Square Payroll alternatives: top competitors compared
Named alongside Square Payroll
GustoBest forU.S. small and midsize businesses91% of Square Payroll answersOnPayBest forSmall businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients82% of Square Payroll answersQuickBooks PayrollBest forSmall businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books73% of Square Payroll answersPatriot SoftwareBest forUS small businesses with up to 500 employees, and the accountants and bookkeepers who serve them73% of Square Payroll answers
Data from SlateIndex weekly runs
Square Payroll has a visibility score of 6.8 in Payroll, #15 of 46. AI answers that name Square Payroll 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% | — |
| OnPay | Small businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients | $15 per seat / mo | 22.2% | Free data migration and white-glove setup, with the same human support on every plan and no support paywall |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Small businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books | — | 26.8% | Native integration with QuickBooks Online, so payroll reconciliation with the books largely disappears |
| 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 |
Alternative 1
Gusto vs Square Payroll →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 Square Payroll
| Dimension | Gusto | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 49.2% | 6.8% |
| 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
OnPay vs Square Payroll →OnPay
OnPay suits small businesses, and accounting firms that run payroll for their clients.
Quick facts
- $15 per seat / mo · per seat
- 22.2% visibility score · #5 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll — Payroll Essentials with multi-state payroll, automated tax payments and filings, and W-2 and 1099 year-end forms
- HR — Customizable onboarding workflows, eSignature templates, PTO management and task delegation
- Benefits — Medical, dental and vision plans selected with in-house licensed agents, plus 401(k) and workers' comp
- Time Tracking — Mobile clock-in with geofencing, automatic overtime calculation and timesheets that feed the next pay run
OnPay vs Square Payroll
| Dimension | OnPay | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 22.2% | 6.8% |
| Pricing model | Per seat | — |
| Entry price | $15 per seat / mo | — |
| Free plan | No | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- Transparent flat-fee pricing
- Free trial with full access
- Unlimited pay runs
- Simple, easy starting point for small businesses
- Good value and budget-friendly
Cons
QuickBooks Payroll suits small businesses that already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll reconciled with their books.
Quick facts
- Pricing not available
- 26.8% visibility score · #4 in Payroll
Key features
- Payroll Core — Full-service US payroll with direct deposit.
- Premium — Adds same-day deposit, QuickBooks Time and HR support.
- Elite — Top plan, includes multi-state payroll.
- QuickBooks Time — Time tracking for payroll.
QuickBooks Payroll vs Square Payroll
| Dimension | QuickBooks Payroll | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 26.8% | 6.8% |
| Pricing model | — | — |
| Entry price | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Trial | — | — |
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting and tax tools
- Over 800 third-party integrations and app connections
- Widely used payroll platform for small businesses
- Strong mobile app and bookkeeping synchronization
- Free 30-day trial
Cons
Alternative 4
Patriot Software vs Square Payroll →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 Square Payroll
| Dimension | Patriot Software | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility score | 19.3% | 6.8% |
| 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
How to choose
Match the pricing model to your cost driver: headcount, usage or features.
| Platform | Pricing model | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Square Payroll | — | — |
| Gusto | — | — |
| OnPay | Per seat | $15 per seat / mo |
| QuickBooks Payroll | — | — |
| Patriot Software | Flat tiers | $17 / mo |
More alternatives
Ranked by how often AI answers name them alongside Square Payroll in the latest weekly run.