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Alternatives · Payroll

Square Payroll alternatives

Square Payroll compared with 5 alternatives: Gusto, OnPay, QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Payroll and Roll by ADP.

Square Payroll is a paid product, starting at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.

5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
Square PayrollThis toolFrom $6/moNoWeb, iOS, Android
GustoFrom $49/moNoWeb, iOS, Android
OnPayFree trial · from $49/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
QuickBooks WorkforceFree trial · from $50/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
Patriot PayrollFree trial · from $17/moTrial onlyWeb
Roll by ADPFree trial · from $39/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android

Price against what you get

Square Payroll starts at $6 a month for each person and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Gusto scores higher without starting lower.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessSquare PayrollGustoOnPayQuickBooks WorkforcePatriot PayrollRoll by ADP

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
The full chart of payroll services, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Square Payroll

  1. 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). Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll.
    • Gusto also covers expense tracking.
    • Square Payroll also covers reports.

    Suits: Small US businesses paying W-2 employees and contractors

    Gusto vs Square PayrollGusto pricing and details

  2. OnPay

    US payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons

    • OnPay starts at $49 per month, plus $6 per worker paid. Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll.

    Suits: Small US businesses that want to know the price without a sales call

    OnPay vs Square PayrollOnPay pricing and details

  3. QuickBooks Workforce

    Intuit's payroll and HR service, sold alone or with QuickBooks

    • QuickBooks Workforce starts at $50 per month, plus $7 per employee, billed monthly. Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll.
    • Square Payroll also covers reports.

    Suits: US businesses already keeping their books in QuickBooks Online

    QuickBooks Workforce vs Square PayrollQuickBooks Workforce pricing and details

  4. 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). Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll.
    • Only Square Payroll lists iOS and Android apps.

    Suits: Very small US businesses that want a low monthly base fee

    Patriot Payroll vs Square PayrollPatriot Payroll pricing and details

  5. Roll by ADP

    Chat-based payroll app for very small US businesses

    • Roll by ADP starts at $39 per month, plus $5 per worker paid. Square Payroll starts at $6 per person paid / month, contractor-only payroll.
    • Square Payroll also covers reports.

    Suits: Owners with a few employees who want to run payroll from a phone

    Roll by ADP vs Square PayrollRoll by ADP pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Square Payroll

  • Contractor-only payroll leaves out tax filings, auto payroll, off-cycle payments, multistate payroll and garnishments.
  • Mailed paper W-2s and 1099s cost $3 per form a year; workers' comp, health insurance and 401(k) are paid add-ons.
  • Scheduling, tip import, overtime and labor-cost reports come only with full-service payroll.
  • It runs US payroll, filing federal and state taxes, and is sold on Square's US site.
Square Payroll pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Square Payroll?

The alternatives to Square Payroll in this directory are Gusto, OnPay, QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Payroll and Roll by ADP. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Square Payroll.

Is there a free alternative to Square Payroll?

None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. OnPay, QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Payroll and Roll by ADP 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.