Alternatives · Payroll
Tax1099 alternatives
Tax1099 compared with 4 alternatives: QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Accounting, Gusto and OnPay.
Tax1099 has a free plan. Paid plans start at $249 per year (Teams); Essential has no yearly fee and charges per form. None of the alternatives has a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
4 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 18, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax1099This tool | Free plan · from $249/yr | Yes | Web |
| QuickBooks Workforce | Free trial · from $50/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Patriot Accounting | Free trial · from $20/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Gusto | From $49/mo | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| OnPay | Free trial · from $49/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
Price against what you get
Tax1099 starts at $20.75 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 3 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
QuickBooks Workforce, Gusto and OnPay score higher without starting lower.
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 Tax1099
- Free trial · from $50/mo
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. Tax1099 starts at $249 per year (Teams); Essential has no yearly fee and charges per form.
- Tax1099 has a free plan. QuickBooks Workforce does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only QuickBooks Workforce lists iOS and Android apps.
- QuickBooks Workforce also covers time tracking and payroll.
Suits: US businesses already keeping their books in QuickBooks Online
- Free trial · from $20/mo
Patriot Accounting
Low-cost US small business accounting that pairs with Patriot Payroll
- Patriot Accounting starts at $20 per month, billed monthly, after $10 a month for the first 3 months. Tax1099 starts at $249 per year (Teams); Essential has no yearly fee and charges per form.
- Tax1099 has a free plan. Patriot Accounting does not, though it has a free trial.
- Patriot Accounting also covers invoicing, reports, bookkeeping, expense tracking and payroll.
Suits: US small businesses that want low-cost books with phone support
- 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). Tax1099 starts at $249 per year (Teams); Essential has no yearly fee and charges per form.
- Tax1099 has a free plan. Gusto does not.
- Only Gusto lists iOS and Android apps.
- Gusto also covers time tracking, expense tracking and payroll.
Suits: Small US businesses paying W-2 employees and contractors
- 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. Tax1099 starts at $249 per year (Teams); Essential has no yearly fee and charges per form.
- Tax1099 has a free plan. OnPay does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only OnPay lists iOS and Android apps.
- OnPay also covers time tracking, reports and payroll.
Suits: Small US businesses that want to know the price without a sales call
Limits worth knowing in Tax1099
- It files information returns and payroll tax forms but does not run payroll or pay anyone, so it is narrower than the payroll services here.
- Each form is charged: $2.99 apiece for the first 20 1099, 1098 or W-2 forms, falling to $0.72 at 501 to 1,000. Over 1,000 forms is quoted.
- Recipient copies cost extra: $0.50 a form by eDelivery, $1.95 printed and mailed in the US, $4.99 abroad. Mail in the season's last 5 days adds $1 each.
- It files only with the IRS, the SSA and US states, runs in a browser with no mobile app, and API access needs Scale at $349 a year.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Tax1099?
The alternatives to Tax1099 in this directory are QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Accounting, Gusto and OnPay. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Tax1099.
Is there a free alternative to Tax1099?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. QuickBooks Workforce, Patriot Accounting and OnPay offer a free trial.
Which Tax1099 alternatives work on Android?
The Tax1099 listing does not include an Android app. QuickBooks Workforce, Gusto and OnPay list one.
Which Tax1099 alternatives work on iOS?
The Tax1099 listing does not include an iOS app. QuickBooks Workforce, Gusto and OnPay list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 18, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.