payroll vs ExcelPayroll →Square Payroll
Square Payroll suits small businesses in the United States.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 6.8% visibility score · #15 in Payroll
Key features
- Square Payroll — Payroll runs, tax filings and direct deposit for small businesses.
- Contractor payments — Payments to contractors within the Square Payroll product.
- Time tracking — Tracks employee hours for payroll.
- Scheduling — Employee shift scheduling.
Square Payroll vs ExcelPayroll
| Dimension | Square Payroll | ExcelPayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 6.8% | 0.9% |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Entry price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- Works well alongside Square payments and time tracking
- Handles payroll taxes automatically
Cons
Alternative 3
Payroll4Free vs ExcelPayroll →Payroll4Free
Payroll4Free suits small businesses with 9 or fewer employees that pay monthly.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 3.7% visibility score · #20 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll4Free payroll software — Free core payroll that pays employees and contractors, calculates taxes, tracks vacation time, produces detailed reports, and offers direct deposits or paper checks through an employee portal.
Payroll4Free vs ExcelPayroll
| Dimension | Payroll4Free | ExcelPayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 3.7% | 0.9% |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Entry price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- Genuinely free payroll platform
- Free tier covers payroll, tax calculations, pay stubs, and PTO tracking
- Suitable for zero-budget payroll needs
Cons
Alternative 4
Homebase vs ExcelPayroll →Homebase
Homebase suits small businesses with hourly, shift-based teams, such as restaurants, retail, beauty and wellness, medical, and home services..
Quick facts
- Free; paid from $30 / mo · flat tiers
- Free plan available
- 3.1% visibility score · #22 in Payroll
Key features
- Homebase Scheduling — Builds and shares employee schedules with availability, shift trades and automated scheduling.
- Homebase Time Clock — Clock in and out on mobile, tablet or POS devices, with breaks and overtime flowing into timesheets.
- Homebase Payroll — Calculates wages, tips and taxes from approved hours and files federal, state and local taxes.
- Hiring Assistant — Posts jobs, screens candidates and books interviews.
Homebase vs ExcelPayroll
| Dimension | Homebase | ExcelPayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 3.1% | 0.9% |
| Pricing model | Flat tiers | — |
| Entry price | Free; paid from $30 / mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Trial | Free plan available | — |
Pros
- free plan covers scheduling and time tracking
- attractive annual savings for scheduling and workforce management
Cons
- payroll is a paid add-on
How to choose
Match the pricing model to your cost driver: headcount, usage or features.
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| ExcelPayroll | — | — |
| Patriot Software | Flat tiers | $17 / mo |
| Square Payroll | — | — |
| Payroll4Free | — | — |
| Homebase | Flat tiers | Free; paid from $30 / mo |
More alternatives
Ranked by how often AI answers name them alongside ExcelPayroll in the latest weekly run.