Alternatives · Payroll
QuickBooks Workforce alternatives
QuickBooks Workforce compared with 6 alternatives: Gusto, RUN Powered by ADP, OnPay, Square Payroll, Paychex Flex and 1 more.
QuickBooks Workforce is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks WorkforceThis tool | Free trial · from $50/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Gusto | From $49/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| RUN Powered by ADP | Paid | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| OnPay | Free trial · from $49/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Square Payroll | From $6/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Paychex Flex | Paid | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Patriot Payroll | Free trial · from $17/mo | Trial only | Web |
Price against what you get
QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 a month and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 4 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Gusto.
OnPay, Square Payroll and Patriot Payroll start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from QuickBooks Workforce
- From $49/mo
Gusto
Payroll and HR for small businesses, with apps for owners and staff
- Gusto starts at $49 per month, plus $6 per person paid (Simple). QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly.
- Gusto also covers expense tracking.
Suits: Small US businesses paying W-2 employees and contractors
- Paid
RUN Powered by ADP
ADP's payroll and HR service for US businesses of 1 to 49 people
Suits: US businesses with up to 49 employees that want taxes filed for them
- Free trial · from $49/mo
OnPay
US payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons
- OnPay starts at $49 per month, plus $6 per worker paid. QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly.
- OnPay also covers reports.
Suits: Small US businesses that want to know the price without a sales call
- From $6/mo
Square Payroll
Payroll for Square sellers, with timecards from Square POS
- Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll. QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly.
- Square Payroll also covers reports.
Suits: Restaurants, shops and salons already taking payments with Square
- Paid
Paychex Flex
Paychex's payroll, tax filing and HR platform, priced by quote
- Paychex Flex also covers reports.
- QuickBooks Workforce also covers time tracking.
Suits: US businesses that want payroll taxes filed by a large provider
- Free trial · from $17/mo
Patriot Payroll
Low-cost online payroll for small US businesses
- Patriot Payroll starts at $17 per month, plus $4 per worker paid (half price for the first 3 months). QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly.
- Only QuickBooks Workforce lists iOS and Android apps.
- Patriot Payroll also covers reports.
Suits: Very small US businesses that want a low monthly base fee
Limits worth knowing in QuickBooks Workforce
- The advertised prices are 50% off the base fee for the first 3 months; per-employee fees are charged in full from the start.
- Time tracking, HR tools and same-day deposit need Premium; IRS penalty cover and a personal HR advisor need Elite.
- Bundles with QuickBooks Online accounting start at $88 a month plus $6.50 per employee (Workforce Payroll with Simple Start).
- It is Intuit's US payroll, filing with the IRS and US states; Canada has its own QuickBooks payroll site and prices.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to QuickBooks Workforce?
The alternatives to QuickBooks Workforce in this directory are Gusto, RUN Powered by ADP, OnPay, Square Payroll, Paychex Flex and Patriot Payroll. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with QuickBooks Workforce.
Is there a free alternative to QuickBooks Workforce?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. OnPay and Patriot Payroll offer a free trial.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.