Payroll4Free alternatives: top competitors compared
Named alongside Payroll4Free
GustoBest forU.S. small and midsize businesses67% of Payroll4Free answersPatriot SoftwareBest forUS small businesses with up to 500 employees, and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them67% of Payroll4Free answersHomebaseBest forSmall businesses with hourly, shift-based teams, such as restaurants, retail, beauty and wellness, medical, and home services.67% of Payroll4Free answersHR.myBest forBudget-conscious startups and small businesses67% of Payroll4Free answers
Data from SlateIndex weekly runs
Payroll4Free has a visibility score of 3.7 in Payroll, #20 of 46. AI answers that name Payroll4Free most often also name these 4.
Quick reference
| Alternative | Best for | Starting price | Visibility | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | U.S. small and midsize businesses | — | 49.2% | — |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| HR.my | Budget-conscious startups and small businesses | — | 1.9% | Free for life with unlimited employees and unlimited data storage, with no per-head pricing. |
Alternative 1
Gusto vs Payroll4Free →Gusto
Gusto suits u.S. small and midsize businesses.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 49.2% visibility score · #1 in Payroll
Key features
- Gusto Payroll — Payroll and tax filing for U.S. small and midsize businesses.
- Gusto Benefits — Benefits administration, including health, 401(k) and voluntary life and disability coverage.
- Gusto HR — HR support for U.S. small and midsize businesses, including outsourced HR support added in 2026.
- Gusto Embedded — Payroll API that lets other software platforms offer Gusto payroll.
Gusto vs Payroll4Free
| Dimension | Gusto | Payroll4Free |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 49.2% | 3.7% |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Entry price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- Intuitive, clean user interface
- Transparent, straightforward pricing
- Automated tax filing
- Robust built-in benefits administration
- Free setup and onboarding until running payroll
Cons
- Generally more expensive than alternatives
Alternative 2
Patriot Software vs Payroll4Free →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 Payroll4Free
| Dimension | Patriot Software | Payroll4Free |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 19.3% | 3.7% |
| 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 3
Homebase vs Payroll4Free →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 Payroll4Free
| Dimension | Homebase | Payroll4Free |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| 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
Alternative 4
HR.my vs Payroll4Free →HR.my
HR.my suits budget-conscious startups and small businesses.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 1.9% visibility score · #25 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll — Automated payroll processing with payslips for monthly, semi-monthly, weekly and bi-weekly pay periods.
- Expense Claim Management — Employee expense claim submission with receipts, per-type limits and manager review.
- Leave Management — Leave applications, entitlements, approvals and a leave planner for workforce availability.
- Time Clock and Attendance — Web clock in and out with optional selfie and geolocation, plus attendance reports.
HR.my vs Payroll4Free
| Dimension | HR.my | Payroll4Free |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 1.9% | 3.7% |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Entry price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- free hosted HR and payroll features
- unlimited employees
Cons
- may require more manual compliance work
- tax compliance must be managed separately
How to choose
Match the pricing model to your cost driver: headcount, usage or features.
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll4Free | — | — |
| Gusto | — | — |
| Patriot Software | Flat tiers | $17 / mo |
| Homebase | Flat tiers | Free; paid from $30 / mo |
| HR.my | — | — |
More alternatives
Ranked by how often AI answers name them alongside Payroll4Free in the latest weekly run.