Is there a free payroll platform for small teams?

Yes! There are several free payroll platforms for small teams, especially if you have 1–10 employees. The main distinction is whether you want to calculate payroll yourself or have the platform automatically handle tax withholding, filings, and direct deposits. For a U.S.-based small business, here are the options I'd consider in 2026. Best free payroll platforms Payroll4Free (Best truly free option) Free for up to 9 employees under its standard limits. Payroll calculations and tax forms.…

1. Payroll4Free — Absolutely $0 budget: Payroll4Free.
2. HR.my — Unlimited employees: HR.my, if you can manage tax compliance separately.
3. ExcelPayroll
4. Square Payroll — Want payroll taxes handled automatically: Patriot or Square Payroll are worth comparing.
5. Patriot Software

Yes. For a very small U.S.

1. Payroll4Free — team, Payroll4Free is one of the few genuinely free payroll platforms: its free tier supports up to 9 employees with payroll calculations, tax calculations, pay stubs, PTO tracking, reporting, and employee/contractor…
2. Zoho — Zoho Payroll: free tier for up to 10 employees in one location, but availability and included features can vary.
3. HR.my — HR.my: free hosted HR/payroll features with unlimited employees, but it may require more manual compliance work.
4. Homebase — Homebase: its free plan covers scheduling and time tracking, but payroll itself is a paid add-on.
5. Gusto — For automated compliance, a paid service such as Gusto, Patriot, or Homebase is usually safer.
6. Patriot Software — For automated compliance, a paid service such as Gusto, Patriot, or Homebase is usually safer.

1. Payroll4Free — Yes, but completely free payroll software is rare and typically comes with strict limitations or trade-offs (like displaying ads or excluding automated tax…
2. TimeTrex — TimeTrex Community Edition : A 100% free, open-source, self-hosted workforce management system that includes full payroll processing, time tracking, and tax calculations with unlimited users.
3. Gusto — Gusto Free Setup : While not free to run payroll, Gusto offers free onboarding and platform setup with zero commitments until you actually click "Run Payroll".