Payroll4Free vs Wagepoint (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Payroll4Free if

• Fits if you pay 9 or fewer people in the US once a month
• Works for owners who accept ads in the software to avoid a bill

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you pay staff more than once a month or have 10 or more
• Watch out: tax filing and bank deposits are paid, with no price shown
• Not for you if you use a Mac: it needs Windows and a browser extension
• Not for you if you run payroll outside the US: it is US only

Pick Wagepoint if

• Fits if you have a small Canadian business and want published prices
• Works for bookkeepers who run payroll for several Canadian clients

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you pay anyone outside Canada, as it runs Canadian payroll only
• Tight if you pay more than once a month, because Lite allows one run and one pay group
• Pricey if headcount grows, since every paid employee or contractor adds $4 to $10
• Watch out: next-day deposit is only included in Plus and is an add-on on Lite and Core

Payroll4Free

• Free only for 9 or fewer people paid no more than once monthly; the site publishes no prices beyond that.
• Tax filing for you (Payroll Tax Service) and deposits through its bank (Direct Deposit Service) are paid, with no price shown.
• Each extra state or location carries a fee the site does not price. Payroll is for US businesses only.
• The FAQ says it needs a small browser extension, and Macs must run Windows to use it.

Wagepoint

• Runs Canadian payroll only; the pricing page asks for a province.
• Lite is limited to one payroll run per month and one pay group.
• Next-day deposit is included only in Plus and is for eligible businesses; it is an add-on for Lite and Core.
• Pricing is by active employee or contractor, so the monthly cost rises with headcount.

Payroll4Free

Employees and contractors

Pays W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, and the FAQ says year-end tax forms are included for both.

Tax calculations and reports

Calculates federal, state and local payroll taxes and gives access to filled-out tax forms. Filing the forms for you is an optional paid service.

Direct deposit or checks

Employees and contractors can be paid by paper check, direct deposit or a mix of both. Direct deposit through your own bank is free.

Time off tracking

Vacation, sick and PTO time can be set up to accrue by length of service or hours worked.

Employee portal

Employees can view pay information, reprint paystubs and W-2s, check accrued time and change personal details online.

Exports and imports

Payroll data can be exported to accounting packages, banks and benefit companies, and employee hours can be imported from a time clock file.

Wagepoint

Canadian payroll calculations

Federal and provincial income tax, CPP, EI, statutory holiday pay and workers' compensation, with remittance schedules that vary by province.

Year-end and ROE filing

Prepares T4s and T4As and submits Records of Employment.

Time and absence

Timesheets, clock in/out with geo-fencing and time off management, with hours flowing into payroll through the My Wagepoint app.

Accounting sync

Two-way integration with QuickBooks Online, Xero and FreshBooks that updates the books after each pay run.

Reports

Earnings, deductions, benefits, payroll register, deposit summary and posting journal reports.

Payroll4Free

• Free$0

  All basic payroll services for businesses paying 9 or fewer people no more than once monthly, with ads from partner companies shown inside the software.

Wagepoint

• Lite$20

  per month, plus $4 per person paid

  For businesses that run one payroll a month in one pay group. Includes direct deposit, T4s and T4As, ROEs, timesheets, time off, clock in/out and geo-fencing.

• Core$40

  per month, plus $6 per person paid

  Unlimited payroll runs and pay groups, with paid time off management and the same time tools as Lite.

• Plus$80

  per month, plus $10 per person paid

  Everything in Core, with next-day deposit for eligible businesses included.